Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Celebrating 100 Weeks of Tablescapes!

I love summer birthdays! My favorite way to entertain friends on their special day is with an invitation to a day of floating in the pool and a “girl” lunch….nothing but relaxation, food, and celebration.

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So come on through the gate to the back yard…it’s a celebration for our good friend Susan at Between Naps on the Porch in honor of 100 tablescapes!!!

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Nothing fussy here! This is a party meant to be fun for the hostess and the guest. A beach towel is an easy and colorful tablecloth. A crystal compote filled with shells makes a perfect centerpiece to keep things light and airy. The menu is almost all “do ahead”. Just float a while longer while I put the finishing touches on the salad.

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These shells have been collected through years and years of beach trips by tiny little hands that are no longer tiny.

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The first course is my favorite—gazpacho. With vegetables plentiful in the gardens of friends and at the farmers’ market, there is no better time to enjoy this summer delicacy. It’s diet friendly too. I like to serve it in a chilled martini glass garnished with a wedge of cucumber.

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Shrimp (boil your own or have them steamed at the grocery store) on top of mixed baby greens is the main course. Garnish with whatever you like. We love eggs, avocado, and tomatoes. I’ll be topping this with Come Back Sauce. You can find the recipe here. It is the best topping or dipping sauce for shrimp! Save a little room--we’ll be having lemon ice for dessert.

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Thank you Susan!! I have been enjoying and inspired by your tables since RMS days! I appreciate your willingness to share your talent with tables and blogging skills. You are indeed a gracious hostess! Happy 100; looking forward to 100 more!

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Gazpacho

2 large tomatoes

1 medium cucumber, peeled and coarsely chopped

1/2 green pepper, coarsely chopped

1/2 onion, coarsely chopped

24 ounces canned tomato juice

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

Dash of your favorite hot sauce (optional)

Dip tomatoes into boiling water for one minute. Lift out with slotted spoon. Peel and chop into medium sizes pieces. Put vegetables, a few at a time into a blender and puree’ until smooth. Add tomato juice, olive oil, and vinegar slowly and continue to puree’. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled.

Chop a few vegetable to use as garnish if desired. This is even better the day after it is made. Serve in a chilled bowl with a chilled spoon!

I am linking to Michael at Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday too! Click on their buttons on my sidebar for immediate transportation to the parties! Thanks for coming to the celebration. Leave me a note!

43 comments:

  1. Gazpacho and chilled shrimp is a wonderful summer combo. Your table setting looks as inviting as this menu. ~ sarah

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  2. Your table looks so pretty and the menu sounds delicious! ! I have a summer birthday....can I come celebrate my next one at your house?
    Jane

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  3. That looks like a fun party. Floating in the pool then a yummy girls lunch! Great choice!!

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  4. I've never had Gazpacho, and my tomatoes are just coming in... Fun table setting, you have a beautiful yard!

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  5. Yum - Cold shrimp and gazpacho. Have not had gazpacho in a while. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
    Another hot one - stay cool.

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  6. OH I love this! Such a pretty table and soooo refreshing! Is there anything better then chilled shrimp! I'm going to write down this recipe! Love it! Happy 100th TT Anniversary!

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  7. Oh Susan, you are a such wonderful hostess and what a beautiful place to have a celebration! Cold shrimp and gazpacho, can't ever go wrong with that on a menu!

    Nancy

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  8. How lovely and serene...very cool colors and inviting. A beach towel! I would never have thought of that-way cool!

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  9. Hi Susan,

    Looks like the perfect summer birthday, with friends.
    How relaxing and inviting and love the shells as the centerpiece. Thanks for sharing with us.

    Enjoy the rest of the week
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  10. Fabulously cool looking table, Susan! My mouth is watering at the thought of some gazpacho. I ♥ it & my recipe is similar to yours but I think it uses V8. Must go look.

    I love the icey blue colors you chose. Very soothing & cooling effect. Nicely done!

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  11. What a wonderfully "cool" table. I love the menu, looks de~licious!!! Thanks for the recipe, I'm going to try it!
    Sharlotte

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  12. Wonderful table and menu for a hot summer day!

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  13. This waterside table is just perfect. I love the gazpacho in the martini glasses, too. Great touch. I might steal this whole idea the next time I host my luncheon club in the summertime.

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  14. Mmmm, perfect food and your table looks so refreshing, Susan!...Christine

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  15. Love your table, Susan, and I love that recipe! The perfect summer combo!

