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ll Cibo é L'essenza Della Vita....

"The rooms that you use on a daily basis are the rooms people will always want to sit in, because they have soul." --Bunny Williams

“VIVERE SENZA RIMPIANTI” LIVE WITHOUT REGRETS

"If you want to live forever and ever, drink wine and eat maccheroni." ~~~Sicilian Proverb

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Our FIRST Giveaway!! And it's Tablescape Thursday!!



Happy Tablescape Thursday!! 

We're really pleased to be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. The perfect excuse to let us all play with our dishes! Susan, thanks so much for hosting! Just click the badge on our sidebar and come join us.

This is a very special day for our Bramasole blogging team. We are so excited to have reached 100 followers (and then some) that we decided it was time to have our very first giveaway! And since there are 2 of us, we're going to have a double! That's right- TWO giveaways. You'll hear all about the first one here tonight and we'll announce the second within a day or 2 (we're REALLY excited about part 2!)

First off, I have to apologize for picture quality tonight. Something is wonky with our camera and I wasn't able to take the time to play with it today. 

This is the cooktop in our kitchen. That wonderful utensil rack was made for me by my very talented husband from a picture I drew


Uggh- this picture is terrible-sorry!

Anyway, do you see those little white jars up there? I know- it's pretty hard

Here they are


Aren't they adorable? They were a score (great sale) from Anthropologie. I was so pleased when I walked out of the store with them. I was strolling back to my car when the lightbulb went off- "Pattie, these would make an awesome giveaway!" (I do talk to myself sometimes. I've discovered that I'm the only one that listens to me)
Back I ran and scooped up the last set. I think the poor guy at the register thought I was a little loony. I'm sure not too many people get so excited over spice jars- I was dialing Allie to tell her as I was paying!
We also decided to give away something that several of you have told me you now associate with me. I've done several posts on kitchen tools and gadgets and the one item that I've gotten the most emails on is my mezzaluna. Those of you who follow us know that I consider this one of my most valued tools- not the least reason of which is that I have so many memories of my Nonna with hers in hand.

Now this is going to be a shameless plug for a local business here in Chapel Hill. I went to no less than a half dozen stores looking for a mezzaluna- I should have known where to find it from the start. Kitchenworks here in town ALWAYS has what I need and with a knowledgeable and pleasant staff, it's fast become my go-to place for needed gadgets and baking needs.
 Here's what I got- made in ITALY!


and a mezzaluna is useless without a cutting board, so you'll be getting that too

The winner of our  First Giveaway- part 1 will get all of the following:


a bamboo cutting board, a mezzaluna, and 5 Anthropologie spice jars

and our everlasting gratitude to all of you who have welcomed us so warmly to the world of blogging- and stay tuned for Part 2!!

Here's what you have to do to enter:

1) Leave a comment on this post- 1 entry
2) Become a follower and let us know you did- 1 entry (you don't have to be a blogger to follow!)
3) Become a fan of Bramasole's Facebook page- 1 entry (let us know!)
4) Blog about this Giveaway on YOUR blog and link back to us- 1 entry (make sure you let us know)
5) If you Twitter and tweet about the Giveaway- 1 entry (please let us know- Allie tweets, I don't)

There you go- you can have up to 5 entries! This Giveaway will close on Thursday night, May 6th at 10 p.m. (eastern time- we're in NC)
Good Luck to all and stay tuned for part 2!

On to the table!

Originally, I was planning on an island-scape (as in kitchen island), but as usual, things changed a bit. Last night I got a call from a client I've been working with on window treatments. She asked if I might be interested in catering a Ladie's Luncheon celebrating a dear friend's birthday. She wanted something feminine and "Spring-y" . I invited her for a sit-down to go through some options. I decided to throw something together quickly to give her an idea of some options.

I chose to use the large kitchen table so we'd have room for notebooks :)


Cream of Asparagus Soup with Crab


I love these napkin holders- tiny whitewashed flower pots with the bottom cut out
Those roses are from a huge bush on the side of my house


Leek, Carrot, and Pea Risotto and mini Brioches



Mini cakes of risotto...





Mango Puree with a glazed strawberry and mint


Blueberry Green Tea Scones
(these ended up going home with my client!)


Everything was pink, white, and green


a mix of white ironstone


Light and creamy...


