Easter Table Setting Idea

Easter- Hop To It Tablescape Spring is here and one of the first celebrations of spring is Easter. At TableAmbiance.com we have create a bright and fun Easter table setting for guests of all ages to enjoy. All the icons of Easter are represented on this table. As you already know, TableAmbiance.com is known for their ability to think outside the box, you know by taking one items and using it in a variety of different ways. Well, that is still true on this Easter table setting. The ceramic eggs are perfect as a party favor and place card for each guests. The adorable pair of rabbits can be used next year as part of your spring home decor, and the colorful and bright place mats can be used throughout the spring and summer for any occasion. Stay tuned to our blog each day to see our numerous Easter ideas from games for kids of all ages and easy recipe and menu ideas.

To view all of our items for Springtime and Easter Table Setting, visit us at www.tableambiance.com.

Welcome the First Day of Spring

“Spring is nature’s way of saying – Let’s Party”

– Robin Williams

We can’t agree more! At Table Ambiance, it is always about a party, and now you have a perfect excuse to have a ‘Spring Fling’ or ‘Bring on Spring’ party.
Along with the light and bright colors of spring, your menu should be the same, keep it light and fresh. Your menu should include dishes such as a variety of salads, rice dishes with fish or chicken. If the day or evening permits set your table up outside so nature’s sounds can create the audio ambiance of our Spring party. Set your table with tablecloths, placemats and napkins that reflect lots of bright colors. Choose flowers that bloom bright with the welcoming of spring. Daffodils are wonderful for their color and cost. You can purchase them relatively cheap (shop Trader Joe’s) and display them in a variety different shaped vases throughout your table along with small votives candles to create the ultimate ambiance (TIP: To preserve the life of daffodils, cut the stem of your daffodils a bit and hold a lit candle to the bottom on the stem to seal the sap. The best way to buy your daffodils is with almost closed buds; because once they have opened they have a fairly short lifespan). Another spring tablescape idea is to have the symbols of spring displayed on your table. The birds, nests, gardening, and colorful flowers are all associated with Spring. Visit TableAmbiance.com for spring table setting ideas and elements to set your Spring themed table.

Entertaining On a Budget

How to Make Cheap, Fast Dinners Look Expensive

By Kristie Leong MD


Cheap, fast dinners don't have to look and taste that way. Here's how to turn them into feasts for the eyes and the taste buds.
If you don’t have the time to cook a restaurant quality meal in the evening, you’re not alone. Many busy Americans struggle to get dinner on the table and frequently resort to bringing home fast food or take-out options. Even if you only have time to prepare a fast, cheap dinner, you can still make it special by adding a few special touches that’ll make your family think you spent a great deal of time in the kitchen. Here’s how to make quick, cheap dinners that look expensive.

Bring out the Nice Dinnerware
Instead of serving a fast, cheap dinner on ugly ceramic plates, or even worse paper plates, bring out your nicest dinnerware. Food always tastes better when it’s served from attractive bowls and plates. Some people make the mistake of storing away their best dinnerware and china for a future “special occasion”. An occasion that’s special enough never seems to arise and that beautiful china ends up being unused. Isn’t every dinner you share with your family special?

Add a Garnish
Even cheap, fast dinners take on new flavor when a garnish is added to the plate. Use sprigs of fresh herbs to add a touch of color or add fresh fruit slices to your presentation. Invest in a zester so you can quickly create lemon and orange zest to add color, texture and flavor to simple dinner. Use an ice cream scoop to create luscious melon balls. If you want a more elaborate presentation, create simple flowers out of raw vegetables. There are a variety of books that will show you how to do this. This is a great technique to use when you’re entertaining on a budget. No one will ever suspect you paid so little for the food when the presentation is so detailed.

Serve it by Candlelight
Nothing adds more ambience to cheap, fast dinners than serving them by candlelight. Before serving dinner, dim the lights and bring out your prettiest candles. Not only will dinner be more pleasant, you’ll be saving on electricity too.

Add Some Background Music
Soft, new age music playing in the background adds a special atmosphere to even the most inexpensive meal. The harmonious sounds of music have the added benefit of relaxing the body and helping to improve digestion. When you serve dinner to the melodious tones of Kenny G or John Tesh, your family will think they’re eating in a five star restaurant.

