4 Unique styles for Hosting

Holiday Table Setting Tips

When it comes to creating, serving, and showcasing food, the choices are limitless. From setting the tone for a fun party to a formal dinner, and everything in between. All you need is a little creativity, some dinnerware, table cloths, glassware, and holiday decor. A theme will make your food stand out and set the right mood for a memorable holiday meal.

Designing Your Holiday Table- Where Should You Begin?

Many times people shy away from entertaining because the idea of having to set up an extravagant table appears like a daunting task. But it does not have to be hard. The key is starting a week or two ahead of time and follow these simple steps.

1. Elegance or Fun

The first rule of thumb is to decide is who will be in attendance? Perhaps your guest list includes your very traditional mother in law, and or your new boss. If this is the case, the answer is simple. You should shoot for elegance above all else. If it’s a group of close friends and neighbors you may want to decide on a fun theme.

There can however be extenuating circumstances once you take your guest list into consideration. Can you have both? The answer is kind of… yes.

Case in point; this Thanksgiving we have little ones attending. While we still all want everyone to feel as if they were being treated to a wonderful meal, we had to consider spills, drips, table bumps and busy hands. We opted to ditch the formality but weave in a sprinkle of elegance. While our tables will not be magazine cover worthy and as fancy as previous years, we are blessed to have children in our lives.

Grandmother’s antique platters will not make their appearance. We will skip the tall candles and the decorative glass votives. Low profile decor that is more stable will dawn our table. The crystal long-stemmed wine glasses that can tip too easily will be replaced with stemless options. Instead of the fancy table cloths, our tables will be draped with cloths that will be no worse for their wear if/when they get spilled upon.

Our tables will still be quite festive, and have a hint of elegance but are more approachable for all the guests. The parents of the little ones will feel more relaxed, as will we, as the hosts. Here are some of the designs we plan to use.

The most important part of creating this sacred space where we will partake of our Thanksgiving meal is that each and everyone seated at the dining table is made to feel comfortable.

Now that you have considered who will be attending, what do you do next?

2. Select A Signature Piece and Build Around It

Start with one signature piece for inspiration that will help define the theme of your design, Sometimes it can be a fantastic dinner plate.

It does not always have to be the dinnerware that is your muse. We found this rooster placemat and decided the theme would be farm/country. From there we were able to gather pieces, gift bags and really hone in on the details. Fresh vegetables were even part of the decor.

Once we hosted a birthday dinner for a girlfriend from Texas and that gave us the idea of a fun cowgirl theme. The inspiration for this, believe it or not, was not the hat but the cute little checkered pigs we found at a craft store.

3. You Do Not Have to Break The Bank Creating a Centerpiece

Beautiful tables can be made from Items you source just about anywhere. These beautiful flowers are from a Crepe Myrtle tree located in our neighborhood. Tall weeds were growing around them so they were added for greenery. You can also find sticks or Cat N Nine tails. Even wheat grass can be a great way to add color and dimension to your tablescape. Just be sure to spray anything before coming in from the outside with a solution of dish soap and water to remove any insects hiding in tiny crevices.

4. Secret Dollar Store Finds

This past Halloween, we were challenged to set a great table using mostly Dollar Store finds. We hosted a dinner and a brunch using the same items. It was the best 15 dollars we ever spent. Storing these items does not make sense for our space, so the next day we packed it all up and made a donation to the local thrift store.

Thrift stores can be a great place to find pieces that you can use for your dinner parties. One time we hosted a birthday dinner for a friend who happens to really like the color blue. We found some pretty blue glassware sitting on the store shelves just begging for us to take it home. We made a small donation to a good cause and made our friend smile when she saw her favorite color proudly displayed on her table. When the party was over we gave her all the glassware to keep.

Thrifting is only one of the ways to have fun with your tablescapes. We know some of you cringe at the thought of using someone else’s dishes, but if you think about it you do this each time you dine out. Yes, it would be nice to walk into Sur La Table or Pottery Barn and purchase everything showcased, but unless your last name is Rockefeller, that kind of expenditure for each and every holiday is not sustainable. We even set our Christmas table with pretty red snowflake plates that we found in a box at a local thrift store. This year we donated them back to the same store. That is good example of re-use.

5. Incorporate and Repurpose Already Owned Pieces

You do not have to purchase dinnerware and decorative items for every holiday. The best way to make the most of pieces you love and a table look different is to repurpose them.

For the Halloween tables shown previously we repurposed everything and transformed the dinner table to a buffet. The tree in the middle of the table is an old jewelry tree that we found on clearance at Kirklands. This tree will make its reappearance on our Christmas table. Instead of spooky bats and orange lights it will sparkle with white lights and hold little ornaments. Perhaps it will be repurposed again at Easter where it can drip with pastel colored ribbons and dangle little eggs. One piece repurposed over and over.

