Join me for a ‘Teeny’ bit of table inspiration from
Gone with a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West.
Besides some table inspiration, this book provided me with lots of laughs
from the cast of quirky characters, along with some major food cravings.
Teeny Templeton, is an out of work pastry chef who cuts her own hair, does her own nails,
prefers cotton over silk, and plain white dishes that don’t match.
She sets the table with some blue & white floral dishes. . .
Teeny:
“I set the patio table with blue-and-white floral dishes,
added a vase filled with hydrangeas. . .”
There are no hydrangeas at my table,
but my peonies have just begun to bloom!
Villeroy & Boch “Switch 3” Dinnerware, a mix and match collection,
allows you to combine patterns to personalize your table.
The Cordoba dinner plate has a bird and flower design, reminiscent of Portuguese tiles. . .
The Castell salad plates have a checkerboard motif,
a pattern perfect for the countryside, or lakeside!
I added hobnail glasses to the table that Teeny’s ‘Aunt Bluette’
might have served iced tea in.
Iced Tea that a girl from
a peach farm could love. . .
Summer Peach Tea Punch,
recipe courtesy Southern Living
Makes 1 gallon
Ingredients
3 family-size tea bags
2 cups loosely packed fresh mint leaves
1 (33.8-oz.) bottle peach nectar
1/2 (12-oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup Simple Sugar Syrup
1 (1-liter) bottle ginger ale, chilled
1 (1-liter) bottle club soda, chilled
Garnish: fresh peach wedges
Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add tea bags and mint leaves.
Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Cover and steep 10 minutes.
Discard tea bags and mint. Pour into a 1-gal. container; add peach nectar,
lemonade concentrate, and Simple Sugar Syrup.
Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.
Pour chilled tea mixture into a punch bowl or pitcher.
Stir in ginger ale and club soda just before serving.
Summer Peach Tea Punch
Ingredients
- 3 family-size tea bags
- 2 cups loosely packed fresh mint leaves
- 1 33.8-oz. bottle peach nectar
- 1/2 12-oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 1/2 cup Simple Syrup
- 1 1-liter bottle ginger ale, chilled
- 1 1-liter bottle club soda, chilled
- Garnish: fresh peach wedges
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add tea bags and mint leaves. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Cover and steep 10 minutes.
- Discard tea bags and mint. Pour into a 1-gal. container; add peach nectar, lemonade concentrate, and simple syrup. Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.
- Pour chilled tea mixture into a punch bowl or pitcher. Stir in ginger ale and club soda just before serving.
To make simple syrup:
- Bring sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is clear. Cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
Notes
- To make a cocktail version of this punch, add a combination of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and /or Peach Schnapps. Mix to your preferred ratio and crowd. A general formula to follow is 1 part alcohol to 3 parts mixer.
Teeny picks up dinner at the grocery store:
“I came out with an apple walnut salad with raspberry vinaigrette, a wedge of brie, and a cheesecake sampler.”
An Apple Walnut Salad~ sliced apples, walnuts, dried cranberries
and blue cheese crumbles on a bed of baby lettuce.
Teeny’s salad is dressed with raspberry vinaigrette.
We saved our calories for Brie,
so no cheesecake sampler for us :)
Brie in Puff Pastry
Coop: “ ‘I love how your mind works, Teeny. Like a bird hopping from twig to twig, never losing sight of the worm.’ ”
Enjoy this book and help yourself to
some Southern flavor, food & fun!
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“Teeny” table details:
Placemats & Napkins/ Bed, Bath & Beyond
Blue Goblets/ Dollar Tree
Villeroy & Boch “Switch 3” Dinnerware / HomeGoods
Trays /HomeGoods
Hobnail Glasses & Pitcher/ World Market
oh how many ways do i love this… first i am starved for beautiful food… and then dining lakside… with adorable dishes and peonies, its pretty much too much to bear for me! it makes me yearn to play again, but those days are thin for me with so much to do in 2 places… but who is complaining when i can come here and sit with a heavy sigh!
lovelovelove your table, where did you find that?
Stunning. Gorgeous flowers, so perfect. A
Gorgeous peonies! We planted a couple of them this year, I hope they do as well as these.
Beautiful setting as always, Mary!
Ooooo, pretty new dishes! ♫♫ Lucky-Dog~Lucky Dog♫♫
You & I both have the same colored peonies…that deep pink as well as white. It will be awhile before I see any blooms though. I did put the wire cages around them this week. More rain today…*sigh*
The view from your table towards the lake & dock is so relaxing. You are truly blessed, Mary, to have such a little spot of Heaven on earth.
You used one of my favorite dressings on your beautiful salad, too. Yummo!
The little bird on top of your Brie was such a sweet touch! Very creative! I love how your mind works!
