Thursday, April 12, 2012

FABBY: English Chicken Pot Pie

  Hi lovely friends, how are ya? Another weekend of April is coming soon...wow, where is 2012 flying to??

 Although this picture came out dark, I kind of liked the window view from the breakfast table window.
 Now it's clear. Here is the Cream of Veggies, very healthy and light too. Our alabaster breakfast table.
 I used my dinner plate with an orange rim I have; as chargers, because the dinner plate on this vintage dishes are quite small, almost like a salad plate and it's here, under the soup bowl. The small bowls are for the dessert...natural yogurt, fresh fruit, coconut, walnuts and many other ingredients.
 The Calla and star lilies I have them since last Good Friday...I posted a small tablescape for two and the lilies are still blooming.
Place setting with soup bowl.
 Here are the individual Chicken Pot Pies, they came out really delish, but then, they always do, the English recipe from my good friend is really terrific! "Look for the recipes at the end of this post."

 The individual pies were made on pretty bowls made at, or our past ceramic co. Without the pie on them, they have pretty roses decorated inside them, lol..
The English pie setting.
Mother comes every Wednesday to have lunch with Alejandro and me and I must add that Ecuadorians' custom is to eat a hardier lunch, than they do dinner, therefore, I decided to make a very healthy and really light Cream of Veggies that my mom loves, as the antrè. As main course I cooked a wonderful Chicken Pie, that the recipe was given to me by an English girl that was married to a friend of "MR. LIVING", in the late 70's. I always remember her when I make her chicken pie and this time I made individual pies for the three of us. Sadly, cancer took Jeanette's life more than fifteen years ago.  For dessert I served Plain yogurt with fresh fruit, coconut and walnuts, it's great, easy and perfect for a luncheon.

ENGLISH CHICKEN PIE 

For the dough:

In your food processor put the following ingredients:  2 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup margarine, 1 egg, 1 tsp. salt, 3-4 Tb. spoons cream and process til it forms a ball...if it's to dry you can add 1 Tb. cream more. Take it out and roll half of it to form whatever shape of greased pan you want to use...individual ones, like I did, or one pie plate. Sometimes the dough breaks, just mend it with some rolled dough.  Use the other half of the dough to cover a big pie plate or small ones.


For the chicken filling:


Cook a big chicken breast, or two small ones. When they are done, reserve the chicken and with 2 cups of the chicken broth make a French sauce, or Bechamel, already with, salt, pepper, garlic powder, (or fresh-mashed garlic) a dash of nutmeg and just add like a 1/4 cup milk, that's all. If it looks to dry add some more broth. Set aside.
Meanwhile, have cooked some mixed veggies that come in the frozen bags. Some can mushroom buttons, some cooked cubed onions, or leek rings, I like the latter cause they're more elegant. Mix it all with the Bechamel sauce and add 2 Tablespoons of sherry, or white wine, if you have. Lower the flame and mix it all well. Now add cubes of the cooked chicken you reserved and mix well.  Fill the prepared pie plate with this mixture, or individual ones as I did.  Roll the other half of the dough to cover top of the pie plate, or the small ones, like in my pics.  Bake in hot oven at 350F for around 35-40 min., check your oven.


CREAM OF VEGETABLES

This is easy and goes as follows:  Use veggies that you like, it doesn't matter.  Like cooked carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchinis, celery, red and green peppers, spinach, etc.
In a deep soup pot put 2 Tablespoons cooking oil, or olive oil and 1 med.cubed onion, saute. Add salt, pepper, garlic, and cumin...if you like it.  Add broth, water with chicken or a meat bouillon cube and cook, than mix all your cooked veggies. Once it's all done, take it to your blender or Cuisinart and blend it all until it resembles a cream soup, add a 1/2 cup of half and half, or plain milk like I do...(less fattening). This is it. You can serve it with, a poached egg inside like my Mil used to and we love, bread cubes, or nothing. 


