Burst of Burnt Orange - A Fall Tablescape

Tick Tock. It's that time of year when everyone's talking turkey. Thanksgiving is breathing down the proverbial bird's neck with thoughts of food prep, guest list and table decor.  Some of us are hosts, some guests. No matter how you carve it; pressure, planning and panic can set it. 

Which is why last year we opted for a different kind of celebrating.  Because I worked, we didn't host Thanksgiving dinner as we have done for a decade.  Instead, we decided to do the next best thing; a Post Thanksgiving cocktail/tapas party.   Which meant we had a wider range of food options to play with; ditching some of the usual carb heavy holiday food.  Food aside, I still needed to create an inviting tablescape.  The theme was buffet style eats with a variety of options for the meat lovers, fish lovers, vegetarians.  I really wanted to have a wide selection that worked well together.  And I wanted to present all these plates on a table that would pay homage to the Fall colors outside our windows.  

It started with a tablecloth I purchased in Italy the previous year and grew from there.  As I have mentioned in the past, I collect tablecloths, linens and material pieces, then mix and match them with others. I am a big fan of swags of sheer material or muslin to add texture and volume to a table.  In this episode of how to dress a table, I chose burnt oranges and yellow, as a perfection complement to nature.

So let's say your tablecloth is ever so slightly too short for your table, as was mine.  Some may see this as a problem. I prefer to use the word challenge.  And this challenge was easily remedied by embracing the layered look.  I used the yellow sheer material as the base, placed the tablecloth atop and then draped the orange sheer down the middle.  This approach made it look like an intentional layer when it fact it was resolving a length dilemma. Solution provided. Challenge solved.

Warm yellow chiffon sheer for the base

Tablecloth stretching full length of the table with an orange organza swath.

Then come napkins and plates. Since this wasn't going to be a sit down dinner, I chose a variety of small plates and bowls that suited the menu.  Flatware was held in a florist vase and a vintage wooden bucket housed rolled up coordinating napkins.  Guests can pick and go.

I would like to pause to reiterate a purchasing and collecting style of mine. Very rarely do I buy ensemble sets or like items. My style is to pick up pieces that I love along my travels. All the items used in this tablescape were purchased years apart, at a variety of different shops, and in some cases different countries. The key is finding color schemes and palates that you like and that mix and match.  With this method, anything goes.   

For the centerpiece, two goals were set. Create a piece with a nod to Thanksgiving, and one that wouldn't take up too much room.  The fortunate fact about hosting after a holiday is that prices on certain items go down.  For instance, I purchased all those colorful, interesting gourds for $3. Yes, you read that correctly; $3 for all of them.  I then bought some simple mums, my favorite 'go to' inexpensive flower.  I cut them down to the buds, and placed them in shallow sake bowls. Everything in our home can serve multiple purposes.

I nestled a few of the flower bowls within the main centerpiece, adding fresh pears to fill it out. The rest were placed around the table.  The gorgeous, large wooden leaf tray is an heirloom of sorts.  My parents purchased it in Mexico while on their honeymoon, many a moon ago, and gave it to me.  I ADORE that bowl tray. A true statement piece bought at the bud of their love.  

Add some candles, the food platters and the table is ready for guests. 

The menu was all about small bites that guests could sample and go back for more.  All prepped a day a head of time.  

The Menu
Meaty Ragu with crusty bread & fried spaghetti wedges
Charcuterie & Cheese Platter
Escarole Rolls
Balsamic Bathed Carrots Wrapped in Zucchini
Warm Octopus & Potato over frissee salad
Salmon Bites with Yogurt Relish
Asparagus with Goat and Shallot  Sherry viniagrette
Smoked Salmon with Picked Fennel

Maybe this year you'll give up hosting the actual holiday and burst out with foods you love served on a burnt orange tablescape.

Whatever type of party you decide to throw, make a plan that suits the time you have.  The idea is a stress free holiday season.  

A Backyard Party How To

Over here at the Perri-Casas household, we like to entertain.  We love hosting and sharing food, wine, music/dancing, and just a plain ole good time with family and friends.  When the parties are small; but a handful of folks, the preparation is easy, breezy.  But when the guest list gets bigger, so does everything else.  Including the ideas for hosting a successful event.  Top of list; effortless decor and easy, crowd-friendly dishes.  Hearty, simple to prepare, allergy-friendly, and most of all, delicious. Foods that hit all the right notes.  

