Thursday, May 24, 2012

FABBY: Fun Tablescape at Sofia's

  We just received wonderful news from Sofia about her husband, as most of you know our Sil is undergoing a spine operation right now at Miami's Spine Hospital. Latest news from the Vascular Dr., who just made an exit from the operating room, explained to Sofie that so far everything is coming out perfectly and he's job is finished...we just have to wait two hours more so the surgeon can give her the final news on the operation outcome. God is good.

Up date on Giancarlo's operation:  Everything came out perfectly as expected, he's in the recuperating room and Sofia will see him tomorrow finally. We are so happy for her too, as she was so worried and alone there...wish I was with her too and made myself two, in order to be a mom as well, lol... Thank you to OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!!

Here is a tablescape I made at Sofia's dining room, where we are taking care of our granddaughters, Victoria 7 and Cayetana 5.  The dishes displayed here were made at Monte Turi, our past Ceramic Co. designed by me, specially for Victoria, eight years ago and some of the big pieces (not shown here), have an inscription in the back that they were made by her grandparents.. specially for her.

 The buffet in the back ground is an antique and the dining set is an Art Deco style, a gift we gave her for her college graduation. Sofia is a professional gardenscaper. She just reupholstered them with this lovely red.
 The dishes were made at hubby's past ceramic co. and they were designed by me, with the inspiration on the Indigenous people of Ecuador's attire, which was my job back then, at our factory. Hubby owned it for 30 years.
 Sofia has a beautiful, vintage looking, silver plated tray I love, which inspired me to make the centerpiece with the teacups, plates, teapot with roos, creamer with teaspoons and marmalade bowl with a strawberry on the lid... with leaf feet as well.
 The dinner plate's design is orange with the decoration simulating an embroidery doily with flowers and humminbird. You can see that the design on the lovely flowers look like they were embroidered with thread. The artist from our company, Luis Leon, was wonderful, he interpreted everything I would imagine!!
 The salad plate in a smaller version of the dinner plate and also with a hummingbird..I love this bird! The flatware is modern Italian in stainless and teak wood.
 The soup bowl is adorable as it has three feet, in the shape of leaves.
 You can see part of the leaf feet the soup bowls have. Sofia serves pasta, cereal, soup of course, etc., in them as well.
 I love the silver, vintage looking tray as centerpiece. I also used one of her cloches to place the teacups and cake plates.
 The sherbets for fresh fruit salad, walnuts, coconut flakes and yogurt.
 The sherbets at front stage. They also follow the doily idea design. I little duck on top of this napkin ring.
 A side view of the place setting. Here you can see better the leaf feet on the bowls. The glass chargers are a goldish, caramel color and are Italian. She has glassware to match, except I couldn't find them, she also has cartons and she's getting like me! Therefore, I used clear wine goblets and water caramel glasses to sort of match the chargers.
I love this silver tray!
I almost forgot to show you this gorgeous, brass antique clock, turn of the last century that our Sil, Giancarlo inherited from his grandfather's family. I love how the young woman is drinking water from the fountain, which has a whimsical face on the top, sort of like Alice in Wonderland kind of whimsy. This fabulous clock was made in New York City at the very early years of the 1900's.
 I'm going to be joining Let's Dish and Tablescape Thursday today. Please check many other fun and great parties too. Hope to see you there, my friends.
I just made the tablescape for six, although the table is for eight, but it could seat ten even.



 Little bowl with a red chili pepper...guess what it's for..lol!! The napkin rings have little birds on top.
Thank you so much for all your prayers for our Sil's operation and good wishes for a prompt convalescence. I am always in debted with you all, generous, kind and sweet friends.

Thank you also for your kind and lovely visits as they always make my day and my life so exciting!
Thank you gracious hostesses for having me week, after week at your fun and terrific parties.

LOVE,
FABBY


Let's Dish at:  http://cuisinekatleen.blogspot.com
Tablescape Thursday at:  http://betweennapsontheporch
Feather Nest Friday at:  http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Inspiration Friday at:  http://atthepicketfence.blogspot.com
Home Sweet Home at:  http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com
Thrifty Things Friday at:  http://atthethriftygroove.blogspot.com
Pink Saturday at:  http://howsweetthesound.blogspot.com
Seasonal Sunday at:  http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com
Shine on Fridays at:  http://oneartsymama.blogspot.com

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

FABBY: Mother's Day present and Real Tablescape

 Here are a couple of new pics I just added to this post right now, so you can see how Alejandro hunged the middle, pear shaped prism longer, as it wasn't before, because a couple of crystal balls in the chain had fallen. We were so lucky the sales person recuperated them from the antique shop.
The center, pear shaped prism has two beautiful faceted sides, which is why it looks better longer!






