Tablescapes, Home Decor, Thrifting, Cooking

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Mums and Pumpkins and Apple Dessert

I LOVE Fall!  I love the many colors of mums.  I love decorating with pumpkins and I love apple desserts!

 

Just days before my new granddaughter made her entrance into the world I had a family luncheon in honor of my

Dear Mother’s Birthday

 

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Menu

 

Louisiana Gumbo

Tossed Salad with Assorted Dressings

Outback Honey Wheat Bushman Bread

Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce

Spiced Apple Cider

Pumpkin Coffee

Tea

 

 

The gumbo doesn’t photograph well, but OH!!  Was it ever good!  Totally homemade with chicken broth and three meats.  I used chicken, sausage and shrimp.

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Here’s how the table looked with the morning sunshine streaming in

 

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We had eight guests but I only had four of these square, fruit plates

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For the other place settings I used these buttery yellow plates which worked just as well

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Look closely and you can see all the touches of fall I enjoyed incorporating into this tablescape.

 

Small little vases held single stems of brightly colored marigolds

while a silver pot from the thrift store was my vase for a variety of garden mums.

 

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Each place setting started off with a mini pumpkin to add to the fall theme

Napkins were tied with natural twine with a fall leaf tucked in.

I quickly learned these wilt if not brought in right before the guests arrive.  I had to replace many the day of the luncheon.

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Footed brown glasses were a garage sale find last summer. 

 

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The birthday cake was SO good.

Everyone raved over it and some even thought it was an Apple Bread Pudding.  DSCN5035_1064

 

 

I think that was because of the caramel sauce drizzled over.

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream added a few more calories.

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Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce

 

4 c. diced Granny Smith apples

2 eggs

2 c. sugar

1 c. chopped nuts

2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1 tsp. salt

Beat eggs add the sugar, oil, apples, and the remaining dry ingredients.  Mix well.  Put in 9 x 13 an and bake at 350* for 45 minutes.  Serve with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce over.

 

Caramel Sauce

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

1/2 c. half and half

1/2 c. margarine

1 T. flour

1 tsp. vanilla

 

Boil sugar, cream, margarine, and flour for one minute.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Serve on top of ice cream on cake.

 

Let me know if you try it!  Your guests will love it…I am SURE!

 

 

On my table ~~

Square Fruit Plates  TJ Maxx

Round Buttery yellow plates and black bowls  Thrifted

Brown Stemmed Glasses  Garage Sale

Fall Dessert Plates  Hartstone Dishes

Silver Bowl   Goodwill

Light Brown napkins  Dillards

Tablecloth  Target

 

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Today I am joining:

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Designs by Gollum  ~ Foodie Friday

The Shady Porch

18 comments:

Miss Char said...

Donna, the pictures of the table with the sun coming in are just beautiful. I'm sure your mama loved the party and all that you did for her special day.

Richard Cottrell said...

Your table is beautiful and the food sounds divine. Wish I could be there. Richard from My Old Historic House.

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
I love your tablescape for your Mom Birthday so sweet of you. She must be so Happy you did this for her... Your Pumpkin and Apple dessert looks so Yummy!! I would love to have some right now, and the centerpiece is gorgeous.. I hope you can come over and see me some time.
XXOO Diane

Tina said...

The table is so pretty and the food looks wonderful!

Have a great week.
Smiles

Unknown said...

Donna, What a beautiful table and meal! The apple dessert looks divine! Thank you so much for sharing it at the party! I wanted to add this was a lovely way to honor your mother! My mom passed early and I can tell you this blesses her now but these moments will bless you more later in retrospect. :)

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

Donna, what a lovely table!! Everything looks wonderful...the food and the decor! As a cajun girl, I immediately noticed that Tony Chachere's on the table! LOL! Perfect for gumbo! Thanks for sharing!!

Babs said...

Belated happy birthday wishes to your mom. She must have been thrilled with your luncheon and all the pretty touches. Your tablescape is so pretty with the Fall colors and cute place settings. I'll try your apple cake recipe with the caramel sauce . It sounds delicious.

Unknown said...

Lovely! Happy Birthday to your Mom!
Your recipe looks scrumptious too!
Thanks for your visit :)
Hugs
Isabelle

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna! So nice to hear from you! A belated Happy Birthday to your little mother. She is darling! What a lovely table you set for her and your menu sounds wonderful - love me some gumbo. The cake looks so good too.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Sheets on the line, love in my heart. said...

SUCH a lovely job you did! donna everything look and i am sure tasted devine!
blessings,
rebecca (i am just a newbie)

Judy Biggerstaff said...

Your table is beautiful, love your design and a perfect touch to add the little pumpkin in the soup bowl. I am a follower.

Sherry@Back2Vintage said...

I'm sure your Mom and other guests loved the meal. The tablescape is beautiful..love the sun streaming through the window! Gumbo...YUM!!!

Marigene said...

Beautiful table, Donna...your menu sounds wonderful, and the dessert looks so good I can almost taste it. Thanks for the recipe...think I will make it for Thanksgiving.

Phyllis @Around the House said...

Love the table, so inviting...It shows such talent to edit the table perfectly as you have done, thanks for sharing...phyllis

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Happy birthday to your mom, Donna! The food sounds so yummy! I will definitely have to try that cake! Thanks so much for the vote for my pumpkins! I hope you are having a wonderful weekeknd!...hugs...Debbie

Unknown said...

I'm here to tell you that your La. Gumbo looks wonderful...and I know a thing or two about gumbo. ;-)

Looks like your "Mum" had a wonderful birthday!!!

Beverly @ My Sew Sweet Studio said...

Your table looks wonderful. I love the colors of fall too. A wonderful way to celebrate your Mom's birthday. Mmmm Gumbo. Your Apple cake looks much like mine. Reminds me to make one. I don't have a carmel sauce recipe, though, so I do now.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Beautiful table, Donna! It looks like you had a lovely day for your Mom's birthday. That cake looks so good!