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










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

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

























 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.



 

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




















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



 

FABBY: New Vignette and Asparagus Pie

Hello sweet friends!

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. I went out with mother and Alejandro for brunch and we had a lovely time. Than we went shopping with my mom for her to choose her present and she chose a beautiful pair of earrings in silver with touches of gold. Another important holiday is over, now we'll have to wait for Father's Day; that should be fun too!

Last Friday I made for mother and Alejandro a Asparagus Pie, specially cause Mr. Living is so partial to any kind of pies, the sweet fruit kind as well as the salty ones. 

I also re-decorated my Mil's parents antique English buffet with my Onion blue and white tea set, which is part of my complete dinner china. The friends that follow me remember that before, I had my red transfer ware tea set displayed here...you know how we can get tired of looking at the same things and now that Father's Day is approaching, the blue is in! Ok, here it is, hope you like it.

I never change the Foo-dogs, though, cause actually, Alejandro loves them and I do too. The blue and white urn, at your left, is French.








This is how it was for nine months, prior to my new change in blue and white Onion china.
 

The other day, while I was at the drugstore I found these cute faux food, lol.. I love them inside my High Tea cloche.



I arranged the faux-cupcake and donut in my Mil's nesting tables.

I also incorporated my new vintage English teapot with gold in the new tray vignette. This Foo-dog at your left is a male, holding a blue ball.

I love indoor plants.

Look at the pretty blooms in the terracotta pot I added.

Looks like more blooms are coming out! I had this pot and others at my kitchen window sill for more than 1 1/2 years. The Foo-dog here is the mother..notice she has a puppy next to her and the blue ball.



The sugar sterling and porcelain spoon was a gift my dear Sister in law brought me from her trip to France, for my B'day last Oct., perfect for this china!

The linen hand embroidered tray-mat was a gift from my dear Mil several years ago and I love it that is blue and white, it's perfect here! I have two and the other is in the Belgium buffet.

Last Friday mother and Alejandro had lunch with me, so I made this great 'Asparagus and Leek pie,'  that I copied from a blogger friend and right now I don't know who it was. Thank you anyway. The recipe is at the end of this post.

 We also had cream of veggies and salad with the pie for lunch with my mother and hubby. My everyday dishes are 'Country-made in Spain.' The chargers are with a pretty cane woven center and from Thailand.




ASPARAGUS and LEEKS PIE

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 leek (white and light green parts only), halved and thinly sliced, then well washed
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 bunch (1 pound) asparagus, tough ends removed, thinly sliced on the diagonal (I use a can of asparagus sometimes, as opposed to fresh ones)
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups half-and-half
• Ground nutmeg
• 6 bacon strips, fried and cut into bits
• Our Favorite Pie Crust, fitted into a 9-inch pie plate, well chilled
• 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese (4 ounces)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack in lowest position. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium. Add leek and asparagus; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus is crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes; let cool.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon salt, teaspoon pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Place pie crust on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese; top with asparagus mixture. Pour egg mixture on top. Sprinkle with bacon bits.
3. Bake until center of quiche is just set, 50 to 60 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Cook's Note

To make sure the vegetables are distributed evenly, spread them in the crust before pouring in the egg mixture.

Thank you so much for coming by to visit me, my friends, as you always make my day!

Thanking the lovely and gracious hostesses for having me at their great parties, every week.

LOVE,
FABBY

The Parties I will be joining and I hope to see you there too!

Stephanie for Sunday Showcase Party at,  http://bystephanielynn.blogspot.com
Sally for Blue Monday at,  http://smilingsally.blogspot.com
Marty for Inspire Me Tuesday at,  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
Ivonne for On the Menu Monday at,  http://stonegable.blogspot.com
Mix It Up Monday at,  http://flourmewithlove.blogspot.com
Make it Pretty Monday at,  http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
Mop It Up Monday at,  http://ishouldbemoppingthefloor.blogspot.com
A Return to Loveliness at,  http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com
Ricky Jill for My Happy List at,  http://artandhome.blogspot.com
Masterpiece Monday at,  http://boggieboardcottage.blogspot.com
Susan for Metamorphosis Monday at,  http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
Amaze Me Monday at,  http://dwellingstheheartofthehome.blogspot.com
Martha for Tea Cup Tuesday at,  http://marthasfavorites.blogspot.com
Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday at,  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com
Katherine for Tea Time Tuesday at,  http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at,  http://coastalcharm.blogspot.com
A Return to Loveliness at,  http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com
Angie for Knick of Time Tuesday at,  http://knickoftime.blogspot.com
You're Gonna Love it Tuesday at,  http://kathewithane.blogspot.com
Tuesday Cuppa Tea at,  http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com
Friends Sharing Tea at,  http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.com
Weekend and Projects Link Party at,  http://isabellethorntonlechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at,  http://coastalcharm.blogspot.com
Welcome Back to the Scoop at,  http://thefarmhouseporch.blogspot.com
Kathe for You're Gonna Love It at,  http://kathewithane.blogspot.com
Angela for, Assets and Efforsts Linky Party at,  http://hickorytrail.blogspot.com
Kathleen for Let's Dish at,  http://cuisinekathleen.blogspot.com
Make Bake Create at,  http://hopeineveryseason.blogspot.com
Patty and Paula for What's It Wednesday at,  http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
Home (work) Wednesday at,  http://theeverydayhome.blogspot.com
Wednesday's Adorned from Above at,  http://adornedfromabove.blogspot.com
Cottage Style Party at,  http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com
Riverton Housewives Round Up at,  http://therealhousewivesofriverton.blogspot.com
Open House Party at,  http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com
Share Your Cup Thursday at,  http://haveadailycupofmrsolson.blogspot.com
It's a Party at,  http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com
Kathy for Home and Garden Thursday at,  http://adelightsomelife.blogspot.com
Wildly Original Link Party at,  http://igottacreate.blogspot.com
The Country Homemaker Blog Hop at,  http://dollyiscooking.blogspot.com
Home Making Party at,  http://hopeineveryseason.blogspot.com
Richella for Grace at Home at,  http://impartinggrace.blogspot.com
Vintage Thingie Thursday at,  http://coloradolady.blogspot.com
Jen for Fabulously Creative Friday at,  http://jenniferrizzo.blogspot.com
Kathreen for Anything Blue Monday at,  http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com
From the Farm Blog Hop at,  http://letthismindbeinyou.blogspot.com
Bernideen for Open House at,  http://bernideenteatimeblog.blogspot.com
















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










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