Wednesday, December 30, 2015

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?

Monday, December 28, 2015

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.....

Sunday, November 8, 2015

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.....

Friday, November 6, 2015

Friday, September 18, 2015

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......

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Monday, September 7, 2015

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.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Friday, July 24, 2015

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.....

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

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.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

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


New Year's Day Brunch

 


New Year's Day Dinner


 Snowy Night Supper


Winter Supper with a Friend


 I Need Some Green in My Life!


 Mother's Day Brunch


 Bunnies in the Cabbage Patch

Easter


Master Party Thrower for the 

Master Gardener


 Independence Day with the In-Laws


Summer Supper

Garden Party for the Girls

Neighborhood Party on Eagles Nest Lake Three


Labor Day  Garden Party 


 A Fall Luncheon for the Girls


Christmas in the Pines

Christmas with Friends


Christmas in Iowa for 10


New Year's Eve a la Art Nouveau


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!!

The Dedicated House

We're partying with Kathryn at
The Dedicated House
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz30VTt94uk-GLgtp-0AAMTUilgr11HKOepCXTiCzsc2BeledtSIt_DnHmVlZ1LN5DoN6BOKGUFP0qooBjmURn_PVnmfS1wZrPvtTOb266qJb2zhyvr2TTHOcmKXXMxfRdZoeLw0feDvM/s1600/Make+it+Pretty+Post+Button.png

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
Beverly's PINK SATURDAY

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 
Project Inspire{d} Hosted at AnExtraordinaryDay

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

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

Tablescape Thursday