St. Helena Olive Oile Brande

Easter Dinner … or should I say Feast!

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:31:09 +0000

WATERCRESS, SALMON AND AVOCADO SALAD

Ingredients

One bunch of watercress, washed and stems cut short
Smoked salmon – 2 small pieces per person
2 ripe avocados, peeled and sliced in slivers
1/3 – 1/2 cup Epstein Napa Valley Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 1/2 Tablespoons of St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Balsamic Vin – 6 yr old.
1 teaspoon stone ground mustard

Instructions

Mix
the olive oil, vinegar and mustard in a cup or jar. Toss the
watercress with enough dressing to coat it lightly. Plate the
watercress and place the salmon on one side and make a fan of the
avocado slices on the other. Lightly drizzle the salmon and the
avocado with the olive oil dressing.

ROASTED RACK OF LAMB

Ingredients

3 trimmed racks of lamb at room temp (3 chops per person)
St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Rosemary Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
3 tablespoons course grain mustard
1 cup breadcrumbs
3 minced garlic cloves

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Brush lamb generously with Rosemary Olive Oil. Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Combine the mustard, bread crumbs, and garlic and then press mixture over racks of lamb. Place the racks over the rosemary sprigs in a baking dish. Roast for 10 minutes and then reduce heat to 400 degrees. Place a meat thermometer in the meaty part and roast until it reads 135 (med rare). Remove from oven, cover with foil, and let lamb rest for 10 minutes. Carve cutting between the ribs.

POLENTA

Ingredients

9 cups of water or stock
1 1/2 teaspoon of Grey Sea Salt
2 cups of cornmeal

Bring the water(or stock) to a boil and whisk in cornmeal until mixture thickens and boils…about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Cook until thick…stirring occasionally…about 30 minutes. (Can be cooked 4 hours ahead and held in a bowl over hot water).

RAGOUT

Ingredients

8-10 medium tomatoes cut into quarters
10 garlic cloves
1 cup sliced crimini mushrooms
1 cup sliced shitake mushrooms
1/2 cup St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Balsamic Vinegar – 6 yr.
Grey sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

Combine all ingredients in a pyrex baking pan and bake at 360 degrees for about 45 minutes. This can be prepared beforehand and refrigerated….just reheat before plating.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 lbs fresh asparagus
1/2 cup Epstein Napa Valley Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Grey sea salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 475 degress. Wash asparagus. Break off ends and put in a single layer in baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and sea salt and bake at 475 degrees for about 12 minutes.

To plate all of this amazing food, spoon the polenta in the center and the ragout around the polenta. Put the porkchop in the middle…surrounded by the asparagus spears…wow…I don't know if I will wait til Easter for this…..

But wait…there is more…..

GARLIC BREAD PUDDING

Ingredients

2 cups milk
8 garlic cloves
2 large whole eggs
2 egg yolks
3 tablespoons minced parsley leaves
2 1/2 cups baquette cut into cubes
Grey sea salt

Instructions

In a saucepan scald the milk with the garlic cloves. Let stand 15 min. and remove and discard the garlic.In a bowl whisk together the whole eggs and the yolks add the milk and whisk and stir in the parsley, salt and pepper.Divide the bread crumbs among 8 well oiled muffin tins and ladle the custard mixture evenly over them. Let stand 10 min. The puddings can be prepared to this point up to 8 hours in advance and kept covered and chilled.

Bake the puddings in a preheated 350 oven for 45 minutes or until golden. Run knife around edges of puddings. Serve warm. These freeze beautifully.

And for dessert……..

LEMON AND ALMOND TART

Ingredients for the pastry…

1 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 oz. almond paste
6 tablespoons chilled butter
1 egg
Grey sea salt

Adjust the oven rack to low position and heat oven to 350. Put the flour, salt, sugar, and almond paste in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade or into a medium bowl. Pulse the mixture, or work with fingertips, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the egg yolk and pulse until dough holds together when pinched.

Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom.Transfer the tart pan to a cookie sheet and bake until the crust is golden..about 20 minutes

Ingredients for the lemon filling…

2 medium lemons
1 tablespoon St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Lemon Olive Oil
2 tablespoons Epstein Napa Valley Extra Virgin Olive Oil
eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
box of fresh raspberries
Dried lavender flowers

Grate 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and squeeze 1/3 cup of lemon juice into a medium bowl. Add the oils, eggs, sour cream and sugar and blend. Pour the filling into the prebaked crust and return to the oven and bake 12 to 15 minutes just until the filling has set. Cool on wire rack. Gently remove the rim of the tart pan. Tart should remain on the removable bottom..dust with confectioners sugar. Cut into slices and plate ..garnish with the raspberries and lavender flowers. This tart freezes well..just bring to room temperature..garnish and serve.

Easter Table Talk

Home Party — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:55:16 +0000

I love preparing for Easter. Aside from the beauty in the meaning of the holiday itself, it is a time to celebrate spring..and the new bounty that comes with it! We can put away the darker colors and bring out the lighter earthy flare…with greens and pinks…and all the colors of the new season.

Mrs. D has created yet another stunning table top. Her table appointments are with Irish crystal, rabbit pottery plates from Portugal, a Baroque rabbit pottery pedestal, white porcelain napkin rings and place settings of antique silver with a bone handled fish set for the salmon. The pink and white napkin are unique dish towels. She has mixed the various rabbits on her table with both iron and paper mache…and don't you love the two white quail? I think I remember those from her table as a kid..I'll have to ask her.

The quail remind me of our childhood….a favorite site to behold were the new quail families that would travel through our woods….our yards…and our streets. The mother and father always leading the way with a trail of babies following closely behind…and in single file….they were always in a line as they scampered to where they were headed. Ah..if only my children would be so obedient!

This table has inspired me to make another trip to the flea market in Firenze…to see if there are any more plates or goodies that I can use to decorate our table. The hardest part of being here is not having all of our "things" for holiday decor…I love a festive home and I guess I've just been presented with a challenge…how do you decorate when you have nothing? My first start will be with the flea market and with nature…both in my price range! I will keep you posted on how I do…

I love the leaf on her napkin….so simple and elegant! And…don't forget your oil and vinegar! Although I love our bottles, this would be a great setting for a cruet or two…

And now for my FAVORITE……

I love eggs at easter time…especially when they are natural…Mrs. D has taken real goose eggs and dyed them in onion skins and vinegar dip…creating an amazing natural design. The eggs are wrapped in old stockings…spring leaves and ferns were stuffed inside the stocking as well…and then it was soaked in an onion bath for about 30 minutes.

This is also an Italian tradition….dying eggs within a bath of red onion skins and vinegar…simply add onion skins and some vinegar to a pot of your eggs and water and bring to a boil…boil for about 20 minutes and it will turn them a natural red and brown…natural color.

So if you haven't started already….get to it…pull out the boxes….take a walk and gather natural bounty for props…create a house that is filled with the anticipation of spring…and all that it may bring!!

February – Party Full of Love

admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:26:13 +0000

I always use the month of February as a good excuse to throw a party…….obviously themed around Valentine's Day….but really just a reason to "girlie it up" and throw a party for all the people that I love……..you can save the 14th for that special someone but pick another date in February to celebrate all of your loved ones…..;;;;and what better ingredient to focus on during this month of love….but Extra Virgin Olive Oil!

So…be as creative as you wish….girlie it up or keep it simple….our recipes and inspirations were created just for you….this month….to set your Home Party Business in motion….make it fun…..throw it with passion…..peacefulness…..but above all else…make sure you…………

Have a great month!! We are all pulling for you!

