Season of Change in the Garden

One of my most favorite hobbies is tablescaping.  Problem was we didn't have a true dedicated formal dining room.  So, I would set up a wonderful table, take pictures, and then have to take it all down so that Mr. B & I could eat our meals.  At the end of June that all changed.  We had been talking for awhile about changing the unused formal living room into a formal dining room.  I had even purchased my dream table and chairs at Cost Plus last November while they were on sale and I had an additional 20% off coupon (which makes me love it even more than had I paid full pop for it all).  

We had the carpet removed in that room, the family room, the hallway upstairs and in Mr. B's office.  We then had hardwood floors put in.  The change is dramatic and we just love it all!  And the best part is, I can now set up a tablescape and leave it up for us to enjoy! The following is my first table in the "new" room.

I purchased these plates at Goodwill (GW) on a 50% off day so they were only .25 each! Believe me when I saw the first one on the shelf I started to hyper-ventilate, then I found the other 3 and was doing that happy dance jig (you know the one we all do when we find the days perfect score!).

The "napkins" are dish towels from Ikea (I got to go before they opened the new Denver location and beat the crowd) .79 each. The placemats and flatware also come from Ikea. I think the placemats look almost like they were made from corn husks and really fit the theme of this table. The red dinner plates and coffee cups are part of a set from JCP.com from a Wednesday deal. The white bowls are from our everyday Gibson set. The water glasses are from Wal-Mart at .79 each.

Mr. B brought back the embroidered runner from Canada when he was there after his DGM passed away in June. It was lovingly stitched, pressed and starched by her. I love being able to use it on this table as she was a sweet, simple country girl.

The Candlewick sugar and creamer are part of my collection and were purchased on EBay. The rooster was purchased on clearance at Joann's several years ago.

This table almost seems like a transition from summer into fall. Days are getting shorter and nights are getting cooler. Summer seemed too short this year :)

I am linking up with these fun parties

A Stroll Thru Life Tabletop Tuesday

Between Naps On The Porch Tablescape Thursday
Fireflies and Jellybeans Show Off Your Stuff Party
Tales From Bloggeritaville Thrifty Thursday

Farm Fresh

One of my most favorite hobbies is tablescaping.  Problem was we didn't have a true dedicated formal dining room.  So, I would set up a wonderful table, take pictures, and then have to take it all down so that Mr. B & I could eat our meals.  At the end of June that all changed.  We had been talking for awhile about changing the unused formal living room into a formal dining room.  I had even purchased my dream table and chairs at Cost Plus last November while they were on sale and I had an additional 20% off coupon (which makes me love it even more than had I paid full pop for it all).  

We had the carpet removed in that room, the family room, the hallway upstairs and in Mr. B's office.  We then had hardwood floors put in.  The change is dramatic and we just love it all!  And the best part is, I can now set up a tablescape and leave it up for us to enjoy! The following is my first table in the "new" room.

I purchased these plates at Goodwill (GW) on a 50% off day so they were only .25 each! Believe me when I saw the first one on the shelf I started to hyper-ventilate, then I found the other 3 and was doing that happy dance jig (you know the one we all do when we find the days perfect score!).

The "napkins" are dish towels from Ikea (I got to go before they opened the new Denver location and beat the crowd) .79 each. The placemats and flatware also come from Ikea. I think the placemats look almost like they were made from corn husks and really fit the theme of this table. The red dinner plates and coffee cups are part of a set from JCP.com from a Wednesday deal. The white bowls are from our everyday Gibson set. The water glasses are from Wal-Mart at .79 each.

Mr. B brought back the embroidered runner from Canada when he was there after his DGM passed away in June. It was lovingly stitched, pressed and starched by her. I love being able to use it on this table as she was a sweet, simple country girl.

The Candlewick sugar and creamer are part of my collection and were purchased on EBay. The rooster was purchased on clearance at Joann's several years ago.