Just this past weekend we hosted a pig roast. On our guest list were a handful of vegetarians and vegans. 
Yeah, you read that right.  We invited vegans to a pig roast.  According to my husband, that's completely kosher because the pig only ate vegetables thus making it vegetarian/vegan!  Oh, my Taurus husband can justify anything!

We structured the party to be about mingling, not about a formal sit down meal.  One main reason for this is that our patio, though large, really cannot comfortably seat more than 24.  Plus this style of entertaining helps with flow of both food and people, as guests go to the buffet table to partake of various treats then bump into different guests to chat with.  

My sis, Alyssa and cousin Therese (photo credit: Dori Eckert)

George contemplating fire with my brother in law Peter

My dear friend Jackie catching up with my nephew, John

Organization is essential with a party this size.  So I ALWAYS make a list.  I am famous for making lists both in my professional life and home life.  Make fun all you want but this is key to staying organized and not accidentally missing things.  Just ask JuanCarlos who forgot some items in the basement fridge.  (He said I left one item off my list: Remind JC to make his own list.)

The day before I also place out all the platters I want to use with notes of which dish will go where.  This helps for two reasons.  First; one less thing to think or worry about the day of. Two, if a guest wants to help serving up dishes, this identification system tells them what they should use. Takes all the guess work out of the equation.

As far as what to serve, my game plan was to make sure we had a wide variety of food options for everyone.  30 guests were expected.  The best way to keep it manageable was to make some dishes from scratch and mix it up with some prepared items. Here was my thinking.  Note the ones with (*) are the ones I just had to put on a plate!

Appetizers
Cheese Platters with Jams, Grapes, Cucumbers, Radishes *
Breads/Gluten free crackers *
Assortment of Tapenade & Olives *
Roasted Chick Peas * (these were store bought but here is the link to my version which I prefer)
Pickled Mushrooms * 
Marinated Artichoke Hearts *
Crostini platter with Fresh Ricotta, roasted garlic mash, Roasted Tomatoes, Mushroom 'Bolognese'

All these can be plated well ahead of time and placed out as guests arrive.  These are perfect starter offerings to let them mingle and jingle amongst themselves with a drink.

Abundant cheese platters with jams and grapes, cucumbers and radishes.

Ready made items ready to go.

Roasted tomatoes, garlic, mushroom bolognese, ricotta, crostini.

JuanCarlos at his beloved grilling station.

Since a whole roasted pig takes hours upon hours upon hours to make, there needs to be food in between the appetizers and the main course.  This is what I call the intermezzo eating portion of the festivities.  I know, you are thinking; more food before the meal, that is hog wild nuts.  But believe it or not, people come to our home ready to eat.  So we make sure they are well fed.  Plus it's cool because we like to experiment on them!

Intermezzo
Grilled meats served with bread & chimichurri sauce
Grilled sausage
Grilled Corn on the Cob

Farm fresh corn roasted on the grill. (Photo credit: Dori Eckert)

Main
Potatoes with Basil/Garlic oil
3 Bean Salad
Tomato Salad
Roasted Salmon Platter
Puerco Asado

Once the roasted pig was ready, the main portion of the meal was served.  All the above items were easy to get onto the table since I prepped them earlier.  The tomatoes were sliced and assembled on a platter in the morning and refrigerated. So was the bean salad.  I boiled the potatoes the day before, cooled them down on a sheet tray and in the fridge they went.  Right before serving, I popped them in the oven just to warm them enough to absorb the basil/garlic dressing I made the day before.  The salmon was roasted earlier in the day then served at room temperature.  And that is how you get a bunch of big platters out without being taken out on a stretcher yourself.

3 Bean Salad is easy when you prep everything ahead of time so right before the party all you need to do is combine the ingredients.

Chick peas, cannellini & black beans, yellow pepper, red onion, English cucumber, scallions and hearts of palm.

Tossed with a simple lemon/lime mint viniagrette

Oven roasted Wild Caught Salmon with cucumber slices, capers, radishes and homemade 'tartar sauce' of sour cream, greek yogurt, shallots, dill.

The whole hog, roasted to perfection.

Fall off the bone tender chunks of pork.

Desserts
Gluten free chocolate cake with coconut cream/fruit
Black bottom cupcakes (Mom made these, YEAH for me)
Apple Tart
Fresh Fruit Platter * 
Goat cheese & blue cheese & honey & figs * 
Turron *

In my opinion, desserts should be just like the meal, offering a mix of items to your guests.  That is why I like offering baked sweets along with a cheese plate and fresh fruit. 

