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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Veggie Tablescape

Thank you Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting today's Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to stop by and visit her and all the other participants.

It is so hot in Texas at the moment, that I don't even want to eat, much less cook! The only thing that salvages meal times around here is the abundance of fresh veggies during the summer. I enjoy using these cute vetetable themed plates for a nice cool dinner based on all the wonders of the garden.
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The plates feature a blue pattern on the rim with veggies inserted at intervals and a wonderful bunch of radishes in the center. My tablecloth is a blue and white one with various vegetables in the square block patterns.

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Since the plates are an offwhite color, I used solid offwhite napkins and my varigated blue handled flatware that came from Big Lots. The glassware is a light blue and I used a tall glass for iced tea and the shorter one as a water glass.

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For the centerpiece for this lunch table for two, I combined several items. I used my small vegetable tureen flanked by carrot candleholder. I didn't want candles since this was lunch, but liked the looks of these. I think I will paint the inside for they won't look so much like candleholder in the future. I used an assortment of ceramic vegetables in a large basket to complete the centerpiece.

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I hope you enjoyed my cool and crisp veggies tablescape. Now, I am off to visit my friend and pick up some fresh squash, okra, onions, and cucumbers. I still have a few tomatoes and picked some jalapenos this morning from my tub in the backyard.

DH is growing tomatoes in a Topsy Turvey planter. They haven't produced yet, but we do have numerous small ones and I see that he pulled one this morning to finish ripening on the porch sill. I planted them a little late this year.

Below are a few veggie recipes that we love in the hot weather. Neither is made from fresh veggies. We tend to just steam, bake, grill, or fry the fresh ones without bothering with a recipe. We so enjoy the few months of fresh veggies.

Both of these are made with canned vegetables, but are great cool things to enjoy in the heat of the summer.


Bush's Hominy Salad

1 15.5 oz. can BUSH'S BEST White Hominy
¼ cup chopped green pepper
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chopped onion
¼ teaspoon celery seed
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup cubed or grated cheese
¼ cup drained pickle relish or sliced olives
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon salt
2 tomatoes sliced into wedges

Rinse hominy and drain well. Combine with remaining ingredients and chill well. Serve on lettuce, garnished with tomato wedges and more mayonnaise if desired. To make a main-dish salad, add 1 can drained tuna fish or 1 cup diced ham or 4 chopped hard-cooked eggs.

TEXAS CAVIAR
2 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1pkg. Italian dressing made by directions, or 1 c. Italian dressing
1 bunch chopped green onion or 1 small chopped onion
1 med. Green pepper
4-oz. can diced jalapeno peppers or 5 fresh jalapeno peppers
4-oz. can diced green chiles
½ tsp. garlic salt
Mix all ingredients and chill. Serve with tortilla or corn chips.

Don't forget to check back at Playing Dishes on Saturdays this month for my Christmas in July Tablescape Party. Mr. Linky will be up on Friday evening. Come and join us or just to visit. Info is on my sidebar.

Thanks for stopping by to visit today. Be sure to visit Susan and the other participants in today's Tablescape Thursday at the link at the top.

25 comments:

  1. I love your veggie dishes and the tablecloth. Do you think my kids would get the hint! Eat your veggies kids! The recipes look great too.
    Dawn

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  2. Hello! Love your cheery table!
    Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog,and I'll do my best to visit your Christmas in July!
    Monica.

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  3. I always wondered what TX caviar was!

    Cute table..love the checks and the veggie plates! Great idea for a hot day!

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  4. I have noticed your flatware before and I love it. That was a beautiful post. I love fresh veggies also. They make me feel good that I am serving something so healthy. Blessings
    QMM

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  5. What cute veggie plates. Summer time fresh veggies are really wonderful. I love this time of year. Thanks for sharing! Amy :)

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  6. Healthy tablescape! Cute veggie dishes and colourful centerpiece. Those candleholders are wonderful and go so well with your theme. I believe there is nothing wrong with lighting candles for a luncheon!

