Saturday, September 27, 2008

Autumn Recipe and Tablescape Exchange

Heidi of Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly has put together an idea exchange to celebrate the beginning of fall (the best season of them all!). Head over to her round-up to check out more Autumn themed tablescapes and recipes contributed by some great bloggers.

This is my first Autumn tablescape! I just got excited about DIY nesting this year and the wonderful ladies in blogland have inspired me to make some beauty happen every day using things I already have or things I can get on the cheap, so I'm learning slowly, but surely.

My ode to Autumn is very simple (so simple, in fact, that I forgot to put out glasses...). I've had the feather wreath, napkins, cream pillar candles and jewel tone fruit for a couple years. More recently the candle holder and orange pillar candle came from Pier 1 (half price of course!) and the little pumpkin candles came from Cracker Barrel.



Look at the detail on these plates; love these.


And here's my little secret about them; can you believe that price??



What is a table without something delicious in front of you? This perfect-for-fall recipe is from Epicurious, and it is indeed delicious: Butternut Squash, Rosemary and Bleu Cheese Risotto.
Last fall I finally made up my mind to try my hand at making risotto. I'd never eaten it but had heard such good things about it and had to try making it myself. I live in a bit of a rural area and arborio rice was nowhere to be found so a brief internet search assured me basmati rice would be a reasonable substitute. It turned out wonderfully! It even made delicious leftovers.
My changes:
--used Basmati instead of arborio rice
--referred to Betty Crocker's trusty veggie cooking chart and microwaved the butternut squash to soften it up before chopping. Have you tried to cut one of those things raw? It's way hard and a hazard to my fingers' health.
--didn't use the whipping cream in order to cut down on a couple calories

Pulled out all the stops and made the roasted pear and walnut salad Epicurious suggests to go along. Verdict: easy and yummy.

If you were here right now I would serve you a big bowl of risotto at my Ode to Autumn table. Enjoy!

9 comments:

Patti said...

Your tablescape is so pretty- very elegant! I absolutely love the pumpkin plates...what a deal you got! Risotto is one of my favorite things, so I am looking forward to trying out your recipe. Thanks for sharing...Happy Fall

imjacobsmom said...

Pretty tablescape -even without the glasses. I wonder if my K-mart has those plates left? Did you get them this year? ~ Robyn

Jenny said...

Beautiful tablescape!! I love the 2.00 plates! That is my kind of shopping! Also, thank you for the sweet comment on my Flying Pigs! OF course you can link to my post! I would love it. I have met so many cool people through blogging, thank you!!

Heidi said...

Hi Kimberly, What an incredibly lovely Autumn table!!!...I love your feather centerpiece!!!...And I am exactly like you were!...I have always wanted to, but have never tried "risotto"! You have inspired me! I will definitely be using your recipe! It looks so delicious!....Thank you so very much for joining me in this "exchange" of mine!...Enjoy your week!...Heidi XO

Heidi said...

Hi Kimberly, I know how you feel!...it wasn't that long ago that I too was new at all this too!...From day one I wanted my blog to be a day to day account of my everyday "going-ons" & for some reason it has struck a cord with other ladies as well! I just love the friends I never would have known if it weren't for blogging!...I am so happy to have met you! I seem to be somewhat of an "organizer",...so please know I would love to have you join me in my upcoming activities!....On Wednesday I will be announcing my "Very Vintage Christmas Swap"!...I was slow to participate in swaps, but oh! how fun they are! & you meet some of the lovliest ladies!...Also my daughter Holly @ mommyholly.blogspot.com is hosting a Christmas Swap as well! I know she would love to get to know you as well!.....Off to the sewing room!...I am knee-deep in designing a nursery for a friend's new baby & have just a few more tasks to finish before I put it all together on Thursday! Am so looking forward to getting to know you!......Enjoy your day!...heidi XO

Prudy said...

I love your food, but that table just takes the cake-especially since you got such a great deal!

Christian said...

I love this table! At Thanksgiving each year our church has ladies sign up to decorate a table for our Thanksgiving banquet, and if you don't mind, I really want to use some of these elements?!

Kimberly said...

Christian--Oh man, how flattered would I be!! Definitely use any elements you'd like and please take a picture or two and post or send them to me so I can see how it turns out. You made my day!

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

Are those feathers? I love that centerpiece!!