An Attitude of Gratitude Tablescape

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes and to Tablescape Thursday.

Even if research doesn't suggest, though I  think it might, I believe that those who are grateful, live happier, more fulfilling lives lives.  What a great gift or developed skill being a grateful person is.  Today my table is titled "An Attitude of Gratitude."  These little tiles were given out to all the women at our church at a meeting earlier this year.  I have displayed in prominently in my home to help me remember to be grateful for what I do have and not to whine for what I don't have.


At this point, I don't believe that I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner.  This is just a fun tablescape that I put together in honor of Thanksgiving. I bought the fall leaf plates years ago at Target.

This table is filled with my favorite things at Thanksgiving time.  The black kettle at the left corn is stuffed with pumpkins and gourds -- love the color and the shapes of them.

The napkin rings were from a giveaway at Cuisine Kathleen's blog.  She is one of the warm and funniest bloggers around.  I think they look so well with the faux sugar crusted pumpkin and spray.

In my other life, I am an aide to 4t h, 5th, and 6th graders for mainly math at my daughter's elementary school.  Today, instead of being an aide, I was asked to substitute for a few hours in a class that I usually am an aide to.  At the end of the period I received a little note from one of the students.  I thought I would share it with you.

"You were a great sub today in class.  One of the best subs in the world.  Even in the universe.  Your one of my favorite subs.  I will give you this letter and I hope you like this.  I will never forget you when I grow up.  You will still always be my favorite teacher."  That definitely put a smile on my face :).



This "little note of gratitude" brought tears to my eyes and I quickly wrote her a return letter.  I was really touched by this sweet letter.  Truly, gratitude can make one's day so much better.


So go make some one's day better by expressing your appreciation!     

Posted with the following:  Wow Us Wednesdays

"Egg-citing News"

We have eggs!  My youngest daughter went to the chicken coop this past week and came back inside and said, "Mom, someone is playing a trick on me!"  When I asked her why she replied, "There are a ton of eggs outside in the chicken coop."  THERE WERE TWENTY-THREE EGGS!  No, not a trick -- her chickens began laying eggs and we didn't realize it.

Zach and Melba

Talley won her chicken, named Zach, in a chicken race this year in Melba, Idaho.  She also took home one of her cousin's chickens, we named Melba, and they finally began laying!  Those little sneaky hens were laying them in a cat carrier that Talley had placed in the coop!  Talley never saw them going in the cat carrier so she never checked!  WHAT FUN!  Those naughty little hens chose the cat carrier to lay -- not the nesting boxes my husband made!  They had almost ran out of laying space!

Just thought I would share this funny story!

Cheesy Cabbage Ham Soup

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes! 

We woke up to snow this morning!  It was so fun to see the gigantic (or gigantor as I call them) snowballs the kids joined together to make before school!  This Cheesy Cabbage Ham Soup is a wonderful fix for the cold weather.  It is creamy and delicious on a cold weather day.  Are you a soup person?  Some in my family are and some aren't.  I am surely a soup person.  This recipe was taken from a family cookbook that my sister-on-law, Dawnell, and my mother-in-law, Geniel, spent many hours compiling; the recipe book is a treasure.

Chessey Cabbage Ham Soup

Ingredients

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 bag (16 ounces) shredded cabbage

2 cups chopped onion

1-2 quarts water (enough to completely cover the vegetables)

2 cups shredded carrots

2-3 cups diced potatoes

12 chicken bouillon cubes

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika

2 cups milk

1 quart half and half -- I used fat free.

2 cups grated cheddar.  I used Sharp.

16 ounces cooked, diced ham.

In a large dutch oven or stock pot, saute onion and cabbage in the olive oil.  Add carrots, potatoes, bouillon and enough water to cover (1-2 quarts) the vegetables.  Simmer until vegetables are tender. Add half and half to vegetable mixture.   In a small sauce pan, add butter, flour, pepper, and paprika.  Add milk and cook on medium heat until thickened and add to vegetable mixture.  Stir in cheese.  Allow cheese to melt into thickened soup.  Season with salt to taste.  Enjoy.

Notes:  You could also replace the bouillon cubes with chicken stock and reduce water.  I used canned potatoes.  For a meat-less meal, leave out the ham.  This makes a huge amount of soup!