Winner of CSN Giveaway!

I want to thank CSN, the Corner TV Stands division, for sponsoring this great giveaway!  The CSN stores are really generous in their giveaways throughout blogland and I am happy to have had the opportunity to host this giveaway.  I hope you stop by to look at their amazing selection of Corner TV Stands.  I also want to thank all of you who entered the giveaway!  I wish that I had a giveaway gift for all of you! 

 In determining the prize winner, my husband, The Talent, factored in one chance for making a comment and two chances for making a comment and being a follower.  He then used a random number generator. 

Through this process, it  was determined that the winner is......drum roll please....Patricia who hosts the lovely cooking and baking blog ButterYum!  In her comment, she wrote that she would like either the pizzelle maker or the ice cream maker.  We look forward to seeing what she makes on her blog Butter Yum!  Please stop by her blog to congratulate her!

Soda Cracker Pie Vintage Recipe

This is one of my favorite, if not my favorite dessert!  It is so easy to make and turns out so well every time.  This is basically a meringue with soda crackers and nuts.  I know it sounds sort of different to put soda crackers in a meringue, but it is just soooo delicious!  The crackers give body and strengthen the meringue and the nuts add such a great flavor.  Our family consensus on this is that you could go without the strawberries, but don't eliminate the bananas.  There is something so good about bananas and whipped cream.  We have been making this recipe for a long time. It has been a favorite in my family.  This is a recipe from my mother-in law.  She got this recipe from her mother who made it for years too.  This recipe has to be at least 50 years old.  If you try it, I think you will agree that it is a great springtime dessert!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway.  Just click on giveaway or on the kiwi Le Crueset baking dishes.  Good luck!

Soda Cracker Pie Recipe:
3 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
16 soda crackers -- just the little squares
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup chopped nuts -- walnuts are best
1 banana
Strawberries
Whipped cream -- don't even think of using Cool Whip!

Beat egg whites and baking powder until stiff. Add sugar and vanilla. Break up crackers into small pieces and fold into mixture. Fold in nuts. Drop into circles on parchment paper.  Do not try to bake these on waxed paper or just the baking tins; they will stick.  After they have cooled, they lift right off parchment paper.  This recipe makes about six generous-sized pies.   Bake at 325 degrees for 22-25 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool.

Waiting to be topped with berries, bananas and whipped cream!  Unlike my "Meringue Meltdown" post, cracks are just fine, and unavoidable, with this recipe.

Top with strawberries, and sliced bananas. Spread or drop whip cream on the top.

I am sharing this recipe with Michael at  Foodie Friday.

Polka Dots and Plaid Tablescape

Hi everyone!  This is the 12th Tablescape that I have done for Tablescape Thursday since I began blogging.  Don't forget to enter my giveaway that ends this Friday.  Click on giveway or click on the kiwi Le Creuset baking pans in the left hand corner of my blog.

Putting together tablescapes has been a lot of fun and beneficial to my family.  We have begun to use our salad plates a lot more.  This has given a side benefit...we eat our salad first most nights and that helps us fill up on the good greens and vegetables!  The other benefit is that I take more time, even on week nights, to set a nice table for my family.  As you know, dinner time with kids, and their activities that infringe on dinner, can be hectic.  By setting the table early in the day, dinnertime can be less hectic.  What about you?  Any benefits that have come to your family by doing Tablescape Thursday?  Let me know in the comments.

Today, this tablescape showcases some new polka dot dishes that I found at Tai Pan Trading; a favorite place of mine to shop for dishes and home decor.  These parfait glasses and the pedestal dishes were on clearance for $1.50...whoooo--hooo!!  I think they are fun and think I will get a lot of use out of them.  I am also showcasing my lilacs from my backyard; they are finally in bloom!

I love the shape of this pedestal bowl!

If you have seen my tablescapes before, you will have seen these trusty square white plates; they are so useful!

I love the napkins rolled up in the parfait glasses.  There are straws in there too!  Come have a sip!  Ooops!!  Better take that napkin out!

I thought I better show a close up of the polka-dotted parfait glass!  I just love these glasses and can't wait for the weather to warm up...I will be out on my deck sipping sodas in these glasses.

Just a little side view of the tablescape.  Polka dots and plaids make me happy!

As you can see, it is not a very nice day!  Someday good weather will come!

Another side view -- I have had the round turquoise plates for years.  They were from the Dollar Store and I have loved them!

I will leave you with a view of the lilacs.  When growing up, my parents had a line of lilacs planted right near our bedroom windows  On a warm evening, the smell of the lilacs would waft in our bedroom windows.  There are few smells better than lilacs!  Is their appeal in that they only bloom for such a short time?

I hope you have a wonderful day!  I am linking up with Susan at Between Naps at the Porch for Tablescape Thursday!  Come have a look at the wonderful tablescapes!