Tea With A View Menu. . .

Two of my favorite Seasons of the year are
Spring and  Autumn!

So~o~o. . .
can you imagine the thrill of Spring's arrival
that goes through my being?

As soon as the Spring cleaning
On Crooked Creek is completed,
my thoughts are on entertaining!

Recently, I hosted a Tea With A View (here)
with my friend as we consultated and freshened
the back deck On Crooked Creek!

As promised. . .
here are the recipes for Tea for Two!

Green Salad with Walnuts and Chicken

Ingredients:
4 cups chopped green, leaf lettuce
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
4 (8~ounce) cooked chicken breasts,
    chopped (about 6 cups)
4 plums,  pitted and sliced
1 cup toasted walnuts
8 ounces ricotta salata cheese, 
    crumbled

Lemon Thyme Dressing

Directions:
In a large bowl, toss together lettuces,
chicken, plums, walnuts, cheese 
and Lemon Thyme Dressing.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Lemon Thyme Dressing

Ingredients:

2/3 cup extra~virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

In a small bowl, wish together oil,
lemon juice, thyme, salt and pepper.

Store covered in refrigerator up to 1 week.

Makes about 1 cup.

(An adaptation from Spring cottage , Spring 2013.) 

My friend and I agreed,
that while the Archer Farm Classic Water Crackers (right)
were good, we both preferred
Milton's Craft Bakers Roasted Garlic and Herb 
Multi~Grain Crackers (left)!

Raspberry Clafoutis

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups milk
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup all~purpose flour
3 cups fresh raspberries
Garnish: fresh mint

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray 8 small ramekins or creme brulee
dishes with nonstickcooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together
milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt.
Slowly whisk in flour. 
Beat well until no lumps remain.
Mixture should be the consistency 
of thin pancake batter.

Arrange raspberries in a single
layer in prepared dishes, and top
each with batter. (About 1/3 cup)

Bake 30 minutes or until center
is set and top is lightly browned.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Garnish with mint, if desired.

Makes 8 servings.

A beautiful Spring morning
that lasted into early afternoon. . .

like a breath of fresh air 
a clean and refreshed back deck. . .

all combined with the conversation, 
joys and laughter of a dear friend!!!

At long last. . .
 Spring arrives On Crooked Creek!


Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.stonegable.blogspot.com

Yvonne @ StoneGable for

On The Menu Monday!

Be sure to visit 

for some delicious menu selections 

for your own family and entertaining!

Tea With A View. . .

Oh! 
Dear Ones,
I'm so~o~o excited and filled with anticipation!!!

My friend is coming to help me 
with my out~of ~door garden view.

So~o~o. . .
I've prepared a Tea for Two. . . with a view!!!

Those who know me. . .
know I am NOT an out~of~doors person.
Spring and Fall, I do enjoy mornings and evenings on the deck.

While we were taking our
Progressive Christmas~Brunch Home Tour (here),
I was so impressed with the back deck at my friend's home.
I visited with her a few weeks ago 
seeking her help with my back deck that views our garden
and she agreed to come for a consultation!

My Pink Depression Buttons and Bows Collection  
was the inspiration for this consultation tea!
(You can read more about my collection in my post Cream Or Sugar? here)

* * * * * * * Tutorial * * * * * * *
Tea With A View:
Instead of making a selection from my usual place mat collection,
I chose a natural hued linen ruffled runner 
atop a vintage linen cloth.

A large glass cylinder hurricane 
placed inside a soft floral wreath
serves as my centerpiece. 

Inserted into the base of the hurricane is the top of a jar candle. 
It makes the most perfect riser!

A creamy ivory candle 
compliments the color palette of this tablescape.

The addition of dried split green peas
and wrought iron dragon flies (a.k.a. actually napkin rings)
enhances the garden decor.

Next, comes the choice of dinnerware,
flatware and stemware!

To keep a feminine touch to this tablescape,
I chose my everyday sage green dinner plates as chargers.
Vintage cream ware is topped with my  
Wiuterling Rusiau Bavaria Qualitats~Purzeuan
European dessert/ salad plate and a heirloom 
Green Depression Swirl Glass dessert / salad plate
and sherbet bowl. Heirloom silver single rose flatware
adds a harmonious flair to this feminine setting.

I adore the warm brown of these cloth napkins from Great Finds.
Soft pink and deep rose raspberries and roses amidst sage green leaves are gently pulled through wooden napkin rings.

Rose etched vintage stemware and a matching cup and saucer 
complete the place settings for tea.

