My pal Barb had a birthday this week, so friend Kate and I decided to throw her a birthday lunch! After all, we need a good reason to celebrate something and what could be better that honoring the day that a special friend was born?
I got the table set the night before, using a vintage tablecloth as a base and a smaller cloth over that as a topper. (Rita -- do you recognize the smaller cloth topper? You should!) As the salad was the main course, we dispensed with salad plates or bowls. Mom's silver came out, along with the some Depression glass tumblers. My Mikasa "Just Flowers" pattern seemed to be the right one for spring.
At each place setting was a small vase of flowers and a bird's nest. (The nest was the idea of Pattie, whose blog provided the inspiration. Flowers and nests were the "party favors." I got the "take-away flower idea from our guest of honor herself, Barb, who almost always sends her guests home with flowers!
Barb's arrival meant time for snacks and Prosecco. We just had a simple cheese and nuts for starters. We didn't want to fill up too much!
Lunch included Kate's Cobb Salad and a nice baguette. (Not as good as Rick's, but pretty good!)
And for dessert, a Battenberg cake, recipe courtesy of the wonderful Marie Rayner's "The Best of British Baking" cookbook. (Marie has a different version of this with chocolate on her wonderful blog.) Since I'm not a huge chocolate fan, I opted for the pretty pink and white vanilla checkerboard in the book.
She says that it was claimed that "the original Battenberg cake was created in honor of the marriage in 1884 of Queen Victoria's granddaughter to Prince Louis of Battenberg, with the four distinct squares of cake representing the four Battenberg princes."
This cake is surprisingly easy to make -- but it takes time. I would do it again! It presents so well!
(I took liberties with Marie's recipe, adding a bit of vanilla to the batter, modifying the baking times to accommodate my pan size and using a buttercream rather than the marzipan topping. It was just as good. Maybe better!) I put some pearly pink and white non-pariels on the top -- a good idea, but watch your teeth!
Sometimes there is nothing better than a celebration.
And when it's with good friends, it's even better!
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62 comments:
Dear Jeanie, lovely photos and beautiful smiles. Looks like a great celebration. Fascinating fact about the Battenberg cake.
...my, you are fancy dancy ladies! Happy 29th Barb!
What a beautiful party and a such a special group of friends. The foods look so delicious too.
What a beautiful table and meal for your friend's birthday lunch. A very Happy Birthday to her!
I love birthdays and you are the best when it comes to celebrating them!
Happy Birthday Barb! Looks like a lovely celebration with your friends Jeanie. Great food and I am so impressed with your Battenberg Cake. It’s a work of art!
It all looks wonderful. A real birthday treat.
Well done on the patience for making a Battenburg - I made one once but it's a bit of a faff - icing instead of marzipan was a good idea as I remember rolling the marzipan thin enough without it falling apart was near impossible!
You sure know how to throw a very pretty party! To fun times and celebrations!
Happy belated birthday to your friend Barb!
The cake and meal looks delicious.
Take care, have a happy day!
Happy birthday, Barb.
This looks like such a fun get together. And you always wow me with your table settings. Plus your Battenberg cake looks amazing. I've never tried one but yours is so inspiring. Those violet dishes the cake is served on are so beautiful also. I love how vintage they look, and probably are. Thanks for sharing. I could use the smiles this morning. hugs-Erika
How very special an occasion! Yes, I certainly recognize the topper (it's been 8 yrs since that purge, can you believe that?!). Barb had to feel very honored for the time and thought put into her special celebration. A Happy Birthday, indeed!
Wow! Jeanie what a wonderful birthday lunch for Barb...the Battenberg cake is amazing. Of course I love the 'Just flowers' dinnerware and the little bouquets are adorable. Don't ya love when an idea all comes together so nicely. Your salad looks delish. What a wonderful day for you all. Hugs and blessings.
What a wonderful celebration of a friend's birthday. The food looks great but the best part, I'm sure, is the love and companionship! Love the Battenberg cake. I made one years ago and it is time consuming but it was really special to cut into it. Have a wonderful day! xo Diana
Lovely table, and that cake looks divine!
That was a lovely event. I love battenberg cake and haven't made it for ages. I should think about it. I prefer the classic pink and white with marzipan. No chocolate required!
Well done on the cake! marie will be proud.Gosh she has been a wonderful mentor to many of us.Good real tasty cooking.Fun birthday:). looking wonderful Jeanie.
So special for the birthday lady-everything looks delicious-hugs
Happy birthday to Barb! The table setting looked so sweet and am sure the food was delish. Janice
What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday. I have seen that cake on the brutish baking shoe. I do think the buttercream frosting sounds better.
Cathy
That cake! Wow! Happy birthday to your friend!
I know that some people don’t really celebrate birthdays, and I find that a pity. You really know how to it in style.
I see the cookbook was written by a namesake. Not too many Rayners seemed to have escaped the Isles, but the name seems to be somewhat common over the pond.
What a lovely birthday celebration! I think you were wise to go with buttercream instead of marzipan.
Every inch id beauty! How clever of you with ALL of it. Especially fond of the cake and the delicate colors. You are a master! The salad looks mighty delish- I am inspired now- salad for breakfast! You inspire me- always.
