Spring tables,  indoor gardens, centerpieces inspired by nature, one-of-a-kind, handmade porcelain dishes,  simple pleasures, and popping souffles!  Here’s some of our favorite spring inspiration for pretty tables and some of our favorite spring recipes.

Click on photographs to find links to recipes, inspiration & products from LoveFeast Shop! 

 Visit LoveFeast Shop for more inspiring finds!

Even with the promise of Spring down the road a bit, Winter is still just not giving up.  Many of us, especially those of us in the north are thinking about warm- weathered spring breaks.  But, in-between hopes of spring and vacations, we still have to… survive.

In Minnesota, there are many days where the light is bright but the sky is opaque.  Just now, out my window such an atmosphere is flittering snow that is dancing through the air and landing on frozen ground.  This is a day to keep Hygge in mind.

Hygge (prounounced “HUE-gah”)

A Danish word which means the feeling of cozy, enjoying life, family, friends and the deep satisfying experience of well being experienced from one’s environment, surroundings, food and company. 

So, the roads don’t feel as welcoming for a ride out for meetings and errands.  Stay home, plan a cozy time.  Enjoy a good Hygge.  Important in my mind on such a day is to keep the comforts of  home like cozy blankets and good reading nearby, and fireplaces and candles lit.  In other words, accentuate the positive of  staying in.  And, of course enjoy some good food to nibble on.

The idea of hygge is to create a sense of warmth and feeling of contentment and community.  To create a feeling of  hygge with food, create open platters of bites to nosh on loaded with cheese and crackers, fruit, and other small bites.  Warm soups and hot drinks also create a feeling of warmth and hygge.  A cookie and a hot drink by a fire is just the idea.

 Provence Platter from LoveFeast Shop 

 Almond Triangles ~ Cookie Recipe

 Masala Chai Recipe

A satisfying feeling from being surrounded by friends and savoring simple pleasures make the idea of creating hygge with food a great way to be mindful of the rituals of the simple and beautiful ways of living.  And don’t forget to light a candle!

What are your ideas for nourishment in creating a feeling Hygge?

This is the perfect time of year to share a holiday story or two, share traditions and also make cookies.  For several years we hosted a LoveFeast Table Holiday Cookie Exchange here at our table.

Grab yourself a cup of tea and follow the link to the LoveFeast Holiday Cookie Page to peruse the stories and recipes swapped over the years.

We’re sure you’ll find some good ones and be inspired to bake some favorites as well.

Still shopping for holiday gifts?  Visit our online boutique ~ LoveFeast Shop ~ for artful, unique, and inspiring hostess, party and holiday gifts!

All summer we’ve enjoyed a sparkling drink that is refreshing, light and lemony.  We enjoyed it first at a quaint Spanish restaurant in Brooklyn.  Our New York friends re-created it and now we’re  sharing it with you to enjoy ~ before the summer’s over!

 Quick summer tablescape tip ~ Lemons piled in an ironstone terrain scent a room with fresh goodness.

This Spanish soda, Kas is REALLY the best to use, but it is hard to find.  This one looks interesting HERE , but we’ve never tried it.  We’ve used San Pellegrino in a pinch.

Peel your lemon, add a splash of gin and the lemon soda to make a summer drink that is perfect for entertaining!

 We never get tired of lemons at our table.  The possibilities are endless.

You could have seen this recipe first by following us on Instagram!

Spanish Soda Splash Recipe

 

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Spanish Soda Splash ~ a refreshing summer lemon drink!

Author: LoveFeast Table

Ingredients

• Lemon Peel
• 2 oz. Gin
• Kas Lemon Soda - Spanish
• (San Pellegrino is a good substitute)