 Thank you lovely and sweet friends for your wonderful visits, they are always sooo very appreciated!


Thank you lovely and gracious hostesses for having me at your terrific and fun parties.


Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps On The Porch
It's a Party at A Creative Princess
Open House Party at No minimalist Here
Delightfully Inspiring Thursdays at The French Cupboard
Share your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup from Mrs. Olson 
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Inspiration Friday at The Picket Fence
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum 
Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama 
Beverly's Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound
Adicts (not so) Anonymous at Addicted to Decorating
Chari's Sunday Favorites at Happy to Design
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper
Over Flowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing
On the Menu Monday at Stone Gable
Mix It Up Monday at Flour Me with Love
Masterpiece Monday at Boogie BoardCottage
Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes
Beautify it Monday at Bringing Beauty
Show Off your Cottage at The House in the Roses

Sunday, April 8, 2012

FABBY: Best Chocolate Fudge Brownies, Ever!

I made this brownies with my granddaughters when they were here two weeks ago...they enjoy baking and later eating anything, from cookies, to pizza, cakes and brownies.  I think I enjoy making anything with them more, lol..  This fudge brownie recipe was given to me by my friend Stephanie and they came from some southern, vintage Baking Book she has from her aunt. This Fudge Brownies are the best recipe ever...so here they are and so is the recipe.

Hope you all had a lovely and blessed EASTER SUNDAY.  Can't believe another Holiday is past and the year is rapidly going!!  Lots of hugs my friends and thank you in advance for your wonderful visits, they always make me so happy!

I will be at some parties...I love to party!...so thank you lovely hostesses for having me.

Lots of hugs and have a wonderful week.
 Here are my Fudge Brownies, best ever! I'm using my Spanish country style dishes with coffee, as today, EASTER SUNDAY; I had my first cup of coffee for breakfast this morning, after I gave it up for LENT and that would be for forty days! I'm a real coffee lover!
 I placed my brownies on one of my new mercury glass cake plates.
 If you can see there's like a space next to the higher brownie is caz my g'girls took one each, couldn't wait til I finished taking the shot, lol.. In case you didn't read what I said at the beginning; I made these brownies with my g'girls almost two weeks ago when they were here, visiting us.
 What you see sticking out of the brownies is shredded coconut...optional, though, but it's a great twist, it's my personal touch, we love coconut around here!
 The linen hand embroidered in BLUE tray-mat, was given by my Mil several years ago.
Here is me on some vintage, EASTER SUNDAY, after Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC.. when I was around fifteen, I think.  I had a pretty cream color lace, mini dress under my blue mini coat and straight hair almost to my waste...LOL! My dad took this pic in the late sixties.   We would also go to Radio City Music Hall for the spring Rocket's Show! Great days! Miss my dad, he was so much fun!
LOVE,
FABBY

OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE CHEWY FUDGE BROWNIES


1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Cups sugar
1 Cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 (1-ounce) squares bitter chocolate  (unsweetened chocolate)
1/2 Cup butter, or margarine
4 eggs, beaten
3/4 Cup walnuts, or pecans,chopped
1/2 Cup shredded coconut  (optional)

Combine sugar, flour, and salt in a medium mixing bowl,  or (Kitchen Aid bowl): mix well, and set aside.
Melt chocolate and butter on Microwave, or as you know better...maybe for a minute on high. Gradually mix chocolate mixture on flour mixture. Stir eggs, vanilla, and chopped nuts. (shredded coconut, if you like).
   Pour batter on a square, greased and floured pan: 9x9x2-inch pan.
Bake at 325F. for 40-45 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool.
Cut into squares to serve. Yield 16 big squares...like in the picture, you can cut them smaller for tea parties, or serve the big squares with ice-cream for dessert.

