Breaking Bread Tablescape

One of the most difficult things about setting a table is coming up with the centerpiece. Sometimes you want to invite people at the last minute, have an attractive table to go with your nice meal or your coffee and dessert, and, with no time to run out for flowers, you're struggling to find a centerpiece.

For this reason it's important to have a nice container that you can grab at the last minute. This container can be anything whether it's a wooden dough bowl like I've used here, a basket, silver tray, or any favorite piece that you happen to have on hand.

Place it in the center of the table, take a careful assessing look around your house, and fill it with something that you already have.

Finding myself in similar circumstances, last week I put a couple of mangoes in my bowl, this week I am serving a number of different breads, muffins, and bagels for a brunch, and I've chosen to use that as my centerpiece. Surprisingly, it's quite dramatic to see all the breads in front of you at once. It also makes it easy for people to take what they want without having to ask to have something passed to them.

Keep this in mind for your next brunch, luncheon, or dinner party. With each passing day we're getting closer and closer to the holiday season of dinners, lunches, chili suppers, and holiday parties, so give this idea some consideration.

This post is linked to: Dishing It & Digging It, Over the Moon, Silver Pennies Sunday, Art of Homemaking, Amaze Me Monday, Busy Mondays, Inspiration Monday, Cooking & Crafting with J&J, Make It Pretty Monday, Inspire Me Tuesday, Tuesdays At Our Home, Two Cup Tuesday, Celebrate Your Story, Tutorials and Tips Tuesday, Wow Us Wednesday, Work It Wednesday, Wine’d Down Wednesday, Wake up Wednesday, Coffee and Conversation, Share Your Style, Thursday Favorite Things, Tablescape Thursday, and Foodie Friday & Everything Else

Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

Is it just me, or has this winter seemed a whole lot longer than winters past? We didn't even get as much snow this year as last, not by half, but it seems as if it has been winter for years. The other day I was thinking about how good a warm-from-the-vine home grown tomato would taste.  We're four months away from those, but my craving for fresh fruits and vegetables will not be ignored, so this morning, after gobbling down a bowl of fresh blueberries, I decided to turn what remained into muffins.

I have a lot of good recipes for blueberry muffins, but this one from Ina Garten continues to be one of my favorites.  It's from her book Barefoot Contessa Family Style, and, true to its name, it is more like a moist, sweet coffee cake than a plain old muffin. Available in various locations on the web, I have reproduced the recipe below for the sake of convenience. I cut the recipe in half with great success and sprinkled each with a whisper of streusel topping (something I always keep in the freezer just for such an occasion).

Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
8 ounces (about 1 cup) sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 half-pints fresh blueberries, picked through for stems

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Place 16 paper liners in muffin pans.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla, sour cream, and milk. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed add the flour mixture to the batter and beat until just mixed. Fold in the blueberries with a spatula and be sure the batter is completely mixed.

Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling each cup just over the top, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the muffins are lightly browned on top and a cake tester comes out clean. 

This post is linked to:

Wake up Wednesday

The Homemaking Party

Wow Us Wednesday
Work It Wednesday

What’s It Wednesday

Romantic Breakfasts

It's the sweetest of all days, and what better way to spend your morning than with your special someone and a special breakfast. Whether you're making it for yourself and your sweetie, or the whole family, these dishes are always welcome. Click on the links to get the recipes.

 Fluffy Meyer Lemon Yogurt Pancakes 

People have a lot of different ideas as to the perfect pancake.  I’m a light and fluffy gal myself, but Mr. O-P (from NJ) likes them thinner and with more body, but the cook gets her way and this morning these delicious pancakes graced the breakfast table.

Cream-filled Strawberries

If you've let time slip away and have nothing to serve, these strawberries are delicious, easy, and can turn any occasion into something special.

Bing Cherry Crepes 

If you are the cherry fan that I am, then you will love these crepes. They are easy to assemble, particularly when using Melissa's Ready Made Crepes (something I always keep in the freezer just for such an occasion).  The filling recipe is from Magpie’s Café in St. Charles, MO, and can be made the day ahead and stored in the fridge; the Bing Cherry Sauce is my own creation and the recipe can be found here. When it is time to serve, just fill and roll the crepe, and spoon the warmed jewel-toned sauce on top.

Chocolate Waffles with Fresh Strawberries

If your idea of breakfast does not include something chocolate-y, this may just change your mind. While it is indeed chocolate, it is the rich, dense, deliciousness of chocolate and not something that is cloyingly sweet. Based on an Alton Brown recipe, I lightened up the cocoa, added a pinch of espresso powder, and used mini chocolate chips to better spread the joy. Topped with fresh strawberries it is a decadent breakfast treat.

 

New York-Style Coffee Cake Muffins

One of my most viewed recipes is this one for New York-Style Crumb Cake, and with good reason, it is delicious.  So when I spotted this recipe for the same type of cake in muffin form, I had to try it.  The same delicious coffee cake in a small, portable form is absolute perfection!

Banana, Coconut and Ricotta Pancakes with Ginger Syrup

 I found a decadently delicious recipe that is full of complex tastes and will make you feel that you’re breakfasting on a tropical isle.  The beauty of this recipe is that it, like the ginger syrup, can be made ahead, so you won’t have to labor in the morning to put a fantastic meal on the table.

This post is linked to:

Create It Thursday

Full Plate Thursday

The Weekend Social

Foodie Friday