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Presentation is Everything: How to Serve a Simple Meal in Elegant Style

Feb 28th, 2008 2 Comments

Did you know that you can make even the simplest meal special by the way you serve it?

The secret is summed up in one word: presentation. My aunt was a caterer at one time and she lived with us a for a few years, and one of the things that she continually impressed upon us was that “it’s all in the presentation.” We kind of made a joke out of it at the time, but it’s true.

So, how can we dress up our meals to appear at their very best? Let’s look at a couple of ways to make the dishes we serve appealing.

1. Attractive Arrangement
Don’t just dump the food you have made on to a plate to serve it. Look for ways that you could tastefully arrange the food on the plate to make it more attractive. For instance, see what kind of garnishes you could put on the side to give it a little “oomph.” Just a little sprig of parsley or rosemary can change the whole look of the dish. For soups, they look amazingly more appetizing when you add a garnish. The type of garnish will of course depend on the soup (or dish), but I made baked potato soup, and garnished it with a sprinkling of cheese in the center and a little chopped green onion. There are lots of fun garnishing how-to books out there as well that can teach you more elaborate, creative garnishes. Another point is that it does matter what kind of dish you serve the food in! We have one dish that I love because it is very pretty and somehow always makes it look like there is a lot of food in it even if there isn’t! (It also fits asparagus perfectly :-) ) Now, I realize that sometimes we just don’t have time and it’s all we can do to even get dinner on the table, let alone dress it up. That’s okay! But when we do have the time, we should try to make it a little fancy.

2. Dress Up the Table
Aside from the actual dishes, presentation includes your table. Put a tablecloth on, and maybe a couple of tall candles in the center. It’s amazing how this can transform the whole feel of your table – especially if you choose a richly colored tablecloth. If you don’t have time for attractively arranging your dishes, this takes mere seconds. Another fun thing that really adds presentation is creative napkin folding. There are some instructions for a few simple napkin folds here. This really impresses guests too!

So there are my thoughts on presentation… it’s the way to make the plainest meal delightful!

Reasons to be Thankful that You are a Daughter…

Nov 22nd, 2007 3 Comments
…instead of a son!

• You have the wonderful privilege of being able to be kissed and hugged by your father no matter how old you are… sons don’t always get that! Hugs, maybe, but kisses usually stop when they get older.

• You have the opportunity to serve in a way that sons can’t. A daughter holds a special place in the home – as well as in the church and community.

• You get to have the fun of learning all kinds of skills that boys don’t learn: sewing, cooking, baking, knitting… the list goes on.

• Let’s face it – the clothes that daughters get to wear are much more interesting and pretty than sons’ clothes! I infinitely prefer a lovely dress or skirt and blouse to the pants that sons must wear; which is a good thing, seeing as I am a daughter!

• You can embrace different relationships with your father and mother than a son does. Both the father/daughter and mother/daughter relationships are precious and beautiful when properly cultivated; and you would miss this if you were not a daughter.

• You have the protection of your father and brothers, if you have any.

• You can be a “corner pillar” in your father’s house, adorning, serving, and supporting your parents and family.

What a blessing! Be thankful that you are a daughter.

I’ve Been Tagged…

Nov 14th, 2007 Leave a comment

Mrs. C tagged me to share 8 random things about myself, so here goes…

1. I am notorious at our house for forgetting about my wet laundry and leaving it in the washer overnight – trying to correct this!

2. One of my favorite things to cook/bake is apple pie, much to my father’s enjoyment.

3. I love photographing nature, especially flowers.

4. I have several odd, unofficial “collections,” including pitchers and old fashioned keys.

5. I have played the piano for 8 years.

6. I love history, especially the Medieval, Colonial and Civil War eras.

Only two more to go…

7. I never wear pants, one reason being that I do not even own any (that fit, anyway), and the other reason I will not mention because it would take up a great deal of time to explain.

8. Roses are my favorite flower, though there are several others that come very close…

Whew… who thought it could be so hard to think of 8 random things? Now I am supposed to tag 8 others and I hope my friends will forgive me for picking on them but I don’t know anyone else…

Lauren S.
Raeanne C.
Anna V.
Megan C.
Hannah D.
Dawn B.
Joanna E.
Ashlei L.

Random Musings on Aprons

Oct 17th, 2007 3 Comments

I love aprons.

I don’t mean the kind of apron you usually find in a department store, that has nothing pretty about it except maybe the fabric. I’m talking about “girly-girl” aprons – the old-fashioned kind that is gathered at the waist, has two ties that go over the shoulders and meet the ties at the waist; the kind that has ruffles at the shoulders and around the hem. That is what I call an apron. The other stereotype “aprons” should be called clothing protectors or something.

The value of the apron has been lost over the generations. Aprons used to be worn all the time. If you think about it, it really does make complete sense. An apron is worn to protect the clothing, and if visitors arrive or Dad comes home, the apron can be whisked off and there you are, fresh and clean. Probably the concept has gradually been forgotten as women have started to dress more casually and pants have less risk of becoming soiled.

Now, all that said, I admit that the majority of the time I do not wear an apron around the house; but I beg to say that the reason is that I do not yet have a “pretty” one as I mentioned earlier. But I am planning to make one, and trust that I shall begin wearing it regularly once it is finished!