This recipe is a keeper- enjoy!



Blueberry Green Tea Scones

about 1 3/4 cup heavy cream, divided
3 Tablespoons blueberry green tea leaves ( I found these at Whole Foods)
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar, divided
2 tsp. baking powder
pinch of salt
1/3 cup cold unsalted butter cut in cubes
1 large egg
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 Tablespoons butter, melted

Bring 1 cup heavy cream to a very low boil in a small suace pan. Add tea leaves and steep for 10 minutes. Strain into a small bowl and add enough cream to make 1 cup again.Refrigerate about an hour till cold. 
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
In a large bowl, sift  together flour, 6 tablespoons of sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter ( I use a pastry blender) until mixture resembles carse crumbs. Whisk egg into cream/tea mixture and add to flour mixture. Stir till combine and then give a quick, light knead till dough holds together. On a lightly floured surface, pat out to 1/2 inch (don't make these too thin). Cut out with a 2 inch cutter (a flower is nice) and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Brush tops with cream, decorate with almond slices and put 1-3 blueberries in the center. Sprionkle with remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bake about 12-14 minutes till golden. Remove to racks and brush with melted butter when cooled

Remember to come back for part 2 of our Giveaway. And thank you so  much for visiting with us! Join us tomorrow for Foodie Friday at Gollum's

As Always,

Buon Alimenti, Buon Amici,

Pattie and Allie

81 comments:

  1. Yeah!! What a great give away!! You and Allie are the sweetest and we are so lucky to have gotten to know you and have you share your family recipes with us :)
    Wendy

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  2. Love your blog and love following along!!

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  3. Posted about your giveaway on my side bar :) Woo Hoo I think that makes 3!!

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  4. glad I'm not there this week with all those flowers and strawberries! LOL
    I was at dr yesterday- yep- bronchitis- first case in 3 years- thought I had outgrown it- must have picked up something on the planes.

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  5. Pattie and Allie, as always my visit here was a delight. Thanks for the recipe. Your setting looks lovely and the food is making me oh so hungry. Congratulations on reaching 100+ followers. That's terrific!

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  6. Awesome giveaway! And the table looked great. I particularly liked the soup terrines.

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  7. I love those square plates! What a great giveaway. I am a follower! Joni

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  8. That looks so pretty, and delicious! I am a follower, I don't tweet, etc., but I will tell the others about your giveaway!

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  9. You have set such a great table!
    You soup sound so yummy! Do you share the recipe? Excellent give-a-way!
    Dee Dee

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  10. I have signed up as a follower and looking forward to getting to know you both. Please come and visit with me when you have a chance.

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  11. Posted your giveaway on my sidebar. Good luck to everyone.

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  12. That mezzaluna mincer looks really useful. I've never seen one before. Cute spice jars, too.

    I've become an avid tea drinker for some years, and my husband and I have even had a few (co-ed) tea parties. But now I'm getting interested in cooking & baking with tea. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
    thorandellie[at]gmail[dot]com

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  13. I've become a follower. Thanks for the chance to win!
    thorandellie[at]gmail[dot]com

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  14. Hello Girls~ ~ ~Great post, I love the green leaf plate it's so unusual. I'm a follower and a lover of you both and your blog so please enter me in the contest and thanks for stopping by to enter mine.
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

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  15. The square plates are great. The whole table is restful and peaceful. Thanks for sharing the recipe as well.

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  16. Hi,
    Very nice table. I love the tablecloth and the pink stemware. Looks so delicate. Very nice table.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  17. Love the tablescape and the soup sounds divine.
    I am a new follower of your blog....love it!

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  18. I signed up to follow -- what a lovely tablesetting! I love pink and green and pink roses -- this is just calling my name! And the food is calling me to the table - yum!

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  19. What a giveaway, I'd be thrilled to win.

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  20. So fun, what a great giveaway. Love your table, it is so feminine and pretty.

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  21. I'm back to tell you I'm a follower. I'll put your button on my sidebar and let you know when it's up. Thanks for the fun giveaway.

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  22. Pattie, I came over as soon as I saw your comment. You sweet thing!! What a wonderful giveaway and congrats on over 100 followers. You will have many more in the days to come with all your wonderful stories and recipes,YUM!! You are a wonderful blogging friend,Kathysue

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  23. Pattie & Allie - Congrats on your first giveaway! And what a wonderful giveaway it is!

