Monday, September 30, 2013

Victoria's First Communion Part ONE


Hello sweet friends!

I finally gathered lots some pictures from my dear granddaughter's First Communion, a week ago. This photos were taken mostly by Alejandro and me, as there are professional ones too, which hope to get from my daughter one day.

My daughter Sofia arranged the flowers in the dining room, specially the decoration of her amazing 'Table of Sweets,' which she also designed and executed, as here in Ecuador is the custom and tradition for the dessert in a luncheon, as this one. I was there two days before to give her a hand, although she had everything under control.

 There were amazing flowers arrangements throughout her lovely home and in the luncheon tables, which she had professionally done by her supervision and choice of flowers, because it would have been to much for her alone.

The tradition here for a child's First Communion is the 'Table of Sweets,' which consists of beautiful arrangements of many, many small sweets of all types, some even with FC decorations in them, of course. Everything is always grand as a First Communion is considered the most important 'Sacrament of the Catholic Faith' in a child's life, I'd say for all Latin Americans.

I also brought some cute sweets from Cuenca, the city where Sofia grew up and we live still, because she had many memories from her own FC. Anyway, I will be explaining under each photo.

Here goes, so please sit down and get comfortable because there are many pics in the 'First Part' of Victoria's First Communion. Hope you enjoy it and come for the 'Second Part,' where you will finally see Victoria in her gorgeous white dress and the rest of us.


Sofia and Victoria the day before checking that the caterers where doing everything the way they wanted. Weather in Guayaquil is always hot like Summer in the US, sometimes a little cooler like now.
The tent you see here is for the luncheon buffet.

Assembling chiffon fabric canopies or awnings, because of the hot sun in the middle of the day. The huge 'river' you see in back of her yard is a maritime river. Alejandro loves to be photographing ships when they go by.

All set for the luncheon buffet.

Sofia had assembled in her garage a pretty and fun buffet for the 38 little girls from Victoria's class. They were going to have some kind of entertainment as well.

This is how her back yard looked like the night before. The tables for her 60 adults guests are way back, so the following day we would place the beautiful flower arrangements and that would be all.

This is a sample of the flower vases for each table of 10. They all had these lovely lace tablecloths too. In the back some of the boxes of little sweets that kept arriving the day before.

The flowers for the tables all ready the night before.

A platter with little sweets and like I said, a First Communion in Ecuador is not a FC if you don't offer hundreds of these adorable and delicious sweets to your guests for dessert. Look at the marzipan ones with birds and bibles on top, so cute! I didn't show you all of them as there were close to fifteen varieties and most of them were 100 of each. They were wonderful!

Sofia arranging the sweets in her pretty white trays, the night before. My helping hands at your right, lol..

At this point we were waiting more to be delivered, so we were leaving spaces in the platters and trays to fill them up.
There are so many sweets in boxes in the kitchen for the refill, as the custom is to have enough so family and guests can take some home in small bags which were also provided.
 
They're also sent after the party, some to the neighbors and to people that laid hands to help out with the F.C.

A small station for coffee or tea which was served after the luncheon. This was also in the back porch. Notice my mother's gift for Victoria, the Bavarian plate and teacup. You can't see, but at your left there was a First Communion album were guests and family wish the child happiness throughout her life in God's trust.

Almost ready!

Sofia bought white carton boxes to raise the trays with the sweets and added a white lace around them to make them festive, and because of all the white here is difficult to appreciate the lace ribbon. A very easy, pretty and inexpensive decor.




This side table is holding the 'First Communion favors,' another tradition and custom we have here in Ecuador and all Latin America.
At left there were cute cloth bags holding sterling pill boxes for the ladies with the face of the 'Virgin Mary' and the square boxes are for the children and they come with Christian legends inside called "Our daily Bread." Children love to read one card each day at dinner time together with their families, as there are 365 for each day of the year; along with religious cards. All these had Victoria's name in it, of course, so the guests will remember her special day of her First Communion.

Sofia made this gorgeous arrangements for her special 'sweets table.' She placed them in each corner of her dinning table in different levels.

The cake was gorgeous too.

I brought Victoria 400 sweets with different shapes, specially cause they are from this region of the country, Cuenca, where Sofia grew up, so she has many memories from her childhood and her very own FC with the little fruit sweets at your left and so many more.

Under the square tray you can see a little of the white lace ribbon around the white box which she bought to raise the platters, or trays.

The entrance all done up with white carnations and green roses.

These white Carnation balls where hanging in the trees as you came in the house. I took the shot at night as in the day time the sun was so bright and you could hardly appreciate them in the photos.

Sofia's amazing design with her 'sweets table' she so proudly worked hard designing and executing. The pretty flowers in the buffet were done up by her, along with the ones in the table. The German crystal urns were also filled with hand made candy wrapped in white.

These are wonderful, as Sofia explained that she saw this arrangement in Internet somewhere...where you put water half way the glass urn and on top you place the oasis where you just stick the greens and the roses and the water keeps clean and it's perfect for glass...I loved it!

Another beautiful arrangement in this Chinese ginger jar. Her orchid plant in the Art Deco vintage side table.

The tables ready for the luncheon, Saturday September 21; after the family and guests would arrive from church from Victoria's First Communion.

I hope you come by for the 'Second Part' of the event so you can finally see Victoria in her White dress and lots of more fun things.

Thank you so much lovely friends for your sweet and generous comments, as they always make my day!

Thanking the gracious hostesses for having me at their wonderful parties each week.

LOVE,
FABBY

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

FABBY: Lattice Chicken Pot Pie


Hello sweet friends!