-The Staff at St. Helena Olive Oil Co.
Peggy, Andrea, Sandi, Jose, Erin and Raziel

More Amazing Tabletops

Home Party — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:53:00 +0000

Here are some inspirations that I have found along the way…

This is a great example to show how simple a table can be set…think outside the box…
there are no vases for these flowers…so beautiful to see them so naturally placed…
again, the white table provides nicely as a canvas for a simple setting…
for Valentine's Day you can swap the flowers for two vases of antique roses…

A BIT OF FRENCH COUNTRY FROM FRENCHCOUNTRYANTIQUES

Can I live here? Again..another simple table setting…the settings are a more natural white..matching the feel and look of the rustic table..blends with the chairs beautifully..
I wouldn't have flowers that high…blocks the view…..on this table…for Valentines Day..
I would lay an antique rose across the top of each place setting…and make the centerpiece
a bit more rustic….but that is just me….it's certainly beautiful the way that it is!

A CLOSE UP ON THE TABLE SETTING

I love the vintage glasses…and the simplicity..notice the charger is the same color but a different outline….and the silverware brings in the color of the table….

A BIT SHABBY … A BIT CHIC

A different look….very Valentines Day…I love the dark wood of the table with white chairs…the burgundy vase with the natural roses…all with colors that pull it all together…
definitely a fun chick setting…just an inspiration to mix it up for Valentine's Day!

LOVE THE COLORS

Okay…so it's not a "table"…but isn't it fabulous?! I wanted to show how you could
also do a Valentine day table around the turquoise color…see how the chair cushion
and the vase with the hydrangea(?) pull together? I could see this as well on a large table…more of a shabby chic style…using mix and match ideas....the stove is inspiring me
to produce homemade jams….going to put that on my list!

Becoming a Home Party Consultant

Home Party — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:50:30 +0000

As a Home Party Consultant you will be an independent business owner, who primarily markets our products through home parties. As we continue, we will provide you with a library of themed parties focusing on ingredients. The resources will include videos on tastings, videos on production, recipes, and educational information. We will also have a feature,"Table Talk", that provides inspirations and ideas for different table settings and party decorations….everything you need to make your party a success!

As a new member of our Home Party team, you begin your education where we did…..Extra Virgin Olive Oil. You just purchase our Olive Oil Tasting Kit at a 50% discount and your journey begins.

The purpose of the kit is to provide basic but vital information about
extra virgin olive oil. It's really simple…a 10 minute DVD that
goes through the tasting of the four oils in your kit…the DVD gives you
the general understanding of how to taste an oil…what to look
for….and simple cooking applications for the various types of oils.
Don't stress….you will enjoy it and you will be amazed at how simple
it is to pick up the nuances in the oils….and then you will be ready
to share that knowledge with your guests.

The kit consists of:

375ml Grapeseed
Oil
375ml Sevillano Extra Virgin Olive Oil
375ml Napa Valley Harris Extra Virgin Olive Oil
375ml Napa Valley Epstein Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A DVD from me…where I walk you through the tasting of the above mentioned oils.
Biodegradable
Tasting Cups
Tasting Placemats
My welcome letter with other pertinent information

My recommendation is that once you receive the kit, you go through a tasting of the oils with the DVD to get a basic understanding of oils….you can then decide whether you would like to conduct your own tasting of the oils at your party or have your guests follow along with the DVD. The method is not as important as the purpose…providing your guests with an understanding of extra virgin olive oils. We also provide you with educational material on our blog under the Ingredients Tab…just click on Extra Virgin Olive Oil and review all of the information provided. You are welcome to print it out so you can refer back to it or even hand it out to your guests if you like.

Once you fell comfortable with the basic knowledge of extra virgin olive oil, then you plan your party. The basic structure that we recommend is to begin with an olive oil tasting….similar to that in the DVD. You can watch the DVD and go through it with your guests or present it yourself….that is up to you.

We have supplied you with all you need to do a tasting for eight guest…but we also have provided a paperwork section of the blog where you can print out more if needed. If you need more tasting cups…just let us know and we will provide those free of charge.