Beautify it Monday at Bringing Beauty
Sally's Blue Monday at Smiling Sally
Recipe Party at The Sweet Spot
Your Cozy Home Party at Your Cozy Home Scenes
 Let's Dish at Kathleen's   
Recipe Party at The Sweet Spot
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch
Recipe Sharing Monday at 
Sally'sBlue Monday at Smiling Sally
On The Menu Monday at Stone Gable 
Mix it Up Monday at Flour Me With Love
Monday Market Place at Common Ground
Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage
Tuesday Cuppa Tea at Antiques and Tea Cups
Friends Sharing Tea at Berneeding's Tea Time Blog 
Trish's Tea Party Tuesday at Sweetology 101
Knick of Time Tuesday at Knick of Time
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm
Wednesday Bunny Hop at Bunny Jean Decor and More
Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen
Riverton Housewives Up at The Real Housewives of Riverton
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at Primp

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

FABBY: Tablescape for Good Friday

   "OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME.
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOU WILL BE DONE, 
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE OUR DEBTS,
 AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS.
AND LEAD NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL."

God bless you my wonderful friends this Holy weekend, and may God shed all His Grace on you and your families.
Wishing you all a very happy EASTER SUNDAY.

HE HAS RISEN!


 I made a tablescape for GOOD FRIDAY  for the two of us, as my daughter Sofia and her family are going to the beach, for the long weekend and our daughter Alexandra will not come to visit us this time.
 I decided to set our table for GOOD FRIDAY on our vintage French table.
 My Mil's antique iron cross and a pretty LladrĂ² figurine of a girl on her First Communion...that was a gift for my DD Alexandra on her FC.
 My Lynn's Fine china, I have for 16 place settings. I also used my lilac Polish water glasses, paired with my Mexican hand blown wine glasses.
 Loving the flowers. Cala and Lillies..
 I love the subtle pattern of this set of china, with dainty blue flowers and pink buds. The pewter charger, the dinner plate and the salad plate.
 The complete place set with the soup bowl.
 The LladrĂ² girl on her First Communion with a bird's nest with birdie. The cast iron, antique cross from my Mil's, is so special. The teacups are so cute with their English shape.


 The pretty Easter egg basket was made at our past Ceramic Co. with hand made flowers in the handle. The candle sticks are mercury glass.
 I love star lillis flowers, each one have two more buds to bloom yet...and oh, they make the room smell so good!
 The place set with the Bible in the background, the tea set and one of the mercury glass candle sticks.

The light purple water glasses.
Sometimes hubby and me love to eat on the foyer's antique French table, even if it is not a dining table... but it's fun on special dates, therefore, I think we'll have dinner here on GOOD FRIDAY. There's a special soup with all fresh harvest grains from the season, a very hardy soup and with many ingredients.. and also with "escabeche of cad fish"which is the custom here in Ecuador, after families fast all day until dinner time, where this soup is served. Some other families have it for lunch and this would be the only meal of the day, as well.

HAPPY EASTER!

FABBY

Thanking you in advance lovely friends for your kind and generous visits.  Thank you to the wonderful hostesses for having me at their terrific parties! 

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Vintage Thingies Thursday at Colorado Lady
It's a Party at A Creative Princess
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Feather Your Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home Friday at The Charm of  Home
Inspiration Friday at The Picket Fence
Open House Friday at No Minimalist Here
Potpourri Friday at A Potpourri Life
Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound 
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper
Masterpiece Monday at  Boogie Board Cottage 
Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
Blue Monday at Smiling Sally 

 






Friday, March 30, 2012

FABBY: Two Easter Tables

Under the soup tureen I placed the crocheted lace runner my mother made for me many years ago. I thought it was a pretty touch for my reticulated dishes, Easter tablescapes. 
Hi my darling friends, how are ya?

Here I am making two Easter tables with my two yellow moire tablecloths I recycled from my window draperies that were changed into Hunter Douglas shades... back in October 2011. I also used my COMPLETE RETICULATED dishes for twelve.  Therefore, you will see the round breakfast table with four place settings and the formal dining table with the eight, but of course I didn't display the accessories and serving pieces it also has, as it won't fit in the tables , I usually use them in buffet parties.
                            
