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Friday, September 30, 2011

Quit Your Stewing

I have been thinking of stew the last couple of days...today was the day I did more than think on it. The weather is such that it is time to make some of the cooler weather dishes that we enjoy.

I very seldom use a real recipe, if I do, I always alter it by omitting or adding ingredients. This time there was no recipe period.

So from these few ingredients...


Cooke in my favorite pot, made of soapstone.


To this...a delicious stew.


Pork Stew

2 large boneless pork chops, cut into spoon sized chunks
1 medium white onion, diced
4 large mushrooms
3 carrots, cut in chunks
2 stalks of celery, sliced
2 potatoes, cut into chunks
Thyme, to taste
Ground rosemary, to taste
1 container of Knorr's Homestyle chicken stock
Half a bottle of dry white wine
Water equal to the same amount of wine

Brown the pork well, add the mushrooms, celery and onions. Add the thyme, rosemary, stock, wine and water. Simmer for about 2 hours. Add the carrots and about 30 minutes before you plan to eat add the potatoes. Just before serving I thicken with flour and water.

Many years ago I learned that after you have cut the potatoes into whatever size you want them, add a little bit of vinegar to the water they are sitting in, it will keep the potatoes from becoming mushy when cooked.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

I will join Foodie Friday with Designs by Gollum and On The Menu Monday at Stone Gable.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Green With A Hint Of Blue



This week I wanted to do something with quite a bit of green, which is my favorite color. I wasn't sure if I should put another color with it or not...in the end, decided on a tiny bit of blue...so it is sort of monochromatic.

I started with a ruffled green placemat, green and blue plaid napkins and green beaded napkin rings.



The only solid green plates I own are some I found at TJMaxx a few years ago. They don't have a specific name, just a B in a shield.

To the dinner and salad plates I have added blue and white cream soup bowls. The soup bowls were an eBay purchase...$9.99 for six! They are Wood & Sons, Burslem, England Gay Day. I am not sure when they were made, but have been told the early 1900's. Unfortunately there were no underplates for the bowls...but that won't stop me from using them!


The sterling flatware is my favorite pattern, Frontenac, circa 1903-1974, made by International. It has the most beautiful lilies on the handles with intertwined vines. Most of the pieces I have are the early pieces some with monograms.


The green glassware is from thrift stores, of course.


The centerpiece bowl is also from the thrift store. It has no markings on the underside, but I think it is probably a fairly old piece of ironstone. Again this week I waffled on candlesticks...first I used white, then decided to use green...so you will see photos of both. Yes, they are thrift store finds, too. I like the table best with the green candlesticks.




Placesetting.


The pretty rims.


My green table with a touch of blue!


Thanks for visiting In The Middle Of Nowhere today, it is always appreciated. I welcome all comments, too! Hope to see you back again next week.

This week I will be joining:

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
Southern Hospitality for Thrifty Treasures
Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday
The Thrifty Groove Thrifty Things Friday
Bunny Jeans Decor and More Wednesday's Bunny Hop Party

Thank you Kim, Rhoda, Diann, Susan and Bunny Jeans for hosting.

This photo was a late addition so that you can see all the cream soup bowls and my newest white tureen found on eBay for less than $25...if you guessed Red Cliff, you would be correct!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Hayride This Week!




Fall is finally making an appearance here on the prairie...how do I know you ask...I have a nasty cold that seems to be hanging on for dear life!

This week I chose Royal Stafford Hayride for my table. I have paired it with solid red and white pieces.


I started with a black round placemat then layers...the dinner plate is large enough to use as a charger. To that I added a Homer Laughlin White Dover, ironstone dinner plate, topped with the Hayride salad/dessert plate. The final piece used is a bright red soup/salad bowl. There are no markings on the bowls.



Rim shot...a simple little red and white checked fringed napkin with the Oneida Afterglow sterling.


The glassware is Longaberger.


The centerpiece is just a basket of white mini pumpkins, a rooster and black chunky candle holders.





Thanks for visiting, hope to you will visit again next week. To enlarge any photo, just click on it.