Since it was getting chilly outdoors, we moved inside for dessert. A few choices giving some variety to make everyone happy.

But wait, the details aren't done yet. Food is the key component, but let's not forget the 2D's.  Drinks and Decor. 

Drink wise; we mostly focus on having wine but usually have a few other drink options such as Vermut, Scotch, Gin and Vodka.  We always have plenty of sparkling water, too.

Decor; an informal outdoor gathering requires nothing more than cohesion.  So let me briefly run down how I handled the tables and flowers. Can you say wing it!  (Was that brief enough?)

Normally I have a visual theme planned out but this time it was indeed a last minute pull together. Evidence that you can create something from nothing on the fly.  I didn't have time to get flowers from my favorite place Dahlia NYC so I took my scissors and went hunting in my backyard and a nearby park.  I cut hydrangeas from our big tree and some other flowers to help fill out the vases for big bursts of florals.  

I arranged one large vase for the food table and smaller ones to place on all the other tables, bringing the look together.

Also, while I was raking the yard I notice there was an abundance of pine cones and thought I could use those somehow.  

Hunter gatherer.

Using the flowers I cut from the park plus the extra leaves from the hydrangeas, I laid them across the stone wall then nestled the pine cones on top to create a fall festive row of flora.

Tablecloths. I didn't even bother to iron.  It was an informal outdoor gathering, so I was ok with that.  I went with a blue and cream theme because I knew I had a variety of coverings that could work in tandem.  When you have several tables, do not fret over everything being matchy matchy.   Coordination is the name of the game.  Just make it all look visually cohesive. I used different patterns all within the same color scheme layering cobalt blue placemats to tie the tables together.

There was plenty of food, good wine, dancing music and joyful guests.  The perfect party mix.  I think a good time was had by all.  I hope some of these tips can help you throw your next gathering with ease and less stress so you, too, can enjoy along with your guests.

My sister, Alyssa

Grill masters tossing success

Aleida and my mother in law Dora tearing it up to salsa music.(Photo credit: Dori Eckert)

My sister in law Dori

My always helpful, cheerful parents.

JC with our dearest friends, Angelica and Marcos

CHEERS to all!

Orange Napkins - 2 Outdoor Tables - A Warm Summer Glow

For those of us who suffer through cold, snowy winters, the wait for warm summer nights is as anticipated as Santa and his gifts.  It's the time of year when grilling and gathering are top of mind.  Entertaining outdoors can be as easy as grab a plate and line up at the BBQ. Or it can be as elaborate as a formal sit down dinner, and every notch in between.  As we wind down the summer and head into cooler days and crisp nights, enjoying early evening dinners is still a joy.  

After all the growth of the summer, flowers are still in full bloom. Our yard is like a fairy tale garden.

The view of part of our yard as our guests dine on our patio.

The view from the other side of the patio.

With the yard so magical, I'm less inclined to just throw down some plates on the table, and more likely to toss even the most casual tablecloth down. Usually our outdoor events are daytime, but this time of year the weather is ideal for evening entertaining. Setting the mood doesn't require a great deal of effort.  I promise.

Keep in mind that you have to place out the plates, napkins, cutlery and glasses anyway. Tossing a tablecloth underneath, adding some candles and flowers takes but a few minutes more, and creates an entirely different scene.

The key to an evening setting is to create a warm glow.  

Lanterns and candles always up the ante and provide that glow that somehow makes it special.

When it comes to the flowers keep it simple.  Use what you've got.  I like going around our garden and snipping what's in bloom. 

Our giving tree.

These were from our enormous hydrangea tree.  The voluminous flower bursts are originally white when in their prime bloom but late in the season turn sage green and dusty rose. They are perfect additions, building on to that warm glow. Without any fuss, simply cut down to size to fit into a few small vintage vases.  A simple touch of botanicals that mimic the movement on the tablecloth adding to the romantic feel.   Brighter orange napkins turned up the color factor while the green vintage glasses keep the style in a whimsical feel.  

And since the weather is still glorious this time of year, there are those occasions when daytime events stretch lovingly into the evening.  For this day to night table setting, keep it festive for the day by adding a fun, colorful runner over a darker neutral.  Then add those same orange napkins for the color pop.  The florals for this setting mimic the boldness of the napkins and keep the eye from having too much to focus on. 

The most lively color rose picking up the bold strip in the playfully colored runner.

