Welcome and Merry Christmas! If you have been following my posts, I recently published an article, Simply Fruit and Greenery Tablescape, which included The Little Yellow Corner Store's participation in the Thanksgiving Blog Hop 2023 with other very talented table designers. If you happened to miss it, here is the link: Simply Fruit and Greenery Tablescape.
As I had promised in the blog hop post that I would share with you the making of an easy transformation of the Thanksgiving tablescape, Simply Fruit and Greenery Tablescape, into one suitable for Christmas, thus saving time and money. Therefore, I was able to achieve just that in various ways and I am including the results in this article.
So let's begin with The Little Yellow Corner Store's table which displays the transition from one holiday to another in a quick and easy way. The first addition to the table that helps to change it into one with a Christmas theme was to include my set of four cardinal "Peace" salad plates. These vibrant plates with large bright red cardinals immediately changed the tablescape substantially. The plates were "meant to be" in this design, in my opinion, don't you think?
The exchange of red, green and gold ornaments for the red rose floating candles conveys that the Christmas holiday has arrived and the house is decorated with items which bring happiness and joy to all.
The subtle detail of a cardinal ornament to the place setting, adds to the festive holiday mood. I love the little red mushroom included on the branch with the cardinal.
Gift wrapped mini boxes of chocolates for each guest which rests in each dessert cup is a sweet little take home gift. It's shiny red and green plaid pattern enhances the red and green theme throughout the table.
Now as an introduction to the Christmas dinner celebrations, we begin with a flavorful and healthy appetizer, Baba Ganoush. Made with plenty of garlic and roasted eggplant, lemon, olive oil, tahini paste and spices, this appetizer is certainly a crowd pleaser and is a zesty start of more good things to come.
Baba Ganoush Dip
2 medium eggplants, cut in half lengthwise and rubbed with 2 T olive oil
2 cloves of minced garlic
2 T (additional) olive oil for drizzling over finished dip
juice of half of freshly squeezed lemon about 2 T
1/4 C Tahini paste
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
pinch of red pepper flakes
Bake cut and oiled eggplant pieces on parchment paper in a 400 degree F oven for approximately 50 minutes (depending on the size of the eggplant).
While eggplant is baking, mix together cloves of garlic, lemon juice, tahini, salt and red pepper flakes.
When eggplant is tender and slightly browned and cooled to handle, scoop out contents of the eggplant onto a strainer and discard the skin. Allow the eggplant to release its liquid (about 20 minutes). Mash the egg plant a bit to help release its liquid so that it does not cause the baba ganoush to be watery.
When the eggplant has released the liquid. mix the mashed eggplant into the other ingredients and blend with hand mixer until creamy and smooth. Transfer to a decorative serving dish and top with a drizzle of olive oil and freshly chopped parsley. Serve with pita or pieces of naan bread.
As I had planned, this cardinal theme was carried over to the great room mantel to be enjoyed with coffee and dessert in front of a rip-roaring fire.
The large windows with plenty of sunlight make it difficult to take a picture, but the mantel is a simple one. It includes a large print of two cardinals, a garland of greenery and grapevine stars with white lights, red berry picks, white snowflakes, faux wrapped gifts, two crystal candleholders with red tapers, and pine needle rings and, of course, three lovely cardinal figurines that were once my sister's tucked in between the branches.
Definitely, it has been a less stressful compilation of Christmas decorating using a tablescape which started with Thanksgiving. With additional Christmas pieces, it transformed so well into a cardinal theme tablescape and became a theme used throughout the house.
The Little Yellow Corner Store wishes you all a very Merry Christmas!
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