Tablescape ~ Mother's Day Brunch

Usually we celebrate Mother's Day with a late lunch so we have a light breakfast/brunch in the morning. I like to make it easy... because I'm a mom, too!




I recently acquired this vintage brunch set for 10, including matching Myott mugs and plates from a wonderful on-line vintage home & garden shop ... more about those in a moment.





I thought I would combine my posts for Tablescape Thursday and Foodie Friday this time, because they just happen to go together this week.



Keeping it simple this week!





I just love this swirl design on the mugs and plates ~

The maker is Myott, "Olde Chelsea", Staffordshire, Made in England.

The napkins are by April Cornell, tablecloth from Williams Sonoma.

Antique Sterling pastry forks; tag sale several years ago.

I've shared this super easy recipe for Puff Pastry Fruit Pastries before, and here is an updated printable version on my recipe blog. They are so good that they are worth a repeat! Click to go to my previous post about these delightful and easy pastries.

Berry colander and underplate by Pillivuyt/France.

The matching mugs.

Cake Pedestal ~used as a pastry plate this time~ by Pillivuyt.

If you enter my current give-away you can have a chance to win a pedestal just like this one.

Click the link to learn more about the give away.

And here are the pastries, made with frozen Puff Pastry shells and fruit of your choice.

Pie/Pastry server: Horchow/Neiman Marcus.

This time I used some frozen fruits instead of fresh, but in the summertime when fruit is at its peak I always use fresh.

Canned apricots work fine in this recipe as shown here, I also used a fresh apple.

Strawberry jam garnished with a fresh strawberry (added after after baking), and in the background Blueberry jam topped with frozen (thawed) blueberries, then baked.

The pastries are brushed with melted jam after baking to add the pretty, glossy sheen. These are wonderful with a sprinkle of confectioner's (powdered sugar), drizzled with a powdered sugar glaze, whipped cream, ice cream, sour cream or creme fraiche.

A mix of Champagne flutes, some antique, some new, on a flat platter/tray from Crate & Barrel.

Wreath (faux pansies) hung on a wreath holder from Williams Sonoma.

The teapot is set upon an antique, ironstone English Ham Stand.

Hand crocheted Tea Cozy (I'm going to post about these in an upcoming post.)

While reading a feature article in recent issue of one of my favorite magazines I

became aware of a wonderful shop here in the Pacific Northwest, located in Battle Ground, WA.

Barn House, Vintage Home & Garden (click to link)

and the owners

Joe & Jermonne also have a blog:

Barn House BH (click to link)

I hope you'll go by and take a look at both of their sites.

I found the Brunch set in this weeks tablescape on their on line shop~

Yes! They have an online store!! Customer service is SUPERB, and they wrap and pack very carefully, even ship to Canada. :)

I love personal service!

Thank you for stopping by today, friends!!

And please DON'T forget ~ It is not too late to enter my current give away ~

Click HERE for GIVE AWAY details.

I'm sending a big thank you to Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" for hosting Tablescape Thursday.

And Michael at "Designs by Gollum" for hosting Foodie Friday.

A "Barefoot Contessa-Style" Give Away & Ina's Berry Crumble

UPDATE:  May 10, 2010


We have a WINNER! ~ Drawing Closed.

See Announcement HERE.




I'm so excited about this Give-Away!

Photo: House Beautiful magazine

The Barefoot Contessa's kitchen island in her new (2008) "Barn"

Is anyone here a fan of the Barefoot Contessa/Ina Garten?
Photo: Barefoot Contessa website

Ina Garten ~ The Barefoot Contessa

Click to visit Ina's website.

I've been a fan of Ina's for several years and thought it would be fun to feature one of her recipes for Foodie Friday, and also have a Give Away featuring items that one MIGHT find Ina using on her kitchen island. The lucky winner will be able to choose one of the items I've featured below.

First the Give Away ~ Then a link to the Berry Crumble

The Give Away

Recently, when I was offered a chance to have a give-away for my followers featuring the counter stools (click to link) , I jumped at the chance!