    Thanks so much for your welcome and comments on my new blog. I am so glad I joined blogland but like Kathleen says, we will never forget our "roots" on the Garden Web-Holidays!

    DD

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  7. Such a pretty summery table. It would have gone well with my veggie dinner that I served tonight.

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  8. I love your veggie plates! My husband wanted a topsy turvy tomaato planter but waited too late. Thanks for stopping by and Yes, the luncheon is the elaborate every month. My month is Sept--yikes! :)

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  9. Hi Felecia, My heart goes out to you in your losses. Life isn't always fair or pleasant, but we go on somehow, with the help and comfort from the Lord. I really like your tablescape this week - the blues and reds and off-whites are a beautiful combination - so cheerful and inviting. I love dishes too, and just can't seem to get enough! I have teas throughout the year. On my blog, I think the second post (I only have 3!) I talk about my tea club. I also have teas for different groups of ladies from our church, and I have teas for friends of mine and their friends that I don't know. Once I have the tea, I have made new friends! I also have teas for neighbors and family, but I always have tea for one - me! I start my teapot in the morning and finish about an hour before bed. Amazingly, I don't have brown teeth - LOL! So probably about 6-8 teas a year. I'm also new to blogland, and have much to learn, but I know it's going to be a blessing and well worth the time invested - all the wonderful people are the blessings! I hope we visit again!

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  10. Your table is a great summer table!! Hope things cool down soon...

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  11. I enjoyed your VEGGIE TABLE...the plates are so unique, I have never seen anything like them before... How fun to work with those.
    Your accessories were just perfect, xoxo~Kathy~ @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...

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  12. Love your veggie table -- such a summery table. Love your plates and of course, the blue and white tablecloth -- I adore blue and white!

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  13. Now this is different - a veggie tablescape! I like it!

    Thanks for the recipes, I like hominy and will try it!

    Katherine

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  14. I love your tablescape with the veggies. I had a red flower arrangement recently with red bell peppers in it - and I thought it was over the top. That tablecloth is gorgeous. Hug those sweet grandpuppies!
    Happy Twirls

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  15. I love your tablescape...the tablecloth is really pretty.

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  16. Don't you just love Texas Caviar...I do! Your veggie tablescape is so cute!

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  17. Your vegaTABLE tablescape is adorable! Love those plates, and the very sweet tureen. Thanks -- and if that topsy turvey tomato growing thing works, please let us know! I am so curious.
    Cass

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  18. I love this table! So cool as a cucumber! LOL

    You know, I came up with a great tablescape for Saturday, I just need a few more inexpensive pieces and I'm ready! I'm so excited!

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  19. I just read your profile...and you have been through a lot. Losing a child is the worst possible pain.
    Your tablescape is delightful. I love your bright summery colors! Those dishes are marvelous...I have never seen anything like them..ever. Just wonderful!
    Thank you for your sweet visit to my blog. I appreciated that...and getting to know you!
    ~smiles~
    Mona

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  20. I love your veggie themed table and I going to try your recipes! :O) Mary @Boogieboard Cottage

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  21. Thanks so much for visiting me! Your tablescape has so many great colors....love Texas Caviar!
    Blessings...

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  22. Love the Veggies.. so cute! Gonna have to run over to Big Lots and grab that blue flatware I love it.
    I'm working on a Christmas Tablescape for your party tomorrow... I wasn't able to get to my stuff so I rounded up some pictures of a Christmas tea we had for the ladies at our Church.. The tables are beautiful I think everyone will love them.
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  23. Great Veggie theme. I am always a sucker for anything blue. Enjoy your day.
    ~Maryrose
    PS Love your comment on my site about creating new dish divas. How devine..... ;)

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  24. All entered in giveaway up to this spot.

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  25. Love your table. It looks so nice and fresh. Thanks for sharing,
    Alicia

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