           Yesterday, while I was grocery shopping, I saw in one of the shelves of my local supermarket a Lattice Roller. I said, just perfect for all my pies, so they can look pretty and dressed up! Anyway, I made a chicken pot pie today for dinner from a very old recipe from an English friend of mine and of course, I tried my new Lattice Roller.

Here are some pics and the recipe of the pie dough, which is fabulous, because I know you all have the chicken filling recipe, and of course, you can use the store bought dough, or puff pastry as well and work with this fun gadget, which also makes you look like you've been 'slaving' with the net-like pattern, all day!


Here I have the pie ready to go on the oven, but needing to place the 'latticed dough' on top.

First: knead dough in a circle, not to thin and not to thick either, and what you
  do is simply press cutter and roll over dough and pull apart for quick, easy effect.

The brand on the box of the cutter said: Lattice Roller-KitchenPro. (made in China for $2.50)

Than you pull apart the dough with your hands to open and the lattice is formed, criss-cross fashion...using both your hands. (I had no one to help me so there's no pics of this part). Place the dough on top of pie, like here. Trim excess dough hanging around the pie edge with a kitchen scissors, as it comes out neatly this way.

Here is all baked and looking pretty, my hubby's favorite comfort food, but I love it too!

Cover the edges with aluminum foil, half way through baking so it doesn't burn.

This is my first, net-like try at this lattice dough, but I know I will do a prettier job next time.

I also just found 6 blue and white Wedgwood salad plates, 6 soup plates and six dinner plates...all Wedgwood English transfer ware. I'm so happy to add more to my collection!

Blue and White transfer ware is so pretty, I just love it! I'm thinking of making a dinner party with some friends and use them again, as now I have 14 dinner plates.

Ready for dinner with chicken soup I made from cooking the chicken breast for the pie filling.


Let me tell you, it was great and it's hubby's favorite, ever! I love this 'home made dough for pies,' which I am sharing it bellow. You could use the cutter with puff pastry too, or store bought pie dough.

Thank you so much for visiting me, as you always make my day and posting sooo very worth it!

Thank you gracious hostesses for having me at your great parties.

LOVE,
FABBY

Pate Brisee Pie Dough

1 1/4 Cup flour  (all purpose)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/2 Cup cold butter
5 Tablespoons cold water

Place all the ingredients in the Cuisinart, butter and cold water last, a tablespoon at a time.

To make the bottom and top crusts, you must double the recipe quantity.

Take half of your dough to a slightly floured table and roll it into a circle. Place it in a pie dish, with some raw beans. Take it to the oven for 15 minutes at 325F. Take it out and prepare the second disk of dough, where you press the Lattice Roller and roll up and down. It should look like the first pic.

Cover the pie dish with the chicken filling and top with the prepared lattice dough top and take it to the oven for 45 minutes at 325F. Half way through cooking, take out pie and cover the edges with aluminum foil. Place in oven again and finish baking.

Use the filling of your choice, say chicken, meat or fruit.

Enjoy it!

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Monday, September 23, 2013

FABBY: Apples for Two


Hello sweet friends!

        I just got back from our very long weekend at our daughter's house for grand Victoria's First Communion, which was last Saturday the 21 of Sept., 2013. Everything turned out fabulous and our young Victoria was extremely happy!

I will be posting about the First Communion after this post with the 'Apple Theme,' which I had ready for "Kathleen's new challenge, for Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen." I did a small table for the two of us with everything APPLE...right in our kitchen nook. I hope you like it!  Here goes...

My contribution to the challenge for 'Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen with the 'Apple Theme' has been by using green apples, green plates and green goblets. The table topper has some apples as well, although not green as I tried to incorporate specially the Green color in this tablescape. 



The dishes in green were all made back at our past Factory, including the Apple-green ones.

The tablecloth has a Fall look to it and some red apples in the print as well.

Rattan charger, white dinner plate, green and white entree plate.


Apple napkins on top of apple-green salad plates.


The bowl at your right, standing on leaves is for the soup.






I liked this tablecloth I had for the kitchen table, as it has a Fall look to the print, what with leaves, pumpkins and apples.

Late afternoon colors and I have lighted the stained glass sky light, here in the kitchen.

I love how the sky has streaks in blue shades and even a pink one; as it's 6:30 pm as I finished this tablescape before I went to my Victoria's First Communion.

Now, the following day I grabbed two apples and made this delicious 'Apple Pancake' Alejandro loves and for our lunch dessert...as I've mentioned before that we have a heavier lunch and a lighter dinner.

The Apple Pancake recipe follows:


       


       

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, blend eggs, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Gradually mix in milk, stirring constantly. Add vanilla, melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Let batter stand for 30 minutes or overnight. (When I'm doing a dinner party I let it stand so it's ready from the day before, otherwise I don't)
  2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  3. Melt butter in a 10 inch oven proof skillet, (I use a cast-iron skillet) brushing butter up on the sides of the pan. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Sprinkle mixture over the butter. Line the pan with apple slices. (I use 2 small apples instead of just one).  Sprinkle remaining sugar over apples. Place pan over medium-high heat until the mixture bubbles, then gently pour the batter mixture over the apples.
  4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and bake for 10 minutes. Slide pancake onto serving platter and cut into wedges.
PS: This is great with vanilla ice cream too, on a hot day, or always, lol!

Thank you so much for your wonderful and kind visits, as you always make my day! I will also be a little late answering your precious comments from the before post, but, be sure I'll get to the last one!

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


LOVE,
FABBY


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