I've grown a little tired of our counter stools on my own kitchen island, and have my eye on a couple of styles of Counter Stools ~

There are over 1,500 styles to choose from, and free shipping on most: here are several that immediately caught my eye.

If you're shopping for counter stools, I suggest you check them out.

I was allowed to choose a selection of items so the winner of the give-away can pick one gift from my choices. And I'm happy to announce that the give-away is open to entrants in the USA and Canada.

For the Give-Away I selected items that one just MIGHT find on Ina's kitchen island as she preps food, or entertains friends.

She acutually does use some of these items on her FoodNetwork episodes. I also have some of these pieces in my own collection (you'll probably recognize them) and I can recommend them highly. Others are what I consider "Barefoot Contessa"-style, and are on my own wish list.

The winner will be allowed to pick ONE of these items ~ I hope you'll find something you like!

Pillivuyt (Made in France) Porcelain Cake Pedestal
Not only for cake, tortes, quiches and other desserts ~ it's a wonderful serving piece for a selection of cheeses and appetizers. (Prize is for ONE pedestal)

Pillivuyt (Made in France) Oval Baking Dish
(The give-away is for ONE dish; the 60 ounce capacity size)

Set of two Le Creuset stoneware, rectangular baking dishes in Caribbean Blue.

Large is 10.5"x7" ~ Small is 7"x5"

Vic Firth 8" Maple Pepper Mill

Vic Firth "Mario Batali" edition Signature Pepper Mill.
Choice of Mario's orange, or white:

Le Creuset Petite covered individual casseroles (5 ounce capacity each)
Choice of a set of 2 of the following colors:

Caribbean Blue
or

Cobalt Blue
or

Cherry Red

If you prefer enameled cast iron:

Set of 2 NapaStyle Mini Cast Iron Bakers in Wood Crate

La Rochere (Made in France) 12 ounce Tumblers, Bee Motif (Set of 6)
These are made of heavier glass.

or

La Rochere (Made in France) 13.5 ounce Drinking Glass, Bee Motif (Set of 6)
(More delicate than the 12 ounce size.)

La Rochere 9 ounce glasses.

These work perfectly as juice glasses, wine, water, and I even have used them for serving individual desserts. (Set of 6)

La Rochere 8 ounce stemmed glasses.

These are heavy duty, I love to use them for water, wine, hot coffee drinks, or juices. They are perfect for dining al fresco, too.

(Set of 6)

NordicWare Non-stick Mini-Bundt Brownie Pan.

This is the pan I use for making my little Pumpkin-Spice cakes (click to link).

Perfect for Lemon Drizzle Cakes, and Brownies, too.

Rustic Pitcher by designer Pamela Gladding.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To enter the give-away :

Just leave a comment letting stating which gift you would choose if your name is drawn.

Don't worry, you can change your mind to another of the items I've chosen if you're the winner. I'm just nosy and would love to know which item appeals to you! :D

The Rules:

1.) Entrant must be in the continental USA or Canada.
2.) One entry per household, please.
3.) Double your chances of winning! If you are a "Google Friend" follower of my blog (see side bar for details), mention it in your comment for 2 chances to win.
4.) Void where prohibited or taxed.
5.) Prize will be fulfilled by CSN Stores.

Entry deadline will be May 8, 2010 at 9PM Pacific Time.
Winner will be selected randomly and will be announced Monday, May 10th.

Disclaimer: I have not and will not receive/d any merchandise or monetary compensation for hosting this give-away.

Best of luck to all who enter!

~*~*~*~*~

And for one of Ina's recipe ~ here it is. (Using the Pillivuyt oval baker, like the one in the give away.)

I've rarely been disappointed with any of Ina's recipes ~ and this one makes an appearance a few times a year at my house.

Of all the fruit crumble recipes I've tried, this is our favorite. The crumble topping is fabulous, and the ratio of fruit to topping is perfect. The big plus is that it is so easy to make, and you can substitute almost any fruit for the berries. In the summertime when berries are at their peak I use fresh ~ but the good news is, frozen fruit works too (that's what I used this time.)

To see more about the Berry Crumble, scroll to my previous post, or click HERE.
Thank you for stopping by today!