We recommend that you prepare dishes for your guests to enjoy after the tasting. This will give you a chance to talk about what you've learned and then experience the same oils paired with food. You can have simple appetizers….a cocktail party….lunch….or dinner…..we will provide you with menus on a monthly basis to make it a bit easier on you…or you can prepare what you enjoy.

The bottom line is to use your imagination….no stress…..the point is to gather people you like….eat….drink….connect…..and learn…..and of course….inspire…if you do this…you will sell product. And when you sell product……you earn CASH!

Once your party is coming to an end, you can have your guests place their orders. You have them fill out the order forms that you can print from our blog….and then fax, email or mail them into us. We process the orders and ship direct to your customers within 48 hours. We track your sales and then cut your commission check at the end of every month.

We will spend our money and continue to market to your customers….but we will not forget that they came from you. They will be linked to your ID so everytime they order from our website or stores, you will receive the appropriate commission. (See our Commissions Section).

We will have kinks to work out as every start up does…but we will work together….and If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at peggy@sholiveoil.com.

I look forward to partnering with you…a kindred spirit….to change our Country….one ingredient at a time.

Ciao. Peggy

February Dinner Menu For Six

Home Party — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:01:30 +0000

Warmed Spinach Salad with Pistachios

1 pound of baby spinach
1/3 cup broken pistachios
1 red bell pepper
1/4 cup St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tablespoon St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Balsamic Vinegar of Modena – 6 Year Old

Roast the pepper at 375 until skin cracks and pepper is slightly soft. Remove from oven and peel and chop.
Heat oil and vinegar in skillet. Remove from stove. Add nuts, pepper and spinach and toss. Serve immediately.

Grilled Flank Steak

2 1/4 pounds of flank steak
1 cup St.Helena Olive Oil Co. Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup fresh chopped rosemary [or 1 tablespoon dry ]
1/4 cup St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Balsamic Vinegar of Modena – 6 Year Old
1 1/2 Tablespoons each salt and coarsely ground pepper

Put oil, vinegar and herbs and seasonings in a glass baking dish. Add steak and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Set BBQ on Med-Hi heat [ or preheat broiler ]. Remove meat from marinade. Discard marinade.Grill 4 minutes per side for medium rare. Let stand 5 minutes . Cut across the grain in thin strips.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

6 medium size Yukon Gold potatoes
1 whole garlic bulb
1/4 cup St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Sevillano Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I Tablespoon St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Balsamic Vinegar of Modena – 6 Year Old
1/2 stick of butter
1/3 cup warmed milk

Cut top off of garlic bulb to expose ends of cloves. Place in small oven proof dish and pour over the olive oil and the vinegar. Roast in 350 oven until cloves are soft 45 min. to 1 hour. Remove cloves from husk and reserve the oil mix.
Peel potatoes and cut into small pieces. Boil in salted water until very tender. Drain. Add the garlic cloves, the warm oil, 1/2 stick of butter and warmed milk to the cooked potaoes and whip until smooth.[ add more milk as needed to make a very smooth consistency ].

Roast of Winter Vegetables

6 carrots cut lengthwise
6 parsnips peeled and cut lengthwise
2 onions peeled and cut into wedges
6 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons St. Helena Olive Oil Co, Sevillano Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 stick of melted butter

Put all ingredients in a roasting pan and pour over the olive oil and melted butter. Toss. Roast at 400..stirring twice…for about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Glorious Chocolate Tart

5 large eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter cut into small pieces
10 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
5 tablespoons all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 325 F. Butter and flour a 10 inch springform pan with 2 3/4inch high sides. Stir the chocolate and butter in a heavy saucepan over low heatuntil chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth.Beat the eggs and 1 1/4cups sugar in large bowl until well blended and beginning to thicken. Sift flour and baking powder over eggs and fold in. Gradually fold in chocolate mixture. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

Bake 20 minutes. Cover pan with foil. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs still attached, about 30 minutes longer.Uncover pan. Cool in pan on rack [ tart will fall as it cools ]. [ can be made a day ahead].

Cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Release pan sides. Sift powdered sugar over top. Cut into wedges. Garnish with raspberries and sprigs of mint.and whipped cream.

February Lunch Menu For Four

Home Party — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:59:17 +0000

Organic Lettuces with Citrus and St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Orange Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 pound organic baby lettuce mix
2 or 3 satsuma tangerines [ or navel oranges ] peeled and sections pulled apart
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Orange Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 teas. St. Helena Olilve Oil Co. Balsalmic Vinegar Di Modena – 6 Yr Old

Place lettuces and fruits in large bowl. Toss with oil and vinegar mixture. Add freshly ground pepper. Plate and garnish with fresh edible flowers where available.

Fresh Fettucine with a Saute of Spring Mushrooms

12 to 16 ounces of fresh fettucini [ or 1 package of dry ]
2 cups of assorted mushrooms such as chantrelles, crimini, shitakes etc.sliced
4 chopped garlic cloves
1 large shallot bulb- peeled and chopped
1 large leek- [ green top removed ] chopped
1 bunch fresh chives chopped
1/4 cup St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Sevillano Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Shaved [ or shredded ] parmesan cheese

Sautee the mushrooms, garlic, shallot and leek in the olive oil in a large skillet until soft. Bring pot of salted water to boil and add fresh fettucini and boil about 4 minutes. Drain and toss with the sauteed vegetables. Plate in pasta bowls, finish with a drizzle of the olive oil and sprinkle cheese and chives over top.

Creme Caramel with St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Organic Lavender Flowers

Approximately six custard cups:

4 eggs
3 cups lowfat milk
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of sea salt
1 teasp. vanilla
1 tablespoon St. Helena Olive Oil Organic Lavender Flowers
nutmeg

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 20 seconds on medium setting.

Caramel: Place 1/3 cup sugar in heavy saucepan and melt the sugar over medium heat watching and stirring with wooden spoon until sugar melts and turns a caramel color . Remove from heat immediately and pour a small amount in each custard cup to barely coat the bottom. Put about 1/2 inch of water in large pyrex-type baking dish and arrange the custard cups in it. Pour the custard mixture over the sugar in the cups and sprinkle nutmeg on top. Bake in 350 oven just until custard is set. Remove from oven and water bath. Let cool. When ready to serve invert on dessert dish and garnish with a pinch of organic lavender flowers,

February Cocktail Party Recipes

Home Party — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:57:09 +0000

Oven Roasted Boneless Chicken Thighs in a baste of St. Helena Lemon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil and St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Sherry Vinegar

15 chicken thighs
1/2 cup St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Rosemary Oil
1/2 cupSt. Helena OLive Oil Co. Lemon Olive Oil
1/4cupSt. Helena Olive OIl Co. Sherry Vinegar
4 whole garlic bulbs
1/4 cup minced [ prepared ] ginger
1/4 cup crushed freh rosemary
kosher salt and coarsely ground pepper

Put the thighs in a large baking dish. Combine the oils and seasonings in a measuring cup. Cut the tops off the garlic exposing the tops of the cloves. Pour the oils over the thighs. roll the garlic bulbs to coat them. Roast at 360.until cooked through and browned. Remove to pretty platter and garnish with the garlic, fresh parsley and cherry tomatoes.

Rustic Artisan Baquettes broiled with a trio of St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Flavored Oils

3 baquettes: Cut baquettes in half lengthwise. Place on cookie sheets. Brush one loaf with St. Helena Olive OIl Co. Tuscan EVOO, the second loaf with St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Rosemary oil and the third loaf with St Helena Olive Oil Co. Sevillano oil. Next mix a few drops of cognac, some chopped pine nuts and mix with gorgonzola. Spread this mixture on the first loaf. On the 2nd loaf spread some crushed red pepper chopped chives and parsley and on the third loaf pieces of mozzarella. Reserve until near time to serve and then put under broiler and lightly brown. Remove from oven and cut into 3 inch slices on the diagonal.

