Snowflakes and Hearts Table

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes and to my Snowflakes and Hearts Tablescape.

 

This was the table I set for our Sunday Dinner.  We served little salads in these cute little heart bowls.  This table mimics our decorations in our home, as we have hearts and snowflakes fused together also.

 

 

Each place setting had their own little snowflake votive.

 

 

I love the heart designs on these linens

 

 

 

I always like to include a shot looking through a glass.

Oh, I spy some cookies.  These peanut butter kiss cookies are really a favorite with my children.

 



 

 

Just another happy view.  I love to set a red table.  I am sure I have set more red tables than any other tables.  I use the red dinner plates as every day dishes.

 

 

Just a shot of the cookies.  I am taking some of them to some friends in little tins.

 

 

The cake stands were a gift from my husband.  There are three of them an they stack nicely.  I have yet to make three cakes at one time, but I will some day, and that's a happy thought.



 I thank you for visiting Red Couch Recipes.

Posted with Tablescape Thursday.



Silver White Winter Table

 

 

 

Silver White Winters that melt into snow, these are a few of my favorite things!  I love snow, I know some of you are getting waaay too much snow right now.  In the high desert of Utah Old Man Winter has barely appeared -- today is 57 degrees, and no sign of snow for awhile. I miss snow; I really do, and we depend on snow pack for water in the spring and summer, so I hope we get some soon. 

 

I just love a white table.  Do you?  Okay not totally white, but maybe some silver added.  Here's a closer look.

 

 

I love how the snowflake looks on the plate.

 

 

A view of the small stack of silver and white dishes.

 

 

My husband bought this lantern for me last Christmas, and this is the first time I have used it.  (Shame, shame, shame!!)

 

 

I am sure you are like me, in that you love lanterns.

 

 

The table has these cute snowflake goblets and my workhorse clear bubble glasses.  I have used the bubble glasses on so many table settings.

 

 

The flatware is Damask Rose sterling.  It was a gift from my parents when we were married.  I don't use it very often.  I did at Christmas and of course I counted the silver when the dishes were done.  One of our guests thought that was funny, as if someone were going to steal a spoon ;).  I wasn't worried about that, but I am worried about throwing one away in the garbage.

 

 

Just plain white napkins with a silvery napkin ring.

 

 

 

The silvery snowflake table runner was a gift from my sister-in-law Camille many years ago.

 

 

The snow fairy embellishes the lantern. The 10 year old at my home today thinks the snow fairy is creepy :).

 

 

 

I would like to be snowed up in our home for at least a day.  No school for the kids and no work.  I would sit and look out the windows while the snow would be softly falling.  This is just a dream this year; one of the driest winters on records.  My kids have never had a snow day.

 

 

Sometimes it has come close, but to their disappointment, it has never become a reality.  Snow days were not uncommon where I grew up in Wisconsin.

 

I will close this post with a view through a bubbly glass.

 

 

Thank you for visiting Red Couch Recipes today.  I hoped you liked the Silver White Winter Table. 

 

Table Information

Silver Chargers -- Maybe Target, many moons ago

White chargers, Salad Plates, and Clear Bubble Glasses -- Tai Pan Trading

Napkin Rings and Napkins -- Wal-Mart

Snowflake Goblets -- Smith's Grocery Store

Silver Runner -- Present from Sister-In-Law

Lantern -- JC Penney's, present from husband

Sterling Flatware -- Damask Rose by Oneida, present from parents

 

Posted with the following:  Let's Dish, Tablescape Thursday

 

Three Ingredient Red Velvet Heart Cookies

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes and to a recipe for an easy and delicious RED VELVET COOKIE Recipe!  Yes, it really is just three ingredients, and so easy to mix up.

My children are not huge fans of Valentine's day.  They feel it is just a couples day and thus kind of a depressing day.  As I have discussed with my children, Valentine's should be a day of love for everyone, not just for couples. so we have some plans to shower those we love with goodies.  My husband and I were married on February 12, oh so many years ago.  Our reception was Valentine-themed, so naturally I have a soft spot for Valentine's Day.   So bake a batch of these and take them to someone you love

I love the crinkled look of these cookies -- and the Red Velvet flavor too!

 

Red Velvet Heart Cookies

 

1 box Betty Crocker Red Velvet Cake Mix

1/2 cup butter (no margarine)

1 large egg

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the ingredients well and then cut out with heart-shaped cookie cutter.  If dough is sticky, mix a bit of confectioner's sugar, completely, in the dough.  Place cookies on baking sheet and refrigerate for about 14 minutes.  Even with refrigerating,, these cookie will spread, so make sure you leave plenty of room in between cookies on the baking sheet.  Bake for about 8 minutes.  Baking time will vary, depending on your oven.  For a soft cookie, which I love, do not over bake.  Yield: about 18 cookies, depending on the cookie cutter size.  I used the smallest crinkle edged Wilton cookie cutter from the set sold at Wal-Mart right now. 

 

 I have the best results with this recipe using a shiny baking pan. 
 

January Snowmen

 

 

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes!  Maybe if I do a Snowmen table, we will get some snow, but that hardly seems likely since we reached 54 degrees yesterday!  We  are badly in need of snow here in Utah this year..

