Gingerbread in the Kitchen

Last year I loved my Santa in France theme at Christmas. I thought it went so well with the colors in my kitchen, relaxing room, and dining room. Well, this year, I changed things up a bit. Today, I'm featuring part of the kitchen area...all decked out in red gingham, dots, and gingerbread motif.

I'm modeling the latest addition to my "Prissy Apron Collection" ...it's from HomeGoods.

The kitchen table is set with a red and white theme.
A tabletop tree is the centerpiece...decorated with red and white gingham ribbon, red dot ornaments, and gingerbread ornaments.

The placesetting...these red plates are from SteinMart, purchased many years ago. Of course, I decided to use my red gingham napkins and red gingham fabric for the tree base.
The mini gingerbread people are hot glued onto the white flatware.

Dot glass goblets for my signature beverage...Cranberry Ginger Fizz--1/2 Cranberry Juice & 1/2 Ginger Ale. Fresh cranberries and mint leaves garnish the beverage and red dot paper straws coordinate with the setting.
I used a few "Prissy Plates" with this setting. "Prissy Plates" are the perfect serving pieces for the Southern hostess...we love ribbons and bows and these can be dressed up and changed for any occasion.

This small "Prissy Plate", adorned with red gingham ribbon was just the right size for the Cranberry-Apple Brie.
The sideboard was set up for desserts...
More dots and gingham on a wreath for the mirror...
The Advent Tree...and a little gingerbread house.
Another "Prissy Plate" adorned with more red gingham ribbon for the Red Velvet Cake. It just wouldn't be a Southern Christmas at my house without a Red Velvet Cake!
Tiny red gingham ribbon adorns this "Prissy Plate" server...and Gingerbread Cupcakes*.
The cupcakes were topped with cream cheese icing and mini gingerbread cookies and wrapped with gingerbread-motif cupcake wrappers.
The hutch is filled with red dishes and gingerbread-motif goblets.

A cute gingerbread house from The Fresh Market sits on top of another "Prissy Plate".
Gingerbread Chef Santa! {I found him at The Cracker Barrel}
The red dinner plates are from 'The Country Living' collection at KMart. The gingerbread salt and pepper shakers are from Fitz and Floyd. The gingerbread goblets are from Dillard's many years ago.

*RECIPE FOR GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES:
{Recipe source--Betty Crocker}

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
3/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place your paper baking cups in each regular size muffin cup. In a large bowl, beat the granulated sugar, 1/2 cup butter, the molasses and eggs with an electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with a spoon. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, the allspice, and water. Spoon about 1/4 cup batter into each muffin cup. Bake 15-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes and remove from pan to cooling racks. Cool completely about 20 minutes.

I used the Betty Crocker cream cheese frosting from the *GASP* can!

I'm off today to visit my best friend Teresa Jane in Augusta, then on to my Mama's house for a visit. I'll have more "Gingerbread in the Kitchen" loot when I return!