Valentine's Salad – a chop of romaine,radish, endive , red onion and
chives finished with a swirl of St. Helena Olive Oil co. Walnut and
Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oils.

2 heads of romaine washed, spun and finely chopped
2 to 3 heads of endive finely chopped
1 red onion finely sliced
8 radishes finely sliced
1/2 cup St Helena Olive co. Walnut Oil
1/2 cup St Helena Olive Oil Co. Lemon Oil
1/8 cup St Helena Olive Oil Co. Balsalmic Vinegar Di Modena

Mix oils and vinegar well and toss salad in large bowl adding ground pepper and salt to taste.

Pinzimonio with Broccoli and Red Pepper

Combine 1/2 cup of St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Sevillano EVOO and 1/8 cup St Helena Olive Oil Co. Balsamic Di Modena in a bowl and place with some washed and sliced red pepper and broccoli florets [ for dipping] on the buffet table.

Marinated Black and Green Olives

6 ounces of Kalamata olives
6 ounces Greek green olives
1 1/2 cups St Helena Olive Oil Co.Tuscan EVOO
4 1by2 inch orange strips
4 1by2 inch lemon strips
1tables. crushed fennel seeds
1 teas. crushed red pepper

Rinse the olives and crush each olive with flat side of knife until the skin starts to break. Place in bowl. Combine all remaining ingredients in a pan and heat until oil bubbles. Pour over olives in bowl. Let stand overnight. Drain oil from olives and put into bowl. Serve olives & oil and place by baquettes for further dipping.

Chocolate Truffles

You are on your own! We love Woodhouse Chocolates in St. Helena!

Commission Structure

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:35:25 +0000

The initial commission structure is going to be very simple:

1. You receive 20% of net sales that are generated from your party.

2. You receive 2% of net sales generated when a customer, who originally ordered at your party, orders through our stores or the website….as long as you remain an active consultant.

An active consultant is someone who generates at least $500/month in Home Party Sales.
If you are inactive but still throwing parties then you only receive the 20% of net party sales.

Net sales equals total sales minus any discounts and shipping.

Make sense? If not, shoot me an email at peggy@sholiveoil.com

These structures will change as we grow…always in the spirit of how we began….

February Table Talk

Home Party — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:08:55 +0000

Table for Six….By In-House Designer, Stephanie Dickinson

A BIG part of our Home Party Blog is going to focus on inspiring you to set your table….no….I mean really….SET YOUR TABLE! We are going to have pictures of our favorite tables….give you great tips and inexpensive ideas on how to liven up your table….create a table ourselves for the theme of every month….and in the end….create a forum where you can share your ideas and pictures….because we are in this together….and we will be stronger with each other…and
we WILL change this Country….
one table at a time!

EXCITING NEWS!I am so proud and excited to announce that an old family friend….Stephanie Dickinson….has agreed to help me inspire you….we grew up a few doors down from the Dickinsons and our families were very close…I spent a lot of time at their house….hanging out…playing…and eating….she didn't know it but she was a real inspiration….her house always looked as if it were being showcased by one of the finest European Design Companies….her food from always fresh from the farm….and her tables were always set as if they were too being shot for some amazing Design Catalog….I will share bits of her incredible life story of growing up on one of the first byodynamical farms in the U.S….her inspirations…and all of the serendipity that lead her to share her amazing natural abilities with us! But….for now….it's time to introduce our new section…….

TABLE TALK!

TABLE AND CHAIRS

Although I am far from traditional…..I love the tradition of the white table….or white tablecloth…it's like setting up your canvas….especially for holidays….your theme can really pop! I love the way Stephanie or "Mrs. D", as I've call her… has a formal sitting chair at the end of the table…it adds to the elegance of the table and is a good fix when you've lost that sixth chair!

