15th Annual Cookie Exchange, December 5, 2009

Cookie Exchange 2009!

Yes, 18 gals and 9 dozen cookies each! It was a very sweet party!

Our annual cookie exchange has morphed over the years from being about the cookies and packaging to now bonding with friends and catching up on all the news. It was our 15 year anniversary last Thursday night, and we had a ball! The ornament exchange allowed our aggressive side of stealing and hunting to come out and play, the food table is where all the catching up unfolded, and the evening ended with the exchanging of cookies!

This year we each contributed to the P:ear cookie basket and everyone brought sweatshirts and scarves for the kids at P:ear. We are heading downtown on Monday to drop off the goodies and say hi to Beth and the gals. To learn more about P:ear and how you can help, check out their website at P:ear!

My home made treat this year was one of my classic recipes for Christmas:

Nutcracker Sweets

Melt one 12oz package of dark chocolate chips, add 3 tablespoons of cinnamon, pour over one cup oyster crackers and one cup cashews combined. Spoon on to wax paper and allow to set.

One is never enough, so makes lots!

~ MJ
Copyright 2009 MJ's Table Talk

Make and Take, November 22, 2009

November Make and Take is Sweet and Savory!

Make and Take was at Poh's this month and preparation for holiday entertaining was on the menu! Four recipes for finger foods to pop in the freezer and pop out for serving at the last minute...LOVE THAT! Poh started with a relaxing tea she served in her favorite tea set, and delicious pastries from St. Honre Bakery. We thumbed through her beautiful picture books that her girls made on MYPUBLISHER.COM. These were really a wonderful way to preserve photos from a couple of her special trips this past year.

Then we got down to the business of assembling the appetizers while Christmas music played in the back-ground. The menu: Candied Pecans, Spinach/Cheese Pinwheels, Sweet Potato Triangles with a kick, and a Brie circle with Cranberries, Almonds, and Preserves piled on before wrapping in Puff Pastry. Yummers!

Poh wrapped up the holiday Make and Take with a beautiful and delicious lunch of Mirabella Chicken, Mashed Agratin Potatoes, and Pomegranate Salad!

What a great way to kick off the holiday mood!

~ Come Gather Around The Table

~ MJ
Copyright 2009 MJ's Table Talk

Make and Take, October 17, 2009

October Make and Take Shakes It Up!

Friday was another fun and barely successful Make and Take. This gathering was at my house and the projects were Autumn Trail Mix and Homemade cards. Marci, a past member was able to join in the fun and catch us up on all she has been doing.

We started with shaking up our trail mix with candy corn to add a little color and surprise. I adapted the recipe from Martha Stewart.

Autumn Trail Mix

1 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup roasted almonds
1/4 cup dried blueberries
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup candy corn
1/2 unsweetened flake coconut
1/4 cup sunflowerseeds

Mix it all together and fill glass jars. Secure lids and decorate with fall embellishments!

We also revisited a M&T that Jean offered a few months ago on card making. We each needed new supplies and wanted to create some gift sets for the holidays. This almost didn't happen when my paper cutter decided it was finished with performing...Jean saved the day by retrieving her industrial cutter and we produced quite a little stash!









For lunch I made a traditional Peruvian dish called Carapulcra with rice and Butternut squash soup. We enjoyed pumpkin pie and caramel dipped pear and apple for dessert...yummers! My favorite little fall twist was a batch of Hot Vanilla Apple Cider. This was also an adaption from Martha Stewart.

Vanilla Apple Cider

1 Gallon fresh apple cider
2 whole nutmeg
1 vanilla bean, split and scrapped
2 tblsp of brown sugar
Bourbon is optional

Place all ingredients in pot over medium heat. Bring to boil and sift hot cider into mugs and set nuts and bean aside.

Deliciously rich and unexpected flavors!

Thanks gals for another lovely day together!

~ MJ
Copyright 2009 MJ's Table Talk

Field Trip to Tulip Farm, April 20, 2009

Tip toeing thru the tulip festival! Who said Oregon is the unhappiest state to live in?!

~ Going to the Oregon Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is an assault on the eyes. There is so much color and beauty that my mind could not wrap my eyes around it. As I walked the rows, I told Pam that if I tripped and fell, and the camera shutter clicked, the photo would be stunning for lack of something ugly to focus on. When I see such beauty I am left wondering how Oregon ever qualified for the unhappiest state. Clearly all those raindrops give us more than just gorgeous roses! Clearly they only interviewed people who had just moved here and were experiencing their first winter! Just wait until next month and they taste the berries!

Counting my blessings for living in Oregon! Does it get any better than this?

~ MJ
Copyright 2010 MJ's Table Talk