Your table is your canvass to create on.

  • Think of it as a piece of art
  • Find your muse for inspiration
  • Follow the tips that we have provided

It does not matter if you will have lots of company or just an intimate holiday dinner. Like a Broadway production, a well staged table allows your food to shine as the star of the show. You and your guest will be seated in the front row. Your holiday dinner table is the vehicle for meaningful dialogue, laughs, and entertainment. Like a well written play the storyline of your dinner may be cherished for many years to come.

We hope you have found some creative inspiration and clear direction on getting started. To see more beautifully dressed tables you can preview of the submissions from our table scape contest on our Facebook Group Page.

Living-Roon

The Ultimate Guide to A Christmas Feast

If you are someone who usually attends and enjoys Christmas at the homes of others. Your senses are delighted with the colored balls, and gold and silver streamers. The twinkle of thousands of little lights, the smells of cookies baking in the air, and the sounds of Silent Night looming in the background. Your hosts have thought of every little detail to make your experience magical and reminiscent of Christmas past.

decorated home for christmas

This is not by accident and the holiday magic does not just happen. It takes planning and playing around with creative ideas to hit just the right notes. From something as simple as an entryway to the final dish served at the table, the devil is in the details.

If it is your turn to host your family’s Christmas celebrations this year, not to worry, we will guide you through some of what it takes to create a magical experience for all.

Selecting a Theme

First and foremost you need to think through who is attending and what kind of atmosphere you want to create for what you are trying to convey. If you will have children your theme will look very different than a celebration for just adults. If you will have a mix of both, do not try mixing Disney stuffies with an adult flower arrangement as it will not work. Instead, think about your home’s entertainment capability, and designate a place for each age group. There is a fine line between nostalgia and tackiness so remember to create spaces that are appropriately themed for the ages of your guests.

There is a fine line between nostalgia and tackiness so remember to create spaces that are appropriately themed for the ages of your guests.

For example, a children’s tree in the living room with a mix of kid-approved themed decor. Perhaps with the television set up to loop Children’s classic holiday movies. If they are teens you may want to make the tree more video gamed themed and select movies that are appropriate for their age.

childrens ornaments on a christmas tree

For the adults in another room, you can set up a madmen bar, decorate a nostalgic tree with ornaments of days gone by, and play classic Christmas music by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

If it is just for the ladies, perhaps a glam tree with pink ribbons and gifts with big bows underneath, fluffy pillows, and a song list on your Spotify to include Santa Baby and All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Cary.

Don’t forget the bathrooms. Make sure they too have a bit of holiday cheer. Stay in a theme as much as possible. Find sprays that smell like the holidays and if you do not have a Christmas tissue holder, look for the themed boxes of Kleenex.

Hang a wreath in the room or find pictures of angels, cherubs, and/or funny moose to hang up. Avoid putting up any pictures of Santa looking at someone in the loo, that would just be creepy. Santa’s of course are welcome around the home at Christmas time. I found this beautiful gold and silver frame at a yard sale and simply cut out Santa’s face from a gift bag to put in the frame. The other Santa lives upstairs during the holidays. He is a Dollar Store find and adds some cheer to the home office.

Once you have set your mood in the home for Christmas, you can focus on the décor for your Christmas feast starting with the table setting. This year the celebrations are a bit more intimate due to Covid restrictions. However, that does not mean you should settle for paper plates in front of the television. Instead, celebrate with the ones closest to you and make the most of treating the special people in your lives.

Christmas Table Settings

Table settings should be fun and functional so avoid too much décor when you know you have limited space. We set up our table for four diners (we did end up with five for the meal) but could have easily fit six place settings if we needed to. We chose a color for our table based on the classic look of our tree in the dining room. We also opted for some nostalgia pieces on the table to complement the theme of the tree. I made a centerpiece from fairy lights and ornaments. I used these mini stockings to hold the silverware. Had I hosted a larger crowd I would have done place settings with ornaments. (They sell the ornaments with little clips on them at Hobby Lobby for just that purpose). I opted to not buy a new tablecloth this year and rather I found some ribbon to just dress up the plain classic white and gray linens that I already had.

My placemats were silver but my chargers were gold. I like a more eclectic look for my table. I mix silver and gold all the time, I have a friend who says it makes her nervous. By all means, your dining table and home decor should reflect your personality and your style. This article is written as just a guide to hopefully help to inspire you.

Your dining table and home decor should reflect your personality and style.