Speaking of chairs….I mix and match at home…..easy to find cheap ugly chairs at
a second hand store…flea market…side of road ….and paint them white….I prefer a semi gloss finish….

TABLE SETTINGS…PLATES, SILVER, GLASSWARE
I love a monochromatic table scheme….when there really appears to be only one color…then I don't get overwhelmed during the design process…and the colors don't take away from the food presentation…..simple elegance is what we are striving for…..

A color in the china should set the predominate color. If you notice in Mrs. D's setting, there is a gold outline in the charger plate….that seems to bring out some gold in the center of the plate and then ties beautifully in with the candle holders…wine glasses…..

ECO FRIENDLY TIP: If you are serving a larger party and don't have
enough settings…think about renting…you can rent all you
need…along with a white table cloth….it's really better for the
environment then buying disposables…even corn disposables take energy
to make…and the best part…you don't have to do the dishes!

The good news is with a white tablecloth, you can make whatever dishes you have call the shots…you can also gather mix and match from various flea markets….second hand stores…on line…etc…and there are some of us that have old dishes from our grandmother that are a bit too old fashion for every day use but would be perfect for a Valentine celebration…

SIDE NOTE: Plates et al can be so expensive….but I've found that if I keep my eye open and pick up a plate or two here and there…before I know it…I have a cool new collection.

CANDLES AND CENTERPIECE

White candles are best with a monochromatic design…otherwise your table gets to busy….and with Valentine Day….it needs to set an air of romance….white candles and antique pinkish roses scream romance…vintage….elegance…..good for your soul! Your candles shouldn't be scented…you don't want to take away from the food….and the different heights are always fun…
just make sure you aren't blocking anyone's view.

In the center of the table you can choose an object that ties in with your theme….
or you can have a simple low vase with antique roses loosely placed…an old flea market glass vase works great with the antique roses…anything that is old….not fake old…but real old!

flower and color inspirations that I found on the internet

NAPKINS AND HOLDERS

In this style of design, they would be white…of course. I love cloth napkins for all occassions…we use them at home every day…I'm not sure how that pans out on the eco front…but we don't have waste…and we don't wash them everyday….and now that we've been living in Italy…we will always hang them to dry!…so simple! I love collecting different napkin patterns…or dishcloths…and mixing it up at dinner time…you get what comes out of the drawer….for some reason, they always seems to match! It's something to think of for other table settings…if you go for the French Country look….it would work…shabby chick…everything found object….like our stores…..and my house! It's an inexpensive way to have style!

Oops…got off track…white napkins….ah…Mrs. D has lovely silver holders…you would be surprised where you can find unusual silver holders…again…I have to throw in the mix and match from flea markets, etc…but also you can come across cool holders from Target…or any other large discount store…if the table is popping then the "average" napkin holder works..as long as it fits the color scheme…they are an accessory….not a statement. You can also simple tie the napkin with a light pink organza ribbon…or a color that goes with your theme…pastels just seem to work for Valentine's Day…remember we are "girling it up" !

PLACE CARDS
If you want to have place cards then make it fun…..a good friend and vendor, Julie Slinger, gave me the idea of scanning vintage cards…changing the size if you like…..and framing them…this could work for some general decoration for furniture around your table…you can also just print out the cards and put them in small frames for each setting….

This heart is really sweet….you can just place it on a plate…and write a nice note
to your guest on the back….a special something for them to take home!

Or use a card to place on plate and have your menu written on the back…….

There are many fun things you can do…if you just spend the time to think about it…and what would be thoughtful…and special…then you can't go wrong with any idea!

So…that's it for now…I will continue to add to and modify these postings….based on the conversations and thoughts that will ensue…..and inspirations that will be had along the way! Please add your comments….send in pictures….helpful tips….anything that will keep our spirit alive in our quest to change our Country…..one table at a time!