I have to admit, the flowers from yesterday's post were for a reason...I had the flagship meeting of a few friends for our new Supper Club.  Here is how it works...The Hostess picks a cookbook, and makes the main course and everyone picks a dish from the book to make and bring.  I picked Alice Waters The Simple Art of Food.  Such a great cookbook... simple food is the best food. It was so much fun, and all of the Food was Delish.

Not being a real cookbook follower myself (I make things up as I go along, go figure:)) it was fun to go by a recipe...I made a few things I never had before...Pork Carnitas, Homemade Tortillas, and FLAN!  You would think the Flan would be where I failed, but it Turned out!!!!  It was amazing that this little flan made it thru, when they say take it out when jiggly, they mean jiggly!  I made the caramel, did the water bath, and thought I had failed big time when the water bath boiled over into the flan...but I just trudged on, thinking it would be a Huge mess when I turned it out onto the plate....I think I shreaked..."Oh, my gosh!" when all of the sauce fell out on top of the jiggly custard!  But, evidently that was how it was supposed to be.   Feeling so good about myself, I might try out for Next Food Network Star!

The Flan...just removed from the dish....didn't know that there would be so much sauce...THAT was a  surprise!

Mmmmm, mmmmm!

Here are some more stars of the evening....really it was ALL good, and I was more busy eating than taking photos.  I think I got most of it, except the beans and rice...which were excellent too and should have gotten a photo!

Sangria Anyone....this is great because it can be made by the glass instead of a huge vat!

Preparation of the Delicious Rice.

Yummy Guacamole....in my old vintage orange serving pieces.  I bring them out for mexican meals!

Is your mouth watering yet....Gazpacho....perfect in this heat!

A Nice big Carnita Burrito with ALL the fixins...and my attempt at Tortillas in the Background.... Made for better dippers than Burrito wraps.  Thank goodness I had a back up!

I love to set a table....going with the theme of simple and in-season, I picked the Black Eyed Susans as my centerpiece.  Determined to use what I had, and tired of my same old place mats,   I decided to use the cardboard seperators from the tons of paper samples that I have gotten, they were the perfect size....I KNEW they would come in handy some day.

I love a good Bird's Eye View

Burlap and Cardboard. and white china...Can you get any more simple??

My mother-in-law gifted me 5 vintage monogrammed Dinner Napkins with her maiden name initial "B". I think that any monogram is pretty, even if it isn't your own.

Just another view.

So, I didn't get organized yesterday, but I managed to be a part of a Real Simple meal that was Simply Delicious!  AND to top it all off, I made FLAN....it was all just FLANtastic!  Ha, ha!  Can't wait for our next get together in September.

ood Morning All.  I had just a wonderful time last night being in the presence of the wonderfully talented Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kocher.  Since they are in Charlotte for the Metrolina Antique Fair, they stopped by the talented Mrs. Howard and Max and Co. and set a Holiday Table.  And you know how I am a sucker for a well thought out table.... It was just beautiful.  Eddie shared a few of his tips and tricks for a beautiful table setting.

It really is all in the details (and they don't have to be expensive!)

Taking cues from the amazing setting of the space, they used corals and pinks to accent the green in the room.  A tip from Eddie.... don't try to force a color in a room...make it compliment the decor.  (red and green would have looked not so great!)


Of course, they had beautiful vintage and antique tableware.  The plates were vintage brown transferware set atop a new charger.  They mixed and matched the flatware.  If Cartier can mix metals in fashion, why can't we mix them on a table (really a good tip, don't try to buy things in full sets, you can ALWAYS mix and match OR borrow from friends!) Eddie borrowed the beautifully monogrammed napkins from Mrs. Howard...

The flowers were just beautiful...green hydrangeas, coral and white roses.  All things you can find at a grocery store (well sometimes).  And the supporting flowers (flanking each side of tht were arranged in little  painted white pumpkins that Phoebe found for 50 cents!  (I love that she loves a great deal too!


The Candles were from Creative candles, of course!  Eddie had a great tip.  Add color with candles, white is boring! It is a way to go up with your eyes.  I wish I had a better photo of the candlelit room, but i am sure you can use your imagination....the mood was set.


Using Salt Cellars and pepper shakers on a little plate  or bowl, makes it easy to pass around the table.  (and make sure you take them OFF before dessert, or Eddie might just have to slap your hand!)

The Table runners (3 going across the table creates placemats) are simply linen from Hancock Fabrics with the raw edges turned under and ironed.  (this is a trick I have used for many a dinner or luncheon...it really is simple...who doesn't have an iron!)

The napkin holders are simply a little bit of wooden twine with acorns (that have been glittered) attached with a few leaves from good ol nature (free of course!)



I loved the little turkey on the table...Eddie says he now has 13, and he uses them at individual place setting for the soup course.  This MAKES the table feel like a Thanksgiving table.  Another, little detail.


I wish I my name was on one of those place cards, and I could have sat down and chatted with all of them at this gorgeous table....can you imagine the food that would be served!.

Of course I got all googly and tongue tied when I met them. I felt like all that was coming out of my mouth sounded like "gobble, gobble, gobble:)" But they couldn't have been more gracious and welcoming.

Can't wait for tomorrow's shopping trip.