Step into Christmas Tablescape

A Merry Welcome to Red Couch Recipes and to my "Step Into Christmas" Tablesetting.  These transferware plates remind me of an old-fashioned Christmas -- snow, a wreath, and tree peeking out of the window.  You just know that as you walk into the home, all the indoor trimmings will match the outdoor trimming.  My sister Jacqueline gave these to me recently -- 16 dinner plates and 16 salad plates -- whoo hooo!  She said I need 16 for all my future grandchildren that are sure to visit in the Christmas season!  

When I was in college at Brigham Young University, right after finals one year, my roommates, friends, and I left to go to California to see BYU play in the Holiday Bowl.  On the way there, it snowed and the mountain pass was closed.  We sat for six hours on the freeway!!  It was at least a 10 hour drive there and then with the added delay it seemed like forever to reach the home of my roommate's parents.    When we came to their home in Southern California, it just looked, smelled and felt like Christmas.  We had just endured this long trip and when we walked into her parent's home I had literally Stepped Into Christmas. 

I am old-fashioned and am still a sucker for green and red at Christmas.

Love these new snowflake goblets.

Crystal and red are always another favorite at Christmas.

I filled the lamp with some festive candy canes.

These are HUGE, OVERSIZED, GIGANTIC napkins -- I love them...

It is just so Christmasy!

Thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes where the Christmas fun has just begun!

My Hodgson Mill $25 gift code giveaway ends tonight.  Click HERE to enter.

Table Information

White Plates:  Tai Pan Trading

Transferware Plates:  Home Goods and Gift

Red Goblets:  Costco (years ago)

Snowflake Goblets:  Smith's Grocery Store

Flatware:  Home Goods

Napkins:  Target (last year)

Posted with:  Tablescape Thursday

Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

Hurray the Christmas baking season has arrived!  Do you feel that way too?  I made these little gems for the first time and we all fell in love with them.   Salty, sweet, chewy, and tasty is how I would describe these -- and they whip up in just a few minutes -- they are made with a Betty Crocker Sugar cookie mix.  Their delicate green coloring is from pistachio pudding and gives the cookies such a pretty color.  These little gems are perfect for any holiday cookie plate or for the "Big Guy's" visit on Christmas Eve.

Leave some out with some milk for Santa.

Recipe for Cranberry Pistachio Cookies
Via Betty Crocker

1 pouch Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix
1 box (4 serving size) pistachio instant pudding and pie filling mix
1/4 cup flour (See my 'Notes.")
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 cup dry roasted salted pistachio nuts, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


In a large bowl stir cookie mix, pudding, and flour. Add melted butter and eggs and stir until incorporated.

Add pistachios and cranberries and mix well.
Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake for about 8 minutes.  They will look like they are not done, but they will be.  Let them sit on the cookie sheet for about two minutes.  Do not over bake!  Cool and eat.  Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Notes:  Make sure you make a test cookie.  After making a test cookie, I added about 2 more tablespoons of flour to make more of a full cookie.  I also sprinkled the cookies with sugar before baking.

Leave some out for Santa to eat -- oops looks like "The Big Guy" has been here already!

Thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes!

Posted with;

Foodie Friday

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving from Red Couch Recipes!

I hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends.