Monday, February 18, 2013

A TABLESCAPE, NEW CHAIRS & SOME COOKING!


I hope all of you had a great Valentine's Day. It was just dinner at home for me and The Husband.  I think I mentioned in my last post on Thursday that I was making a pork loin roast.  I had a fantastic recipe.  After I prepped the roast with the grated zest of a lemon and about 1 tablespoon of fennel seeds, I roasted it on a bed of sliced  lemon, onion and a fennel bulb.  It was SO good!

I set the table for two (I wish my pictures had come out better, I am having trouble fixing them...something about my file format.  Anyone know what that's about?).  I used my wedding china which is simply a set The Husband found at an estate sale a few months after we got married.  It had been in this family for 70 years which makes it about 95 years old now.  I really do prize it.




These precious little heart sachets were made by .Suzan  She used to sell them.  I have a little basket filled with them.  The lavender still smells lovely!
Abby needed a few snacks to bring to school for her night class tonight.  It sounds like she's back in kindergarten, but no, this is her last year of college.  Her classes are much smaller and specialized now and the group of future teachers has narrowed down.  So, I found this recipe on Lynn's blog a few weeks ago and made it today, Buffalo Chicken Muffins.  They are just awesome.  This is Lynn's picture, too.  I highly recommend that you go to her blog and get the recipe.  These would be great to bring to a party, or to serve a group coming over to watch sports.  I did double the recipe, you will want to as well!

I hope your week is off to a great start.  I'm finally out of the kitchen (okay, I made cookies, too!) and I'm moving into the laundry room!  I'm joining two parties this week, Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday and Kathleen from Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish.  Kathleen has had a death in her family.  Please leave her a comment to let her know you are thinking of her.  See you later in the week.

51 comments:

Olive said...

Hi Jane, I love the chair and really I am afraid of the cost of having items recovered. You are a kitchen wizard. The pork loin with lemon and fennel sounds wonderful. I love lemon recipes. Have a terrific week, Olive

p.s. have you read Silver Linings Playbook? I just finished it and loved it.

NanaDiana said...

I have never been to a Whole Foods either. I know there are people that rave about the store but I have heard a couple people say that it was overwhelming.

Glad you found the chairs you wanted. I can't wait to see them and ordering them gives you time to paint and find a rug. xo Diana

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Jane,
My son and I used to go to Whole Foods in Wilmington NC. He was on this, "let's eat healthy" kick and some of their stuff was just plain awful. Pricey too.

Love that chair. You should get it.

Have a wonderful week.

hugs
Sissie

Sonia said...

Love your new chairs Jane! Those will look great for years and years and will compliment many looks. Glad you got them on sale! Whole Foods is wonderful to visit but way to pricey for me for most everyday meals! They have a wonderful selection and the salad and soup bar is wonderful! Can't wait to see your entire room put together!
Miss Bloomers

Low Tide High Style said...

I love your new chairs, they will look perfect in your living room! And what a sweet way to spend Valentine's Day...we went out with our son to Red Robin, lol! I LOVE Whole Foods, but we call it Whole Paycheck like so many others do!

Enjoy your week!

Kat

Susan Shull said...

I am always amazed at how crowded any Whole Foods store was that I have ever visited. The closest is about 2 hours from us. How can the young people going up and down the aisles justify the prices? I know I can't!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

That chair is going to be just perfect! I know what you mean about Whole Foods. It is a little overwhelming.

Lynn said...

So glad you found the chairs you wanted Jane and it looks like you had a very nice Valentine's Day! Thanks so much for the shout-out:@)

Unknown said...

The chairs will be lovely. Love the style. Looks very comfy. Can't wait to see your makeover. Have a great week!

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Love your new chairs Jane! We LOVE buffalo wings so I'm definitely trying out this recipe, they look so good!! Have a super week:)

Anonymous said...

know what you mean about Whole Foods but it is fun to go there every once in a while. I love to see the cheeses and desserts. I had to go there once for an ingredient in one of Barefoot Contessa's recipes that I could find no where else. It was worth it but something I would only fix maybe once a year. Off to check out that recipe. Sounds yummy

Anonymous said...

I love your new chairs Jane!! I love the style. We have a whole foods about an hour away from my house.I don't get there that often, but once in awhile i like to stop in. Have a great night.

Kathy

Beth said...

