Gingerbread in the Kitchen, Part 2

Back in the kitchen y'all...The other day I fixed Gingerbread Pancakes and served milk and Candy Cane Green tea for breakfast. I used a red wooden tray from my "Serving Tray Collection" and wore a cute little gingerbread apron, the latest addition to "Prissy Apron Collection" designed just for me by Hickory Creek Crafts.

I was happy that Brenda at Hickory Creek could make me a gingerbread apron with red gingham, peppermint, and polka dots to match my kitchen theme...ala Sandra Lee-style!

My assistant Gingerbread Chef assisted me...

The kitchen island is decorated with all kinds of cute gingerbread loot and another tabletop tree...
The cute little tree topper is from The Cracker Barrel...
Red gingham ribbon and cute little gingerbread-motif ornaments and garland adorn this tree...

I've had this sweet little gingerbread girl for years. Mama got her at Dillard's and sent her to me when I lived in Palm Springs...

More gingerbread loot...
Tea towel...
Gingerbread cookies and a stand, which I purchased at The Cracker Barrel years ago...
My breakfast bar is set...
The red and white plates were purchased at The Cracker Barrel several years ago. I found the goblets and placemats at Walmart last month. The tiny gingerbread ornaments are hot-glued onto the white flatware.

I used this delicious Gingerbread Pancake Mix from The Fresh Market.
Easy, delicious, and perfect to enjoy during the Christmas season!
Thanks for stopping by to visit with me today. I'll be back before Christmas tree to show some more of my Christmas decos!

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!

Holiday Cookie Exchange and Luncheon Tablescape

While I'm away, I wanted to re-post one of my very favorite tablescapes ever! It's the "Holiday Cookie Exchange!" I love all the gingerbread stuff soooo much and it looks even cuter in my cottage kitchen at "The Roost."

Here's the post from last Christmas...

What a fun way to entertain and make it easy for your guests to have delicious homemade cookies for the holidays. Organize a group of your friends and ask each guest to bring their favorite gingerbread goodies (a dozen goodies for each guest, plus a few for the party sampling). Guests should also bring a recipe card for their baked item (one for each guest). In addition to a sampling of the goodies, offer a light lunch and serve plated-style from the kitchen counter. Set up a seperate table just for the baked treats. Since the focus of the day is on baked holiday goodies, you can keep the meal light and easy.

Gingerbread man party invitation and recipe cards

Holiday Cookie Exchange & Luncheon Tablescape

Gingerbread all around the place setting...

Miss Gretel takes the center stage and plays "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"!

Gingerbread people adorn the napkin rings and the flatware...

Cute little gingerbread mugs with hot gingerbread tea & festive gingerbread candles

Cute gingerbread goblets with red gingham bows for the Peppermint Punch*

The gingerbread tree is a nice centerpiece for the cookie station...

Gingerbread cookies wrapped and ready to go...

Cookies ready to sample...

Here's a way to wrap the cookies to go--Get red paper plates and white paper plates. Cut the white plate to a slightly smaller size with pinking shears. Layer the white plate on top of the red plate and wrap with clear cello, a red gingham ribbon and label...voila...holiday cookies to go!

You may also use a trusty take-out box, decorated with a gingerbread ornament and red gingham ribbon.

Be sure to include all the recipe cards with your packages...

The peppermint punch is my "signature beverage" served for this luncheon. It's a delicious drink and very festive for a holiday event!

*Recipe for Peppermint Punch
1 quart egg nog
1/2 pint whipping cream
1 1-liter bottle club soda, chilled
1/2 gallon peppermint ice cream, softened
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Crushed peppermints

Blend the egg nog, whipping cream, club soda, and nutmeg. Add the peppermint ice cream and stir. Garnish with crushed peppermints and serve immediately. (You can use vanilla ice cream and mix it with crushed peppermints instead of peppermint ice cream). Yum, yum!

Thank you for visiting with me today.