Rooted In Thyme: fresh

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

~Virginia's Themed Birthday Party and Simple & Sweet Fridays #193~

It's always so much fun planning a birthday party

for a girlfriend.

I wanted to share with you photos of

Virginia's,

~Uncorked and Uncapped Birthday Party~

I hosted the party at my house.

On our front door,

I used a chalkboard to illustrate the theme of the party.

Even added some decorations around it.

I thought a Beer and Wine tasting party

would be fun for my girlfriends!

I had Stan help me set up a chopping table

with the drinks displayed on it.

I stamped out utensils on note cards with black ink.

I found some chalkboard paper at Joanne's Fabric Store

to cover the dining room table.

I used chalk to outline our dinner plates to give it a whimsical look.

I used white napkins with the notecards and fresh picked

thyme from the garden.

I loved the simple way the place setting turned out!

I used a mason jar from the 99 Cent store to serve water and also wrote the guest's names on it for a place tag.

I loved the chalkboard label on it!

Carly brought home the perfect table centerpieces.

Fresh flowers for the center and live succulents on the sides,

gave the table some color.

It turned out to be a fun tablescape for the theme!

For the appetizers, I served different cheeses

with toasted french baguettes,

crackers, marcona almonds, and olives.

My son, Scott, helped me make fresh soft pretzels.

I served them with Stone Brewing Co. mustards.

Delicious!

I used brown paper to display the appetizers on.

Black markers to show the different dishes.

I also served salami, grapes and

goat cheese with homemade fig jam.

We cheered the birthday girl with a Moscow Mule!!

Yuri brought different Belgian Hefeweizen Beers.

We also tried a craft beer (Golden) from

Coronado Brewery Company in San Diego.

~2014 World Beer Champion~

They all were very good!

For lunch I cooked Cornish Game Hens with Stuffed Wild Rice.

I had lights to set the party mood!

For our craft, we made wine charms!

I found the cutest little owls at Michael's Craft Store.

We used different colored beads for the charms.

All the girls did a great job on their charms,

they turned out so pretty!

A little dessert with

Chocolate Stout and Ice Cream.

A dessert plate with goodies!

I stamped and embellished the banner for the birthday cake.

~Rum Cake~

Tami, Linda, Mary, Me, Virgina and Yuri

Thanks to all my girlfriends,

Virginia's Birthday Party was a success!!

Last weeks features:

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes - Brown Sugar and Walnut Rugelach...and The Secret Life of Bees

d'art creatif - A Sneak Peak at Christmas 2015

My 1929 Charmer - Fall Porch Centerpiece

Deanie's Stash - You've Got Mail or What Were You Thinking!

Good Food Great Design - Gingerbread Cupcakes

Sweet Parrish Place - Trashtastic Tuesday: DIY Rustic Brown

C.D.'s Country Living - A Simple-Nature Inspired Thanksgiving Tablescape!

Spoonful of Flavor - Butternut Squash, Black Bean and Kale Tacos

Fyne's Designs - How to Make a Christmas Swag

Redo it Yourself Inspirations - Rag Ruffle Pillow Cover

If you have been featured on

Simple & Sweet Fridays,

feel free to add my button!

Enjoy the Simple & Sweet Friday linky party!

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

~Summer Favorites and Simple & Sweet Fridays #179~

We always love the longer nights of summer

and enjoy being in the garden.

Here's a recipe to try for a summer night.

Spiced Pear Punch

Makes 1 serving

3 cups ice

1 1/2 ounces pear vodka

1 ounce fresh orange juice

1/2 ounce St. Germain

1/4 ounce Angostura bitters

Garnish: fresh thyme sprig

In a cocktail shaker, combine ice and remaining 4 ingredients. Shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds.

Strain mixture into chilled glass.

Garnish with fresh thyme sprig.

Scott made us fresh homemade pretzels.

They were so good!

Figs are another favorite in the summer garden.

A fresh salad with mixed greens, feta, raspberries, candied walnuts and fig halves.

Great combination for a light summer lunch.

Fresh Figs and Brie

Easy appetizer!

We made grilled panini sandwiches.

Scott made fresh baguette bread

with brie, fig jam and ham.

Delicious!

I love the app.

Waterlogue.

I had to see the figs in a watercolor image.

Love it!!

I copied the watercolor and made a label for some

fresh

Fig- Ruby Port Preserves

Here is the recipe from

Food Network Kitchen

Bring 1 pound chopped fresh figs, 1 1/2 cups sugar, the seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean and a pinch of salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the sugar melts. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until a drop of the mixture sets on a chilled plate, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon each lemon juice and ruby port, and a pinch of pepper. Fill sterilized jars, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace, then seal and process for 15 minutes.