Drizzle on the Sauces
When you apply sauce to an entrée or side dish, don’t just pour it on. Put it into a squeeze bottle and drizzle it over the food by moving the bottle back and forth to create a pattern. Many fine restaurants use this technique to give food an elegant, artistic flair. This is a simple way to serve your next meal “chef style”.

Even though you may not have the time or money to prepare an expensive dinner at home with a little imagination quick, cheap dinners can still be memorable. Why not give these ideas a try?

This article came from: http://www.gomestic.com/Entertaining/How-to-Make-Cheap-Fast-Dinners-Look-Expensive.558969

Stay tuned for more entertaining on a budget ideas. Also, Table Ambiance has incredible table elements on sale now that will add a bit of ambiance to your table.

Corn Beef Left Overs

Even though St. Patrick's Day isn't until tomorrow the festivities started this past weekend! If you are one of those who hosted a party and have left over corn beef, we have a great corn beef hash recipe for you. If you are about to cook a brisket tomorrow, save some left overs to try this recipe, it is one of our favorites.

Corned Beef Hash
2 lbs cold corned beef, chopped fairly fine
4 - 6 cold boiled potatoes, chopped coarsely
1 med. onion, finely chopped
freshly ground pepper
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Butter (1/4 cup)or beef dripping
1/2 heavy cream (optional)

Combine potatoes, meat and onions add pepper and nutmeg (hash). Blend well, allow to rest in refrigerator several hours or overnight. Put butter in a pan just enough to cover bottom, add hash. When hash begins to develop a crust on the bottom, turn with spatula. Add cream (a little at a time) if you don't add cream cook longer to form another bottom crust.
Enjoy!!

Ever Wonder Why We Wear Green?

We found this article on the internet about how shamrocks and wearing green on St. Patrick's Day came to be:

The Story of the Shamrock & The Wearing of the Green
The Shamrock (traditional spelling: seamróg, meaning summer plant) is a three-leafed clover that grows in Ireland. A common image in Celtic artwork, the shamrock is found on Irish medieval tombs and on old copper coins, known as St. Patrick's money. The plant is also reputed to have mystic, even prophetic powers-- for instance the leaves are said to stand upright to warn of an approaching storm.
Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock in the fifth century to symbolize the divine nature of the trinity when he introduced Christianity to Ireland.
The seamróg is a big part of Irish history, as the Shamrock was used as an emblem by the Irish Volunteers in the era of Grattan's Parliament in the 1770's, The Act of Union. When it became an emblem of rebellion in the 19th century, Queen Victoria made wearing a seamrog by member's of her regiments punishable by death by hanging. It was during this dark time that the phrase "the Wearing of the Green" began. Today the seamróg joins the English Rose and the Scottish Thistle on the British flag and is an integral part of Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.
"The Wearing of the Green" also symbolizes the birth of springtime. Irish legend states that green clothes attract faeries and aid crops.
This article came from: Fabulousliving.com (How to get a life)

Get into the Spirits on St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day Ideas:
Here is a unique green cocktail alternative to serving green beer at your St. Patrick’s Day Party from Korbel California Champagne

Irish Kiss

4 oz Korbel California Brut Champagne
1 oz. Midori Melon Liqueur

Serve with green sugar-rimmed champagne flute.

To make sugar rim: simply add two drops of green food coloring to 1/2 cup of sugar and mix well. Rub glass rim with lime and dip in your green sugar mixture.

photo from Korbel Champagne

Put a Little Luck on Your Table

Put a little luck on your table for St. Patrick’s Day – Four Leaf Clover Napkin

Have a hot iron ready for pressing:
• Place a square green napkin on a flat surface fully open. Fold over the top two corner so they meet in the middle.

• Do the same with the bottom two corners so the napkin in a diamond shape

• Take all four points of the diamond and have them meet in the middle to make a square. Carefully flip the square over tow reveal a smooth side of a square.

• Bring all four corners of the square to the middle and make sure the shape facing you is a square. Press with iron.

• With one hand holding the center with the four points, use your other hand to reach behind each corner and partially unfold the fabric underneath so that each corner now has two layers. Carefully pull the point of each corner’s lower layer just until the upper one pops up.

• Fold the lower layer under each corner about 1 inch towards the middle of the napkin. Carefully pull the upper layer’s folds open forwards the four corners while making sure to keep all the center folds in place. Steam or press very gently.