Photo Challenge: Dress Up
This week's theme being dress up, I pondered what to do. And then it hit me; dress up the table.
I love to cook. For my family. For guests. For everyone. I not only like to cook, but I like to have a pretty table. Not only for guests, but for my family, too. I'd say that most days I succeed in this area.
This was our table last Saturday night. No guests. No special occasion. Just US!
Tablecloth. Cloth napkins. We've been using them for years, and I very much dislike the paper variety.
Proper silverware placement. Pretty glasses. Bread plates. It doesn't take much to make the table look nice.
Except.
For years, 20 of them I've been married now, I'd take great care to set the table, and even greater care in preparing the food. But when I made soup, I had no choice but to sit the POT in the middle of the table. It was such a let down. No matter how good the soup tasted, the pot tormented me all through dinner.
Until last night. While Abigail and I were on an adventure this week, I spied a soup tureen for $11.99! I couldn't pass it up.
Soup never tasted so good as it did last night.
And I wasn't the only one who thought so!
Visit Rebecca for more dress up photos.
24 comments:
Oh my Tracy, you're making me hungry!
Really beautiful pictures, since we "eat with our eyes first", and I would say your family eats well!
SO GORGEOUS!!! This looks like a spread from Martha Stewart!!! You are so amazing ~ a fantastic photographer, designer and chef! Wow!
By the way, have you posted your stuffed squash recipe? I love squash and that looks tantalizing . . .
Did I spy with my little eye a glass food jar being used as a beverage glass at your beautiful table setting?
Don't worry, I'm not passing judgement, we do the same thing! In fact, I have a whole kitchen shelf devoted to GoldPeak tea bottles (with lids) that I've saved, washed, removed the labels, and kept JUST to be used for drinking glasses.
For us, it isn't a matter of beauty (although they are tall and cury). It's a practical matter. Our dog is still teething and destroys all the plastic glasses he can get ahold of and the younger children still [can] break the glasses and I was tired of having broken sets. So I was blessed with the inspiration to save the Gold Peak tea jars! They fit the bill for us perfectly. And no reason to get upset if something should happen to one.
We have a very upscale eatery in town that uses Mason jars as drinking glasses in it's establishment. I've always LOVED the idea!
Lady Laura,
Not just ONE, but, TWO glass jars! One, I believe was from pickles. Collin loves that jar and though he likes it when I set the table with pretty glasses, if I ask him to get drinks, he ALWAYS chooses that jar for himself. The other, smaller jar, that looks more like a glass,is actually from a jar of dried chipped beef. Abigail thinks it's the perfect size, and she uses them constantly through out the day.
In my glass cupboard, you'll find a mix of store bought glasses, big and small, as well as wide mouth and regular pint jars, and jelly jars and dried beef jars. Oh, and the one pickle jar. Collin would not want us to forget that!
WOW! I wish I could 'dress up' my table like that.. I must try harder. You are such an inspiration
Marilyn
Oh WOW! If I wasn't hungry before I most definitely am now! I love how you take the effort to each meal an occasion.
You know growing up my mom always did the same thing and it brings back lots of good memories! Thank you!!
On occasion I dress up my table...my boys all want to know who is coming over for dinner:-) I guess I need to do it more often for my own special men!
Dressing up our table growing up was usually just for holidays...and we only ever used candles when mom burned something...(she was an excellent cook though)...I am going to try really hard this week to make use of some of my better dishes and make my table look more than just a "little" inviting...thank you so much...and yes...that squash looks delish...much better than the squash family on my moms blog...haha. Great Job!!!
Food tastes so much better when it is pretty, doesn't it? Lovely!
Your table is beautiful ~ I would feel very special sitting at it!
My table has become far more about functionality than anything. We chose a beautiful wooden table, which I adore sitting at ~ and don't feel the need to top with a cloth, which would add stress to the meal each time someone pulled at the cloth the wrong way.
I also serve our meals at the bench and then take the plates to the table, avoiding extra dishes and trying to get everyone plated up in a timely manner.
Just GORGEOUS!!! YUM-O!! What's for dinner? :P And what time?
Blessings,
Amy
Everything looks yummy and delish. Great bargain on the soup tureen. And I love your story about Colin's pickle jar; we use mason jars for glasses.
I love the soup tureen is beautiful and is something I long to have one day too. We usually leave the kettle on the stove and bring bowls full of soup to the table.
The other thing I need is a fondue set. When I made SS's cheese fondue the other week, our's got cold sitting in the pan on the table! LOL
Have a great weekend!
so unfair. VERY not-nice-of-you to post these on a night when I didn't cook a thing! :-)
Seriously though~ your table looks stunning and the food looks amazing.
A well-dressed table, in my mind, speaks volume to your family about what you value. Namely, them.
Beautiful.
I hope you will post the recipes for the stuffed squash and the soup sometime. They look delicious!
what a GREAT take on the challenge! Dressing up of food and table. LOVE it!! BEAUTIFUL shots too!!!
I love the different interpretations of this challenge. Dressing Up a Table was a PERFECT variation! I have a soup tureen as well, but it seems the only time I use it is for special occassions- It really shows that a little extra effort makes for such a memorable meal :) Great Job!
What a great find! I need a new soup tureen - my old one broke!
I like to set a proper table for my family everyday too! It doesn't take much to have it nice for everyone!
Have great day!
That is BEAUTIFUL! I am so LAZY about things like that - really, I'm inspired to try HARDER for my own family.
A beautiful table for sure and I just LOVE that soup tureen and especially the price!
That's something that would be lovely because in the colder months, I make a lot of soups, stews, chilis and chowders :o)
Your soup tureen is beautiful, in fact your entire table is! It does make everyone feel even more special when dinner is served with such a beautiful presentation. Thank you for sharing!
Love soup toureens! I bought one for my sister when she just was married, because she enjoys soup so much. Should have bought one for me, too, though!
Tracy, your table looks simply exquisite!
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