Foodie Friday - Broccoli Salad

It's been awhile since I've participated in Foodie Friday. This is one of those "recycled" recipes from years ago. I first had this broccoli salad at a work potluck luncheon. This Easter I decided to make this to take to my family Easter dinner gathering. This is a little updated from the 80's and was on FoodNetwork.com -- one of Paula Deen's recipes. And best of all.....it's super easy!





Ingredients
1 head broccoli
6-8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup raisins
8 ozs. sharp Cheddar, cut into very small chunks
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Trim off the large leaves from the broccoli stem. Remove the tough stalk at the end and wash broccoli head throughly. Cut the head into flowerets and the stem into bite-size pieces. Place in a large bowl. Add the crumbled bacon, onion, raisins, cheese and cherry tomatoes. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, stirring well. Add to broccoli mixture and toss gently.

Enjoy!

Be sure to check out what's cooking in all the kitchens over at Foodie Friday on "Designs By Gollum" -- always something yummy!

Tabletop Garden

What fun it is to see what everyone brings to the table week after week for Tablescape Thursday! It's always fun to gather new ideas and enjoy the creativity found here. Thanks Susan!




I'm not a gardner, but today I've planted a tabletop garden -- perhaps the only kind I can grow.



Please join me in the garden.



In my little garden, the bunnies are always welcome!



I try to make sure.....




.....that there is a pretty focal point.....




.....at each and every.....



.....placesetting.



Spring green napkins with pink budding napkin rings. The napkins came from Tuesday Morning this spring and the napkin rings were ordered from Style Sisters.




I found these little cabbage bowls and plates last year at a local antique, thrift and whatnot sort of shop. I happened upon the owner of one of the booths reorganizing her display. She was about to pack these away and was delighted to sell them instead. I was thrilled to get them for half the price too!





A closer look at the plates. These were layered over my white Gibson plates (Big Lots) and green glass chargers from a shop in Virginia Beach.



Pink goblets from eBay.



A view of the layers.




Crop dusters view.



Evening falls.....



....and it's time to say.....




....Good night from the garden.

Be sure to visit Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" for another week of tabletop inspirations.

See ya.

Easter Endings

Easter evening 15 of us gathered at my sister-in-laws home for a wonderful Easter meal. The delightful hostess, Marti, also known as "DiDi" (pronounced DeeDee) by the kids.



And her husband Tom, "Tomba" for the grands -- somehow "Gumba" for my grands.





Everybody digging in for some tasty Easter traditions. Ham, Chicken, jello salad, mac & cheese, green beans, corn pudding, fresh asparagus, broccoli salad, veggie tray, relish tray, fruit salad, potato salad, rolls, two cakes....lets just say, nobody left hungry!



Mr. Mid-Atlantic and his sis.



There's always a "kids table".


Boys on one side. (Jackson just turned 10 and Fletcher will be 5 in June). Both handsome boys!


Girls on the other. Kendall and Keelyn enjoyed the "big boys".





The end of a beautiful Easter spent with loved ones. Hope your Easter was blessed with love, joy, hugs and sweetness!

See ya.

Easter morning 2011

One of the Easter traditions I love at our church is the flower cross. When I arrived for the early service this morning just a few flowers had been placed on the cross.


At the end of the first service there were many more flowers in place. The twins were so sweet in their Easter dresses.


Our daughter Katy with Kendall and Keelyn. Our son-in-law works for Colonial Williamsburg and had to be on duty today. When you work with live animals, there is no closed day.


A friend urged me to let him take my picture too (something I don't usually do).



By the end of the second service, some of the flowers were beginning to wilt a little, but the flowers brought by members from their gardens and flower beds always makes a beautiful Easter display.

Blessings to all my blog friends on this glorious Easter day!

Easter 2011

Goodness I feel like I've been away from blogging forever! First I got very busy, then right when I came back...our computer died....then we got a new one and I got very busy again! You were probably wondering if I fell into a hole.



Make that a rabbit hole! This Easter is the year of the rabbit around my house.



And a cute little chick here and there.



Easter blessings ...



....and Spring joys.



Rabbits everywhere!



Signs of Easter on our sideboard.



And more on the washstand.



This happy bunny has his arms full!



White House Easter egg 2009.



A sweet "sugar" coated bunny.



Vintage Easter greetings.



A jar filled with eggs....




.....and one that hatched!





Spring bunnies and eggs.



Meet Maurice....



....the mossy bunny....


....he hopped right up on the table when I brought him home from Cracker Barrel. I love to pick up their holiday and seasonal decor after they've marked off 40%. But I waited too late to get the flower petal bunny I was looking for. Sigh...sometimes you just take your chances.


This handsome fella with a backpack of eggs is up to his knees in jelly beans!



We had a little pre-Easter dinner with our daughter's family on Friday night.




Easter cards doubled as placecards for the twins.




Easter books were tucked under their plates.



More bunnies in the centerpiece. Love her sweet face.



This is my "traditional" Easter tablecloth --- I've had it for years. Love the Spring colors.



I found this cute square topper this year.



I thought they made a great match.



The eggs seemed to go so well with the older cloth. The only problem was it all got covered up as I set the table.



I started building my centerpiece with this multi colored paper shred.



Then I added these sweet bunnies. I fall in love with these every year and I got them several years ago after Easter on sale for about five dollars for all three.



Added in some eggs and chicks.



Here's the table all set up.



Egg cups are perfect for little Easter treats.



Jelly beans and chocolate eggs.



Beautiful Spring flowers hand painted on the water goblets --- Do you believe from Goodwill a couple of years ago?



Ivory handled flatware.



Place setting for the adults.



Place setting for the twins. I actually have enough of the Bunny plates for six of us but I liked making theirs a little different. They each had a Bunnykins mug that belonged to my children.



We had a wonderful pre-Easter meal of glazed spiral ham, roasted turkey breast, boiled new potatos with butter and parsley, Sister Shubert rolls, seasoned green beans, and cooked carrots. But, of course, the favorite was the strawberry shortcake for dessert! We get to all gather for another Easter dinner tomorrow at my sister-in-laws home. It's always fun to bring the grandchildren together. I'll be taking fruit salad, broccoli salad and fresh asparagus. We never miss the opportunity for sharing good times and good food with loved ones.

Wishing all my blogging friends a very Happy Easter!

See ya!