The benefits of wearing an apron:
It keeps your clothing clean and consequently ready for anything! :-)
The skirt of an apron makes a very handy “basket” for laundry, veggies from the garden, and other sundry items
It does very well as a towel when no other is available.
It lends a sense of femininity and-
It can even give you the motivation to do your housework with joy! (Or at least do it {smile})

Several months ago, my grandparents on my mom’s side came for a visit, and you know how grandmas are always bringing you things that they found in their closets or picked up at Hobby Lobby. Well, this time my grandma (Oma, we call her – it’s Dutch for grandma, and my mom’s side of the family is Dutch) came armed with a very special thing – my great-great-oma’s apron! She (great-great-Oma) wore it everyday, except Sunday because she had a special white Sunday apron. It’s still in wonderful condition, and almost looks brand new, which tells me she took great care of it. What a treasure to have something from so long ago, and from my own family!

Well, I hope this hasn’t bored you, but rather inspired you to begin wearing an apron regularly – a real apron.

A Picture of Purity

Mar 17th, 2007 Leave a comment

Last year, my father, sister & I attended the Vision Forum Father/Daughter Retreat, at beautiful Callaway Gardens in Georgia. The grounds of the resort were just lovely! On one of our walks, we passed a small pond, and at the edge was growing a lily. Looking at the picture we took of it, it reminds me of what we “maidens of virtue” are striving to be; pure, blameless, rising above a world of awful impurity and corruption. In this picture, we see the lily, white and spotless, and beneath and behind it we see the mud and grime of the pond’s edge.
I just want to encourage all of you girls out there to stay pure and faithful to what God has called us to be, and not be defiled with the “dirt” of the world.

My Biggest Dream

Mar 13th, 2007 2 Comments

“What is your biggest dream?”
Have you ever been asked that question? I have, and when I try to explain what my biggest dream is, people seem disappointed. “You ‘just’ want to be a mom? But, your you could do so much more with your life! Why not choose something more… well, fulfilling or something to benefit the community?”
My biggest dream is to be a helper meet for my future husband. I want to support him, submit to him, build him up and help him to carry out his vision. This dream includes having children, as many as the Lord shall see fit to give me. I want to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4); to have to privilege of teaching and training them myself, not leaving it to others. I want to cook their meals, kiss their bumps and bruises, and do those tasks that many women consider menial. In doing so, I will be shaping part of the next generation! Many have heard the saying, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,” but I wonder how many actually comprehend the truth in that short quote. Mothers are the ones who are determining the direction of the world! Isn’t that a sobering thought? When a mother sends her children off to public school to be taught by politically correct teachers, she is, essentially, tearing down her house with her own hands. In my biggest dream, I want to do the opposite. Raising godly children will be the way in which I benefit the community, rather than leaving home and going around doing “good things” on my own, apart from my family. Is this choice going to be easy, exciting and glamorous? No. Worthwhile and fulfilling? Yes.
“That’s as big as your biggest dream gets?”
Well, I don’t think it could really get any bigger.

Tea Time Charm

Mar 7th, 2007 1 Comment

Do you love tea? I do. I always have, suffice to say that I used to load it with milk and sugar. I have fond memories of visiting my Oma (grandma) and we would always have tea and cookies. As a matter of fact, we still do. My Oma tells me that we (my sister and I) used to ask her all the time, “Oma, can we have sweet tea?” Now, perhaps we don’t have it quite so sweet, but tea and cookies is always something we do together.
I hope you and your mother and sisters, if you have any, have tea time quite often. We recently moved to a beautiful 6 acre property, and while exploring the land the other day, discovered several picturesque little spots that would be perfect for an informal tea party; there is a little screened garden house down by the garden, and under one large evergreen, the lower branches had been cut away creating a big “room” underneath, high enough for me to stand up straight. Now, isn’t that just the perfect spot for a “woodland tea”?

Tea Time Charm
By Miss Kathryn Y.

Tea Time…what does it bring to mind? I think of little girls dressed up in hats and gloves, sipping tea out of white porcelain teacups with roses painted on them. But Tea Time doesn’t have to be just for little girls; older girls enjoy it too.

For me, Tea Time is the perfect opportunity to be a “young lady”. It is the time when good manners and proper posture are at their peak. What girl doesn’t love to put on a pretty dress, curl her hair, and play at being a “lady”? Sadly, girls these days are usually too caught up in cell phones and goofing off to appreciate the value of having tea. Tea Time offers a welcome rest from the hectic rush of the day. Even if you don’t “dress up” for it, Tea Time gives a sense of femininity and grace; there is a certain old-fashioned charm about pouring out tea, and asking your companions if they take cream or sugar?
Tea Time need not always be a “tea party”; it can be informal, or very elegant. Invite your closest friends, or just share a cup of tea with your mother. When girls grow older, too often they shut out their parents, and do what “they want”. What a mistake! Having Tea Time with your mother is such a lovely way to keep acquainted, so to speak. Somehow, it seems easier to talk to your mom over a cup of tea.
Don’t think that just because you are older than 10 you are too old to have Tea Time; I’m 13 and I love it! I have a tea party for my birthday every year. It’s so fun!

So, two sugar cubes or none…either way, it’s Tea Time, young ladies!

Article used with permission of FunEvents4Girls.com.

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