Evening Sun Dishes and Dinner

I moved to Georgia less than two months ago. Since I arrived I've been busy unpacking boxes and trying to get everything to fit in my new SMALLER space. Needless to say, I'm sick of unpacking and I'm sick of boxes, bubble wrap and those annoying Styrofoam peanuts that have a life of their own. I'm sick of breaking down the boxes and dragging them out for the recycling guy each week. With that said you'd think that when this arrived at my door yesterday, I would have run screaming into the woods.

Well, you may think this, but you'd be wrong. I was waiting for this box; I was eagerly anticipating its arrival. See, I even had a spot ready for its contents.

What could it be, you ask? After fighting with the best-wrapped box I've ever seen, this is what was revealed:

Yes, these are the hand-painted Pfaltzgraff dishes I won from Cindy @ Applestone Cottage's Giveaway! When I saw the photo of them on her blog I thought they were gorgeous, but as I unpacked them, one word came to mind — LUSCIOUS. The name of this collection is Evening Sun and the colors are just that — the reds, oranges, yellows and golds of a setting sun and all ya'll know how much I love sunsets. The other thing I love is Earthenware. As a young bride, while all my friends were signing up for china patterns, I was registering for Franciscan Earthenware in the Sundance pattern.

Don't they look luscious? And they're mine I tell you, they're all mine!

Thank you Cindy, so much!

Your taste is impeccable and I am thrilled with my dishes! I love dishes and having a new set for my new place is just a wonderful feeling. This place is slowly starting to feel like home and this gift has made it even more special.

Just look at these bowls…

…and the mugs! Can I tell you how much I adore these mugs? They have a real girth to them and I could already picture myself sittin' out on the front porch with a mug full of my Chicken Chili My Soul and a big, ol' slice of cornbread. Or I could be on the back porch with a latte and a chocolate chip scone, watching the sunrise.

I quickly washed these lovelies, so that I could use them that very evening. One of the things I decided about my new place is that I want it to be very casual with a cottage feel. Since the eating area of my kitchen doesn't have a window, I put my kitchen table in the front window. Sounds a little weird I know, but hey, it works for me. In the evening I can sit on the right and watch the Cardinals in my birdfeeder. If I sit on the right, I can see the sunset when I have dinner on the late side.

The bowls made perfect serving dishes for my pineapple coleslaw and mashed Yukon Gold potatoes; don't you just love their buttery taste?

I know I was bad, but I was really in the mood for hush puppies, so I whipped up a few.

I added a piece of grilled chicken that I had rubbed with fresh garlic and a little sea salt, let set in the fridge for a few hours and then marinated it in Lawry's Caribbean Jerk Sauce with papaya juice. Mmmm…moist and bursting with flavor.

As I was unpacking these dishes I noticed that the colors in the pattern perfectly matched this picture that hangs above the table in my kitchen (you can see the corner of it in the upper left area of the photo with the box).

I love this piece of art; I call it skinny girls. They look so graceful as they walk the beach at sunset with their umbrellas. (Note: Please excuse the reflection of my camera and my hand in the glass.)

After doing up the dishes and getting everything in its new home, I went outside to watch the sunset. Now a couple of nights ago, the setting sun looked like this:

Last night it looked like this:

It was as if the sky was reflecting the colors in my dishes!

So, here are the dishes, filling up the space I made for them on my pine shelves.

Pineapple Coleslaw

Dressing:

• 1 1/2 cups non-fat mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sugar (or to taste)
• 4 teaspoons celery seed

Whisk together well.

Slaw:

• 1 package tri-color coleslaw from produce department (or 1 small head cabbage)
• 12 baby carrots, shredded (I love carrots) 
• 2-8 ounce can pineapple tidbits

Mix slaw and carrots together. I then put it all on the cutting board and chop it fine (think KFC). Add pineapple tidbits and dressing, mix well. Chill for at least two hours, but longer is even better.

Now you think that would be the end of this post wouldn't you? Sorry, you're wrong. As I retired for the evening, I was in the mood for a little snack. Since I didn't get to go to Crooked River last weekend, I still wanted to get back to Michael's book, Mermaids In The Basement. Strawberries and Mint-Chocolate Cookies served on my new plate and a wonderful novel were a perfect ending for such a fabulous day.

Want to make your day fabulous? Then get on over to Michael's @ Designs By Gollum and see who else is participating in Foodie Friday this week.