Hi my darling friends, hope you had a great Mother's Day, along with your dear family and that you were very appreciated as you deserve to be..all of you!.. lovely and wonderful mothers from blog land.

I want to also share with you, my dearest blog friends, that my wonderful son in law, Sofia's husband and father of my two little grandgirls is going to have a "spine" operation in one of the Miami's Spine Institutes, by the Director Surgeon, Amar D. Rajadhyaksha, because he's got a problem with a crooked spine, which he was born with, the Dr. says..and it's been bothering him ONLY for the past year to this date! He started to feel pain since he was 37, last year, therefore, he had a couple of visits to different surgeons and institutes and decided this was the best Dr., as Sofia and her hubby know older patients that are doing wonderful after been operated by him. The surgery will take place next Thursday, May 24th. I am appealing to your generosity of heart to send some prayers for Giancarlo, in the hope that our Lord, Jesus Christ will bless him and his surgeon so that everything will turn out smoothly and without any problem, as we expect.  Thank you from the buttom of my heart.

LOVE,
FABBY


We will be driving for 3-4 hours, this coming Friday morning, May 18th., to spend three weeks in Guayaquil-Ecuador taking care of our two little grand-girls with Alejandro. I will be posting and visiting you from my daughter's house after this last post. Please excuse me, as I will take a little longer answering your wonderful and generous comments, but I will be over to your blogs!



 Here is my Mother's Day gift from my wonderful hubby Alejandro.  It's an antique, circa 1920's, Marie Therese style, with many faceted and polished hand cut crystal, as every prism is different than the other. Since these pictures,  Alejandro made the hanging "single prism longer" as a couple of round crystals had fallen, we were so lucky they could find them later on at the antique shop!

 I have this beautiful Belgium tablecloth since my eldest daughter Alexandra made her First Communion... years ago. The Czech crystal urn with white flowers. I didn't want to take away attention, or front stage to the chandelier, so I did a white table for ten, eight good friends and us... with my white  Noritake dishes. The white vintage hounds I borrowed from my dog collection.
A shot from above. The white lotus porcelain bowls are for chili sauce that men love with their meals around this parts.
I used a plain blue tablecloth under the Belgium lace one, so to appreciate the lace work better.
The place set, ready for my Shrimp Quiche as entree. Main dish was turkey with wild rice, chef's salad and my mother's great stuffing. For dessert I made an Argentinian Dulce de Leche Cheesecake. I think is a Spanish tradition as all Latin Americans have had many a Dulce de Leche recipes from always... my grandma Stella's "dulce" was the best, made from scratch, as it was my Mil's and my own mother's. Now there are plenty ready made in the market... so I don't think it is only an Argentinian dessert.
 I also placed my vintage white porcelain hounds figurines from my dog collection.

The etched stems are hand cut crystal from the Czech Republic.
I never thought I'll ever have a "gorgeous girl" like this chandy hanging above my dinner table... any time soon, or EVER!...of course, my "four girls" are the most gorgeous!! Two daughters and two grand-girls, God has gifted me with.



 I also arranged white roses for the foyer's vintage, French table. The chandy in the dining room  looks too gorgeous from here!

We hosted a dinner party for eight real good friends last Friday, before Mother's Day weekend. But I'm also sharing my stunning Mother's Day gift I received from my wonderful hubby, Alejandro. Actually, I never thought I will be replacing my Italian Brass chandy ... EVER! I loved our past chandy, as it really was beautiful, it had a porcelain, gold body, which broke in many pieces when we moved to this house, so hubby just put it together without the body, so of course it got smaller for our big table. Therefore, hubby went shopping to the Antique European store for "something" to give me, (he knows best what I like) and he saw it and fell in love with this, 12 light, antique, circa 1920's Italian, Marie Therese style chandelier, with many faceted and polished hand cut crystal, as every prism is different than the other. He really took me to see if I liked it!! LOL!..and of course, I'm not that dumb!..I fell head over hills in love with it too!! Hope you liked it too.