This sweet Pink Depression Glass plate and bowl
will  be filled with a variety of crackers for my friend's visit.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Here's what's On The Menu for our Tea With A View:

Recipes will be included
@ Stone Gable's  On The Menu

Tea for Two

Spring Green Salad

with

Lemon Thyme Dressing

Raspberry Clafoutis

Raspberry Tea

While I pour another 'cup of tea' for my friend and I
as we finalize plans for changes to the back deck
On Crooked Creek, we encourage you, too, to 
linger awhile longer at our Tea With A View!!!

From my friend and I. . .

                                                                                             to all of you!


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Ones,
I am so~o~o blessed!!!
My dear friend helped me re~arrange and place
the decor for our back deck On Crooked Creek
during our Tea With  A View! 
Photos are forthcoming!!!
Many, many thanks, dear friend!!!
Fondly,
Pat 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.stonegable.blogspot.com

Yvonne @ StoneGable for

On The Menu Monday!

And. . .

ww.stonegable.blogspot.com

also for Tutorials Tips and Tidbits!

Be sure to visit

for you’ll come away

filled with amazing inspirations!

Bread. . .

Bread. . .
is the one food I can not go without!

And, dear ones, this banana nut bread 
has truly gone straight to my taste buds!!!

A true vision of loveliness. . .
this is a light, heavenly taste of sweetness 
that surpasses any I've ever tasted!!!

The most difficult part of this recipe
is waiting for the bread to cool before slicing!!!

While living in the Colorado Springs area,
I taught at Widefield Recreation Center Pre~School!
One of my students mothers shared her Grandmother's 
homemade Banana Nut Bread recipe with me. . .
and it is truly the b e s t nut bread e v e r!!!

Banana Nut Bread:

2 1/2 cups all~purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

1 egg
3 tablespoons salad oil
3/4 cup milk
1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour 9" X 5" X 3" loaf pan or

two 8 1/2" X 4 1/2" X 2 1/2" loaf pans.

Measure all the dry ingredients into a large bowl, set aside.

In a medium size bowl, peel and slice the bananas.

Using a fork, mash the bananas.

Add the remaining wet ingredients.

With an electric mixer, beat on medium speed about 1 minute.

Fold in the finely chopped nuts.

Pour into pan(s).

Bake 55 to 65 minutes or

until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean.

Remove from pan;

cool thoroughly before slicing!

I chose to make one loaf of banana nut bread. . .

and six banana nut bread muffins!

"Give us this day our daily bread". . .

Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creek will be joining

www.dearlittlehouse.blogspot.com

Mary @ Little Red House for

Thursday's Inspirations!

Be sure to visit

for you’ll come away

filled with amazing inspirations!

Spring Floral Arrangement. . .

Welcoming Spring 
with a new "floral" arrangement!

Like most of you throughout the U.S.,
I'm still waiting and hoping for Springs arrival 
here on the Prairie!

So~o~o. . .
until Mother Nature decides that Spring has officially arrived. . .
I decided to bring a touch of Spring 
to On Crooked Creek's interior!

I removed the huge creamy ivory Dahlias
from my Bormioli Italy Crystal Glass vase
and inserted some faux tree branches, chartreuse branches
and a faux bird's nest with eggs!

I adore the movement 
these gnarly, twisted branches bring to this arrangement!

Continuing the streamlined appeal, 
I returned the vintage relish dish 
filled with intricate silver spoons.

Spring has arrived to the interior decor On Crooked Creek . . .
now we'll sit back and enjoy Mother Nature's handiwork unfold, 
in due time, to the exterior!

* * * * * * * FYI * * * * * * *
I know you fellow bloggers enjoy sharing secrets. . .
so~o~o. . .
I've prepared a special Tea With A View
for my friend to share later in the week!
Be sure to visit soon to see this sweet 
Teascape for Two!     Sh~ h ~ h!!!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Until next time. . .

From A Bird's View. . .

While attending a local Spring Open House,
I was inspired to create a new look 
for my dining room chandelier.

Using the faux twig branches 
that adorn my Lodge Tree at Christmas On Crooked Creek.
I wound the branches around the base of the chandelier pole
and arranged them to go up toward the ceiling 
and then down toward the dining room table.

Next, I added a 6 ft. twiggy garland
with deep rose hydrangea blooms. . .

                                                                                            . . .and a bird's nest!

I adore the chartreuse hue 
of the faux leaves that intertwine amongst the branches!

Additional twiggy branches with chartreuse blossoms 
were inserted to give more fullness and visual appeal 
to the chandelier arrangement! 

Now, On Crooked Creek
the interior dining room chandelier 
mimics the beginnings of Springs exterior arrival!

Until next time. . .

www.memoriesofhome.biz

Spring Event #2 . . . April 17 ~ 20!

A special "thank you" to Debbie and April
@ Memories Of Home for inspiring me  through all your
amazing interior design during your Spring Open House!