(When trying to coordinate color for your table, here's a helpful tip for casual entertaining moments.  Don't make yourself crazy searching for the perfect color combo.  Work backwards by choosing from the flowers that are readily available and then figure out what linens pair well.  You can always use monochromatic or white linens and allow the flowers to make the color statement.  I came to this conclusion after being disappointed when I had the linens all planned out then went to my florist looking for a specific flower or color, only to come up short.) 

Family style serving goes a long way. Grilled steaks, rice, 3 bean salad, heirloom tomatoes and big salad bowl.

Pink grapefruit cake. This was a Better Homes & Garden recipe that I tried. I decided to cut my layers thinner to stack them up higher.

Light up the candles.

Turn on the warmth.

Slice the cake.  

Transform a bold daytime setting into an evening full of candlelit glow.  

Then cheer to good friends and family.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, and may you find time to find beauty wherever you may be.

5 Quick, No Bake Desserts - In a Pinch

I realize that this title will come as a shock to those of you who know how much I love to bake, but sometimes I need a dessert in a pinch.  If I've got 5, 6 or even more appetizers to make, plus the meal; well dessert just ends up getting the short end of the stick.  With these 5 fast and easy assemble desserts, you don't have to stress about making sure there is something sweet and appealing after your meal.  Plus a few of these can easily be brought as a dessert offering when you are the one asked to bring something sweet.

Fresh Ricotta with Figs, Peaches & Honey

There is nothing as simple as assembling items on a board or platter.  

This sweet and savory offering is just that kind of dish.  Arrange seasonal fruits, like figs & peaches for the summer, on a pretty plate or a wooden board. Fill a bowl with fresh ricotta & drizzle with honey.  It's just that simple. You can toss some nuts in if you like, but for the sheer simplicity of this dish, it's not necessary.  Let the purity of these vibrant flavors speak for themselves.  The creaminess of the ricotta against the nature sweetness of the fruit with that extra sweetness from the honey is soothing combination.

Chocolate Dipped Fruit

This one might take a tad more effort but not much more.  Use the fruit of your choice or the ones in season.  I had raspberries, blackberries and bananas on hand.  Dip each piece in melted dark chocolate and let cool on parchment paper.  You can roll them in crushed nuts or coconut to ratchet it up a notch.  Then arrange on a plate and watch these fly faster than they took to make.  Believe it or not, these little 'pop in your mouth' treats are so pretty that they will make an "ohh' statement on your dessert table.  So easy enough to make, you can get your kids to help.

Cheese Course

Cheeses with strawberries, grapes, mini bread sticks and Tortas de Aceite (Sweet Olive Oil Crackers).

Blue cheese (such as Cabrales, Valdeon, Stilton or Gorgonzola). Add nuts, date loaf, figs in syrup, oranges.

Ok, this is not my idea, of course, but more of a reminder in case this option was misplaced in the memory banks. Instead of serving cheese as part of your appetizers, save it for dessert and do it the French and Italian way. Enjoy it after the meal.

Fresh Fruit Lovingly bound by Chocolate

This colorful, flavorful option is similar to but slightly different to the above chocolate dipped fruit.  Instead of individual chocolate coated fruits, this version creates a bed of chocolate for the fresh fruit, nuts and sea salt to lie gently atop.  I made this on just such an occasion when I didn't have time but wanted to serve a dessert after lunch.  It was better than I thought and served the purpose beautifully.   I already had a chocolate ganache in the fridge. (Ganache is just chocolate with a tad of cream added to it.  This keeps it from getting completely hard and makes it pourable to glaze a cake or drizzle. I liked using the ganache for this version because once I refrigerated it, it became hard enough to hold the fruit together but still had a softness that added to the yumminess. A result I didn't quite realize would occur. 

Spread the ganache on parchment. Not too thin.

Lovingly place the fruit in a visual manner that pleases your eye and your belly. Add nuts and sprinkle with course sea salt.

Chocolate Bark

If you don't happen to have fresh fruit, then go the traditional chocolate bark route.  This version does not use ganache.  It is pure chocolate melted down.  I use a combo of dark chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate. Spread the melted mixture onto a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.  Then top with whatever suits your fancy.  I like cashews, dried apricots & dried cherries plus a healthy sprinkling of course sea salt.  That really makes the chocolate sing. Refrigerate until solid, then cut or break into shards.  No brainer of sheer joy. 

I hope these ideas provide you a few quick, easy but delicious desserts to have in your back pocket when you are in a pinch.  I promise you, your guests will not miss the cake or pie or any other more labor intensive sweet.  