                            BLESSINGS FOR THIS PALM SUNDAY.

                  HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!!

 The round breakfast table with a bunny inside a cloche.  The bunny is my grandgirl's Victoria who gave it to me because she's outgrowed it, lol...seems like granny didn't yet, hehehee..
 The bunny actually eats the carrot...it's really cute!

The stems are French and they were my Mil's.
 Serving set, with charger, dinner plate and soup bowl...everything is reticulated. The votives are lace like too, so I thought they went perfect!
 The napkin rings were all made at our former Ceramic Co. and they have butterflies on top for the spring feeling. Here you can also see the salad plate under the cup and saucer.
The two tables set with one of my favorite sets of dishes. They're a creamy color, not white, which makes them prettier, like antique. At left my NEW antique Belgium buffet I just acquired and am so in love with!  You can see the buffet post just behind this post.
 The formal dinner table, also set with the other eight reticulated place sets on top of the other yellow moire tablecloth made, or recycled from my former draperies.


 Here you can  see the reticulated hurricanes, they also came with this vast set of china. I took this shot with the lights off.

The skinny flower vases are Bohemian crystal, with yellow daises and pink carnations. The hand etched stemware are from Czechia.

 Charger and dinner plate.
 The complete set with the soup bowls. The little candy dishes with the Easter eggs, are also reticulated.
The soup tureen was also made at our former ceramic company, with a bird and flowers on the lid, flanked by the two lace hurricanes that came with the set of dishes. I placed the tureen as the centerpiece.. for the spring feeling of the tablescape.
So here you have them, my two Easter tables for twelve, for a sit down dinner, or luncheon. I love to make buffet dinner parties too, as than I can use all my salad bowls, tea set, water pitcher and platters that go with the rest of the reticulated-lace like dinner set.

Thank you lovely and sweet friends for all the comments you always give me, and they're so very appreciated.
Thank you lovely and gracious ladies for hosting such terrific parties and for having me. 

FABBY

Beverly's Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper
Cherished Treasures at Sunday Blog-Love linky Party
Metamorphosis Monday at:  http://betweennapsontheporch
Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle
Show Off Your Cottage at The House in the Roses
Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes
Marty's Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Cup Tuesday at Sweetology 101
Tuesday Cuppa Tea at Antiques and Tea Cups
Victoria-A Return to Loveliness
Lady Katherine for Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine Tea Parlor
Tea Time Tuesday at Sandy's My Yellow Door
Knick of Time Tuesday at Knick of Time
Your Cozy Home Party at Cozy Home Scenes
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm 
Let's Dish Party at Cuisine Kathleen
Wayfaring Wednesday at decor to Adore
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Primp Your Stuff at Primp
What's it Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Bunny Hop Party at Bunny Jean Decor and More
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style



Sunday, March 25, 2012

FABBY: Antique Belgium Buffet

Hi sweet friends, how are ya!

I really was looking for a long buffet to store my treasures, as I wasn't very happy with the hutch I had before, as it was not to big and didn't store much and I still had my cellar filled with carton boxes where I stored my former Ceramic Co's. many dishes and lots of other things, like glassware, baskets, Pyrex molds etc. So, I went to the antique European Imports store looking for a buffet, which is the look I wanted for that part of our breakfast dining room and the antique kind are deep and long.  To make the story short, I took pics with my cel phone and showed it to sweet and generous hubby, who immediately liked it and so, the rest is history, as they say, lol...


 
 This is how I normally keep some of my stash, as I still don't have room to store them yet.

 
 More carton boxes with some dishes, baskets, on top of a closet filled with blankets and comforters.
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 The breakfast area filled with everything I took out, in the hope that it'll fit in the new big buffet.
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 More carton boxes and I did have a lot of work, it took me a couple of days and of course, the cleaning after!
 
 Some of the stuff that was in the old hutch.
 
 Here is the BEFORE, with the small hutch in the background. Not too much where to store anything, as you can see.

