2nd Advent - Rouladen recipe too! Tablescape

Welcome to our home for the 2nd Advent, which was this past Sunday. Today, the table is certainly red, white and a touch of green.

I started out with a recent purchase, a Megeve Hermes tablecloth purchased from a vendor at our local Junior League Holiday Happening market. Via Mediterranee is the name of her shop and she sells these magnificent table covers. She has covers in linen, cotton, and polyester. I used one in an earlier tablescape HERE.

I'm using Villeroy & Boch Burgenland dishes. This set has been discontinued but is available on the secondary market.

A Wedgwood Windsor white salad plate is next.

Bordallo Pinheiro Cabbage plate is being used as an underplate to the cream soups.

Topped off with Burgenland's cream soup. I have the proper underplates for these, but thought the green added a bit more interest.

Silver by WMF

A bit of cutwork, a bit of embroidery and an insert highlight these napkins.

Napkins are trimmed in a bit of lace. Found at an estate sale.

Although the center of the tablecloth has hearts woven into the fabric, it certainly goes along with the theme of the dinner plates!

Although I know nothing about this crystal, I knew when I saw it at an estate sale, it was going to be mine - oops ours. After reading Bill's blog, Affordable Accoutrements, I knew I had to start amassing collecting some great crystal. Officially, it's all his inspiration.

I just loved the pattern of the glass so much, I also purchased the sherbets!

A crystal decanter from which to serve.

Burgenland butter dish.

Burgenland gravy boat with attached underplate.

Burgenland candlesticks.

Burgenland soup tureen.

The scenes are unique on each piece, and I just love them all!

I used a German Christmas pyramid nestled on a bed of evergreens as a centerpiece.

Cast:

Tablecloth - Megeve Hermes from Via Mediterranee

Burgenland - collected from various sources

Bordallo Pinheiro - TJ Maxx about a decade ago

WMF - Germany

Crystal - Estate sale; Libbey Rock Sharpe

Silver goblets - Spain

Napkins - Estate sale

Christmas Pyramid - Germany

Fresh Greens - grocers

Menu:

Spargelsuppe - Cream of asparagus soup

Kartoffeln mit Petersilie - Parslied potatoes

Gruene Bohnen - Green Beans

Rouladen - Beef roulade

Rouladen*:

This is not my photo, it came from Wikipedia - note the pickle!

Beef Scallopini - at least one per person (I have the butcher slice a sirloin cut into scallopini slices)

Horseradish Mustard

Bacon slices - about two per scallopini

Tabasco sauce

Olive oil

Water

Chopped onion

Flour roux (flour and butter)

Bay leaf

Cooking twine

1. Lay beef scallopini flat on waxed paper. Spread each slice with a medium coat of horseradish mustard. On the wider end, add a drop or two of Tabasco sauce. Cover each slice with two slices of bacon. Roll each scallopini into a log. The bacon will tend to slide, so kind of press it into the roll as you go. Secure the log/roulade with the twine, wrapping from end to end and then several times around the log/roulade itself. No need to tie a knot, when the log/roulade is browned the twine will secure.
2. Heat olive oil in a heavy pot. Brown all rouladen quickly on all sides. Add onion and bay leaf. Saute until golden. Add water to almost cover the rouladen. (We like lots of gravy.) Braise for approximately 90 minutes.  Remove rouladen from liquid and place on a heated pates to keep warm (or in a low temp over, covered with foil).
3. Make a roux of equal parts butter and flour. Depending on the amount of gravy you like, I usually start with 3 tablespoons flour and butter. Brown slowly. This cooks the flour and removes the flour taste. Add to liquid in pot thickening to desired consistency. 
4. Unwrap the rouladen. 
5. Serve with boiled, parslied potatoes.

*Some Germans insert a pickle slice into the roulade, however my grandmother didn't, my mother didn't, and I don't. I think it's a personal choice. Germans also would not use Tabasco in this dish, but I find it gives a very nice flavor to the dish. 

Mahlzeit!

Thank you so much for dropping by today. I hope you enjoyed your visit as much as I enjoyed sharing our German table with you. 

I am linking up with Susan's at Between Naps on the Porch. Be sure to drop in over there to see all the lovely settings and maybe get inspiration for your Christmas table.