We attended a party in FL years ago where the hostess served brie in pastry like yours & it has a sweet, jam-like spread inside. I requested the specific recipe several times & she never answered me. :-( Hrumph!
Truthfully, she was a Witch with a capital “B”. LOL I don’t miss her at all.
Thanks for the link to Pepperidge Farms site…maybe I can find a similar one there. You’re always so nice about sharing & helping, Mary & I appreciate it greatly.
fondly,
Rett
When I receive a e-mail notice of a new blog post from you, I save it until I can take time to savour every word and delightful photo…..I build up anticipation as I open other e-mails and reply or delete….meanwhile the notice sits there taunting me…..
You never disappoint, Mary….sigh…..
The outdoor setting…..the calming sight of the blue lake water reflected on the table…….the blue & white chine and linens (blue is one of my most favorite colors….) the basket used as charger….the lovely peonies….
I can taste that peach iced tea…….! BTW, I don’t add any sugar to my tea at all…unless I am in the south…then I must have sweet tea!
Next time you make the brie en croute, try this:
Freeze the cheese just enough so that you can cut it in half lengthwise. Place the bottom half on the puff pastry, cut side up. Fill the top of that half with a mixture of chopped pecans, chopped dried apricots, a bit of brown sugar and a touch of Grand Marnier or some peach schnapps or brandy (you can chop and mix it all in the food processor) – Cover the filling with the other half of the cut brie. bring up the sides of the puff pastry as tightly as you can. Cover with another sheet of pastry and bring it down all around the sides, tucking it tightly and turn it over, “glue” the folds together by brushing with a bit of water. Decorate the top as you wish and bake. This was a recipe shared with the cooking class participants by Shirley O. Corriher from Atlanta, when she travelled as a guest cooking teacher to SC to teach at my school.
YOur garden setting by the lake is stunning and the tablescape is fantastic. I love your menu also, it all looks soooooooo good. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
Everything about this post was beautiful and delightful. A true feast for the senses. The peach tea not only looks delicious, but the pitcher and glasses are gorgeous. The peonies are so pretty and even prettier in your interesting vase.
Every time I read one of your posts I feel like heading to HomeGoods or World Market. :)
You have such a gift and I’m so glad you are sharing it with us.
Mary, how happy I am that you shared this blue and white table. I wanted to post a blue and white table in reference to that selection within GWAHM, but didn’t get it done. I could never have matched this gorgeous setting. The beautiful new dishes, lakeside setting, delicious food ~ this post has it all. I love the way your mind things. You are an incredibly talented lady. Thanks for sharing with all of us. ~ Sarah
Another beautiful post! I could sit and view the picture of the tablescape with the lake, dock and birdhouse in the background for hours. What a beautiful and engaging picture.
You are going to make me go on a HomeGoods run! So many pretties you have found there recently. I especially like your new dishes and those basket chargers. I also really like the hobnail glasses and pitcher from World Market. Well, really, I like it all. Truly beautiful!
Tammy
This is beautiful. The setting. Your tablesetting. The FOOD! The flowers. The wonderful dishes! The tea looks so refreshing. Your photography is awesome!
Oh, I LOVE this! Teeny loves it, too! XXOO
Beautiful post!!!! I loved the book and now your gorgeous, delicious post has made me hungry! This is my 1st visit to your blog and found it via Michel Lee posting on FB and am so glad!!! Now, off to read more.
Stopping in via Michel Lee on facebook….
I love this on so many levels. First your garden and blooms are just stunning. After a week from **** here, I needed to see something beautiful. Secondly I love that you channeled Teeny in your setting. I just finished the book before the storms and I can totally see her here. Thirdly, I am now starving to death and the homemade sloppy joes for tonight just don’t seem adequate enough. Heading to the kitchen to discover better fare.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Jen
Beautiful table in a beautiful setting! I love pink with blue and your poenies are beautiful. I always enjoy it when a tablescaper actually shows food. Such a pretty pitcher for the tea!
Oh, that photo with the pink peonies up against the blue of the lake just makes me swoon! You always set such wonderful tables and this is another great one. The peach drink looks wonderful, are there really fresh peaches out and about? I love your property and it is so fun to share in the fantasy as you post pictures of it. Have a wonderful TT.
As soon as I saw a comment from you saying you were going to read the book I thought, oh this will be good! And, of course, it is!!! Gorgeous setting, fun new dishes and lovely brie! Looks like a perfect day Mary:@)
Love love these dishes. I’ve been searching for some and these might just be the ticket. Your table setting with that backdrop is what dreams are made of. I love the peonies and the blue check and the baskets! Wow those are fabulous. Great table.
