Last chance Giveaway, Tablescape Thursday, and Quickie Challenge!!

Hi all! Happy Thursday! And what a Thursday it is- busy, busy week here at casa Bramasole! Today we're linking to TWO Blogland events! First we're joining the fabulous Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her weekly Tablescape Thursday party. All of blogland's dishaholics gather to play with dishes- what could be better than that! Just click on the link on our sidebar and join the fun!

THEN, we're going to accept the gauntlet thrown down by Lazaro over at Lazaro Cooks! Read on for the details

But FIRST, we're going to announce the winner of Part 1 of our very first ever Giveaway!!!

Drum Roll Please...................

The winner is...........

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:78Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Number 78 is Artie Vanderpoole!!! From Color Outside the Lines !!!

If you've never been to Artie's blog and you're a lover of great design, hop on over- you're in for a treat.

Now I happen to know that Scott is the cook extraordinaire in that household, so I can't wait to hear what he cooks up with his new mezzaluna! Scott, we want a recipe! And Artie, we can't wait to see you back here with one of your fantabulous tablescapes.

YAY!!! We are so excited for our first winner! I'll be emailing you for an address and your Mezzaluna, cutting board and Anthropologie spice jars will be on their way!!

NOW, for Part 2!! 

Tonight, Thursday May 13th, is your last chance to enter for Part 2- CSN Stores' 60 dollar gift certificate. You MUST go HERE to enter. Be sure to follow us- we had so much fun with this that Allie is already planning our next one!

Now onto the Quickies Dinner Challenge!

Lazaro has invited us all to come up with as many dishes as we care to using avocados and feta- this is one that is already a summer regular at my house!

The  challenge was to come up with a quick dish using avocado and feta. 

As it happens, the very first recipe we ever posted was a salad that we sometimes adapt with those very ingredients. The layering of flavors in this salad is awesome-a true blend of sweet, sour, heat, creamy, crunchy and healthy to boot!

Avocado, Watermelon, Feta Salad

1/2 a watermelon 

1 small onion (I like Vidalia or a sweet white), sliced into very thin rings

2 avocados

1 container of heirloom cherry tomatoes

1/2-1 jalapeno, very thinly sliced and minced

1/4 cup wine vinegar (my new favorite is infused with pomegranite- a gorgeous ruby color)

salt and pepper to taste

about 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

a good handful of chopped mint

4 ounces or more (I like extra) crumbled feta cheese

garnish with a few whole mint or basil leaves and a handful of toasted pine nuts

Cut the melon in bite-size cubes and combine in a bowl with onion, avocado, tomatoes and feta.

Whisk together remaining ingredients and pour over melon mix. Fold all together till everything is coated. To serve, use a slotted spoon to put a mound on top of a plate of mixed greens. You may sprinkle with more crumbled feta and garnish with mint or basil leaves and toasted pine nuts (I forgot to put the pine nuts on before I took the picture- use your imagination- YUM!!)

I served this salad today to a friend who's working with me on a school project. With a creamy leek soup garnished with bacon it made for a nice Spring lunch on the porch

The weather today was perfect- sunny with a light, cool breeze

Blue, grren and white is on of my favorite combinations- and red makes ANYTHING better

Leftover Mother's Day roses- starting to droop a bit, but I'm not ready to let go...

A vintage drawnwork cloth- this work never ceases to amaze me

Waterford cased crystal- the blue is just made for a Spring day

A cup of soup to start us off...

Water goblets are old etched glass

Soup garnishes are served in the crystal punch cups

Does everyone remember Liberty Blue??

So pretty....

I can't imagine the hours this must have taken

I LOVE etched glass

Care to join us?

Be sure to join us tomorrow night for Foodie Friday at Gollum's and be extra especially sure to get in on this Giveaway!!

As Always,

Buon Alimenti, Buon Amici,

Pattie and Allie