This table almost seems like a transition from summer into fall. Days are getting shorter and nights are getting cooler. Summer seemed too short this year :)

I am linking up with these fun parties

A Stroll Thru Life Tabletop Tuesday

Between Naps On The Porch Tablescape Thursday
Fireflies and Jellybeans Show Off Your Stuff Party
Tales From Bloggeritaville Thrifty Thursday

A Confession

Welcome to Kathe with an E! I thought very hard on what I wanted my first blog post to be about.  Gardening?  Tablescaping?  Ohohoh!!  I knew just the perfect thing that would hook me some loyal readers!  A true life confession!  A soul numbing confession!  Yes!!  So here you go, you ready?  You sitting down?  I do hereby confess that I never liked meatloaf!  Seriously, how gut wrenching is that?  Meatloaf is like the total Great American Meal (yes caps were needed for that).  What red, white and blue, flag waving gal does not like meatloaf?  Well, me…or rather,  was me.
We will need some backstory action here.  My mother loved her some onions.  Loved them in everything food related. She didn’t like them diced finely either, ohnosiree! She liked them coarsely chopped. Oh and if they could be raw…even better!  I, on the other hand, am the total opposite.  It’s not that I totally despise onions like I do mushrooms (a story for another day).  I just need my onions diced very very small and fully cooked thankyouverymuch. 
Which brings us back to meatloaf.  The meatloaf I grew up with, made with my dear mother’s loving hands, was 40% hamburger and 60% chunky raw onions.  Seriously, not enough katsup in the world could make me eat it.  As I reached adult hood and began cooking for myself, then for my family, I searched high and low for a meatloaf recipe I could love. I tried just using onion powder but still tasted mom’s meatloaf and the memories (nightmares?) came flooding back. 
Fast forward many many more years and I meet Mr. B.  We marry.  He likes him his meat and potatoes, stick to your ribs meals.  And most of all he loves meatloaf.  So, once again I go on the quest to find a recipe I can like, no, even love.  I love to read cookbooks (and yes I do make some of the recipes in them too) so one year for Christmas Mr. B got me this:

Ooo….Ahh….What wonderful food I found in this cookbook.  The chicken and dumplings are too.die.for.! The sausage, spinach & penne skillet is a wonderfully fancy week night meal.  But best yet, I found a meatloaf recipe I do so very much love.  I’d marry it if I could!  And I think the main reason why I love is, it calls for onions, finely diced and then you sauté them BEFORE you mix in with all the other ingredients!  No more raw onion meatloaf!  And the super bestest part, Mr. B says it tastes better than the meatloaf he grew up loving! 

So, without further ado, my attempt to share with you, All American Meatloaf.

All American Meatloaf (from America's Test Kitchen)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 onion, diced fine (I only used a half an onion cuz, well, you know why)

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ teaspoon dried thyme

½ cup katsup

¼ cup packed light brown sugar

4 teaspoons cider vinegar

2 large eggs

½ cup milk, plus extra if needed (I’ve never needed extra)

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons Worcestershire

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

¼ teaspoon Tabasco

1 pound lean ground beef (I usually go at least 85%)

1 pound ground pork

2/3 cup crushed saltine crackers

1/3 cup minced fresh parsley (if I remember to pick some up at the store I fresh but most of the time I forget so I will use a couple of tablespoons of dried parsley) 

Heat the oil in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds.

Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, mix together the katsup, brown sugar and vinegar.

Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, milk, mustard, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and Tabasco together.

Set the mixture aside.

Mix the ground beef ground pork, crackers, parsley, sauteed onion mixture and egg mixture until evenly blended and the mixture doesn't stick to the bowl (if the mixture sticks, add additional milk, a tablespoon at a time, until it no longer sticks).

I usually make the meatloaf up to this point then cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge for several hours to give the flavors time to marry. I then take it out and let it sit on the counter while the oven preheats.

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Turn the meat mixture onto a foil lined-baking sheet and shape into a 9 by 5-inch loaf.

Brush the loaf with half of the katsup mixture making sure to get all sides covered to.

Bake the loaf for 45 minutes. Brush the loaf with the remaining katsup mixture and continue to bake until the center of the loaf measures 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 15-20 minutes.

Let cool for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

I chose to serve with mashed potatoes and brown gravy and fresh corn on the cob.

I hope you try this recipe and let me know just how much you L.O.V.E. it, because, I guarantee you will!

I am linking with these parties
Boogieboard Cottage Masterpiece Monday
Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Tip Junkie Tip Me Tuesday
Debbiedoos Newbie Party
DIY By Design Sizzle Into Summer Party
Some What Simple Strut Your Stuff
Fireflies and Jellybeans Show Off Your Stuff Party
It's a Keeper Thursday
Designs by Gollum Foodie Friday
Ekats Kitchen Friday Potluck Recipe Hop
Simply Sweet Home Friday Favorites