2015: A Year in Review

The perfect way to reflect on the previous year
and ring in the new year
is to look back on the dinner parties,
brunches, and neighborhood get-togethers.

In case you missed any, we've compiled the parties for you in one post.

Join us, won't you?

Christmas, Take Two

We did Christmas dinners back to back this year -

second time around was a little different,

but we used some of the same elements as Christmas Eve

so as to maintain some level of sanity.

Christmas in the North Woods

Surrounded by the vast Superior National Forest, blanketed

in heavy snow, we celebrated Christmas Eve.

Please join us.....

Holiday Mantle

Now that I've put away the fall and Thanksgiving decorations,

Christmas decorating is in full swing.

 

Thankful and FULL!

What a fine and relaxing day it was!

Celebrate Fall, Y'all!

Posh Pumpkins

Pumpkins after Halloween are often destined

for the compost pile.

A sweet friend gave me a box full, and I knew exactly 

what I was going to do.....

Thanksgiving Traditions

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful

opportunity to pause and consider why

we are, or should be, thankful.

Celebrating Sisters Tea Party

Are you lucky enough to have a sister?

Then, you are lucky enough.

If you have a multi-generational group of sisters,

what else to do but......

Hot Fun in the Summertime

On a hot summer day, isn't it wonderful

to spend some time with great friends?

We did just that.......

Busy Bees

Labor Day weekend was full of parties.

After the big State Fair at EN3, we did

an intimate little dinner for four chez nouz.

State Fair!

Labor Day weekend means the last days of the 

Minnesota State Fair.  As her Labor Day parties are becoming a tradition,

Kimberly and I decided that we

should have our own great get-together

on Eagles Nest Lakes.

Party in the 'Hood for 40

It is a tradition!  The annual party on Snowbank Lake.

This year's theme was......

Blueberry Dinner Party for Ely's Blueberry Fest

 

Every year, the city of Ely hosts the Blueberry Festival, timed perfectly

to coincide with the late July ripening of the wild blueberries that 

abound in our area.  Tens of thousands of people attend, and it's the

perfect opportunity to.....

A Mother's Day Brunch

Kimberly does Mother's Day brunch

like no one else.

What a Week!!

We have had QUITE a couple of weeks here at 

A Graceful Table!

We've been eating, and celebrating, and setting

 a few tables. And getting noticed!!

Will you be mine? -- Valentine's Day Brunch

While putting this post together on a fabulous 

Valentine's Day brunch, the message that came

through to me loud and clear was that

details matter.

2014: A Year of Tablescapes, Cooking, and Entertaining

 A Graceful Table is celebrating the New Year with

a look back at the tablescapes of 2014.

Click on any link below a photo to see

the complete blog post.

 

New Year's Eve Supper

31 December 2013

See the entire post HERE

New Year's Day Brunch

 

See the entire post HERE 

New Year's Day Dinner

 See the entire post HERE

 Snowy Night Supper

 See the entire post HERE

Winter Supper with a Friend

See the entire post HERE 

 Valentine's Dinner for 2

 I Need Some Green in My Life!

 See the entire post HERE

 Mother's Day Brunch

  See the entire post HERE

 Bunnies in the Cabbage Patch

Easter

 See the entire post HERE

Master Party Thrower for the 

Master Gardener

 See the entire post HERE

 Independence Day with the In-Laws

See the entire post HERE

Summer Supper

 See the entire post HERE

Garden Party for the Girls

See the entire post HERE

Neighborhood Party on Eagles Nest Lake Three

See the entire post HERE 

Labor Day  Garden Party 

See the entire post HERE

 A Fall Luncheon for the Girls

See the entire post HERE 

Christmas in the Pines

See the entire post HERE

Christmas with Friends

 See the entire post HERE

Christmas in Iowa for 10

 See the entire post HERE

New Year's Eve a la Art Nouveau

 See the entire post HERE

We have truly enjoyed setting tables for our guests, and

hope that you have enjoyed seeing the results.

Happy New Year and we're looking

forward to another great year of

tablescapes in 2015!!

With fondness and appreciation for your interest,

Kathy and Kimberly
We are excited to say we were featured by
Kathryn for Make It Pretty Monday!
What an honor!!



We're partying with Kathryn at
The Dedicated House


and with Marty at A Stroll Through Life
for
Inspire Me Tuesday


We're joining Susan at
Between Naps on the Porch for
Metamorphasis Monday

We're linking up with Christine at
Rustic and Refined
for a linky party!

 We're joining How Sweet The Sound
for a Pink Saturday linky party

Farro with Cranberries and Swiss Chard

 To make the Farro dish from our post "Soiree Gastronomique",

you'll need:

1 cup of farro

2 cups of chicken broth or stock

3 cloves garlic, crushed and minced

1/4 cup of dried cranberries

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

A splash of olive oil

3 leeks
2 Tblsp pine nuts

a bunch of Swiss chard

 Finely chop a bunch of Swiss Chard into a chiffonade.  You want the chard

interspersed in the farrow with no big chunks.

 Saute the garlic, 2 of the sliced leeks, and the farro in a splash of olive oil.

Add chicken stock and chard, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat

to simmer until the broth is absorbed and the farro is soft, but still firm and not mushy.

In another pan, caramelize a sliced leek in a knob of butter on low heat 

until the leeks are crunchy and sweet.  This takes time, do not rush it.

 Remove from heat, stir in dried cranberries, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts.

Garnish with caramelized leeks and serve.

Recipe copyright K. Cyriacks 2014
Partying with Christine at
Rustic and Refined

Joining Diane at
An Extraordinary Day 

New Year's Day Brunch in the Woods

 

After the labor intensive meal on New Year's Eve, 

we always have a simple brunch after our slumber party and

before our guests leave to go home.

   

This year, it was an easy, make-ahead and refrigerate

overnight egg dish with ham, asparagus, Havarti cheese on a bed of

cranberry wild rice bread.

With Fraboni's hardwood smoked bacon, 

made in Hibbing, Minnesota.

A fruit compote of mango, orange, and Honeycrisp apples,

topped with Noosa (the best!!) raspberry yogurt, 

then sprinkled with pomegranate arils.

Crate and Barrel individual ramekins sit atop a pine embellished plate

from, believe it or not, L&M Farm and Fleet Supply.  Who knew?

Ralph Lauren acorn and pinecone napkins, with

acorn napkin rings atop a twig placemat give us

the woodsy feel for this brunch in the Superior 

National Forest.

Our ever-willing photography subject, Kim, ready

to tuck in.

By request, the egg bake recipe:
Serves 4 generously

NEW YEAR'S DAY EASY EGG BAKE FOR FOUR

5 eggs
2 cups of whole milk
8 slices of rustic bread
(I used cranberry wild rice bread)
1 cup shredded havarti cheese
1 cup chopped ham
12 asparagus spears

Cut crusts off of 8 slices of bread,
then slice into thirds for long strips. 
Layer bread strips in individual OVENPROOF serving bowls,
2 slices per person.

Add 2/3 of the grated cheese on top of the bread strips.
Sprinkle chopped ham over cheese.

Beat eggs and milk together until well blended.
Pour over bread, cheese, and ham mixture in bowls, 
filling nearly but not all the way to the top.

Place three asparagus spears on top of mixture in
each bowl,  then
garnish with remaining cheese.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Place bowls on a baking sheet, and bake for half an hour, 
or until set, in a 350 degree oven.

Allow to cool slightly, then serve.

copyright K Cyriacks 2014


We're joining Kristin for
Inspire Me Monday




We're linking up with Susan at
Between Naps on the Porch for 

Tablescape Thursday