Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I'm turning in to a Tex Mex Italian.....

Since I have moved to Texas I want to experience everything! I love going to the market...
Really???? Yes! It is wonderful to walk through the produce department and wonder what in the world do Texans do with this stuff ? There are so many vegetables that I have never heard of....forget about Mexican pastries! That's a whole other can of worms!
I have decided to make friends with someone who knows how to cook Mexican and then, bribe them to teach me! lol

A few days ago, I took my husband to "Fiesta," a market here in Houston. He was in awe at the produce department....so many peppers, fruits, roots, cactus etc. We heard only Spanish being spoken and the piles of tortilla on tables would make your head spin! The other neat thing is they had stores in the grocery store! What's up with that? You could buy clothes, get your hair done, buy drinks, buy who knows what else! It looked like we were in Las Vegas with all the lights.
We had fun going up and down the aisles looking at all the food. We did buy fruit and some Mexican pastries. I forgot to write down the names so I will have to go back to write them down and see if I can make friends with someone who knows how to cook Mexican!
With all that said, can you guess where my inspiration came from....Yes! Tex-Mex...Italian style! lol

We are in my family room on the round coffee table.....we often eat in here on Friday nights or if we are in the middle of a good movie!

 Dinner is Tex-Mex Pie( I learned to make this from a church we visited), a Green Salad and Strawberry Margarita's.


The striped dishes are by Set Sail. I bought 4 plates and bowls at 1/2 price in two different stores. One in Spring and the other in Galveston, Texas. Who could have guessed!


The oval bowl is "Sango". The pattern is Cafe Americana 98.
This set was given to me by my friend Shelley from Buffalo, NY.



The napkins are bandannas from Hobby Lobby. The fruit is from Fiesta Market. The bowl the fruit is in is a gift from my friend Shelley.



The Margaritas glasses are from Marshall's. I forgot to fill them!



The candelabra is from The Goodwill in Buffalo...at $2.00, I couldn't resist! The tablecloth is from a thrift store in Houston. I just love the colors! Very festive!



I hope you enjoyed my tablescape as much as I did setting it!
 Have a festive day!


Thank you to Susan at Between Naps On the Porch for hosting Tablescape Thursday! Please visit some wonderful tablescapes.


Blessings My Friend,


14 comments:

  1. Now that is one festive table, Elaine! Cute plates.
    You have me hankering for some nachos!
    I love going to the grocery even though I don't like the prices. I especially like going to a new store finding new items that I didn't know I needed...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elaine, I love this post. I think it is so romantic for you and your hubby to eat dinner like that, love the candelabra! You always find the neatest stuff in your shopping travels. Check out Daisy Martinez.com for really delicious Spanish recipes and helpful hints. Muy delicioso! xo,

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh Elaine, I enjoyed looking at this post and those beautiful triped plates and the food! I'm sure you're having a good time in Texas, with new things, like Tex-mex, although, I'm not great with Mexican kind of food, I do prefer Texmex and for sure Italian. Gorgeous table! Lots of hugs, FABBY

    ReplyDelete
  4. Elaine, how wonderful that you can get your husband to shop with you. Your table is lovely. I think it all says Tex-Mex perfectly. Your finds are certainly treasures, your keen eye for a good deal is evident! xo marlis

    ReplyDelete
  5. So festive. And truely romantic too!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Shel

    ReplyDelete
  6. I cannot stop laughing. You are SO funny!!! "They have stores in the grocery store..." SO funny!!! I can just imagine you saying that out loud. In the Kansas City area we have "the West side" where a lot of Latinos reside. There are many stores and markets there, and there is something kind of like what you describe. It's really quite a phenomenon. VERY different...and yet, convenient! I enjoy preparing South of the Border dishes, and I look forward to seeing what you learn in the coming months. Take care, and have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very festive table! Love those colorful plates and that fabulous find of a candelabra!

    I love Mexican food, too. I still remember a Mexican pastry/cookie I had as a pre-schooler....have wished I could find another all these (many) years. If only I knew what I was looking for!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a colorful and cheerful table. How fun to have such a new shopping experience. Sounds like you are blooming in your new home state.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, this pretty table really shouts "Fiesta!" I love the bright colors, and the food looks delicious! I know you and your husband had fun eating that night! Yes, there are some interesting things in Texas grocery stores -- it's sort of like living in another country!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Elaine, I love your bright and festive table, but it makes me a little homesick for Texas. I'm glad you're soaking in the local color in your new home!

    Stop by if you get a chance. My Vintage Linen & Dish Auction is going on now!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Elaine, first, thank you for such a nice comment that you left at Bella Vista. My thoughts are with you.

    Your table is just delightful....so festive and pretty. I love it and the food is toooo yummy.

    Barb

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Elaine, your Tex-Mex table is looking so festive and I loved it. The candelabra looks so beautiful and is the perfect accent for this table and I love all your colorful plates and bowls... the tablecloth is so bright and cheerful and sets the perfect backdrop for this fiesta table. I enjoyed your post... shopping for clothing and getting your hair done as well in a grocery makes me smile... thanks for sharing and for your loving comment on my summer vignettes. Have a lovely week!~Poppy

    http://withadashofcolor.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a pretty and festive table and your pie looks wonderful!!! We love Tex Mex food here and I don't make it often enough!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh I love how vibrant this tablescape is! I'm kind of jealous about your eating on the coffee table...my hubby & I used to do this when we were newlyweds while watching a movie. We haven't done that in years.

    So tell me, how does it feel to have escaped Buffalo winters? :D

    ReplyDelete