OUR "AUTUMN RECIPE & TABLESCAPE EXCHANGE".....

A few weeks ago, I had the idea of exchanging Autumn "recipes", since I was in dire need of a few new ideas!...& then I went one step further & thought how wonderful it would be add photos of our own lovely Fall "tablescapes" as well! So I told you all about my idea, asking those interested to please post photos of their own pretty tablesettings, along with a favorite "cool weather" recipe. I was so pleased to have so many of you want to join me! So today is that day,......the "Autumn Recipe & Tablescape Exchange"!

For my own contribution, I decided to set a cozy,... somewhat "everyday" placesetting.....I used one of my own quilts (heididevlin.etsy.com) to start with, which I love doing since quilts "soften & quiet" a table. I then added a combination of brown transferware, adding a "bit of color", with some wonderful orange plates I picked up at Anthropologie,... which have a very "vintage-y" appearance. Everything on this table of mine, is just random,... "bits & pieces". Inexpensive "glass candlesticks" with IKEA tapers.....An old tarnished silver "trophy cup" filled with "tangerine-colored roses"......My "cake plate", another piece of garage-sale "silver", topped off with a "glass dome" covering a funny little "pumpkin", & a "scattering of acorns" from our property back east. I also love to always add a small candle next to each placesetting, which when lit adds such an intimate feel to your table....Here it was done, by simply adding a tiny taper to a small juice glass, filled with flax seeds.

For me, a "charming table" is achieved by using lots of "textures",... along with the mixing of interesting "color combinations & patterns"! It's using the "everyday pieces" we all have,... just arranging them in new & different ways, that make a table come to life!

And in amongst your flowers, dishes & silverware,... be sure & add something "homemade"! Of course here, I have used my quilt,... but I also have added "napkins" that are actually "flour-sack" towels, that I have stamped with a "monogram & small acorn", which lends a somewhat elegant, yet earthy feel to the placesetting...which I love!

And since I am on the subject of my "stamped monogram napkins", ....It brings me to my next announcement. I promised, for all of you that participated today in my "Autumn Recipe & Tablescape Exchange" that I would add your names to a drawing for a set of these lovely napkins!...Well the lucky winner is Elise @ "Nest Sweet Nest"!! Congratulations, Elise!...& would you please e-mail me (heididevlin@gmail.com) the "letter" you would like me to use on your napkins, & I will make them up, & send them right out for you to enjoy!

Now for the "recipe" part of this exchange!...I am sharing the recipe for Ina Garten's, "Pumpkin-Banana Tart"! It is "simply divine"!!! You must make it!.... One of the lovliest desserts you will ever serve at this time of year!!!....

Ingredients
For the crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (14 crackers)
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
For the filling:
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 extra-large egg yolks
1 package (2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin
1 ripe banana, finely mashed
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/2 cup cold heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
For the decoration:
1 cup (1/2 pint) cold heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Orange zest, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter in a bowl and mix well. Pour into an 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and press evenly into the sides and then the bottom. Bake for 10 minutes and then cool to room temperature.
For the filling, heat the half-and-half, pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water until hot, about 5 minutes. Whisk the egg yolks in another bowl, stir some of the hot pumpkin into the egg yolks to heat them, then pour the egg-pumpkin mixture back into the double boiler and stir well. Heat the mixture over the simmering water for another 4 to 5 minutes, until it begins to thicken, stirring constantly. You don't want the eggs to scramble. Remove from the heat.
Dissolve the gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water. Add the dissolved gelatin, banana, and orange zest to the pumpkin mixture and mix well. Set aside to cool.
Whip the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and continue to whisk until you have firm peaks. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the pumpkin mixture and pour it into the cooled tart shell. Chill for 2 hours or overnight.
For the decoration, whip the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and vanilla and continue to whisk until you have firm peaks. Pipe or spoon the whipped cream decoratively on the tart and sprinkle, if desired, with orange zest. Serve chilled.

*As promised, I have listed all of today's participants!.....Thank you so very much, for being so generous with your time, ideas & recipes!!....I now am off to visit each of you!...Thank you again for being such good friends! .....Heidi XO
1) Jan @ Jan & Tom's Place
2) Dana @ The Stone Rabbit
3) Lori @ Morning Glories & MoonFlowers
4) Molly @ Fattycake Designs
5) JoAnne @ Sunflower Meadows
6) Denise @ Polka Dot Moon
7) Missy @ Fairy Child Heirlooms
8) Holly @ mommy holly
9) Sherry @ If I Could Free My Soul
10) Deb @ Linens, Lace & Latte's
11) Molly @ molly b
12) Barbara @ Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers...The Art of Homemaking
13) Denise Elizabeth @ Hope Tree Studio
14) Lynn @ Vintage Nest
15) Rhonda @ Scooterblu's Whimsy
16) Tricia @ Tricia's Treasures
17) Katy Lin @ The Great Adventure
18) Elise @ Nest Sweet Nest
19) Valerie @ All The Queen's Chocolate
20) Beverly @ How Sweet The Sound
21) Carol @ Katherine's Dream
22) Mona @ Peace and Quilts
23) Becky @ Lace and Lures
24) Chris @Refining Life
24) Patti @ Creative Cottage Dreamer
25) Gretchen @ Bird Nest Cottage
26) Elizabeth @ French Village Life
27) Tamy @ 3 Sides of Crazy
28) Jennifer @ Jennifer's Petal Palace
29) Kathy @ Kat Collects
30) Kimberly @ Seashells and Silver
31) Linda @ LBP Sew
32) Sue @ Cottage in the Cedars

33) Ginger @ maumauisginger@gmail.com
34) Elizabeth @ doot65@comcast.net
35) Carla @ cpullen@yahoo.com