I'm a Copycat!

Friend Francie 

had her garden club for their September meeting and lunch.

I was invited to present a program on cooking with herbs.

As you know, I adored her table linens

A wonderful fall table

With a touch of blue and white!

And her menu was perfect

Tomato pie, baby greens salad with berries and vinaigrette

And a pumpkin muffin 

We met for lunch in August and finalized plans for my

program -- what I would do, what I would bring

She told me her plans for lunch --

And such a good ladies lunch it was for this time of year

So in August, when The Lunch Bunch came

I served:

Tomato pie, a salad with strawberries and red onions with poppyseed dressing and a sweet tea glazed corn muffin

Month one -- I copied her menu!

The coveted table linens, I thought, may be a permanent covet

because they were no longer available --

couldn't even find them on eBay!

So I got creative

Ordered a huge tablecloth

And made my own!

They do look like autumn

But they're not full of pumpkins and maple leaves

So actually, they could be used all year long!

France's table had a blue and white planter filled with white orchids.   I chose to use the blue and white in my dinnerware -- my beloved blue and white transfer ware!

But I put them on rattan chargers like Francie did

And instead of orchids, I used a succulent filled pumpkin!

My candlesticks are old clear glass while Francie's were metal.

But it has the feel of Francie's delightful table setting!

Month Two -- I copied her table setting!

And the rest of the menu today?

For once again, The Lunch Bunch came to lunch

A salad dressed with The Olde Pink House 1771 Sherry Cream Dressing

Company Chicken Casserole similar to the classic Poppyseed Chicken

which is one of the traditional ladies luncheon dishes!

Served with white and wild rice and a croissant.

(Actually it should be either a homemade or Sister Shubert roll)

It is Autumn and desserts should reflect the season

A Cran Apple Cream Cheese Poundcake

which I took the liberty of frosting with an orange flavored buttercream and garnished with dried cranberries.

I do hope Francie isn't mad at me . . . for being such a copycat!

But both menu and table setting were perfect and I had to replicate!

I must admit that Francie's tomato pie was much better than mine and I am putting her recipe in my files -- it will be the one I serve now!

I was always told that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

And Francie hit the nail on the head --

Hopefully, I did as well -- but it took me two months to do it!

Thanks, Francie, for such wonderful inspiration!