Wednesday, May 22, 2013

FABBY: Marty's May Cloche Party


Hello sweet friends!

I'm still cooking and baking for the party tomorrow, as I'm having all my brothers and sisters in laws to celebrate three of their birthdays and Alejandro and I are hosting this party tradition we have, in our house this time. I will make a post of it later on.

I did a small cloche post for Marty's great May Cloche Party, mostly because this is how I usually have the vignettes all over the dining room, as I have a passion for cloches. Ok, here it is!


Just recently I arranged this vignette in my antique English buffet, but added the two vintage white dog figurines.

In the Italian buffet I arranged a coffee or tea station for tomorrow night's dinner party and the marmalade French bowl with boy is placed inside my cloche, as I always have it! Cookies for coffee will be served in the three tier Royal Albert server.


Next, my Meissen blue and white two tier server. I also keep this beautiful porcelain bowl with a bird in the lid, which was made back at our Ceramic Co.

A close up of the reticulated bowl inside the cloche.


 
"Delicious Banana Cake with Caramel Topping." At left my Meissen bowl with three girls playing hide'n'seak, and holding chocolate Bom-boms.


The recipe if you'd like it's at the end of this post. Very worth it!!



DELICIOUS BANANA LAYER CAKE


1/2 C butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 C sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 C plus 1 Tbs. buttermilk
2 C all purpose flour
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 C chopped pecans
Caramel Frosting

Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs yolks, one at a time and beating well after each addition.
Dissolve soda in buttermilk; add to creamed mixture alternately with flour, beginning and ending with flour.
Stir in mashed bananas and pecans. Beat egg whites (at room temp) until stiff peaks form; fold into batter.

Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 8 inch round cake plates. Bake at 350F for 30 min. or until pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 10 min. Remove layers from pans, and let cool completely.

Spread Caramel Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake a little..on very cooled caked.

CARAMEL FROSTING

1 1/4 C sugar, 3/4 C packed brown sugar, about 1 C evaporated milk and 1/2 C butter or margarine.

Combine all ingredients on a heavy sauce pan, cook over medium heat. Stirring frequently, until mixture reaches soft ball stage, (240°). Remove from heat and beat, until spreading consistency... add additional milk, if necessary. Spread immediately on cooled cake.
 
I served this cake to 14 and had a good piece left for me, lol.. I always cut a circle in the middle so the pieces come neat when I cut them.

This recipe is from a vintage book that was my friend Stephanie's aunt and all the cakes are fabulous.. so whatever recipe from this book of Southern Baking there are no more.






Thank you Marty for the great Cloche Party in May. (I love her very special cloche parties).

Thank you lovely ladies for your wonderful comments, as you always make my day!

Marty's Special May Cloche Party at,  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
What's It Wednesday at,  http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
Natasha for Say G'Saturday at,  http://natashainoz.blogspot.com
Donna for Party Junk at,  http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com
Angie for Knick of Time Tuesday at,  http://knickoftime.blogspot.comMake
Make it Pretty Monday at,  http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
Welcome back to the Scoop! at,  http://thefarmhouseporch.blogspot.com










How Sweet the Sound I will be participating in PINK STAURDAY at How Sweet the Sound.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

FABBY: Memorial Day Celebration Table


Hello sweet friends!

I'm cooking away right now, as I'm having all of Alejandro's siblings and their partners to celebrate their birthdays. You see, we take turns in different houses to celebrate one or more birthdays, depending on when they fall; so we have three siblings to celebrate and we'll be hostessing this time...isn't it fun! Therefore, my Memorial tablescape is rather simple, but I used a set of summer Multiple Choice fish plates, to give the scape a little twist; which are so pretty and I have used them before for crab patties, or even just for a summer crab salad, etc. 

I will be specially joining Let's Dish at http://cuisinekathleen for her Memorial Day challenge party, Wednesday night. Hope to see you all there to celebrate this very special 'patriotic weekend.' 


I just added this MEMORIAL DAY image. My heart goes out to the people in Oklahoma.




May our Lord give strength to the people in Oklahoma who are undergoing struggles with the tornade. Prayers are going their way.




The cobalt blue chargers were made at our former ceramic company. I used my Corona red salad plates, along with my 'Multiple Choice' fish entree plates. White lace table topper and as a runner, an American flag. Some people don't like to use the flag in anything else but...this is just for a little while, for a Patriotic Tablescape and I am not going to use it as a 'real runner.'

Each plate has four types of fishes and the name is written on top of each one. The fish theme is because this long weekend some men might want to go fishing, right?

 I have the blue glasses since we got married in 1975. We bought 24 for a party and now I have eight left, ha!


The napkin rings are red, white and blue enamel.

Cute red, white and blue small fish butter dishes.
The vignette in the antique English buffet is also blue. I'm glad I re-decorated it last week.

The fish named in each plate are: Redeye Bass, Spotted Bass, King Carp, and Perch...it's so funny, but I just learned this, lol..




Wishing you a wonderful long Memorial Day weekend and I hope you all have lovely, sunny weather, no matter where you are! "God Bless America today and always!"


Thank you sweet friends for all the comments you leave me, as you always make my day!

Thank you lovely and gracious hostesses for having me at your great parties each week.