Always.. thank you my darlings for your generous and wonderful comments I receive from you, every time!

I will be joining some great parties, so thank you lovely and gracious hostesses for having me.

Let's Dish at:  http://cuisinekathleen.blogspot.com
White Wednesday at:  http://fadedcharm.blogspot.com
Wow Us Wednesday at:  http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday at:  http://primp.blogspot.com
What's It Wednesday at:  http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
Bunny Hop Party at:  htt://bunnyjeandecorandmore.blogspot.com 
Share your Cup Thursday at:  http://haveadailycupwithmrsolsen.blogspot.com
Open House Party at:  http://nominimalist.blogspot.com
Tablescape Thursday at:  http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
Inspiration Friday at:  http://thepicketfence.blogspot.com
Thrifty Things Friday at:  http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com
Feather Nest Friday at:  http://thefrenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Shine on Fridays at:  http://oneartsymama.blogspot.com 
Seasonal Sundays at:  http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com
Sunday Showcase Party at:  http://underthetableanddreaming.blogspot.com
Beautify it Monday at:  http://bringingbeauty.blogspot.com
Metamorphosis Monday at:  http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
Motivated Monday at:  http://becolorful.blogspot.com
Table Top Tuesday at:  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com



Wednesday, May 9, 2012

FABBY: Sea Food Table for my Mama.

First of all I want to wish the best of Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers and grandmothers and even great-grands, throughout blog land. May you have a very special day, filled with love and attention from all your loved ones, just as you deserve it! Hugs and best wishes to your dear daughters and Dils as well. 


LOVE,
FABBY

 Here is my beautiful and wonderful mother Yolanda, who is the second and only girl, (they broke the mold after she was born, lol) with three brothers, since, she's lost her eldest and youngest brothers. This picture was taken about a year ago. My mother is 82 years old. She's had her ups and downs with her health lately, but thank goodness, nothing mayor, except for osteoporosis on her spine, which gives her a lot of pain, and she has to get medicated with injections for it.
 I thought I show you the beautiful crocheted tablecloth work she did for me several years ago.  Now, because of her osteoporosis in her spine she can't crochet any more, but I'm so blessed I have great treasures from her and for my daughters and also from my Grandmother Stella... her mother.
 She did many accessories for the tablecloth too, like buffet and dinner table runners. The doilies I'm showing here, at right, she made them for my chargers.
 She also crocheted for me this gorgeous, runner that looks like it has bows. The tobacco color next to it and other pretty things I will share.
 The basket mat to cover the bread... and here is a close up of the table and buffet tobacco color runners. I love them for the fall decor.
 The table scape specially for my mother for today, Wednesday.
 The pot, or tureen is for the Escabeche of Fish, (recipe is at the end of the post) that she loves and the sherbets are for the Ceviche of Shrimp, another favorite of the Ecuadorian cuisine she prefers. The beautiful Spondilus shell with pedestal of the same shell, we see up front, is for the chili sauce. There are gorgeous spondilus shells in the Ecuadorian sea and they make the most lovely things for the homes and jewelry too.
 Here is the tureen I designed at our past Ceramic Co. The handle in the lid has a cute fish, sculped by hand and with a design of the bottom of the sea. The fish dish is an antique, English from my Mil and it's Johnson's Brothers..and I serve it with little "empanadas" that go with the Ceviche.
 The blue charger, the square yellow plate and the sherbets were made by us too. Look how pretty the sea horse inside the sherbet is. Everything, or every piece was hand decorated.
 Here is a Ceviche bowl with a fat fish decorated inside.
 The third place set, they all have different color square dinner plates, where the escabeche and rice goes.
 The flower platter was also made at our former Ceramic Co. The serving spoon is made in Ecuador too and it's made of "mother of pearl" and wooden handle. The spatula you see by the fish plate is also from the set.
 I used this tablecloth I love, because it's in sea blue and the design reminds me of the ocean's waves, or the tide.
 Here is a close up of the tureen, or pot, I often use it to hold my Fish Escabeche.
 White roses for my mother in a crystal Czech urn.
 The hand design around the sherbets.
 Look at the cute little turtle, flanked by the fishes. The waves you see on the decorations is to simulate fish scales.
 The Spondilus shell bowl with pedestal is used around here for the hot sauce, or chili sauce.

