Christmas in the Dining Room

Can you believe it? Only 2 Tablescape Thursdays left before Christmas! Make sure to visit Susan @ BNOTP for more decked out dining. I'm also linking up with lovely Leigh from Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday.

My table is set for Christmas dinner as I eagerly await for my 2 boys to come home from college. It will be the first time since August that my family will be complete. This is the BEST Christmas present any mother could wish for!


This is one of my favorite thrift shop finds, all polished up for our Christmas table. It's so shiny you could see my reflection on it! It's a silver butter dish with a pivoting lid.

Say, ahhh...
a little wider, please...
The lid turns all the way around until it's hidden underneath the dish. Pretty snazzy, huh?

The table is very traditional, just like me.


The gold chargers are from Wal Mart. That reminds me, I have to purchase some silver ones for my January tablescape!

These pillar candles I use all year round by changing out the color of the candles. For Christmas, they get a little extra adornment with some ribbon and greenery.


The china is called Holly Holiday, purchased over the years from May Company. Remember that department store?

Red napkins, glittered fruit, and a gold organdy ribbon complete the setting, while the Mikasa water goblet and wine glass add a little sparkle.




Lastly, some simple Dollar Tree ornaments hang from gold ribbon from my Victorian chandelier.


Wishing you all the Merriest Christmas from my cottage to yours!


Till next time,

Lemon Ricotta Cookies

Greetings fellow foodies! It's another delicious Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum. Today's offering is a simple and delicious lemon cookie, perfect for your Christmas cookie swaps! Hope you give it a try!

Giada de Laurentis's Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Ingredients

Cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 lemon, zested

Glaze:

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 lemon, zested

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cookies:

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.

Glaze:

Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours. Pack the cookies into a decorative container.

Note: These are cake-like cookies and freeze well. Just frost after thawing.


Happy holiday baking, everyone!

Till next time,

Christmas Tea Tablescape

Welcome, dear Bloggers! It's so nice to be back after such a prolonged absence and to be able to participate in Susan's Tablescape Thursday once again. Today, I'd like to invite you to a Christmas Tea and Cookie Exchange. Sit back, relax, and let me pour you a cuppa!





This tablescape has real food on it. Imagine that!

Simple tea fare can look so elegant with careful presentation, don't you agree?

Smoked salmon on sourdough, anyone?

Perhaps some curry chicken on croissant instead?


Oh, but you must have the cucumber and mint sandwiches!



Some fresh fruit to cleanse the palette. Incidentally, the crystal stemware are a Goodwill find. Ssshh, don't tell.



Please, help yourself to a Mimosa.



The crystal salad plates were a great find at a favorite antique mall. I purchased 11 for about a dollar a piece.


My sister made these place cards at the last minute. Aren't they cute?
My husband and I started collecting these pieces when we first got married. The pattern is Holly Holiday, purchased from a department store that's no longer in existence. Fortunately, we were able to collect enough for a seating of 16 before they went out of business.






Here's a sampling of the goodies on our cookie exchange table.










What's a tea without scones. Here are my currant scones, served with Devonshire cream, lemon curd and jam, of course!



For dessert, I made individual pumpkin trifles.





Merry Christmas, dear ones, from me, my mom, and sis!



Till next time,