    Happy Tablescape Thursday!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  16. Happy 100th week of TT to you! What a perfect setting to celebrate! I know Susan would be able to totally relax by the pool! I would never have thought of using a beach towel as a tablecloth but it totally works! Your food looks delicious!

    DD

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  17. A charming tablescape to celebrate a friend's birthday. I really like the texture of the shells, and the beach towel table covering is a great idea. Thank you for sharing your design. Cherry Kay

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  18. What a lovely table and the food looks so delish too. Anything shrimp and I have read so many fabulous gazpacho recipes. When the veggies are on, I will try them all.

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  19. Love your poolside table the blue and green tablecloth just pops and is so inviting! Joni

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  20. Hi Susan.
    Do you know I have never made or tasted Gazpacho? After reading your recipe I am thinking it is about time! Thanks for sharing!
    Everything looks wonderful. What a nice summer dinner.
    Have a wonderful day!
    Karen ~ Some days are diamonds

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  21. This is my kind of party! Relaxing, fun with great food! I loved your line "by little hand that are no longer tiny". It happens so quickly, doesn't it? What a beautiful setting!

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  22. Oh, I love this Susan! Love gazpacho--thanks for the recipe!

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  23. What a great idea for a party! Love the gorgeous but simple setting and light, delicious menu! I am now craving boiled shrimp with Come Back Sauce!

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  24. Looks like a lovely party. The gazpacho sounds delicious. I'm going to try that for sure!

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  25. I have to confess that in your first photo, I thought that was a glass full of bloody mary. it wasn't until i scrolled down that i read it was gazpacho. i kinda wish it was a bloody mary. :)

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  26. The beach towel idea is one I am definitely going to steal! And like Liz above, I first thought of a Bloody Mary when I saw that glass! Hmm--wonder what is on my mind? We also collect shells from every trip to the beach and I use them everywhere. Your table is very nice. Linda

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  27. Yum! This looks delectable! I haven't had shrimp in ages. Wonderful tablescape.
    Brenda

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  28. Dropping back by, Susan, to wish you a Happy Foodie Friday!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  29. Susan, you said this was a simple table setting, but it couldn't look any more inviting. What a beautiful view of the pool, and the sea shells look so pretty in that compote. Not to mention the delicious food you've prepared. If I didn't think it had already been eating, I'd be in the car, rushing toward your house (can I get there from Poplar?) laurie

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  30. That looks like a delightful way to spend a birthday!

    Have a great week end!
    ~Rainey~

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  31. What a cute tablescape. Ingenious, using a beach towel as a tablecloth. I tell ya, I get the best inspiration from such wonderful, talented tablescapers who participate with TT - what a great party! The shells in the compote is the perfect centerpiece for a tablescape near the pool. I'd like to sit and swing my feet in the water; the pool is so inviting. Love the menu, too.

    All the Best,

    Requi

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  32. Susan,
    thats a nice idea to use a towel as tablecloth. That looks sooooo beachy! And gazpacho is nice for hote days, cold shrimps also. Thank you for sharing this nice table and the recipe.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  33. The table looks wonderful by the pool,love the shells! The gazpacho sounds wonderful, love the salad! This is my hubby's kind of meal, can you come cook in August? lol

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  34. Thanks for the invitation. I've had a delicious time. Now for a few laps in the pool and then dessert!!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  35. What a wonderful celebration table ....and meal! Thanks for sharing. Last one in the pool's a rotten egg!

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  36. A colorful and wonderful way to celebrate poolside with gazpacho and shrimp. Wonderful shell treasures you have :)

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  37. Sounds like the best kind of get together! I love gazpacho....I just made some!

    Your table and lunch look wonderful.
    Hugs,
    Penny
    p.s. I just signed up as a follower....I have been trying to catch up with all of my fav blogs and this seems to be the best way.

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  38. What an absolutely fabulous day by the pool. This was awesome. Thanks for sharing.

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  39. You must be the best hostess ever. I love anything with avocado in it. LBeau does not like avocado, so I can always have more.

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  40. Wow, that looks sooo cool and refreshing! Thanks for having us over for a pool party...great way to celebrate our 100th TT! :-)
    This was delightful!

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  41. Hi Susan~
    What a lovely luncheon you have prepared! That pool looks quite invinting as well!
    Thanks so much for stopping by...I'm so glad you enjoyed meeting Violet...she is a very special woman, don't you agree?!
    Have a beautiful week!
    ;-D Kathleen

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