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  24. Hi Pattie and Allie

    What a wonderful and generous give away! Your table scape is truly lovely and the luncheon was superb! I hope the client hired you! Thank you for the very unique tea infused scone recipe... it is so creative!

    I've been a follower of your blog from day one of my finding it, I am a fan of your blog on facebook, and I will tweet about your give away and I will put it on my blog sidebar :-)

    Thanks!

    ♥ Pat

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  25. Here's my tweet!

    MilleFioriPat: Bramosole blog's fantastic give away!http://bramasoletoyearnforthesun.blogspot.com/2010/04/our-first-giveaway-and-its-tablescape.html

    Do you have a Twitter account for your blog Pattie? I did a search but couldn't find it.

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  26. Cool giveaway! I want it! I am already a follower! I am leaving this comment, and I am going to have to follow your tweets. I tweet too! Yeah! I am so excited about your giveaway!

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  27. What a beautiful table you have set there. I love the combination of colours and textures. Also a lovely giveaway. I am a follower of course, but I live in England and so I know it is too far to mail any of your goodies too, but it is a fantastic givaway and your winner will be very lucky indeed! xxoo
    PS that soup sounds fab!

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  28. yay! I hope i's open to all.. :)

    I already follow you guys here and on facebook

    I would sooo love to win any single one of them jars, now the whole set PLUS a gadget!!! That would be awesome!!

    Love,
    Bird

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  29. Wow that is an amazing giveaway. I am already a follower and you are are on my bloglist.

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  30. Hi Pattie and Allie!
    What a beautiful table you set... dishes ~ food ~ sweetness ~ it's all there!
    Isn't it fun how the Pier 1 little birdie shakers are everywhere! I have them too, they're so sweet.

    Your flowerpot napkin rings {with roses} are perfect for spring and summer!

    Oh, do you have your recipe for the mini risotto cakes already published? They look divine!

    Thank you so much for thinking of all of us while you were shopping! Your giveaway is wonderful.
    Thank you for the FUN and for your fabulous post!
    ~Maria

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  31. Oh and I'm a follower too!
    :o)

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  32. Your tables always look amazing, I just want to pull up a chair and sit down and enjoy your company.

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  33. I joined your Facebook page Allie and Pattie.

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  34. As far as I can tell I am following you on Google Friends Connect as well as in Networked blogs:D

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  35. Hi Pattie and Allie, Beautiful post and pretty colors in table setting. I have a set of antique ironstone plates with cup insert for pretty saucer. I should use them!I guess they are for luncheons.Thank you both for brightening my day and displaying such great ideas.I would like to be entered in giveaway and a follower for sure. Thank you again and have a great day! Emelia

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  36. What a great giveaway! Wouldn't I just be thrilled to win that lovely prize. And I love your tablescape with all the pretty ironstone and the little flowerpot napkin holders. I'm a follower too.

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  37. What a fabulous giveaway, Pattie. The table you have set is really lovely and spring-like. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  38. What a great site you have.

    Your table scapes are always so beautiful.
    I just love the flowerpot napkin holders.

    Denise

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  39. Congratulations on the 100+ followers!
    Beautiful table and meal sampling. The green plates look so springy against the white.

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  40. Hi Patti - what a generous giveaway - I've always wanted a mezzaluna, and I LOVE the jars - how cute! Thanks for the opportunity to enter!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1 - I'm commenting that I love your blog :)
    2 - I've been a follower from the start :)
    3 - I am now a fan on facebook (and started my own blog page on facebook - thanks for pointing that out)
    4 - I tweeted your giveaway (and posted it on my foodbuzz page too!)

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  41. PS - I forgot to mention your giveaway w/link is listed on the sidebar of my blog, so I guess I get 5 chances.

    By the way, I'm totally drooling over your tablescape - love, love, love ur ironstone collection!

    :)
    ButterYum

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  42. I love the pink and green with ironstone table -- so pretty, and perfect for a ladies' luncheon! Your giveaway is a fabulous one, and I'd love to win. My husband is the chef in the family, and although he has LOTS of kitchen gear, he doesn't have a mezzaluna. Thank you for your generosity!

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  43. What cute little jars!

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  44. I'm a google follower.

