This week, I planned to have a couple of friends over for a day of sewing and chatting, and maybe just a touch of stitch-and-bitch. My Sweet Babboo always calls this a Hen Party, so I got out my chicken table topper for a nice tablescape for lunch.
I put my gold chargers at the places, topped with white plates and rooster bowls.
The chickens on the bowls are similar to the ones on the table topper.
Gold napkins are held with rooster napkin rings.
In the center of the table, a chicken trivet will be used to hold a hot dish.
The centerpiece is at the fourth place at the table as there are only three of us for lunch. My white chickens are in front of a milk glass vase with silk flowers echoing the colors in the table topper.
The topper says “welcome to our roost” on the borders.
A fun table with each place setting ready to have soup ladled into the bowls for the first course.
So what’s on the menu? My favorite lunch to make for friends in cold weather months – homemade soup and quiche. I make the quiche up earlier in the day, to the point of adding the eggs. I put it in the refrigerator until time to bake. About an hour before I want to serve lunch, I take it out, add the eggs and milk, then put it in a preheated oven.
This one was ham, spinach, baby bella mushrooms, and onions with cheddar jack cheese in a store bought crust. The basic recipe is on my Anything Quiche post, this time with a crust.
Yum!! Half of it was eaten in short order.
I’ve created a new tomato soup recipe, and my friends were willing to be taste testers, declaring it a success! It is very easy, using prepared products combined in a new way for a blast of flavor. All you need are these two cans and a few more ingredients.
In a saucepan, place a teaspoon or so of olive oil, and heat on medium. Add 1/4 cup chopped onions and saute until translucent. Add the tomato soup, the fire roasted diced tomatoes, 1 cup milk and 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil. If you like, a dash of garlic salt will add just a bit more flavor. Bring to a boil, take off the heat and serve.
Hearty and filling with deep tomato flavor, it was the perfect accompaniment to the quiche.
Oh, yes, I know you want a pdf, LOL!! Here it is, just click on this link – Fire Roasted Tomato Soup.
We had a lovely leisurely lunch, then back to the sewing room for a couple more hours of sewing and chatting, with lots of laughter. With good food and good friends, it was a day we all needed, relaxing and productive.
From My Carolina Home 
Happy to hear your hen party was a success! The soup and quiche look delicious. I’m getting together with some friends at our church next Tuesday to also have a sewing and lunch day. It’s such a nice thing to have to look forward to.
What a nice way to spend the day!
your luncheon looks great and the soup looks good too
Pretty table and yummy meal, too! Hope you had a fun stitch and bitch session!
I love the chickens! And putting the soup on my list to make soon!
You and your friends had such a lovely day, stitching together and a tasty lunch. And no doubt morning tea/coffee and cake too.
great recipes to add to my collection. Thank you Carole
See? this is why I am packing up all my treasures and well, I will just have a treasures room at my new house. I am just not completely ready to get rid of stuff I love. A few furnishings I am happy to find new homes for, but I have a lot of treasures. All of the many boxes will be marked ‘treasures” haha well, I will try to be specific of course
What a lovely tablescape…so cozy looking! I can hardly wait to try your tweak on tomato soup. I don’t care for canned tomato soup but your additions sound tasty. My favorite part of your tablescape are those adorable napkin rings. You have such good taste!
Thanks for the recipe for the soup….it was wonderful we had it today with a grill cheese sandwich made on my mother’s really old griddle…makes the best grilled cheeses!!!! Love reading your messages and seeing what you are up to next. You really do a lot for so many and I know that they must be grateful. Love reading some of the books you have read and thanks for that. Happy stitchingSharon
Sounds like a wonderful day full of fellowship, food and sew time! Awesome!
Like your chicken theme!
Jo Anne
Everything is beautiful, as always. My kitchen is chicken/rooster themed.
Made your Fire Roasted Tomato Soup for dinner tonight along with grilled cheese on swirled rye sandwiches. It was terrific, very fast to make and clean up, and very economical.
Thank you for this recipe!!
Oh, super, thank you! So glad you liked it!
You are such a great hostess!
Thanks. I have missed your tablescape posts.
Carol
I use Progresso Tomato Basil soup as a base for an enhanced tomato soup. I add leftover cooked veggies, or chopped carrots or leftover rice or quinoa, whatever happens to be available. It’s always nice to have lunch with some friends, even if no sewing happens.
Thanks for sharing the soup recipe and quiche links. Two of my favorite “serve to others” lunches too and always looking for new ones. I’ll have to email you my newest favorite soup. I suspect you enjoy Indian flavors and it’s a four-ingredient gem!
I adore your table. I think you’ll have the loveliest time with your friends and they will be both fully satiated, visually impressed and no doubt full of fun things to share! Enjoy!
I love everything about this, Carole. Great tablescaoe for the hen party, great food choices (thanks for sharing!), and love the phrase stitch and bitch.
Sounds like a fun day. Thanks for the recipe. I like “fancy” tomato soup and hubby likes “plain” tomato soup. This may just be the perfect mash-up for both of us!
What a lovely welcome table for your guests!
I am sure your hen party was just fabulous! Love the table and the food looks so yummy.