 

 

I have had these huge Snowmen mugs for years, and have never used them, no not ever, until yesterday.  They are just too huge for hot cocoa, but then I realized they are perfect for soup!  I bought them years ago at Hallmark.  

 

I set the table with these hob nail glasses as they reminded me of snowmen's coal eyes.

 

 

 

I used both a red and an orange (because of his carrot nose) napkins in a coral napkin ring.

 

By each placesetting, I placed a little red votive.  We have been using these frequently at dinner to help brighten up the dark January nights.

 

 

I placed some aqua snowflakes with the pine cones; thought it went well with the Snowman mug's hat.

 

 

When I was setting this table, I did think it was a bit odd, but somehow it came together all right, at least I thought.

 

I wish you a happy January day. Thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes!

 

 

Posted with Tablescape Thursday

Bonnie's Hotel Utah Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

 

 

 

 

Bonnie's, a fellow blogger, Hotel Utah Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup is my favorite soup to bring to people when they are ill.  I just put it in a quart jar and bring some bread or crackers.  It is also my youngest daughter's favorite soup.  When Bonnie was raising her children she used to bring her children to the famous Hotel Utah in Salt Lake City, and they would order Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup as a starter.  This is Bonnie's wonderful rendition.  Bonnie is the host of the blog City Home/Country Home where she has tremendous talents for handicrafts such as needlepoint, crocheting and knitting, and also is a wonderful cook.  She makes the cutest knitted foxes and bunnies.  I am a "souper, " and if you are a "souper" you will love it too -- rich creamy and so soul satisfying. 

The building that used to host the Hotel Utah, has been renamed, repurposed and beautifully and lovingly restored.  It has been renamed as the Joseph Smith Building,  for the founder of the Latter-Day-Saint faith.  It has three restaurants, rooms for rental, administrative offices, and an LDS chapel.  Here are a few pictures of it around Christmas this year.  I love visiting Salt Lake City any time of the year, but at Christmas it is truly a wonderful experience. 

Before I go any further, I want to say thanks to my Fairy Blog Mother Linda .  I love the wintery window she added.  Somehow, she just knows what I like, and it is so fun to open up my blog and see the changes she makes.

An Incredible Chandelier
 

The Stained Glass on the Ceilings.

An exquisite tree named the "Pearl of Great Price," after our book of scripture.  The exterior of the building is also amazing, but it was dark when we visited.

 

 

Bonnie's Hotel Utah Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

When making Bonnie's soup, the only change I make is to add more half and half.

 

2 teaspoons of chicken soup base (Bouillon)

3 cups of chicken soup stock ( I use canned.)

2 Tablespoons of butter or olive oil (or combination of both)

2 cups chopped carrots

2 cups chopped celery

¾ cup chopped onion

2-10 oz. cans of cream of chicken soup (Campbell's is fine)

2 cups half and half

3 Tablespoons of butter

3 Tablespoons of all-purpose flour

2 cups of cooked diced chicken

4 cups of cooked noodles (I use the wide noodles.)

Salt and Pepper to taste -- I pepper liberally.

Heat the 2 tablespoons of butter in the bottom of a large Dutch oven. Add the carrots, celery, and onions; simmer until the vegetables are translucent.

 

Pour in the stock and soup base and bring to a boil. Add the canned soup and half and half. 

In a small sauce pan, melt the 3 tablespoons of butter. Stir the flour into the butter, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not let the flour mixture brown. Add the roux to the Dutch oven and stir to thicken the soup. Let it come to a low boil and cook for 3 minutes more.

 

Add the cooked chicken and noodles and stir  well to distribute.

Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. 

 

In the tureen waiting to be served.

 

 Thanks for a wonderful recipe Bonnie!  Also thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes!

Christmas Morning Casserole

 

Every year on Christmas morning we make this egg casserole that we call Christmas Morning Casserole before we open presents.  When our children were younger, they did not like to eat breakfast before the present opening, but this year I took the jingle bells to wake them up, and, GASP, they didn't even get into their stockings until after breakfast.  This was the casserole that my mother-in-law, Geniel, served in my husband's home for Christmas.  It is the perfect casserole for Christmas morning, as it is very substantial and filling, since we usually don't eat lunch on Christmas day.  We usually serve it with some potato patties and some fruit.

 

Of course you don't have to wait until Christmas to make it...

 



Just wanted to give you a view of my Christmas-y silver plated serving ware.  There is a tree and snowman too.  I think they were made by the International Silver Company.

Christmas Morning Casserole Recipe

  

11 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup (1 cube) melted butter
1 pint small curd cottage cheese
8 ounces grated Monterey Jack cheese
8 ounces grated Cheddar cheese
1 4-ounce) green chilies
1 pound cubed ham or 1 pound cooked bacon,
cut into small pieces
paprika

Beat eggs in blender.  While blending eggs, add flour, salt, baking powder, and butter.  In a separate large mixing bowl, mix cottage cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese, Cheddar cheese, chilies, and ham or bacon; blend well with large spoon.  Add egg mixture to cottage cheese mixture and mix well.  Pour into a 9 x 13-inch buttered casserole dish.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes and then reduce oven heat to 350 and bake for another 20-25 minutes.  Bake uncovered and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.  May be mixed the night before, covered, and refrigerated, so it can be baked the next day.