Jane, Your wedding china is really beautiful! I like the little heart too. Sounds like you had a nice Valentine's Day. I've been to Whole Foods once. On the plus side: they have lots of organic produce. On the minus side: the location is not convenient for me, and the prices are high. I enjoyed visiting and seeing what they were all about, though. Have a great week!
Blessings, Beth

Debby said...

I found Whole Foods confusing and expensive but it sure looked healthy. I coud only find a small area that was gluten free. I like your tablescape for your special dinner.Doesn't it make you feel good that your husband appreciated it.
Have a goood week. I am headed to Colorado on Wed. to see my little ones. So excited.

wendy said...

Way to score on the chairs.
Your valentine table looked lovely.

Desire Empire said...

That pork sounds so lovely. I've never cooked with fennel only the seed so I should try it. Buffalo wing muffins sound very interesting to. Glad you got the chairs you were after.

Carolyn

Sarah said...

Your valentine table is sweet. I like the addition of the photos and the china is really pretty. As for Whole Foods, well, it started here in Austin, so we've shopped it since its humble beginnings. Their flagship store is here, but we don't shop it like we used to. It does have a great cookie bar! '-)

Something Nice and Pretty said...

I've never been to Whole Foods either but I've heard they are expensive so I'd more and likely just look around and buy Stush cookies:0
I love your china, how special it is to both of you!
Love your chair too!

bj said...

ooo, I love love love your new chairs...they are going to be knockouts with your pretty sofa.
Can't wait to try those muffins...
Never heard of Whole Foods...but dog food in the meat freezer kinda turned me off...:))
hugs, bj

Anonymous said...

Hi Janie! Congrats on finding the perfect chairs. So nice. I've been in a Whole Foods and you put the hammer on the snail - Trader Joe's on steroids! :)
Must be some kind of fancy dog food.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Melanie said...

Your Valentine's Day tablescape was gorgeous. I don't do fancy tablescapes here because my cats tend to jump on the table to investigate. Love the chair you have picked out - very classy lines. Couldn't find the muffin recipe. The link brought me to the blog, but then where in the blog is the recipe? I went through the entire first page.

Deserae said...

Your Valentine table looks so beautiful....love your china!!! New chairs....how exciting!!! I can't wait to see them in your living room I just know they are going to be sooooo fabulous :o)
~Des

Pondside said...

The chair looks very nice!
I'm trying to get my head around Buffalo wings muffins - weird buy I'll bet they're yummy.

Shabby Brocante, Karen said...

Your table was so romantic and intimate. I love the idea of using your wedding china for Valentine's Day...of course! So sweet. I love the chairs you picked out. Looking forward to the reveal!! Those buffalo muffin snacks thingy-dos look amazing. I want one now! I'll go check out the recipe! Thanks!
Karen

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Jane,
I really do love those chairs! Such a nice shape and the color, love the softness.
Your table is just gorgeous! I love the centerpiece, Al must have really loved it!
Big Hugs friend,
Cindy

Maria Elena said...

Ji, Jane! Sounds like you had a wonderful day. Love, love the new chairs! They are going to looks so pretty in your home. I never shop at Whole Foods. It sure is a different shopping experience. Have a great week!

Theresa said...

Love the romantic Valentine's Day night:) We stayed in also! Can't wait to look up that recipe! They look sooooo yummy! Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful dinner, Jane! That is a nice looking chair and glad that it worked out to be less than reupholstery/slipcovers. I've never been in a Whole Foods either although I do have a healthy grocery store not far away. I only go in there for my gluten free food though. It also doesn't carry brands that you are used to in a regular grocery store.

Lori E said...

That pork roast sounds delicious. I love fennel. Last time I made my meatball recipe I thought it could have been better and now I realize I forgot to put in my fennel seeds. They make a huge difference.
I think I would need a whole afternoon to shop in Whole Foods. We don't have them here.

Sunflowers With Smiles said...

Hi Jane,

So glad to hear that you found your chairs! Sounds like you have been busy cooking in your kitchen!

I have only been in Whole Foods a couple of times and found it very expensive but nice.

Have a wonderful week!

Charlene said...

WOW that grocery looks amazing! I loose my mind in places like that & buy all kinds of stuff I shouldn't. HUGS!
Charlene

Stan and Jody Gabara said...