Before Dinner Cocktails

A signature Christmas cocktail is a must for a holiday feast. Whether you imbibe alcohol or not you can make a festive drink of some sort for everyone to share before the meal. It can be as simple as a glass of cider for a fun mocktail or a full-on cocktail. We had a guest mixologist in our presence so we enjoyed this Apple Cider Bourbon Sour with a beautiful apple sliced, sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice, and rolled into a rose. They were delish! Special thanks to Stephen for bringing us such a special treat.

We also tested out another cocktail for New Year’s Eve that we found on Pinterest. I am happy to announce that this really works and looks good! It is the ever so popular Baby Yoda cocktail. Basically, an Appletini all dressed up to look like Baby Yoda. Isn’t this too cute?

baby yoda appletini cocktail

The Christmas Feast

Antipasto is a holiday tradition in our home and Christmas is no exception. This salad is best described as a crowd pleaser since it will contain some things each and every person loves and something they despise. For me it is a chance to eat anchovies and beets which my husband hates. He loves pickled okra and baby corn which I could care if I ever tasted again in my lifetime.

What Christmas dinner would be complete without beef as the centerpiece? I know that everyone enjoys having a prime rib roast for Christmas, however, I was looking for some nostalgia this year. For me, that meant my mother’s popovers served alongside a traditional roast with gravy. ( I forgot to take pics of the gravy, oops) I can tell you I tried something very different in making the gravy. I did use the pan drippings however I added pork stock that I have frozen. It added a depth of flavor and richness to the gravy that was unexpected.

Pork stock added a depth of flavor and richness to the gravy that was unexpected.

Popovers are basically the same thing as Yorkshire pudding where the only difference is the fat in which they are cooked. Yorkshire Pudding is cooked in beef fat and Popovers in butter. We made them both ways for our Christmas feast and the beef fat turned out a bit tastier and did not darken as easily on the bottoms as the butter did. But If you do not have beef fat on hand I would still make them, just turn the heat down a smidge from a recipe designed for Yorkshire pudding.

I know that many people choose a prime rib roast for Christmas dinner I did not instead I opted for another roast. Simply because you just do not get a good gravy from a greasy prime rib and I want my popovers to be filled with rich, yummy brown gravy. This roast is a top round or as many would call it, a London Broil. Cooked properly and sliced against the grain it is one of my favorite cuts for a roast. I seared the roast at 450 F for twenty minutes, removed it, slathered it with salt, pepper, butter, and herbs. Cooked it at 350F until it reached its optimal temperature. We went to an internal temperature of 130- 135F and then let it rest for 20 minutes covered.

top round roast

I am on a Duchess Potatoes kick these days. I love the rich texture and flavor of this potato casserole. To make it a bit more festive I piped the potatoes on the top of the casserole and added some paprika and herbs. Traditionally these are piped into little individual pods and baked on a cookie sheet, but who has time for that really?

duchess piped mashed potatoes

I hosted some meat and potato lovers at this year’s Christmas table. You see they were away from their family for the holiday so I strived to create a warm sense of home in my meal. In my world, that translates to a rich and hearty dish. What says comfort as well as potatoes? Well, a big scoop of homemade gooey mac and cheese does of course!

homemade mac & cheese

Our Christmas feast ended with my husband’s famous Ricotta Cookies. (along with my peanut butter fudge and a friend’s banana pudding which did not make it to the photoshoot). These soft but dense Ricotta Cookies need no milk for dunking. They are not overly sweet and melt in your mouth! Our friends and neighbors ask for these every year.

homemade ricotta cookies for christmas

Our Christmas feast was a success, we all had full bellies, lots of laughs, and an evening of twinkling lights surrounding us. We hope that you too will have a Christmas full of cheer this year.
Merry Christmas 2020!

Jans Duchess-Potatoes

Real Life Duchess Style Potatoes

Real Life Duchess Style Potatoes

I am calling these Real Life Duchess Style Potatoes because the way they are traditionally made in a restaurant is piped out onto a baking sheet and then served. Since that is not the reality in most households, I am making them in a casserole dish, using the ingredients that would normally be added in the traditional Duchess potato recipe. 