LOVE,
FABBY


Kathleen for Let's Dish at,  http://cuisinekathleen.blogspot.com
Debi and Charly for Adorned from Above Wednesday at,  http://adornedfromabove.blogspot.com
Home (work) Wednesday at,  http://everydayhome.blogspot.com
Paula What's It Wednesday at,  http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
Make, Bake, Create Party at,  http://hopeineveryseason.blogspot.com
It's a Party at,  http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com
Roverton Housewives Roundup at,  http://therealhousewivesofriverton.blogspot.com
Cottage Style Party at,  http://lavendergardenparty.blogspot.com
Kathy for Home and Garden Thursday at,  http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com
Open House Party at,  http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com
Share Your Cup Thursday at,  http://haveadailycupofmrsolson.blogspot.com
Wildly Original Linky Party at,  http://Igottacreate.blogspot.com
Homemaking Party at,  http://hopeineveryseason.blogspot.com
Vintage Thingie Thursday at,  http://coloradolady.blogspot.com
Debra for Be Inspired at,  http://commonground.blogspot.com
Home Sweet Home at,  http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com
Fabulously Creative Linky Party at,  http://jenniferrizzo.blogspot.com
It's Party Time at,  http://simplyvinageous.blogspot.com
Happy Thursday at,  http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com
 Feathered Nest Friday at,  http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Tickled Pink at  http://504mainbyhollylefevre.blogspot.com
Dolly for The Creative Blog Hop at,  htt://dollysdesigns.blogspot.com
Marty for Inspire Me Tuesday at,  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at,  http://coastalcharm.blogspot.com
Shine on Fridays at,  http://oneartsymama.blogspot.com
Festive Friday Fiesta at,  http://thehomegirl.blogspot.com
The Farmgirl Friday at,  http://hibiscushouse.bogspot.com
Show and Tell Saturday at,  http://bedifferentactnormal.blogspot.com
Alma for Seasonal Sunday at,  http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com
Diane for Beautiful Sunday at,  http://dianewrites.blogspot.com
Mop it Up Monday at,  http://ishouldbemopingthefloor.blogspot.com
You're Gonna Love it at,  http://kathewithane.blogspot.com

























Between Naps On the Porch I will be participating in Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.






 I will be participating in Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style.



 



Sunday, May 19, 2013

FABBY: Delft Imari Bowl with Orchid


Hello sweet friends!

I always wanted to share this beautiful Delft Imari-hand decorated bowl with handles, and since I have a beautiful orchid with lots of blooms, that I'm so proud it's doing well in my coffee table, I took advantage to show off both of them, lol..

 The Delft Imari bowl is 100% handpainted in Holland..it's how it says exactly in the back of the bowl. Alejandro can recognize hand work decorations in porcelain or ceramic as that was his business for many years, so he likes this piece very much too.  I bought it a few years ago because it has the coloring of our Travertino marble coffee table, which is like a burnt-orange, or even terracotta in color, along with some blues and gold decorations in the bowl. Ok, here it is, hope you like it.


You can see why I love the Dutch Imari bowl from Holland on my coffee table; where I'm so thrilled how my orchid is growing so happily inside it, too!
The area-rug in the living room is Chinese Silk-Aubusson.

The bronze dogs at your left are French antiques and so is the boy from the early last century, French as well.

Here you can probably notice how nicely the coloring of the Imari bowl goes with the marble color of the coffee table.

I love the hand decor in oranges, blues and gold of this bowl with the handles.

I'm so happy how my orchid is blooming so beautifully here. I've decided I'm going to have a collection of indoor orchids now, as my dining room it's also naturally lighted, perfect for orchids.

Alejandro has a quite famous uncle artist, who passed away a couple of years ago at 100 years of age in Spain and the oil painting of the calla here is his. I will some day make a post about him; but right now I want to share Alejandro's own oil painting work he finished a couple of weeks ago and is waiting to dry thoroughly so I can frame it. I personally love what he did and he also gifted it to me.

I love it because it's painted by my Mr. Living..oh well, I'm so delighted with his gift to me, besides the fact that I love flower paintings, specially.





Thank you so much my sweet friends for your wonderful comments, you always make my day!

Thanking the ladies for hosting and for having me at their great parties each week.



Alma for Seasonal Sunday at,  http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com
Sally for Blue Monday at,  http://smilingsally.blogspot.com
Marty for Inspire Me Tuesday at,  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
Kristi for Mop it Up Monday at,  http://ishouldbemoppingthefloor.blogspot.com
Inspire Me Monday at,  http://createwithjoy.blogspot.com
Make it Pretty Monday at,  http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
Masterpiece Monday at,  http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com
A Return to Loveliness at,  http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com
Cindy for Amaze Me Monday at,  http://dwellingstheheartofyourhome.blogspot.com
Masterpiece Monday at,  http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com
Natasha for Say G'Day Saturday at,  http://natashainoz.blogspot.com
Mix it Up Monday at,  http://flourmewithlove.blogspot.com
Paula for Marvelous Monday at,  http://callmepmc.blogspot.com
Stephanie Lynn for The Sunday Showcase Party at,  http://bystephanielynn.blogspot.com
Kaysi for Motivate Me Monday at,  http://keepingitsimple.blogspot.com
Make it Pretty Monday at,  http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
Elaine for Sunny Simple Monday at,  http://sunnysimplelife.blogspot.com
Isabelle for Paint Projects Linky Party at,  http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com
Dolly for The Creative Blog Hop at,  http://dollysdesigns.blogspot.com
Kathy for A Return to Loveliness at,  http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com
Cottage Style Party at,  http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com
The Scoop Link Prty at,  http://thefarmhouseporch.blogspot.com
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at,  http://coastalcharm.blogspot.com
Angie for Knick of Time Tuesday at,  http://knickoftime.blogspot.com
Victorian Tea for Tea Time Tuesday at,  http://rosechintzcottage.blogspot.com
Kathe for You're Gonna Love It at,  http://kathewithane.blogspot.com
My Happy List at,  http://artandhome.blogspot.com
Assets and Efforts Linky Party at,  http://hickoryhill.blogspot.com




















Between Naps On the Porch I will be participating in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.