SPRING LUNCH FOR SPRING SATURDAY

Linking to PINK SATURDAY.


Instead of our Easter Lunch this Sunday, we had our Spring Lunch last weekend, because of DDIL's family's big gathering at her Grandmother's house this weekend.     There were six of us at table, one of whom enjoyed her lunch from the Princess plate.   The lunch plates are called "chop plates" and I love all their beautiful pastels on a Spring Table; goblets are pink Fostoria, and candle-ring of silk posies was made by Caro   This was such a casual thing, I forgot to get out "real" silver, and we just scooped some knives and forks from the everyday drawer.   

We started with a bowl of grape tomatoes and pink salt:

Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly:

Paminna-less cheese, because I forgot we didn't have any---both spreads served with crackers:

 Chris' morning-grilled ham, in the smoke for about five hours, was sampled repeatedly as he carved---Sweetpea made at least ten dancing trips into the kitchen for a tiny flick of it before we sat down.

Devilled eggs and pickled beets with cocktail onions---I love the little pale lilac pearls. 

A tart Dijon-vinaigrette salad with thin sweet onion and Mandarins:

My Mother's table had Cheese and Macaroni on every holiday---this one is Penne with Four Cheeses:

Bright steamed Broccoli, a refreshing note amongst the other rich fare:

Sweet potato casserole with two toppings: one side Streusel with brown sugar and pecans, and the other half with marshmallows the size of Princess Diana’s weddin' sleeves.    Those big ole things are like flat-sided baseballs, and except for putting them on a casserole or on a stick at a weenie roast---well, they’re just a conversation piece.    I don’t think you could actually EAT one.  It would be like that old dream joke:   I woke up and my pillow was gone.

Plain little carrots, slender and elegant in their own right:

Yeast-Riz Rolls:

The Buffet---we also had some cooked-low snap beans in place of the usual asparagus (which we had last night, roasted with grape tomatoes, olive oil and Parmesan---a treat on a cold night).   That's my Mother's white china bean bowl, and Mammaw's egg plate.

Dessert served right from the table:

Lemon Trifle, with layers of Lemon Icebox Pie filling, whipped cream and crumbled Madeleines:

Coconut Meringue Pie:

Big Pretzels, dipped in White Chocolate and colorful sprinkles (look at the shiny little pearl ones): 

The two desserts are family favorites, and though they're pudding-y and a bit alike, there were enough chocolate treats in the house to satiate ANY chocolate-tooth.

I wish everyone a wonderful celebration, and a Happy Spring!