Last Minute Table Setting - in Black & White x 2

One of my avid readers likes when I post table scape ideas for easy and casual entertaining.  As you know, I like setting a table.  For me, even the simplest addition of a placemat on a table calls your guests in and makes it feel special.

It just so happens that when this same avid reader, her husband, my sister and brother-in-law joined us for dinner one Saturday night last year I needed just such a casual table setting.  Why was I in such a pinch, you ask, knowing that I usually have everything planned out down to napkins for my parties?  Seven annoying letters… WEATHER. Originally, my intention was to entertain outdoors and I had that table setting prepped and ready to go. Yet the pesky, uncontrollable nature just didn't want to cooperate.  So direction change required a fast and simple solution for setting the table indoors.  I wanted to retain a casual feeling which was good because I didn’t have time to iron another full table setting. So what do you when you are out of time and need to readjust?

Pulling out some fast and easy willing participants.

Do the ole ‘throw a muslin fabric down the middle of the table’ trick.   Since this look does not require ironing it is one of the easiest solutions to 'no time for that!'  In fact, you sorta want those natural wrinkles.  However, without a full tablecloth you really need a landing spot for the place setting, otherwise a piece of wrinkled fabric in the middle of the table just looks like a mess.  I wanted to keep the theme neutral, so black placemats were a natural choice and kicked off the theme.

I like high contrast, as you have seen in some of my other settings (Yellow Burst of Sunshine, Creamiscle Tablescape).   What can be more high contrast than black and white? But that combo can sometimes be stark and harsh.  However, when you swap stark white for cream it transforms into chic and well, actually...creamy.  Consider the black and cream combo as getting back to basics. It can be the easy, go-to palette for a casual table setting that you can build upon, or amp it up to create a more formal setting. In this installment of how the table turns, I present two table settings using three of the same elements. I consider the first one featured to be a thrown together yet casual look that can be pulled off at the last minute. While the other is a tad, and I do mean tad bit more formal. 

In order to take this out of ho hum dull, the addition of a few muted nods of color was in order.  Remember, it was supposed to be an outdoor dinner party.

With the cream muslin tossed across and the black placemats down, some finishing touches were needed. I used two different napkins; one cream which tied in with the muslin runner and other a muted green/orange/pink/cream which picked up the colors of the mum floral centerpiece.  The reason for both types of napkins?  Simple. I didn't have enough of the colored ones and really wanted to use them giving way to the festive and not the hum drum. Plus there ain't nothing wrong with mixing and matching. From past blog posts on table settings, you know this mix and match part of me by now.  The fact is I love to combine different elements that play off of each other.  It just doesn't have to be that fussy, as long as it's nicely put together, you can achieve a cohesive look.  I think the trick to achieving that is when using the mix and match technique, just alternate the different elements and it looks planned... ah hum, as it was.

Note that I turned the placemat the opposite way of the traditional placement, allowing it to slightly hang over the table.  Creating more of a centered focus on the plate.

I used hand carved wooden napkin holders to add a bold statement, and just pulled the napkin through and allowing the bottom to fan out before placing it on the plate.  This method hides any wrinkles if need be. If you don't have napkin holders, simply place the napkin on the plate.  No biggie. Silverware in their proper positions, and white votive candles keep it casual yet welcoming.

You don't have to go nuts with the florals. Stay super simple by bunching together a single color pulled from the napkins and combine it with the neutral white, and voilà. Casual table for brunch, an afternoon meal or early supper. OR when the weather forces you to change the game plan. Mix and match your basics to create a laid back table setting.

Now, using the same basic elements; same white dinner plates, same black placemats, and cream napkins, create a setting of simple elegance. Just a few small changes create a subdued and refined table utilizing the black and cream theme.

• Simply swap out the wrinkled muslin for runner that makes a statement.  
• Keep the cream napkins but use all the same color, no mix or match for this version. This really aids in elevating the look in a subtle way.
• Place candlesticks down the table along with votives to create a warm and glowing centerpiece instead of flowers.

Napkins with a simple triangle form gently placed in the middle of the plate.  No napkin holders needed to create an elegant look.

Notice that the same black placemat as in the casual setting but these are positioned horizontally. 

And there you have it in black and white x 2. Well, creamy white.  One casual, one a bit more refined. Both easy approaches to welcome your guests to the table.  Whether you are serving hamburgers or foie gras, "Tutti a la tavola a mangiare!" (So says Lidia Bastianich)