Happy Hour Is Really More Than An Hour

Happy Hour an event where we gather with friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances or possibly striking up a conversation with a new person enjoying their "Happy Hour".

I am drawn to definitions of words or terms that we apply to possibly justify celebrating any event or to possibly just use for us to wind down, amp up or collect our mess of a self to rally on throughout the week.

Happy:  feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.  synonyms:  cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, good spirits, in a good mood, lighthearted, buoyant.  Also fortunate, lucky, favorable, advantageous, opportune, timely, well timed convenient

Hour:  a period of time equal to a twenty-fourth part of a day and night and divided into 60 minutes.  a less definite period of time.

Wow, I can see the benefits of the Happy Hour!  I am encouraged to show pleasure with a cheery, merry good spirit to celebrate a well timed convenient period of time or a less definite period of time. Who wouldn't be in a good mood as the opportune less definite period of time is most definitely fortunate  in a timely advantageous period of time dedicated to a joyful outing!   Whew, did I use my adjectives with my noun to paint the vision?????

I choose happy hours any time of the day.  You can turn any 60 minutes to a celebration at the table with coffee, morsels of sweet ooey goodness, rich savory noshes, warm or sweet wines or create your own cheery joyful less definite period of time to shake off the ol' arm of stress, celebrate a milestone or goal, special occasions or how about celebrating you?  Yes, you read that correctly, buttercup..celebrate you!

I love "Happy Hours"!!  After all...being happy, by definition, seems to be a perfectly awesome way to approach your journey.  Don't you agree????

Bruschetta is an Italian dish with crusty bread, olive oil, tomatoes and basil.  I love to step out into the creative culinary delight by creating toppings that can be included with the Tuscan Tomato Bruschetta recipe listed below.

Bruschetta Bar

French Baguettes, sourdough mini boules -
Proscuitto
Sopressta
Salami
Rare sliced steak
Salmon
Shrimp
Hummus
Artichokes
Olives - visit your
Cheese - goats, bleu cheese, gorgonzola, aged cheddar
Brie
Nuts
Roasted vegetables
Roasted peppers
garlic buttons
sweety peppers
tapenades

Slice your french baguettes into rounds - toast  with parmesan, garlic/olive oil, or leave natural.  For larger bruschettas you can slice a mini sourdough boule or a flavored sourdough like rosemary into a larger slices.  For the larger slices considering toasting to turn into a mini pizza or larger bruschetta.

Arrange breads on a large platter.  Surround the platter with small ramekins filled with any of the suggested toppings or select your own.

Tuscan Tomato 
Yield:  12- 20 servings
Prep Time:  15 minutes

6 Organic large roma tomatoes
Sweet peppers * I love the sweety peppers from Whole Foods located on our olive bar
1 jar of organic artichoke hearts
Lemon Pepper
Sea Salt
Fresh Spinach Leaves
Fresh Basil
Pinch of garlic salt
Cracked pepper feta cheese

Slice firm roma tomatoes into chunks- think small not large.  Combine with artichokes, sweet peppers, sea salt and lemon pepper.  Remove stems from spinach and fresh basil.  Chiffonade the spinach and basil.  Mix all together to let flavors marry.

Be sure to add the Cracked Pepper feta cheese to the bar mix as it is delightful with the Tuscan Tomato topping.  This topping is also fun when creating grilled pizzas!

Lemon and Blood Orange  Zinger Wine
Yield:  12 servings
Prep Time:  10 minutes

2 bottles of Savignon Blanc
1 bottle of lemon sparkling water
1/2 to 1  bottle of Blood Orange  Italian Soda
2 large lemons
2 small oranges

Mix all the wine, sparkling water and italian soda  together.  Slice the lemons and oranges into rings add to the pitcher of wine mixture.  Save some lemons and oranges for drink garnishes or freeze in ice cube trays! Be creative with italian sodas for the flavor can change your zinger wine.  I love blood orange, pomegranate, cherry, strawberry, orange, lime, chili infused!!!


So..what are you waiting for?????  Let's gather at the Gypsy's Table to celebrate a cheerful, good time, joyful less definite period of time..aka Happy Hour

Yummy goodness

Morsels of sweet peppers, basil and vegetables

May Day Celebration

As I sit to reflect the long week there is joy in warmly remembering all my adventures with a smile on my face and a cup of joe in my hand.  Perfect morning, right?  Birds are singing, crisp morning air embracing the anticipation of a great 1st weekend for May.

I am taken back to a time where there were celebrations of brightly colored wrapped poles with the bright streamers flowing as we reached out to wrap our hands around dancing and laughing.  Ahh,  the simple joys of youth enjoying an old tradition.  May Day traditions.....

I wanted to learn more about this tradition of May Day.  Where do I go?  Google of course to learn more about this ancient celebration.  There are several sites to give a simple explanation to a long historical summary.  I simply like to think of May Day as the holiday as the time between the equinox and solstice celebrating the waxing of the sun with an age old art of tradition of a brightly wrapped pole to dance gleefully. In olden days a tree was wrapped with ribbon as trees are a symbol for vitality and abundance for Spring.

 I am not sure of this tradition is practiced very much but I think to revive this lovely ideal would be wonderful.  In the 20th century the tradition of small paper cones of beautiful flowers or sweets were anonymously taken to hang on the neighbors doors, left on porches or doorsteps.  I think this lovely gift would be perfect to give to anyone on your journey.  A co-worker, a new neighbor, a life long friend or a new friend would be surprised and pleased with this small token of a fragrant gift, don't you think?

I hope that today on your May Day celebration that you take the time to create a fun tradition with your friends and family.  The table is a place for you to reach deep inside to find the creative slumbering soul.  Just reflect on what the holiday could mean to you, friends, neighbors and family to bring a beloved old tradition refined into a new tradition to celebrate May Day.

May Day Celebrations

Paper cones made of brightly wrapped paper embellished with bright ribbon streamers. Fill the cones with sweets (homemade or bought) or bright colored flowers.  Place on your neighbors doorsteps, take one to work, give to a friend.

Create a Maypole with streamers to have a May Day dance and potluck with neighbors.  Create a crown with a wreath of flowers with bright ribbons to wear for the girls and a crown of leaves with sticks for the boys.  You might want to include music with everyone who plays a musical instrument to sing songs around the firepit as you gaze upon the magnificent stars.

Create a farm to table decor with the table decorated with fresh cut flowers, garlands of ivy, lights in mason jars to give a fairy effect and place cards written with small tokens of what spring brings to us.


May Day  Merriment

Spring Salad

Yield:  8 - 10 servings

1 package of Herbed Spring Mix Salad
Feta Cheese or crumbled goats cheese
Edible Flowers * usually found in your packaged herb section at local  market
Red, orange and yellow bell peppers
Strawberries
Blueberries
Roasted pecans
Dried Cranberries
Unsalted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
Whole Foods Lemon Tahini Dressing

Use one container or package of herbed spring mix salad.  Garnish with red, orange, and yellow bell peppers cut in thin julienne strips.  Add strawberries cut in half with blueberries and dried cranberries.  Toss roasted pecans, crumbled goats or feta cheese with lemon dressing.

Mozzarella Basil Tomato Sandwiches
Yield:  8 sandwiches

2 loaves of Sea Salted Ciabatta bread
Basil Pesto * 1/2 c or more to your taste
Spinach leaves * fresh from bin or packaged
Mozzarella sliced thick
Thick cut slices of Heirloom or local grown tomatoes
Basil leaves or Sprigs of Rosemary
Olive oil to drizzle lightly

Split the loaves of ciabatta.  Spread the basil pesto on both sides of the loaves ( I love basil pesto so I said to start with a 1/2 cup for each loaf).  Place the thick slices of mozzarella, leaves of spinach to cover the mozzarella, slices of tomatoes, drizzle lightly with olive oil.

Place the top layer of bread on top of the bottom layer filled with mozzrella, basil pesto, spinach leaf and tomato goodness.  Cut your bread half  then in quarters.  Each loaf should yield  4 sandwiches.
Wrap in parchment paper or tissue wrap with a string then place a sprig of rosemary or basil leaf tucked into the bow of the string.

For the Kids

Make My Day Pizza

Pizza dough homemade, Burrito sized tortillas wheat or white or gluten free, packaged pizza dough from Traders Joe or go by your local bakery inhouse of your favorite grocery store.  If they have a scratch bakery or make french bread ask to purchase a unbaked loaf of the dough

Roll out your pizza dough then cut into rounds.  Make the size of rounds to your liking

Toppings for kids to select from to place on pizza
Precooked chicken strips
pepperoni, hamburger meat * all precooked
grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms * all precooked
Mozzarella cheese, goats cheese or Parmesan * all grated

Be sure to use the medium heat side on your grill.  Take a thick towel to dip in olive oil to rub on grates.  Be sure to have a mitt on for safety to your hands. 
Grill the dough for 2 - 3 minutes on each side
Add toppings and cheese.  Keep on grill just to melt cheese.  You may close the lid but watch
carefully


Dessert Pizzas

Grill as above
Add fresh strawberries, blueberries, pineapple
Drizzle with chocolate over pizzas


Happy May Day!


* I hope to start taking my pictures soon as I cook.  Balance..balance and Just Breathe.  I used pictures from just generic pics found so you can see for reference

Shall We Gather At The Table

Have you ever looked up the definition of a table?   The definition is quite diverse as we find  the list to include noun, architecture, tables, music, jewelry, adjective, verb, parliamentary tables and idioms. I like the definition of "an article of furniture consisting of a flatlike, slablike top supported on one or more legs or other supports".

A thick slab of wood in a deep rich color or a shabby white , a little nicked with love,  that is sturdy giving  support to the center energy of a home.  A table can be  filled with food, flowers, a  worn crevice where bread was kneaded, a gathering spot for family or friends, loving craft table..oh yes a table is teeming with endless possibilities for a rewarding energetic creative palette..your palette

The next time you gather at the table take a long gaze at your table. With an fresh approach take the step to be  innovative with what you can create with love and passion.

"The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance, and nourishment, safety and satisfaction.  A person cooking is a person giving:  Even the simplest food is a gift." - Laurie
Colwin

Sustenance:  something (such as food) that keeps someone or something alive
: something that gives support, help or strength -merriam-webster definition

The quintessential Gypsy's Table is my perfect haven!  I hope you find yourself to be in your perfect haven!

Happy Gathering