Ingredients
  

  • 6 Medium Potatoes preferably Yukon Gold but if all you have is Russet by all means used them
  • ¼ Cup Cream Cheese
  • ¼ Cup Sour Cream
  • ¼ Cup Parmigiano Reggiano plus a bit more for sprinkling on top
  • 2 Egg Yolks
  • A Splash of Cream
  • 1 Garlic Clove minced fine
  • ½ Stick of Butter
  • 1 Tablespoon Chopped Chives a bit more for the top
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste
  • Paprika for the Top

Instructions
 

  • Peel the potatoes and cut them into eighths
  • Drop them into cold water as you work
  • Cook for 30 minutes or until the potatoes are soft when poked with a fork
  • Preheat the oven to 350F
  • Drain the water and once the steam has evaporated, put the potatoes back in the pan
  • Add in the butter and all the ingredients adding the egg yolk last
  • Mash with a hand masher and fork taking out as much of the lumps as possible
  • Transfer the mixture to your casserole dish
  • Take your fork and touch the potatoes and lift up to form peaks these will brown the best in the oven
  • Top with the chives, salt, pepper, and cheese
  • Cook for 35 minutes until potatoes are browned ( If you are making a larger amount or if you are taking from the refrigerator to the oven make sure to add in extra time)

Notes

 
These are my new favorite way to have mashed potatoes, and why not? These really kick up everyday mashed potatoes.
This is what they typically look like in a restaurant. Maybe you have had them?  
Yukon Gold are the best potatoes for mashing, but if you're like me, the ones that I have on hand are always Russets. The trick with Russets is not to whip too hard or too long or they get all gluttony on you. I like this Duchess style mashed potato recipe for the following reasons:

The Advantage to These Potatoes

    • They taste so much better than simple mashed potatoes, there is something more appealing about how the flavors come together when baked.
    • The dairy products and egg add an extra creaminess to the entire experience
    • The crispy peaks on the top add an extra bit of texture when you take a bite.
    • They can be made in advance as much as a whole day ahead. On a holiday or a dinner party day that is really a time-saver.
    •  They travel well- Sitting in your casserole dish they do not spill, leak, or smash. If you have one of those zip-up thermal casserole cozies then they will even stay warm until you arrive at your destination.
    • This recipe is quite versatile, meaning you can add or omit flavors to please your family or guests
    • Expanding this recipe to meet the needs of a larger gathering is simple
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

These are my new favorite way to have mashed potatoes, and why not? These really kick up everyday mashed potatoes.

I am calling these duchess “style” potatoes because the way they are really made in a restaurant is piped out onto a baking sheet and then served. Since that is not the reality in most households, I am making them in a casserole dish, using the ingredients that would normally be added in the traditional Duchess potato recipe. 

Yukon Gold are the best potatoes for mashing, but if you’re like me, the ones that I have on hand are always Russets. The trick with Russets is not to whip too hard or too long or they get all gluttony on you. I like this Duchess style mashed potato recipe for the following reasons:

The Advantage to These Potatoes

  • They taste so much better than simple mashed potatoes, there is something more appealing about how the flavors come together when baked.
  • The dairy products and egg add an extra creaminess to the entire experience
  • The crispy peaks on the top add an extra bit of texture when you take a bite.
  • They can be made in advance as much as a whole day ahead. On a holiday or a dinner party day that is really a time-saver.
  •  They travel well- Sitting in your casserole dish they do not spill, leak, or smash. If you have one of those zip-up thermal casserole cozies then they will even stay warm until you arrive at your destination.
  • This recipe is quite versatile, meaning you can add or omit flavors to please your family or guests
  • Expanding this recipe to meet the needs of a larger gathering is simple

I made this one for my small family and it makes a small casserole 6×6, If you were serving this for a Thanksgiving crowd you will want to double or triple the ingredients and the pan size.

Ingredients

  • 6 Medium Potatoes (preferably Yukon Gold but if all you have is Russet by all means used them)
  • ¼ Cup of Cream Cheese
  • ¼ Cup of Sour Cream
  • ¼ Cup of Parmigiano Reggiano (plus a bit more for sprinkling on top)
  • 2 Egg Yolks
  • A Splash of Cream
  • 1 Garlic Clove (minced fine)
  • ½ Stick of Butter
  • 1 Tablespoon of Chopped Chives (a bit more for the top)
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste
  • Paprika for the Top

Instructions

  1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into eighths
  2. Drop them into cold water as you work
  3. Cook for 30 minutes or until the potatoes are soft when poked with a fork
  4. Preheat the oven to 350F
  5. Drain the water and once the steam has evaporated, put the potatoes back in the pan
  6. Add in the butter and all the ingredients adding the egg yolk last
  7. Mash with a hand masher and fork taking out as much of the lumps as possible
  8. Transfer the mixture to your casserole dish
  9. Take your fork and touch the potatoes and lift up to form peaks these will brown the best in the oven
  10. Top with the chives, salt, pepper, and cheese
  11.  Cook for 35 minutes until potatoes are browned ( If you are making a larger amount or if you are taking from the refrigerator to the oven make sure to add in extra time)

Notes: Cheddar cheese can be added as an option