A Tweet from my publisher that I wanted to share with you:
MichaelLeeWest: A tablescape for Teeny Templeton, heroine of Gone With A Handsomer Man by Home Is Where the Boat Is… http://fb.me/U57bBTtX
2:19pm, May 04 from Facebook
MinotaurBooks: @michaelleewest I want to go to that picnic!!
2:26pm, May 04 from HootSuite
Oh my gosh. May I have a glass of that lovely tea? And that salad looks yummy!
I am so jealous of all ya’ll who live in the south and have such beautiful peonies already.
Love the table, fresh, crisp and makes me want to be there.
Thank you for sharing!
Miss Mindy
The Howell Blessings
Mary, this is one of my all time favorite tables, everything about it is delightful. And the food…yummy.
What a wonderful post! This is a beautiful setting in a beautiful setting! The food looks FABULOUS! I love your arty shadow shot too! The colors are dreamy. I’m so happy to see your peonies!
Beautiful peonies – my favorite flower!!! I just put this book on my wish list.
Beautiful setting……so refreshing! and that food has me drooling!! :)
Love your post! The trays are absolutely spectacular. They’re not at my Home Goods but I sure wish they were. I’ve been looking for something just like them. Your salad looks delectable and the little birdie on the brie is just the perfect touch. Perhaps you’d like to link this post to Seasonal Sundays for Mother’s Day.
I appreciate your comment on my Royal Wedding Breakfast Part I and thought you might like to know that Part II is up now.
Oh, and something else I’ve been meaning to mention to you. I’m not sure if you realize this or not, but if I click on a comment that you’ve written it links back to your old blogger blog, and not this one. It makes it a bit difficult to get to you. Perhaps this is something you might try to correct. Just trying to help.
– The Tablescaper
Sorry for the confusion with my Blogger profile. If you click on “my web page” under contact, the link goes here to wordpress. I have a problem signing in to comment with OpenID, I’m constantly getting a OpenID error message so it’s easier to use my Blogger id profile for comments.
Don’t tell me your peonies are already blooming! One of the real pleasures of spending time in Maine is that my garden is full of them, and I luxuriate in their beauty. It looks like you are again enjoying being outside and have the perfect place to be.
Beautiful! I recog the VB dishes right away, so pretty! The table and salad look great, as does the brie.
No peonies yet here, azaleas are just starting here in NY.
Beautiful pics, Mary!
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting this post today. The peonies are so beautiful with the blue floral plates. Such a find those trays. The food — oh how I would love to sit at the table and dine on such fabulous food. Joni
Brie en croute is a favorite of mine. Thanks for posting that wonderful pic – I’ll have to remember it next time I make it. Love your peonies – they should bloom here in the next couple weeks. I can’t wait.
:)
ButterYum
Just beautiful!!! This is my first visit to your blog and I am hooked!!! Gorgeous pics, wonderful food, and you love books and dogs :-)
What a lovely setting! Blue and White with a pop of Green is one of my all time favorites! Please pour me a glass of that yummy ice tea! :) I have been seeing this book around a lot. I may have to recommend it to my book club! :) Thanks for the review.
AND….Thank you so much for linking up to Fresh-Cut Friday!!! I really appreciate it! :)
~Liz
Oh, heavens to Betsy…what a great post! The table is beautiful, and those peonies are straight from heaven!!! The brilliance of the pink is just shockingly beautiful! The food…it looks fabulous! I love apple walnut salad, and yours looks fantastic! I’m also a big lover of brie, so that just made me wilt to see that gorgeous presentation en croute. It’s making the Cheerios I’m having for dinner taste even cruddier than I thought! :-(
I can smell the peonies and taste the peach tea, but only in my dreams! Another stunning, incredibly beautiful setting. Love the blue and white china and the hobnail iced teas…..can’t you just hear those Southern gals, giddy with delight, at this lovely party!
What a dreamy and beautiful table setting! I absolutely love the blue and white and your peonies~your setting is gorgeous as well! Thanks for sharing at FNF :)
What a beautiful table. Your blue and white is gorgeous. I love peonies. I have the light pink ones now and just bought two new dark pink ones to plant soon!!! Your view is superb, and the perfect place to enjoy that delicious meal. YUM!!!!
Oh how I have missed your beautiful table settings! We have been cruising around the south in our RV and I do believe…your tea really IS quite sweet!! We saw some absolutely stunning flowers at BrookGreen Gardens…what an amazing place! I would love to share lunch with you at your gorgeous table! Hope your fluffs are doing well. Happy Mother’s Day!
Jeanne and the girlz, Chloe and LadyBug
Couldn’t resist looking back and leaving a comment. I’ve heard so much about this book lately, I’ll just have to read it. A beautiful tablescape and such lovely peonies, just another one of my favourite blooms. And Oh! not able to resist that brie! My favourite photo is the one with the shadow of the peonie on the plate, just love it! x