Hello Jeanie :)
Belated Happy Birthday to your friend Barb. The table setting looks very festive and the food delicious. You really do pull out all the stops when it comes to entertaining your friends, and I'm sure it is appreciated, and it's a lovely happy photo of all three of you.
All the best
Sonjia
How Fun, I'm having a tea later in May, and I think I will try your cake...maybe with the chocolate. hugs, so nice to have friends!
Wow, that’s such a special way to celebrate your friend! I bet she was thrilled! Gorgeous cake!
now this is the way to celebrate, wow...you are a great hostess. you three girls look like sisters and the picture of the 3 of you is insane, in a very good way. some people don't like birthdays...i love to celebrate with my boys, i always tell them "we are celebrating the day we met"!!
What a fun celebration! That cake is truly a show stopper! I love the pink color! I would prefer buttercream to marzipan, too. This post makes me anxious for a new season of the Great British Baking Show. I can't remember if you watch it or not - you definitely should if you don't!!!
How fun to get together and celebrate your friends birthday. The cake you baked looks beautiful and i love that pink color. I bet it tasted so yummy!
Looks perfect..What a nice way to celebrate a friends birthday..I'm sure she appreciated it!!
Wow! Everything is so gorgeous. You created a table that is spectacular. What a nice day.
I love the table and the Depression glass tumblers are the cherry on top for me! A perfect way to celebrate with friends.
How fun! Everything looks special and beautiful including you three girls..
What an outstanding display and treats! I could see things like the ones my mom owned. Lovely. And the cake! I have seen them on Great British Baking Show.
A very pretty table
That sounds really lovely and your cake looks amazing!
My oh my, what a lovely birthday party. Everything about it is so pretty from flowers, to food, to the three of you with your beautiful smiles :)
Oh my gosh, Jeanie. Everything is divine. The food, the table and setting, the cake, the party favors. Absolutely the purrfect bday celebration.
Such a lovely gesture to plan a birthday lunch for Barb. The table and food looks wonderful. Kudos on the cake.
Jeanie, I am sure your friend enjoyed the birthday celebration as it looks lovely and that cake must have been as delicious as it looked.
In the first photo I do like all those lovely smiles on lovely ladies.
A beautiful table set with special items, a happy reason for a party, lovely smiles, yummy food and a gorgeous cake…what more could one want? A most delightful celebration, you all know how to do it well. Happy day, Virginia
Oh, that is so lovely!!! At first you went to a restaurant, but then I read you organized it yourself at home, and that's so special I think. And I love your table setting. Your friend is lucky to have you as a friend, I think.
A charming and thoughtful celebration, with personal touches and a classic Battenberg cake that beautifully honours both friendship and tradition.
What a lovely lunch! I’m sure that everything was delicious. That Battenburg cake is quite impressive. I’ve never tried to do that before, but I have to admit that I’m very intrigued by the outcome.
Jeanie, what a fabulous birthday lunch for Barb! I know she felt very special! The Battenburg cake is amazing! You are a wonderful friend.
What a wonderful way to celebrate Barb's birthday! You are all such good friends. Your Battenburg cake looks delicious, and so pretty in pink! I've seen it made on the Great British Baking Show, but never attempted to make it myself. You have inspired me to try baking one for dessert the next time I host a book club at my house.
You did such a pretty table setting, Jeanie, and I love the idea of take away flowers. The salad looks so delicious (I love avocados). But the best is always being together with good friends, having a wonderful time and sharing laughter.
There is something so beautiful and infectious about your smile. It makes me happy. Thank you for sharing with FFO and have a lovely weekend.
Looks like a great time.
rsrue.blogspot.com
This is all so festive, Jeanie! I love the table setting, all the different textures & layers, the flowers (and the take-away flowers!) and the delicious salad, but, my goodness! that cake! Takes the cake, right? It's so impressive -- what a wonderful way to celebrate a special day (and your friendship, too). Beautiful!
Happy birthday to your friend Barb - I have a few amazing Barbs in my life, starting with my Mum and including workmates, my real estate agent and the car booking clerk last week who made things so easy. Everyone should have a Barb or two, I think.
Happy Birthday Blessings, to Barb! You and Kate were so sweet to throw here such a lovely birthday celebration. Happy FFO!
Your table settings and decor are beautiful! And that cake looks delicious. What a fun party!
Wonderful birthday fun with friends!
Happy Birthday!
I've never had a Battenberg cake -- I bet they're delicious! Yours is wonderful, I'm so impressed that you made it because I know they are hard and finicky to get "right." Well done!
Fun times and smiles all around. And that cake! I have to ask you where you found the china with the purple flowers and gold trim, it's beautiful! : )
What a wonderful celebration Jeanie. Your table looks beautiful. Your friends are so lucky to have you as a friend. I am very impressed with the way your cake came out. Well done you! I think Marzipan is one of those things you either enjoy or your don't. I do enjoy it, but your icing looks perfect and those little decorations on top are beautiful! Super job! xo
You have such good friends. I wish I could socialize more. I am happy to appreciate your fun! Thanks for sharing.
Ooh i love the birds' nests with the pretty eggs. How lovely to have a birthday gathering with old mates.
sherry
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