 
 And the AFTER.  This is a Belgium, antique, solid mahogany buffet...circa early 1940's. I'm totally in love with it!
 
 I placed most of my sterling heirlooms and few silver plated treasures, along with our Phillipe Stark, French modern designer's silver lamp, for a touch of a modern look to it. I also had the oil paintings re-framed so both of the paintings are the same size to fit in the squares that the back wall's frame-moldings, formed. Before, the wall was covered by the hutch, so I didn't bother thinking of paintings for this wall and so I had to figure it out soon, happily these two came up from "home" shopping, heheheee..
 
 Now our breakfast round alabaster table, made in Ecuador and vintage Dutch chairs are next to the NEW-antique Belgium buffet...

 
 I also decorated my Mil's antique Art Deco- English buffet, which was her father's from a big set of dining room furniture;.. along with the hand made mud Foo-dogs and my Mom's Japanese soup tureen and Limoges dinner plates in aqua. The artwork is from a famous artist from Ecuador and I also framed it recently, after 22 years ago that hubby gave me for my birthday... goodness me, lol!
 
 Look at the beautiful hand carving on the side of it and by the doors. I also love the feet and the two tier where I placed my small silver heirlooms.
 
 This pull-out shelf or serving tray, with marble top was a total surprise!..as no one showed us at the shop and smart hubby found it and pulled it out! This is typically of the antique pieces, or some reproductions they make now, but without the marble top.
 
 Here with a tea, or coffee serving for after dinner...or it could be for liquor serving as well.
 
 Onion blue and white teacups and Bareuther-Indischblau, Bavaria pitcher in blue and white. Many vintage heirloom silver too.

 
 I'm loving this 'pull-out shelf ' with marble top that hubby discovered! I've never seen it before, lol..
 
 Inside.......couldn't fit all I wanted either.. but there is much more than in the hutch, just the same.
 
 A few stemware and the dishes we are using for everyday, as of now.
 
 Some more flatware I had no storage for them before and now I can see them at least.

Well, this is it for now. My new changes by the breakfast room and I'm very happy how it all turned up. Hope you liked it as much as I do.
Thank you my friends for your very appreciated visit and kind comments.  Have a great week and happy Spring!

FABBY

Thank you lovely and kind hostesses for the great parties I love to join every week. 

 I will be linking to Metamorphosis Monday at:  Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.
Masterpiece Monday at:  http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com
Amaze me Monday at:  http:// dittledattle.blogspot.com
Show Off your Cottage at:  http://houseintheroses.blogspot.com
Sally's Blue Monday at:  http://smylingsally.blogspot.com
Newbie Party at:  http://bloggingandblabling.blogspot.com
Your Cozy Home Party:  http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com
Mod Mix Monday at:  http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com
Marty's Table Top Tuesday at:  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
Lady Katherine for Tea Time Tuesday at:  http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com
Tea Cup Tuesday at:  http://marthasfavorites.blogspot.com
Trish's Tea Party Tuesday at:  http://sweetology101.blogspot.com
Tea Time Tuesday at:  http://sandymyyellowdoor.blogspot.com
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at:  http://coastalcharm.blogspot.com
Tea Time Tuesday at:  http://rosechintzcottage.blogspot.com
Knick of Time Tuesday at:  http://knickoftime.blogspot.com
Tuesday Cuppa Tea at://antiqueandteacups.blogspot.com
White Wednesday at:  http://fadedcharmblogspot.com
Bunny Hop Party at:  http://bunnyjeandecorandmore.blogspot.com
What's It Wednesday at:  http://ivyandelephnats.blogspot.com
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at:  http://primp.blogspot.com
Vintage Inspiration Friday at:  http://commonground.blogspot.com
Thrifty Things Friday at:  http://thetrhiftygroove.blogspot.com
Potpourri Friday at: http://apotpourrilifeat2805.blogspot.com
Home Sweet Home at:  http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com
Open House Friday at:  http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com