TRUe Friends Meeting

I hosted my ladies' Bible study this past Thursday night. We began a new study using actual episodes of the old Andy Griffith shows.

After Christmas I like to go very casual and basic.....but I still keep my dining table set. It keeps us from trashing it up with mail, school papers, and just "stuff".

My iron cake stand inverts and turns into a server for appetizers. I fashioned a centerpiece with it using small apples and grapes.

I had bought the gold dishes before Thanksgiving, but liked them so much I went back and got them in the red color as well, so I could mix and match them.

After I cleaned off all the Christmas decor and garland I changed the look of the buffets as well....I bought smaller lamps. The tall vases were a Christmas present from Dear Daughter. The picture in the stand was taken on a trip to Savannah....it's a boardwalk extended out over a marsh.

The picture on this buffet was taken at my father's place.....it's my great grandfather's old tractor with the lake in the background. The tractor has just been left in the same place for years and years. We wouldn't think of moving it.

Tonight's menu included slices of cheesecake....

Tortilla chips with artichoke-spinach dip....

Pasta salad....

Savorings....philo dough filled with spinach and cheese. In front of the pasta salad bowl are crackers with pinapple-pecan dip

Mixed fruit with a choice of chocolate dip or cream cheese dip....

Yep, there I am.....

Donna and Antonette chowing down....

Katie....out newest member

and finally, there's Barbara....Look, she has a plate. She's eating something. :)

Private Quarters Party

I hosted a Private Quarters party last night. I had been to a couple and decided to host my own to share the wonderful products with more people. Several ladies in my circle of friends are familiar with Private Quarters, so we keep having the parties to provide each other the opportunity to purchase items on our wish lists.

My theme for the evening was Tuscan…..When I looked up Tuscan foods I discovered the dishes included a lot of beans and meat….not what you generally think of when you think “Italy”, so I went off the menu a bit and had things that were simple and easy.

Mainly I opened up a bunch of packages and jars.

I purchased some Classico brand bruchetta, and I served with Garlic and Parmesan toasts I got from Publix. The bread slices were very hard, but after spreading the Bruchetta on and allowing it to sit for a bit it was very chewy.

I used a long skinny basket I've had for years to fashion a centerpiece. I used a tupperware container in one end to hold some crackers. I draped a cloth napkin over the tupperware to hide it. In the other side of the basket I used a couple of small silk ivey bushes.

I used my “Taste of Home” appetizer server/cake server to hold some fresh fruit and I mixed up some Ricotta Fruit Dip in my blender. Mix ½ cup low fat ricotta cheese; 4 oz. cream cheese, softened; 3 T. orange juice; 2 T. powdered sugar in the blender. Add mixture to one 6 oz. container vanilla low fat yogurt. Stir well and transfer to serving bowl. Serve with cut up fruit.

For the marinated mozzarella I took a pound and a half of cheese and sliced it into chunks. I mixed up 6-8 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 T. chopped basil ( I used dried, but the recipe called for fresh), ½ t. crushed red pepper, and ¼ t. ground sea salt. I put the cheese in my serving bowl and drizzled the olive oil mixture over it. Very pretty…very good.

The chickpea salad came from the Publix deli.

I also sliced up some salami and had some garlic and herb cheese spread for the crackers.

Lemon Glazed Poundcake from the Publix bakery.

We had tea and coffee to drink, and since the invites stated I would have wine (the Private Quarters representative did the invites for me) I picked up a bottle each of white and red suitable for light appetizer fare including fruits.

I purchased Beringer California collection. The red wine was actually a white merlot (2007). The white was a Moscato (2008) and the label states it is a floral-scented wine with the aroma of honeysuckle and fruity flavors.

It was not to be, however. I didn’t have any takers for a glass of wine, so hubby and I will enjoy it over the weekend as we finish off the leftovers.

Our tea....

Savory Spinach and Cheese bites from the freezer section....

....and some coffee all set up and ready to go if someone wanted it.

Here are some of the party guests: