Pumpkin Hollow Tablescape

 

It has been a busy and exhausting week for me as the finishing touches were finally put on the kitchen. I have to say that I am completely in love with it, cannot stop looking at it, and will do a “reveal” blog post next week. While builder, Joe, was working, I did find time to go out in the conservatory and set a table for two suitable for the month of October.The pumpkin tureen centerpiece was the inspiration for the table. I honestly can’t tell you how long ago it was that I bought that tureen (with the orange berry ring that surrounds it), but I do know that it was at a local shop on historic Main Street that closed about 20 years ago, so I have had this for a long time. It is, truly, one of my favorite pieces of holiday culinary decor.The plates are by David Carter Brown, the pattern is called “Pumpkin Hollow,“ providing the inspiration for the name of this tablescape. They are just small enough so that I was able to set them on orange Fiestaware salad plates providing a nice orange rim to delineate them from the square black dinner plates beneath. 

The black plates set on top Italian chargers with a deep green edge that I inherited from my mother. 

New for this year are the wine glasses with the pumpkin on the stem. I found these at Target, believe it or not, and pounced on them immediately. They are glass, not plastic, and surprisingly durable.

  

Orange flatware brightens atop Kate Spade striped napkins that reminded me of the legs of the wicked witch of the west, so I had to use them here.

The mugs are from Starbucks about 20 years ago. I get those out every year around this time.

 

 The wrought iron candleholders, when put together create a heart, but when separated, provide a unique look.This is my birthday month, and favorite time of the year, so I’m hopeful to be able to do at least one other table setting before October is but a memory.

This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

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Mile-High Apple Pie with Tart Cherries and Spicy Crumb Topping

It’s October, and October means the harvest, the harvest means apples, and apples mean apple pie! I got the urge to make one the other day, putting my own special spin on it (as I do), and it is delicious. Loaded with tart Granny Smith apples, offset with the tangy sweetness of dried tart cherries, with a crumb topping spiced up with a tiny bit of heat from Melissa’s Hatch Chile Pecans. This will satisfy whatever craving you happen to be having at the moment.

Mile-High Apple Pie

with Tart Cherries and Spicy Crumb Topping

 4 lbs. Melissa’s Granny Smith apples
1 3-oz. pkg. Melissa’s dried tart cherries
1 lemon, zested
2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 T. bourbon
½ c. granulated sugar
½ c. flour
1 t. kosher salt
¾ t. ground cinnamon
½ t. freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 t. ground allspice
1/8 t. ground cloves
1 pie crust
1 recipe Spicy Crumb Topping (below)

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Core, peel, and slice apples. (I use this apple corer/slicer, and then cut each slice in half.)

In a large bowl, combine apples, cherries, orange zest and juice, bourbon, sugar, flour, salt, and spices. Toss together to coat.

Fill whatever pie crust you have chosen to use (homemade or purchased, I don’t judge) with the apple mixture.  Place the pie on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and mound on the crumb topping. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes until the juices bubble out. Midway through the baking process, cover the top of the pie with a sheet of foil to keep from getting too dark.

Serve pie warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Spicy Crumb Topping

1 cup flour
½ c. brown sugar
¼ c. Melissa’s Green Hatch Chile Pecans
½ c. (1 stick) butter, cold, cubed

In the work bowl of food processor pulse together flour, brown sugar, and pecans until thoroughly combined. Add butter all at once, and pulse until it forms a crumbly mixture about the size of peas.

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Autumn Harvest Table Setting

I must say that these placemats have served me well.  I bought them in the spring (they are still available if you want to run right out and grab some for yourself), used them throughout the summer, find they work beautifully for fall, and am thinking how gorgeous they would look with a Thanksgiving centerpiece of gourds and pumpkins.  They seriously go with just about every color imaginable.  That’s what I call versatility! 

Placemats – Pier 1
Glasses – La Rochere

Pumpkin Tureen – Oak Tree Furniture (long ago)

White plates – Old Time Pottery

Mugs and plates – Fiestaware

Bowls & Salad Plates – “Autumn Harvest” by Harden

Pumpkin Salt & Pepper - Pier 1

This post is linked to:

Tabletop Tuesday 
Centerpiece Wednesday
 Wow Us Wednesdays
 Cuisine Kathleen's
 Open House Party
 The Charm of Home
Tablescape Thursday 
 Feather Your Nest Friday
 Show and Tell Friday
 Seasonal Sundays

A Harvest Dinner

Tablescape Thursday is hosted by Susan from Between Naps on the Porch.

I've long been a reader of the beautiful and informative blog, Between Naps on the Porch. Dish and dinnerware fanatic that I am, Tablescape Thursday was one of my favorite days.  It comforted me to know that I was not alone in my quiet accumulating of dishes and glassware, my flatware fanaticism, and linen lust!  Now that I have a blog of my own I've decided to take part, beginning with this harvest table set for a late October meal.

When I build a table, and in many cases, this is exactly what I do, I begin first with the tablecloth, and then the centerpiece.  This centerpiece was born of pure serendipity.  I was shopping at Michael's one day and saw cornucopias piled up like warped lumber outside in one of the sale bins.  In all my years of entertaining I'd never used a cornucopia, so grabbed one (At only $2.99 I figured if it didn't work I could just toss it without remorse.), and immediately my mind went to work deciding what I'd put in it and around it. 

I wanted the table to represent all of the beauty and glory fall has to offer, so this meant the harvest.  I wanted seasonal fruits and vegetables, nuts, sheaves of wheat, Indian corn, cranberries, and unassuming lighting that offered a glow without detracting from the main attraction.  I also wanted a hint toward what was yet to come so filled a small trifle bowl with cranberries and added an amber ceramic turkey.

I wanted the placemats rustic and the dinnerware simple.  The dinner plates were from my collection of Fiestaware, alternating yellow plates with crimson ones.  The bowls are from a set of dishes called "Autumn Splendor."  I can't tell you how much I love these.

The napkins were made by my dear mother who can turn any piece of fabric I give her into something lovely for the table.  This fabric she found on her own and I think it's just perfect.  I'd told her that I wanted something that smacked of fall and food.  Her choice of the Indian corn pattern did both perfectly.  The goblets are also a favorite.  My mother bought them on a whim back in the 70's along with the chunky yellow-handled flatware.  After 20 years of use she was ready to move on and passed them to my welcoming hands.  They are bold, and fun, and surprisingly versatile.

I hope you enjoyed my harvest table.

Plates: Fiestaware

Bowls: Autumn Splendor

Napkins: My mom

Table Covering: Bed, Bath & Beyond

Flatware & Goblets: Gift

Mini Trifle Bowl: Target

Ceramic Turkey: Crate & Barrel