Jane, I love your Valentine's tablescape! So pretty! I can't wait to see the chairs in your beautiful home. Thanks so much for sharing this cute post at Simple & Sweet Fridays. Have a wonderful week!


Jody

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Blondie, the chair looks so comfy! I love all your fun musings! Your food looks scrumptious!

Elaine said...

Wow, how nice to have a man who notices the little details. Definitely a keeper! Great idea putting family pictures as a centerpiece.

Sounds like you had a nice day and evening.

Maggie said...

Mornin' Jane,
here I am for our weekly coffee clatch.
Your Valentines dinner sounds wonderful. Whole Foods looks amazing, a bit like the Fresh Market where I love to shop on Hilton Head.
Will go look for the recipe for the muffins they look divine!
Oh & I love the chairs, too.
bisous
Maggie

Debbiedoos said...

We adore whole foods, what a great place.Love pork loin too, and the fennel is a great touch.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Yay for new chairs on sale. Sounds like you had mice, quiet Valentine's Day. I've never been to a Whole Foods or even a Trader Joe's. Our grocery stores here always put products in the weirdest places. They bring in American products that the stockers don't really recognize and then they don't know what area it should go in. Pretty funny sometimes. Hope you are having a good week. Tammy

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh wow, your new chairs are fabulous, loe them. I love Whole Foods too. Thanks tons for joining TTT. Hugs, marty

Sue said...

You finally got into a Whole Foods! It is a planet I could easily live on...if I had a bit more money to spend on groceries all the time. The coffee there is great, I love the bakery and I often buy fresh fish when I'm at the one in St. Louis. The prepared foods are also really good and the cheeses...yum. Okay, now I'm starving. I haven't bought frozen food there because I have too far to drive home, but I love just walking through the produce section!

I love the shape of the chair. I'm glad you found something that makes you happy. I can't wait to see the final results.

Have a great day...winter is returning if the weather guy has it right!

Knitty said...

Your dishes are so beautiful!

I find it reassuring to know that I am not the only one who doesn't routinely shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joes. I'm not putting the stores down or the shoppers who love them, they just aren't for me.

podso said...

I look forward to seeing your new chairs! The buffalo biscuits look so inviting. I just may have to try them. And your valentine dinner looks/sounds lovely.

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
I's been a long time on your beautiful blog. I also go to a Whole Foods in town great food. I hope you are doing well and your family. Im posting on my blog again been off for some time.
XXOO Diane

Tricia said...

I wish there was a Whole Foods closer to me, I'd love to shop there...I try to buy as much organic produce as I can.

Glad you figured out your furniture situation. Those chairs look great!

Balisha said...

It's nice to see that someone still loves to make a special meal more special by doing a lovely tablescape.

I love the new chair. I've had pieces reupholstered and it does cost an arm and a leg.Many times more than a new piece of furniture. I'll be waiting for pictures when your room is finished.
Balisha

Lynne said...

I am lucky that the nearest Whole Foods twenty five miles away.

The pastry chef that taught out Macaron class is the bakery buyer for the two Whole Foods locations in the greater Seattle area. The good news is that they are bustling, growing and creating jobs in our slow economy!

Jane! You set the most perfect Valentines Day table.

I LOVE your new chairs! They are the perfect investment for a transitioning style. You are quite blessed to have your own personal decorator! :)
~Lynne
w/L.

Lynne said...

OoopS! "our"...sorry about the typo!
w/L.

RURAL said...

Oh I totally love the chair...they are going to be so perfect in your room.

We might have a Whole Foods in Vancouver...6 hours away, but we occasionally go to another store that is similar in Kelowna...only 1.5 hrs away..

It's like stepping into a perfect world of OZ...stunning. Wish they would let me use my camera.

Jen

Marigene said...

Nice romantic table...and the menu sounds delicious...pork roasts are a favorite in our house.
I love going into Whole Foods, but find some of the prices ridiculous...they do have a decent selection of cheeses, though.
I like your new chairs...waiting to see your new living room!

Designing Domesticity said...

Love those chairs. Can't wait to see it all come together! Thanks for sharing, liz

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Sweet Posy Dreams said...

You've been busy while I've been out of the loop. Can't wait to see the chairs in your living room.

I like Whole Foods, but, you're right, I like it for picking up special things more so than regular groceries.