Black placemats-Goodwill
Red/white checked napkins-Savers
Royal Stafford dinner and salad plates-TJMaxx last year
White Dover dinner plate-ARC Thrift Store
Clear Longaberger stems-Either Goodwill or Savers
Oneida Afterglow sterling
Black candle holders-Goodwill
Candles-WalMart
Rooster-have had for years

I will be joining:
It's A Very Cherry World Rednesday
Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday
Between Naps On The Porch Tablescape Thursday

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Two Years Old!

Happy Birthday to me...I started my little blog two years ago today, which also happens to be my nephew, Joel's, birthday. Happy birthday In The Middle Of Nowhere and favorite nephew!

Joel and Stacey on their wedding day a couple years ago!

I am happy to say that if it weren't for all my followers I probably would have called it quits after the first month of blogging...thank you all so much!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

From Summer To Fall

I have been wanting to do a bright cheerful table so this is my transition from summer to fall table!

I bought this never been used embroidered tablecloth with matching napkins (which I didn't use today) at the very end of fall last year from Goodwill for $1.99 and napkins 59¢ each. I have been itching to use it. The pattern has been embroidered around the edges of the tablecloth, also. I pulled the orange and turquoise, two of the brightest colors, with a little of the autumn gold for the main colors. I kept the dishes to a bare minimum with such vibrant colors...simple is so much better in this case!




I used two solid colored napkins, bright orange and turquoise with beaded napkin rings, a gift from my friend Kathleen (Cuisine Kathleen). If you have never visited her fun blog, you really should take a moment to do so.


The buttercream charger is Pottery Barn Sausalito, the orange dinner plate is Better Homes & Gardens from WalMart.


The stemware is Noritake Sweet Swirl in aqua.


The centerpiece is a beautiful tureen given to me by our friends Paul and Denise. It is cream with an orange and brown transferware pattern. There is no backstamp on the bottom, so I have no way of knowing the maker or pattern. It has colors perfect for autumn.


I couldn't decide on candles or candle holders. First I tried large chunky black candle holders with pumpkin pillars, but felt they were too heavy for the table. Next I tried glass holders with aqua tapers, didn't like that, ended up with the glass holders and pumpkin pillars.





To enlarge any picture, just click on it.

Thank you for taking the time to visit with me this week...y'all know I appreciate each visit and comment. Hope to see you again, next week.

I will be joining Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday, The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday and The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Last Roses of Summer


I was out walking around the yard the other day and noticed the rosebuds are fattening up for their last hurrah of the summer. I remembered that I had 4 J&G Meakin Tudor Rose dinner plates from back in the spring that would make a nice tablescape...probably better for Valentine's Day, but since this will probably be my last non-fall table for awhile, this is what I have chosen for this week.

To enlarge any picture, just click on it.


The center piece are roses I found at WalMart on sale...$6 for 18 roses! I bought two bouquets and used all but 9, those 9 are in a little vase by themselves. If you hit WalMart just right, you can find some unbelievable cut flower prices...so much more economic than from the local florist. I used a Haeger planter as the vase.


The damask table cloth is one I have had for ages. The napkins are plain red with a little fringe that are probably from Goodwill many years ago. I first had the napkins under the dinner plate, then changed it so I could use napkin rings, plus it brought more color onto the table. I was too lazy to polish the silver ones so I used stainless. You will see photos with the napkins both ways. The flatware, which I did polish last week, is Oneida Afterglow, circa 1956.



I am using the octagonal charger plate as a placemat. It just has that it is made in Portugal on the back and that it is microwavable.


The charger plate is Certified International.


Dinner plate is J&G Meakin Tudor Rose. I couldn't find anything to tell me when it was made.


The soup/salad bowl is American Atelier Athena.


The water glass is Anchor Hocking Wexford and the wine stem is Indiana Glass Diamond Point in ruby.


Rim shot...


Place setting.



Candlelight!






Many thanks for stopping to visit and leaving a comment.

I will be joining

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps On The Porch
Rednesday at It's A Very Cherry World
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove