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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

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.



34 comments:

Andrea at Opulent Cottage said...

Your table is just breathtaking!! The tablecloth is just beautiful, and the plates are my favorites too, Bordallo and red transferware! I hope you and your family are having a wonderful holiday season, and thank you for your visit and your lovely comments!
Cheers, Andrea

Anonymous said...

OMG Marlis, you set such a beautiful table! It really puts me in the Christmas spirit, thanks dear friend.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Marlis....your table is STUNNING!! I love each and every element. You've broght them all together is such a beautiful, old-world kind of fashion. And your menu and Beef Roulade look devine :)

CHRISTmas Blessings!
Gail

Christy Burcham said...

So beautiful! We have one of these Christmas Pyramids. Now I am inspired to make it the center of attention. My husband's mother used to make Rouladen for Christmas Eve--can't wait to try your recipe!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

First, I love that tablecloth...gorgeous! Now I can say that the entire table setting is just breath taking...it has a holiday feeling to it and just oh so beautiful!

Miss Merry said...

What a lovely advent table. I love your china. I will have to be on the look out for it! And I agree, Bill is such an inspiration. Your crystal glasses are just wonderful. It is a gorgeous holiday table.

Anonymous said...

Hi Marlis! Your table is truly stunning. What a lovely tablecloth and it looks wonderful with your dishes! I love the green dishes you've used with them too. Your centerpiece is so pretty. You did a fabulous job.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Kathleen said...

Marlis this is gorgeous! Those cream soup bowls are just beautiful, and the whole table is put together so well. The menu sounds great too!

Lynn said...

I love the tablecloth and the china is perfect for it! Just a beautiful table! I have a Christmas Pyramid I'll be sharing soon too-enjoy:@)

Michelle @ Sweet Something Design said...

Hi Marlis, what a wonderful table! The German pyramid is fantastic!

Debbie said...

Everything was wonderful, but my favorite part of all was the centerpiece. I love it. One of our German exchange students gave us an ornament which looked much like it in miniature. It just made the table extra special.

And I really loved the red dishes, too.

xinex said...

Your table is so lovely, Marlis. What a beautiful and unique centerpiece. Love the dishes! I used red transferware today too. Isn't Bill's hobby, aka disease, contagious? LOL. Those etched crystals are stunning!...Christine

The Inspired Nest said...

This is a stunning tablescape! I am in love with your Burganland collection. You really made something that could be very fussy, comfortable and welcoming. I love that I felt at home looking at your pics and very welcomed.
Beautiful!
Lacy

Marigene said...

Wow, what a stunning table, Marlis! It is so pretty with the little bit of green you have added to the red and white. The table linens are gorgeous. Love the centerpiece, it is so unusual.

Janet said...

beautiful tablescape! I agree with you the crystal is gorgeous!!

Carey said...

That tablecloth is so beautiful. I would love one for myself. The napkins are lovely. Have you ever tried that type of needlework? I would love to learn.
Happy Holidays,
arey

A Toile Tale said...

Marlis -
You can bet I'll be looking for that china pattern. Love it! And the tablecloth is perfection with it. What a special table.
Christmas blessings,
Linda @ A Toile Tale

ellen b. said...

Just gorgeous. I love the layering, love the transferware. Everything is just so nicely put together. Sigh...

a quiet life said...

love your mix and match and the tablecloth, beautiful, creative table~

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

I love your pretty transferware -- and the mixture with the green dishes is just magnificant. What a wonderful centerpiece. Beautifully done (I almost forgot to mention that wonderful tablecloth as well) so many lovely elements to your setting.

Alycia Nichols said...

Hi there, Marlis! The Christmas pyramid brought back a few memories. I attended a Catholic grade school at which many of the nuns were of German descent, so that is my first memory of the Christmas pyramid!!! We had fun making them with all sorts of different crafty elements like popscicle sticks and clothes pins. I remember making pfeffernusse for the class (sp?) and everyone singing "Stille Nacht" in German for the Christmas pageant. I tried singing it recently to a friend of mine who hails from Germany, and he thought it quite impressive - although amusing - that I should know it! I even tried to learn the German language on my own when I was in the 5th or 6th grade. Bought a German/English dictionary and gave it a whirl for about 3 years. Not much success. You really need a coach to get the dialect right, I think. Anyhoooooooo....I digress. Your table is magnificent with all the beautiful dishes and their varied scenes!!! I especially love the soup tureen! Bill is right about the crystal: Go for it!!! You can NEVER have enough as far as I'm concerned. I tend to use the same 3 or 4 patterns repeatedly, but you never know. You picked something quite lovely here for sure to go alongside the silver goblets! As for the rouladen recipe, what does the pickle do? I'm going to try to make it, but is the pickle for flavor or what? Is is a dill pickle or a sweet pickle? Thanks for stopping by my place earlier!

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Marlis,
Can you hear my heart from where you are? Pitter-Pat- SKIP A BEAT!
This table is singing a love song to me. Oh, it is GORGEOUS! This is one of those rare tables that I'll always remember... well actually I'm bookmarking it!

I LOVE the soft combination of plates. You did a masterful job combining colors, textures and shapes!!!!!! So so beautiful.
I love the silver and the exquisite cutwork napkins.

I have that same precious whirlygig. We have had it for over 20 years. Some of the paddles are just a little singed.

All, every bit perfection.
What a joy to visit!!!!
Yvonne

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

What a lovely table setting! I particularly like the dinnerware and how beautifully it goes with the tablecloth. Your pictures look straight out of a magazine. You certainly have a table at which I'd like to dine.

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Marlis, I just adore this tablescape! I love the subtle combination of plates, and the cloth is a great choice that pulls it all together. I like your choice of candle colors as well. We have a similar whirlygig but I haven't used it lately. It's coming out of the attic next year!
The menu and rouladen looks wonderful too. I am hosting a dinner party this weekend, so I didn't participate in TT this week. I'll be back next week!

Barbara said...

Marlis, what a beautiful table! I love the layering of plates - such a wonderful combination of color, texture and design. I love your centerpiece. I haven't seen one of those for a long time. So special. I love your linens too.

Johanna Gehrlein said...

Dear Marlis,
wonderful Christmas time - wonderful Christmas table! Love all the details. The red table runner is exquisit to the Burgenland dishes and you stack a lot of nice china for each person. The cutglass and the napkins are really to die for. The stemwae is breathtaking. So many nice details, I don't know which one is the best.
And the Rouladen are perfect made. Just the way we do it. And tabasco is a great idea, I will do that next time, too.
Greetings, Johanna

Tricia said...

Marlis, I have never seen that Burgenland pattern, but it is gorgeous, and just so Christmas-perfect! How fun that you have so many different pieces in that pattern, too! The cream soups are so pretty. The tablecloth is also stunning!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Oh my gosh, your table and all is finery is gorgeous! I love all the shots of the sun shining through. What a great mix of colors and patterns. Thank you for swinging by and leaving such a sweet comment.
hugs ~lynne~

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Gorgeous table! I loved it! Congratulations on your stunning china Burgenland, what a great collection, so great you can buy pieces and add to it. The stemware is gorgeous, I'm the type...if it's beautiful, who cares what it is. I have your same German pyramid center piece. My granddaughters love it when the candles are lit and it goes around.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
FABBY

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Marlis, your table is gorgeous! The red Transferware is stunning and I love the combination of the green Burgenland too. Every detail is wonderful and quite a joy to gaze at.
Happy holidays! Linda

Sarah said...

Marlis, I missed this one earlier. It's charming! Love the advent piece and that gorgeous tablecloth. Thanks for the store link. Your layers of ceramics is perfection, as is all that you do. ~ Sarah

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

OMG, How DID I miss this masterpiece!!! LOVE,LOVE,LOVE everything BUT my very favorite is the tablecloth, WOW look how it matches your transferware!!! I'm LOVIN that CONSIDERING I have that very set, I'm now on the lookout for that tablecloth. Incredible pairing!!! of course everything else is just weaved in with your perfect sense of style... and I'm SO ashamed to say I don't own a Germany Pyramid "YET"(but I WILL)!!! I have signed up to get email from the shop you got your tablecloth... Thank you SO MUCH for this beautiful setting...
Hugs, Donna

Anne said...

I have the exact same (down to the markings on the paddles) Christmas carousel, and it came from Lillian Vernon, which I believe is out of business. My mom bought it in the 90s.

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