Instructions

1. Peel Lemon to flavor and garnish.
2. Add 2 oz of Gin.
3. Add Kas Lemon Soda to taste.

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The night before, I knew something was brewing. My 16 year old son (AKA Baker Boy) was clearing off my dining room table and beginning to “re-tablescape”. He had scraps of fabric, tablecloths, candles and flowers out, arranging and rearranging. It was almost midnight. I gave him a hug and kiss and went to bed to leave him to his creativity. The next morning, with a the rattle and hum of a budding chef in the kitchen, my husband and I awoke. The pungent waft of dark, brewed coffee was better than any wake up call. I rubbed my eyes, slipped on my comfy slippers and opened the door to find the cheeriest, spring table embracing me! Baker Boy had color coordinated, layered with texture, added subtle elements of interest and had multiple bowls, whisks, spoons and spatulas stirring, mixing and baking. “Morning mom!” he greeted. I gave him a hug and said, “What is all this?” “I decided to make a huge brunch for everyone. I even called Kaya (our college kid) and invited him over this morning. He’ll be here soon. Everyone will be here sitting around the table!” He went on to share how he likes to have everyone together and because he couldn’t decide on what to make, there were homemade blueberry scones in the oven, homemade waffles giving off their steam in the waffle iron… …there was crispy bacon, scrambled eggs and breakfast sausage, so everyone could have their pick. He even made fruit salad and whipped up a batch of homemade whipped cream along with cinnamon, apple syrup to drizzle on the waffles. I’m not even kidding. This kid pulled out all the stops. He timed the food perfectly. His girlfriend showed up at our door (another surprise guest) along with his older brother. He invited us all to take a seat. He poured the coffee and had us all join hands. My heart was overflowing with joy at this moment. Not only had my teenager learned how to set a lovely table and prepare a delicious meal, but over the years he had gleaned the subtle nuances of what it really meant to gather around the table. Here he was, intentionally gathering his people for the sole purpose of being together. We lingered, we laughed and savored every moment.

You can find the gorgeous, lace embossed, porcelain plates at LoveFeast Shop, HERE.

Over the past few months, along with a few friends, we have been intentionally giving each other a weekly challenge. It’s a simple challenge, one that pushes us to think outside of ourselves and consider others. It might be as simple as, “Offer to carry groceries for someone this week,” or “Offer to clean a friend’s bathroom.” At the beginning of this exercise, everyone was invited to put a challenge into a bowl. The kids added their ideas, the moms and dads did too. This week we were challenged to, “Be open and aware of the needs of others and offer to help.”

This simple, weekly challenge has been so good for me. It has given me a tangible, intentional thing to do for a neighbor. This week, we found out that one of my husband’s new workers had a wife that went in for surgery. They have a slew of teenage boys and I can totally relate to the challenge of keeping them fed. Yesterday I whipped up a large lasagna, enough to feed their family as well as our own. It was a little thing really. I was making dinner for my crew as well. I just made a little extra.

It wasn’t a gourmet meal, but it was homemade. My husband picked up a pre packaged bag of salad and a loaf of garlic bread on his way home from work. He delivered the meal to them.

When we sat to eat our meal last night, I couldn’t help but think of them and realize it doesn’t take much to show a little love to those around us. #justonething

LoveBomb Lasagna

 

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Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 30 mins

 

Author: LoveFeast Table

Serves: 12-15

Ingredients

• 1 lb of lasagna noodles
• olive oil
• 1 small onion, small diced
• 6-8 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 lb of Italian sweet sausage
• 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
• 1 can of fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 2 eggs
• 1 lb. of ricotta cheese
• 2 tsp. dried basil
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. cracked pepper
• 4 C shredded Italian mixed cheese

Instructions

1. Cook lasagna noodles to al dente. (Approx. 10 min in simmering water.)
2. Drain cooked noodles in a colander and toss with olive oil to keep from sticking.
3. Heat 2 Tbls. of olive oil in a saute pan, add onions. Cook 4-5 min.
4. Add 3-4 cloves of garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
5. Add crumbled Italian sausage and cook until no longer pink.
6. Add jar of spaghetti sauce and can of tomatoes and cook until hot.
7. In a bowl, combine eggs, ricotta cheese, basil and salt and pepper and stir to combine.
8. In a large lasagna pan (I used a 10x15 pan) place a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom of the pan. Then add a layer of lasagna noodles. Add half the ricotta mixture and spread evenly to cover the noodles. Add half the sauce over the ricotta. Sprinkle 2 C of shredded cheese over the sauce. Repeat the layers again.
9. Place tin foil over the pan and bake in a 350 degree F oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes.
10. Serve half to your family and share half with a neighbor.

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We couldn’t resist the chance to re-share our Moss Mojito Recipe and a bit of green with you this day.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the LoveFeast Girls!

