It has been a while since I was able to participate in the Sunday Supper weekly posting but when Isabel, The Family Foodie, reached out and asked if I would be interested in adding a tablescape portion to the weekly blog posting, I was thrilled. {For those of you unfamiliar with the term; Tablescape, it is a word used to describe “the artistic arrangement of articles on a table”. It may be plates, napkins, flowers or other decor. It can relate to a table where food will be served or to an arrangement of items on a side table in a living room with out food.} It may not work for every topic but when it does we will try to bring a fresh idea and look to the Sunday Supper table. Tables may be a buffet, a children’s birthday party, or some, like today, are a private table to celebrate an Anniversary of a special couple.
This tablescape was designed to be a special breakfast for two {My Grandparents} but could be used for a desert table for the a large family get together, or Valentines Day celebration. As with cooking & baking, by first learning the proper way to set the table you can then play with moving items around to create the look you are going for.
Placing a photo of the couple in an aged silver frame on the table is an immediate reminder of why you are here and celebrates the love of a happy couple of many years. Metallic votives mirror the frame and give the table a classy festive touch.
Use cakestands to raise the cheesecake and bowl of strawberries off the lower table surface. This creates not only the effect of showcasing these items but also allows for additional space on the table for oversized plates. Clear flutes filled with Proseco keep the look clean and allow the bubbles to be the star. The “OFF DUTY” section of the morning paper again reminds you to slow down and enjoy this celebration.
Use oversized dinner plates as chargers, then place a smaller decorative salad plate on top to be used as the service plate. I love this chair plate and am feeling that a Chair theme table will be coming soon…. A dark brown linen tablecloth adds richness to the color scheme and allows the white plates and red strawberries to be the pop of color. Crisp tan linen napkins topped with polished silverware add additional layers of texture.
CHEESECAKE WITH FRESH STRAWBERRIES
Recipe adapted from Cristina Ferrare & The Messy Baker
INGREDIENTS:
GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
- 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup pecans
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
FILLING
- 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tsp. lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
TOPPING
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, halved and arranged on top of the cake
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
To make the crust: In the bowl of a food processor, add 1 cup of pecans. Pulse the pecans until they become a fine crumb. In a medium-size bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, pecan crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and butter until moistened. Using the bottom of a glass, press the crumbs into the bottom of a 10-inch by 3-inch springform pan. Bake for 15 minutes, and cool completely.
To make the filling: In a mixer using the paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese for two minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add 1 cup of sugar in an even stream, and mix for 2 more minutes, until light and fluffy, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition to incorporate thoroughly, and scrape down the sides of the bowl each time. Add the of sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla. Process until well blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Pour the filling into the cooled crust, and spread evenly in the pan. Lift the pan and tap it on the counter several times to release any bubbles in the batter. Bake for 1 hour, or until the top is set. If it wiggles slightly, that’s okay. Do not overbake.
Cool the cake completely in the pan overnight. On the next day, release the springform pan from the cake. Arrange the halved strawberries attractively on top of the cake. Heat 1/4 cup of strawberry jam in the microwave for about 40 seconds. Using a pastry brush, brush the strawberries with the jam to give it a sweet, shiny coating. Slice and serve. Enjoy!
We are celebrating this week’s birthday event by choosing recipes from contributors that have inspired us in the past year. Boy was this a tough week… how do you choose just one recipe from 52 weeks of fabulous Sunday Supper Recipes?
Sunday Supper Appetizers:
Sunday Supper Soups and Breads:
Sunday Supper Main Dishes:
Sunday Supper Veggies:
SundaySupper Desserts and Snacks:
Sunday Supper Breakfast Faves:
Sunday Supper Wine Pairings by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
An exciting to announce a New Addition: Tablescape by An Appealing Plan, Anniversay Dinner featuring Cheesecake with Fresh Berries orginally posted by The Messy Baker Blog
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat.
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