We’ve been Celebrating the Grape and enjoying Bottled Sunshine during September in observance of North Carolina’s Wine Appreciation Month.
Harvest festivals with serenades, grape stomps, and harvest-to-barrel celebrations are abundant with October’s arrival.
Taking my cue from the harvest events at North Carolina wineries this month, I pulled out my grandmother’s dishes~ Harvest Time by Johnson Brothers~ to enjoy with some wine we purchased during our tasting visits.
I harvested some Goldenrod along with clippings from some shrubs for filler~ grasses in bloom, Loropetalum and Abelia for a centerpiece.
Mums for some seasonal color and produce from the grocery store~ artichokes, apples & grapes~ are paired to fill my urn for a full-bodied arrangement for the table.
I fitted a wine bottle with a candelabra insert ~ a fun addition for the table & a keepsake bottle after the contents are gone.
Cradling a bottle from RayLen Vineyards & Winery~ this little bird told about the upcoming mini-release party of RayLen’s newest vintage of Carolinius~ a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.
Ripe for the picking, I found a grape-producing tablecloth & napkins ~a Ralph Lauren varietal~ at HomeGoods a couple of weeks ago.
I found a cheese pairing suggestion for one of our wines~ a Childress Barrel Select Barbera~ since I had ricotta on hand, it was a natural choice and was simple & delicious~
Ricotta with Blackberries & Lime~
Serves 4
Ingredients
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3 cups fresh blackberries
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2 – 3 tablespoons sugar, depending on sweetness of berries
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Zest & juice of 1 lime
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8 ounces whole milk ricotta
Method
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Place 1 ½ cups of the blackberries in a blender and puree with the sugar. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl. Add half of the zest and lime juice, stir & refrigeration a minimum of 20 minutes
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Reserve the remaining blackberries and lime zest in the refrigerator.
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Using a small 1- ounce ice-cream scoop, place 2 tablespoons of the ricotta in the middle of each of 4 small dessert plates or bowls. Toss the blackberry sauce with the remaining berries and spoon a quarter of the sauce around the outside of the ricotta on each plate.
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Garnish with blackberries & lime zest.
Harvest Table details:
Tablecloth, Napkins & Bird Wine Caddy/HomeGoods
Dishes/Harvest Time by Johnson Brothers
Goblets/Mikasa French Countryside- Tuesday Morning
Chargers/ Pier 1
Flatware/World Market
Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:
Metamorphosis Monday,
The Scoop, Inspire Me Tuesday,
Wow Us Wednesdays, Tablescape Thursday,
Home Sweet Home, Feathered Nest Friday
Foodie Friday
Simply S P E C T A C U L A R! Photos, colors, ideas…GREAT!:)
And yet again, I’m left feeling wowed and inspired to get busy with some table fun. This is just beautiful! I love the candelabra in the wine bottle. What a great way to use a special keepsake bottle. I have one from Germany that would be the perfect application for that.
Those dishes with the grapes next to them are so lovely to me. This whole table just speaks of the harvest of abundance. I love it.
You’ve done the grape and harvest proud! I had some table fun this week too, and used a different type of grape. Thank you for the eye candy to get this beautiful day started.
I forgot to say how beautiful the centerpiece is! Stunning!!
Gorgeous celebration of the grape. It makes me want to take a drive down Missouri’s Wine Road, which is very near our town.
I need to to buy one of the wine bottle candleholders. Wanted one for years.
Spectacular post, Mary.
Just fabulous! Your book on flower arranging is coming out when? Seriously you should. I too have one of the wine bottle converter candleholder thingies.. Every element on your table is perfect..Love the wine corks and the tablecloth – wow so pretty. Thanks for sharing. xo marlis
Stunning colors and combination of fruits in the centerpiece. I have enjoyed the info on Carolina Wineries. Carolyn NC
another beautiful presentation, so rich in colors… what i love most about you is that you always use natural elements, you speak fresh… well and fabulous, fantastic, fun, and dang feverishly good. love all the blends of autumn…
everytime i see childress i think of the author, have you read him? southern books too, i wonder?
Wine in North Carolina. Who knew?? They do now with your spectacular post(s).
Mary, I’m running out of superlatives now….;-) Can’t find words adequate enough to express my admiration yet once again for your stunning tables. You have (again!) woven such a rich tapestry of colors and textures….Every single detail blends it all into a rich, luscious and opulent feast for the eye, the mind and the soul.
Beautiful Table! Love your plates! Thanks for sharing,JoAnn
Gorgeous setting and beautiful shots! Love each and every single picture here. Everything looks so perfect. Thanks for sharing.
Hope to see you on my blog:)
All I can say is lush, lush, lush!!!! Such a beautiful floral you have created! It is out of this world and I know how hard it is to photograph something that tall, yet you did a fabulous job! Wish I were there seated in the gorgeous weather and nibbling with you! The dessert looks so simple yet so wonderful too. Once again, wow!!!!!!!!