Moss Mojito Recipe

 

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Author: LoveFeast Table

Recipe type: drinks

Ingredients

• 1 Lime, halved
• 3 Mint Sprigs
• 1 Tbsp. Sugar
• 1 oz / 2 Tbsp White Rum
• ⅓ Cup Sparkling Water, chilled
• 1 splash Limeade
• 1 splash Creme De Menthe

Instructions

1. Squeeze lime juice from 1 lime into cocktail shaker or large highball.
2. Add lime halves to shaker, add mint, sugar and crush with spoon until sugar dissolves.
3. Add rum and stir.
4. Add ice, top off with splash of limeade and a splash of creme de menthe.
5. Stir or shake gently and serve.

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Valentines Day is coming up and it would not be complete without a scrumptious chocolate recipe to celebrate with.  This recipe is tried and true at our house.  If you’ve been over for any kind of dinner at our home, chances our you’ve had one of our Hot Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes warm out of the oven and sprinkled with coarse salt.  Swooooon!

Hot Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes

 

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Author: LoveFeast Table

Ingredients

• 4 oz. Dark Chocolate
• 8 oz Butter
• 2 Eggs
• ½ C. Sugar
• ½ C. Flour
• 8 Chocolate Truffles
• Pinch of Flake Salt

Instructions

1. Melt dark chocolate and butter together.
2. Mix eggs and sugar for 3 minutes.
3. Stir in the melted chocolate into mixture into the egg mixture.
4. Add the flour.
5. Fill ramekins, sprayed and floured, half way.
6. Add chocolate truffle to the center
7. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
8. Serve hot out of the oven.

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I haven’t been sick in a really long time. I’m the mama of 5 kids after all and I have a killer immune system. So, when this mom goes down, it sends the house into a tail spin. The laundry begins to pile up, kids fend for themselves at meal time, my husband prepares dinner while playing guard, making sure my room stays quiet and uninterrupted. It creates as weird glitch in our somewhat smoothly run, daily routine. I know moms of all stages can relate.

Now, usually when I get sick, I can kick a bug with a few good nights sleep. But, this last one was a whopper. It was going on day 7 and my house guest said, “My mom back home in Rwanada would crush some ginger, boil it in water and finish it with honey and lemon. It worked every time when I didn’t feel well.”

Ginger tea! Seriously, it must be early in the season, because it’s one of my staple drinks in the chilly winter months. The first time I ever had ginger tea was in China. We spent 5 weeks in China about 10 years ago. When we traveled into Yangshaou County, I found I had the hardest time staying warm at night. I bought a knock off, North Face coat for the equivalent of $25, never took off my knit cap and looked for any type of drink to keep my hands warm. Ok, I have to come clean and make a confession. My husband and I carried a 5 lb bag of coffee, along with a French Press, all over China with us. It was the one thing we knew we’d have a hard time leaving back in the states. However, one can only drink so much caffeine.

Soon after arriving in Yangshaou, we discovered Ginger Tea. It took about 15 minutes to get it after ordering, but it was well worth the wait. It was always so hot and spicy and just slightly sweet. It warmed me inside and out. We tried for years to recreate that cup. We finally learned if we crushed the ginger before adding it to the water and bought Chinese brown sugar, we could get that cup pretty close to the original.

Hot Honey Ginger Tea

1 large nub of ginger, peeled, chopped and smashed

1/2 lemon

1 Tbls. honey (or 1 Tbls of Chinese brown sugar)

Fill a medium sauce pan, half full with water. Drop the ginger in and bring to a boil. reduce heat to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain tea into a mug, add honey to taste and a squeeze of lemon.

Do you have any tried and true recipes for kicking a cold?

In FEAST you will all things related to feasting.  You will find inspiration for parties, tablescaping, baking and creating a atmosphere for entertaining.

You can bet that we celebrated with food this year whether gathering friends on the deck for grilling, hosting a wedding party or a group of blogging friends.  Time around the table is one of our favorite things.

Winter Whiteout Cupcakes For  A Wedding

Farm Fresh Baby Radish Appetizer 

Hearty Guinness Beef Stew

Homemade Pasta Recipe

Moss Mojitos Recipe

Feast Best Of 2012

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