Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Table in Paradise


Despite all of the hurricane damage
in our home in Cabo, 
we didn't lose
any glassware or plates.  We were
blessed to have as little damage as
we did.

I spent 3 weeks here in January enjoying
the change in weather and celebrating
my birthday.


When we were cleaning out the garage
after all of the damage, I found two of
these decked out starfish and I just
had to feature them on our table.


I love how someone bejeweled
these little guys.





Today's table is on the lookout that
is off the living room and has 
views on all sides.





You get a great view down to the ocean
from here.  It is such a beautiful spot
and is stunning with the flowers
in bloom.  I love being surrounded
by flowers year round here.


It is so much fun to have traditional
plates and glassware to eat off of
so we have filled the house with
local items.


We always love to shop at
Artesanos.  This is my second 
set of plates from there.



The glaze has raised details that make
them really fun.


This is a faux stone top table
that fits six to eight.  It is a favorite
spot for breakfast.


I gathered accessories from around
the house to make our seaside centerpiece.




Two kinds of cobalt glassware,
also from Artesanos which is located
right outside of town along the 
frontage road are used for today's table.





Artesanos also has lots of pewter
but I brought these pewter napkin
rings and the napkins from home.


I have had these for a few years but
this is the first time I used them.



There is nothing like eating in the fresh
air, especially when you know it is 
freezing at home.  



Fill one of these up with 
fresh squeezed orange juice
and enjoy the sound of the ocean
and the breezes as you forget about 
any cares at home.

I joke and say that when I celebrate
my birthday in a warm climate,
I don't age!!



(Thanks to my friend Aly for some of these
photos.)


I will be sharing this little bit of paradise
at

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Waffle Love Copycat Recipe


Raised waffles with crystals of sugar that 
melt into the finished product and produce
a crunch when you bite are one of Europe's
treasures 
-Liege Waffles - 
and now we have a variety here
made famous by Waffle Love but
at $8 each, you might want to make
a copycat recipe at home.


This isn't some light and fluffy batter waffle 
where everyone says, "Give me another one!"
This is a hefty rib sticking waffle that
sings of yeasty goodness.


The batter is raised and then sugar pearls
are kneaded into the batter.  



The dough is then shaped into balls and allowed
to rise a little more and the balls are baked
in a Belgian waffle iron.  Since the dough is
so thick, turn down the heat on the waffle iron and
bake a little slower.  The sugar melts and gives
a fabulous crunch as you bite into the dough.


The favorite is to drizzle the hot waffle with
Biscoff Spread and then top with cream and
berries!  - Be still my heart!

These are great for a special breakfast,
a great brunch or we love breakfast foods
for dinner.

I adapted a version found on

I think this is going to become a new 
family favorite.

Waffle Love Copycat Recipe
3/4 C milk, scalded and cooled to lukewarm
2 T. water
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. instant yeast
2 large eggs, whisked lightly
1 C. softened butter
3 T. honey
1 T. brown sugar
2 T. white sugar
2 tsp vanilla
4 C. flour
1 pkg. Belgian Pearl Sugar
We can buy these at Waffle Love or
Gygi's Restaurant Supply.  Check in your area.)

After the milk has cooled to lukewarm, mix in
the water, sugar and yeast and allow to
proof and get bubbly.

In a large bowl, beat the butter, honey and sugars.
Beat in the eggs and then the vanilla.  Add the milk 
and yeast mixture and then mix in 2 C. flour.  Mix
it until thoroughly mixed.  Change to a dough hook
and mix in the remaining dough and let the dough
knead for about 5 minutes.  Cover and let rest
at room temperature for at least 4 hours to let the
flavor of the yeast develop.  You can also
let the mixture rest in the fridge overnight but
you will need to give it plenty of time to return
to room temperature before baking.

After rising, punch the dough down.  It will not
rise a lot, it is a heavy dough.  Knead in the pearl
sugar and divide the dough into 10 balls.  Cover
and let rest about 20 minutes. 

Bake in a greased Belgian waffle iron, turning the
heat down a little so you don't burn the sugar.

Serve as desired.


In Belgium, they eat these plain but we love
Waffle Love's versions with Biscoff Spread, 
whipped cream and fresh berries.  They are also
great with Nutella, whipped cream and berries.



I will be posting this with

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Gingerbread House and Peppermint Road Tablescape



We have gone away for New Years and since
Christmas just came too quickly this year
with such a late Thanksgiving,
I have another table to share with you,
and it couldn't possibly wait until next
Christmas!  

Let me apologize right away for having problems
with commenting on your blogs.  I think it might
be because we are in Mexico.  I will do a blog
post soon on how our home did during the
hurricane in September and how it is doing now.



This was our Christmas morning
breakfast table using my new
rosette tablecloth from 

It reminds me of a bed of snow
at this time of year.  We had no
snow to speak of and Christmas Eve
we got tons and tons so that was a fun
surprise.


My new little gingerbread boys and girls
hold the utensils.  They were from
Hobby Lobby this year.





I had fun making the peppermint road
and candy pedestals out of melted
peppermint candies to accent the
gingerbread house which is the 
centerpiece of the table.






I left the pedestals in the oven just
a minute longer and you can
see that they lose their design
at start to bubble.


But I still love them.










Here is another one that I made with
red and green peppermints and cinnamon
candies around the outside.

My oldest granddaughter was over
that day and she helped me make
these and did all of the setting of the
table.  




I showed her how I wanted the plates
stacked and she did it all!  How
fun.

I remember getting to go up a few years as
I got old enough to help my aunt set the tables
for around 35 people for Christmas Eve.  
Those are wonderful memories of being able
to help prepare.


The gingerbread house is actually a fake
one that I have had for quite a few years.
I have looked for another one in the
subsequent years but haven't ever found
one.


I love its Hershey's candy bar door and
roof.  My little Mark Robert's elf sits
astride the roof like he is decorating it.  


He had a Hershey's Kiss in his hand
at one time but either he ate it or
one of the other little elves running
around here.


Little gingerbread trees and ornaments
decorate the table.



I made the candy cane napkins a
year or two ago and the jingle bell
napkin rings are perfect for
Christmas morning.


I didn't have quite enough of the candy cane
napkins, so red organza napkins are placed
every other seat.


To make the peppermint road and the
pedestals, you just unwrap the candies
and place them in the shape you desire.
Place it on a cookie sheet covered with
parchment paper or a Silpat.

I made a curved path out of parchment
paper for my design for the road and I
used a small springform pan to shape
the pedestals.

Heat the oven to 275 degrees and bake
for 9 minutes or until they have melted
enough to spread out and touch each
other.  Another minute and I started
to lose the stripes and got bubbles.



Once you remove the pan from the oven
it is very soft and with the edge of a 
butter knife you can push the candy back
a little to smooth edges if you want.





Here's my little elf helping to set the table.
She doesn't look too chipper in the photo
because she was beginning to come down
with a little flu, but I think she still had a
fun time helping.


Here is our deck Christmas morning!  It 
was so fun to have new snow for Christmas.

I hope you are having a wonderful start to
2015!

I will be posting this with 


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