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  45. Just found you through BNOTP and am now following you on FB! Can't wait to see more
    ! Dana ♥

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  46. What a great giveaway you guys!! I love all of it! Of course, the herb pots would be just awesome. We have a lot of herbs coming in like gangbusters right now. I have already been picking and using several oreganos and of course chives (they are already blooming with their flowers).

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  47. I hope I win this giveaway. I love all the spice jars.
    Kelly Bookend Diaries

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  48. As always I so enjoy your posts and look forward to all the updates! The jars are fabulous! I am a happy follower of this blog as well as a friend on facebook! I have also just tweeted about your blog! Thanks for all the childhood memories!!!!
    Annette/Puttering in the Midwest

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  49. Yum...your food looks wonderful. I would love to be included in your fantastic giveaway!

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  50. Your food looks so delicious - I could hardly see the table for the craving in my eyes. However - after gulping and looking past the soup . . . your white dishes are the perfect presentation for your ladies lunch. I hope everyone enjoyed it!

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  51. What a wonderful giveaway, Allie and Patti! Everything always looks so delicious here - the mini risotto cakes and scones look wonderful!

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  52. Lately I have been looking at blogs and I just saw yours; I love your background design. It looks like a scrapbook and gives your blog a more crafty feel. Your table setting is gorgeous! I'm Italian too and I love to decorate, cook and make table settings; you have given me some great new ideas. This is my first time reading your blog and I will defiantly become one of your followers and look forward to your new postings. My dad loves blueberries and I'm going to have to make him your yummy looking scones! ~Melody

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  53. Beautiful food and setting!! Love the white ironstone too!!

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  54. WOWZA! A 2-part giveaway!?!?!? Geeeez! If I don't win one of them I'm really going to feel like a loser! LOL! (Just kidding!) I saw a snippet on television about those little mezzaluna's. The guy said: "This is my food processor!" LOL! Then the other night I saw them cutting pizza with one. So multi-functional! I'd love to have it! :) And you can never have too many cutting boards, right? :) Thanks for offering up such a honey of a giveaway Pattie and Allie! Keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

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  55. Oh, and I'm glad you said something - all this time I thought I was following you but I guess I wasn't?!?!? How could that be? I mean, I'm over here daily! LOL! Anyway - now my face is up on the screen!

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  56. Fabulous giveaway. I am starting to gather things for an anniversary giveaway (not 'til October, but I want it to be good). Anyway, it would be fun to win this.

    The more I read about you "throwing together" beautiful tablescapes and whipping up foods to show clients, the more I admire you. How much notice do you actually get before you have to impress your clients? Do you have things on hand at all times for such cases? I am starting to think you may have a telephone booth with a superhero cape hiding somewhere in your house.

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  57. Hi, I am definitely a follower...I love your linens on your sunroom table,so pretty.God Bless you for all you accomplish in one day.Emelia

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  58. What an amazing giveaway, and I am delighted I found your blog this afternoon. I am now a follower, and I'll post it on my sidebar.

    Now I am off to read more posts!

    Laura

    White Spray Paint

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  59. Love your table! The tablecloth is very pretty! Great giveaway! Thanks!

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  60. Blogging about your giveaway!~Nana~

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  61. Just shared about your giveaway on my Facebook! Join me! Dawn Tipton

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  62. Great giveaway I love it and of course I am a follower!

    You are both the best!!

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  63. Great giveaway!
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  64. Facebook fan-Rae Pavey
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  65. What a great giveaway Allie & Pattie! Love reading your blog. I am a follower too :)

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  66. Ooh! I would love to win your Giveaway! Pick me!!!

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  67. Hi! I'm now a fan of your Facebook page!

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  68. I'm a follower, so how is it looking for that Giveaway?? Are my chances increasing?

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  69. That scone recipe is making my mouth water!

    urchiken at gmail dot com

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  70. How sweet of you to think of us while shopping!

    I follow you here and I follow you on Facebook!

    Thanks for your generous giveaway - I love the jars!

    Deborah in Raleigh
    THREE ENTRIES!

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  71. I am happy to have found your blog! Please toss my name in the hat for your wonderful giveaway. Thank you!

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  72. Love the tablescape and I plan to make the scones. Look yummy!! Put me in for the giveaway. Thanks,

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  73. I am back to tell you that I just became a follower. Look forward to visiting you often.

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