FRESH SPRINGTIME TABLESCAPE

Good Morning Monday my friends......

It's no secret that I love Springtime! Here in the South we've been having 90 degree days and for a northern girl that loves her temps around 70....it's pretty warm!

Since I'm just beginning to familiarize myself with flowers of the South, I've decided to rely on my herbs for a little help with my first Spring tablescape. 

It's really amazing how many times I've struggled with exactly the right objects and florals to make just the "perfect" tablescape.  I've actually come to realize that by keeping it simple, yet stylish is quite easy. Herbs in pretty pots, a rattan tray, a beautiful blue and cream gingham tablecloth and cobalt blue goblets. A simple napkin tied with twine.....how gorgeous is that?

Lesson learned......a beautiful tablescape does not have to take hours to create and does not have to break the bank. Now go take a look around your house and start creating your Spring tablescape!

                                      Keep calm and pretend it's not Monday!

                    Kathleen

HERBALICIOUS HERBS!

Welcome to Herbalicious Wednesday!

One of the many things I love about living in a warm climate is the fresh produce and plants. Who doesn't love the freshness of herbs year round?  

I recently made a trip to our local hardware store to purchase clay pots for the purpose of planting fresh herbs.Lowe's and Home Depot have beautiful plants right now that were great for my small pots too!

I decided to buy some to keep on our patio table for easy clipping at meal time. After spraying the pots with Krylon Pumpkin Orange gloss paint, I filled them with Sweet Basil, Cilantro, and Parsley plants. All three of these fresh herbs are what I seem to use the most when cooking.

Nothing is easier than keeping fresh herbs at your fingertips or patio table as I did!  There are so many different types of  Basil plants available today; Thai basil has a sweet anise flavor, Holy basil has a clove-like flavor, Lemon basil is great for infusing vinegars and using in seafood dishes. There are many more varieties available that are so delicious it's a must to give them a try.

Another herb, Cilantro, is one of the most popular Mediterranean herbs. It's commonly used in savory dishes. Of course my thoughts turn to a delish salsa too! Parsley both Italian and and flat leaf are known for their healing properties. Italian parsley is less bitter and more fragrant than others. Parsley is wonderful in soups and tomato sauces and so much more.

It's very inexpensive to plant small herb plants, but the dividends are high when comes to the freshness they provide for your meals. Why not give a few of your favorite plants a try. Whether it's a windowsill in the North or your patio in South I'm sure you will love the fresh taste that herbs provide to your dishes!

                                                        HAPPY PLANTING!

                                             Kathleen

***See you on Foodie Friday! Thanks so much for stopping by!! 

DIY--Stenciling a Clay Pot

I love to have fresh herbs year round. In the Spring and Summer months I have outdoor clay pots on the patio where I can just clip a few when a recipe calls for them. It doesn't have to be any different in the Winter months. 

I decided that during these cold months there was no reason why I could not have fresh herbs  growing also. Since the pots are required to be indoors, I made them a little more presentable than just a plain old clay pot. I purchased some stencils, paint and new pots, a bit smaller than I use outdoors. They don't take up much room on my counter and they look great by my veggie basket adding a nice touch of green to the area.

I chose a random design that I thought had a little Mexican flair to it because I am using this particular pot for Cilantro. This is such an easy and inexpensive project and makes snipping the herbs so convenient.

Why not get a some "Winter" herbs planted in your kitchen......there is nothing like cutting "fresh" herbs to use in your favorite recipes.

  Happy planting!

                                      Kathleen