I love this pretty Indian, cotton tablecloth..I like the design and color of it.
This table is for my dearest mother, who loves Shrimp Ceviche and Fish Escabeche, both delish dishes from the Ecuadorian cuisine. We will go for lunch on Mother's Day to her home, kids, grandkids and  great-grands. She comes every Wednesday and has lunch with Alejandro and me and than we go for afternoon tea to a cafeteria, or we simply go shopping. The dishes and some accessories were designed by me and made at out former Ceramic Co. The motif, or design is for sea food and the pot or tureen is for the Escabeche. I do hope you like this table as mother did.

All my love and best wishes for you lovely ladies in blog land. I can't wait to go and visit your fabulous posts for this special day dedicated to us mothers. Many blessings for and your families.

Thank you gracious hostesses and may God bless you and your families this Mother's Day.

Let's Dish at:  http://cuisinekathleen.blogspot.com
Tablescape Thursday at:  http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
Vintage Thingies Thursday at:  http://coloradolady.blogspot.com
It's a Party at:  http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com
Open House Party at:  http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com
Full Plate Thursday at:  http://countrycottage.blogspot.com
Feather Your Nest Friday at:  http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Home Sweet Home Friday at:  http://thecharmofhome.blogpsot.com
Think of this Things at:  http://agratefulprayerandathankfulheart.blogspot.com
Shine on Fridat:  http://oneartsymama.blogspot.com
Show and Tell Friday at:  http://myromantichome.blogspot.com
Addicted to Decorating at:  http://addicts(notso)anonymous.blogspot.com
Foddie Friday at:  http://designsbrgollum.blogspot.com
Pink Saturday at:  http://howsweetthesound.blogspot.com
Seasonal Sunday at:  http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com
On the Menu Monday at:  http://stonegable.blogspot.com
Show Off your Cottage Monday at:  http://the houseintheroses.blogspot.com
Table Top Tuesday at:  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at:  http://coastalcharm.blogspot.com
Time Time Tuesday at:  http://rosechintzcottage.blogspot.com
Beautify it Monday at:  http://bringingbeauty.blogspot.com

                                              FISH ESCABECHE

Some of you have asked me for this recipe...so here goes!

1 lb. of any white fish you prefer, cut in cubes, fried and reserved  (fry in vegetable oil)
1 med. onion, chopped
1 tablespoon, or more of tomato paste
2 ripe tomatoes cut in small squares, or chopped
1 teaspoon of fresh cilatro, chopped
2 sweet platain cut into small squares, fried and reserved  (fry in vegetable oil)
2 big potatoes, cut into squares, fried and reserved   (fry in vegetable oil)
1 red pepper, shredded
1 teaspoon of crushed, or minced garlic
 - salt, pepper and cumin, to taste
2 tablespoons of flour for coating the fish squares, (before frying)
1/4 Cup cream, if you prefer a little more, go ahead!
- vegetable oil for all the frying you have to do
1 1/2 Cups water

In a deep pot put a little bit of oil, chop the onion, cilantro, minced fresh garlic, tomato paste, cilantro, the red pepper and chopped tomatoes. Cook for like 4 minutes. 
Fry the fish squares add a little salt and pass them by flour, than. deep fry them. Cut in squares as well, the sweet fresh plantains, (like bananas, they have them in Latin-Hispanic stores) and deep fry them directly in a pot.  Fry the potatoe squares the same way, if you wish you can use the same oil for both. Set aside and reserve all the 3 items you fried.
Now, in your pot where you cooked the onions, add the water, like 1 1/2 cups and boil it, than inmediatelly add the fried fish, the fried platain, and the fried potatoes...and mix softly so not to brake the fish pieces. At the end add the cream, mix slowly and don't let it boil. Cover until you serve. This is a really yummy recipe and serve it with white rice, or even the wild kind. To make it more elegant I also have added cooked big shrimp and have served at dinner parties and my guests totally loved it!!


Since it was a family recipe from my Mil, the quantities of the ingredients are not perfect, but you try it to your taste.  Hope you make it, believe me, you won't be sorry!


FABBY