Every inch of this tablescape is amazing. I can’t get enough! The photography really captures the beauty of it all!
Lacy
I want to plan an autumn picnic for tomorrow! Beautiful Mary! Absolutely stunning! I just adore Fall!
Mary, you’ve captured the flavour with this table setting. And I love everything. A wonderful spread of goodies and colours.Inspirational!
Your images are gorgeous! Have loved my visit here for Tablescape Thursday and learning about SC wine – who knew?
Fabulous! Your centerpiece is soooo gorgeous. I love the way you mixed the produce with grasses and flowers and the colors are so rich! You have such a creative flair! Very professional! The tablecloth brings everything together and I love the choice of china. I always learn something here~ thanks for your efforts, I really appreciate the time you put into these lovely tables!!
Hi Mary,
This is just beautiful and so perfect for fall!! Your centerpiece is just spectacular and I love the RL linens. They tie everything together so perfectly. I’ve never seen these Johnson Brothers dishes, but they are lovely. I’ve been so distracted lately, I haven’t been able to read your posts as thoroughly as I would like. You always do such a great job.
I mentioned your blog and put a link to it in my post yesterday. Being North Carolina natives, my husband and I really enjoy visiting all the wonderful wineries nearby. I still haven’t been to Childress, but am anxious to tour the inside. I’ve only seen it in passing.
Thanks again for sharing your wonderful creativity.
Denise at Forest Manor
Beautiful table, Mary…love the gorgeous centerpiece. Johnson Bros. have the best dishes…
AN AMAZING arrangement! Such a pretty setting. Your tables are always so lovely!! :) Thank you for sharing it at FCF! :)
~Liz
A friend recently gave me a wine bottle votive topper but I LOVE your wine bottle candelabra topper even more. Your grandmother had great taste in dishes – they’re beautiful. The ricotta with berries sounds delicious!
Gorgeous table Mary! Love the deep wonderful colors of the tablecloth and the candelabra is just too fun! I’ve yet to see a J-Bro dish I don’t like-enjoy:@)
Beautiful. I wonder how long we’ll be treated to your outdoor settings? This one was perfect for a sunny fall day – so rich and layered. I enjoyed it.
This is drop dead gorgeous, It is magazine worthy.
Once again you have graced us with another stunning post! I love the rich colors that show so much depth of the autumnal season. Your tablescape is both charming and exquisite. I so enjoyed all the information about the Carolina wine world you have shared in this and your previous post. Gorgeous!
PS, I just finished The Peach Keeper which you recommended. Thank you!
Love your grandmother’s Johnson Bros. dishes. The wine bottle candelabra is so much fun. Thanks for the link.
Gorgeous table and centerpiece. I always love your arrangements. Keep enjoying wine month.
Babs
Great to have you a part of Seasonl Sundays.
– The Tablescaper
It all looks so lovely! Your arrangement is fabulous! You definately have a knack girl! Love your grandmothers dishes. The corks in the bottle is one of my favorite touches. The ricotta sounds and looks so yummy. thanks for sharing
So many beautiful things to love here…my favorite is the bird wine caddy…so special. I adore that you have your grandmother’s Johnson Brothers to use. Family treasures are always the very best! Thank you for sharing another gorgeous design. Cherry Kay
Oh Mary, I am enthralled as usual with your beautiful table. The flower and fruit arrangement is superb! I had a glitch in my email service and missed some posts that usually come in so I am glad I could view your post from Seasonal Sundays.
I WANT/NEED one of those candelabra. I am ordering one today! Love your Grandmother’s dishes, how nice that you have them. Love the arrangement, we could be quite a floral team! Love the bird wine holder too. Every post you do makes me smile. Thank you. XO
I am compelled to comment again, on this post, Mary. Incredible!!
I found a wine bottle candle holder this year. It is a double. Found it at a resale shop.
You inspire me!!
Lovely…the plates and tablecloth are divine.
Wonderful table…your vintage plates are lovely, Mary. You always have such interesting centerpieces!
Have a great weekend.
“Bottled Sunshine”!!! I love that expression! I’m going to have to remember that!
My Lord, what an exquisite table!!! The centerpiece is magnificent! So lush and luxurious…the abundance is just amazing! I love the fabulous rush of color and pattern on the table. It’s got the elements of fall that one comes to expect and appreciate about the season.
This is 100% top of the line, Mary! Beautiful! Enjoy your weekend and a little more of that bottled sunshine!
Okay missy, this just takes things to a whole other level! Absolutely gorgeous! Are you going to post a lesson on putting together that centerpiece? More is more! Love it all!
That centerpiece took my breath away! I too have one of the wine bottle candleholder things and love it. Your grandmother’s plates are wonderful! Have a nice weekend.