April Flowers

I haven't posted for a while since I've been traveling with our Jazz Band to Savannah, Georgia for a Jazz Festival and then back to play catch-up at work.  Savannah!  What a grand and lovely postcard of a city that many describe as a way of life.

Perhaps it was the trip to Georgia that inspired me to pull out my lovely Homer Laughlin Eggshell Georgian china with the beautiful dogwood blossoms entwining each piece.  Or it may have been the scent of the lily and promise of Easter that always inspires me to want my family around me, but this table came together Monday night while my husband was picking up family at the airport and then to our home to pick-up their car. Surely, they could be tempted to stay for dinner at so SPRINGY a table.

From my house to yours!

 

I recently found this fun salad bowl at the Salvation Army, purchased on the last Friday of month for $6!  What a deal!  Love thrifting!

 Love the clear glaze in the bottom with the muted finish of the "lettuce leaves."

The marking on the underside are hard to make out but appear to be McCoy 688.

I found a "huge Bauer Brusche Speckled Lettuce Bowl" online that may be similar to this treasure.  I like mine better with the majolica like bottom glaze.

The little trivet sitting next to the lettuce bowl, is something I picked up in a Savannah tourist spot.  I'm a sucker for anything with dogwoods!

Bunny Ceramic $19.99 Home Goods.

Don't you want to run alongside? 

Homer Laughlin Eggshell Greogian Pattern Cotillion 1952.  Visions of etiquette, ethics and manners all done up in petticoats, ribbons and dapper bow-ties. Loveliness.

Sets with little fruit bowls make me smile. Berries, anyone? Let me add a dollop of whipped cream for y'all.

 From an earlier blog.

I'm always so delighted to find the serving pieces to these great vintage sets of china so lovingly preserved by families. I envision these as wedding gifts from aunties and mothers feathering the nests of their beloved children, then cherished by women who brought them out on days of celebration. I want everyday and any day to be such a celebration of love, family and the home.  Overly romantic?  Just telling the truth, y'all.

 

Wish I had this on the charger straighter but that's what makes it so real.... 

Oneida 1948 Silverplate Morning Star is perfect for traditional or modern settings. Deep sculptured carving and pierced detail add depth and richness to the design. It has the appearance of heavy hand-made silver.  Works well with Arts & Crafts furnishings.

 Napkin ring years ago from Z Gallerie

Napkins eggshell white from Coldwater Creek

 Charger from World Marketplace (remember when it was Cost Plus?) on sale for $1 (wish I had bought more!)

 

Started taking pictures, really liking the salad bowl and bunnies, then notice the lack of glasses on the table.  Opps.  

Do-over with a few quick photos, time running out with guests on the way.  Quickly found the amber base water goblets from Home Goods, the greatest store on the planet. 

Snap, snap.  Food on the table.  Snap, snap.  Door bell rings, family enters.   

Adult children enter foyer.  Mother embraces adult children and perfect grandbaby, remembering to greet adult children first before gushing over perfect grandbaby. Dialogue ensues.

Mother

Stay for supper?  Nothing special, casserole and salad. 

Adult Child

Smells yummy.  We didn't eat on the plane,  so yes, if it's no trouble?

Mother 

(glee elegantly concealed and revealed)

No trouble.  Just Monday night supper.  Right this way.  

Adult Child

(thinking to himself)

When did dinner become supper and no trouble?  

What have you done with my mother? 

But cool.

 

Enchilada Casserole (recipe to follow)  Really, really good. A keeper, make again and again! Share with family, neighbors and church potlucks.  Make ahead, reheat or quickly throw together. No trouble.

 Here's to good food, loving family and promises of spring!
Thanks for visiting,
~CJ
(aka CathyJo, in touch with her southern roots, y'all)

Good Housekeeping Chicken Enchilada 

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil, Canola
• 1 lb Chicken Breast
• 1/2 cup Red Onion
• 3 medium Zucchini (raw)  (can use frozen sliced to make it easier)
• 2 cups canned corn
• 2 cups Salsa Verde Medium
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream-reduced Fat
• 12 White Corn Tortillas
• 1 cup 2% Mexican Cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 3-quart shallow baking dish
2. In a 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil on medium high. Season chicken with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. Add to skillet in single layer and sear 2 minutes. Turn chicken over, cook 1-2 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a large bowl.
3. Add onion and 1/4C water to skillet; cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring and scraping pan. Add to chicken in bowl.
4. To skillet, add remaining 1 tablespoon oil. When hot, add zucchini, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. Cook 4 minutes or until browned and just tender, stirring occasionally. Transfer to bowl with chicken. To skillet add corn and cook 3 minutes or until browned. Transfer to bowl with chicken, stir in salsa, sour cream, and cilantro.
5. In prepared dish, arrange 4 tortillas in a single layer. Spread evenly with one third of chicken mixture and then one-third of cheese. Repeat layering twice.
6. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until hot. Garnish with cilantro.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/recipes/chicken-enchilada-casserole-good-housekeeping/#ixzz1JMVtSJUE