zondag 27 maart 2016

Easter celebrations
































Once every few years,  Easter weekend is special to us, because my middle daughter and I celebrate our birthday as well. When Easter is late, I celebrate mine. When Easter is early, like this year, we celebrate hers.  

I was up at six on Saturday morning, to put up the bunting and add the finishing touches to a cake,  which I baked the day before. I chose a wheat free, low fat Easter cake from the book Gorgeous Cakes by Annie Bell, of which I changed the recipe a little. I used saffron to colour the icing and beetroot to colour the cake.

To get the speckled effect, I used a mixture of cocoa and vanilla essence, which I flicked at the cake with a tooth brush. My kitchen and I were covered in tiny chocolate specks, but most important: the cake looked better than I hoped for.   

In today's post,  photo's of our Easter breakfast table and Afternoon birthday tea. The vintage table cloths were incredibly lucky charity shop finds (almost missed them).  The colours are bright and sunny, and perfect for Easter. The embroidery on one of them is exceptionally beautiful. It makes me wonder if there are still women who make tablecloths like this, or is it a pastime of a bygone era?

Wishing you a Happy Easter. Have fun!

Love,

Madelief x













51 opmerkingen:

  1. So beautiful, Madelief. Such pretty foil-wrapped bunnies and sweet little birds. "Happy Easter".

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  2. I just love your beautiful photos! Happy Easter.
    Marianne x

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  3. What a festive post, with plenty of colour and happy feelings.
    Nice to meet you. I've been getting to know you by travelling through your blog.
    I lived in Rotterdam for a while, a long time ago. One of these days I might come across the Channel and see what it is like today.

    jo deane

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  4. *H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!* to your daughter and to you too! What a splendid cake and decorations for your celebration! You seem to live in a magic kingdom of beauty.. and I know you made it so. What a lovely mother you are! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  5. Nogmaals van harte gefeliciteerd met de verjaardag van je dochter...jullie hebben het helemaal in stijl gevierd. Ik heb overigens meteen even opgezocht wanneer jij jarig bent...dat staat inmiddels ook in mijn mobiel genoteerd ;-). Kan ik het niet vergeten (tenzij ik vergeet te kijken).

    Ik wens jullie nog een fijne Tweede Paasdag! Liefs, Ingrid

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  6. Dat ziet er uit als een calorierijk feestje. Dat zijn de beste! Fijne dagen en groetjes, Hetty

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  7. Gefeliciteerd met je dochter ...heerlijk al die kleurtjes ...mooie tulpen ranonkels...echt een feestje liefs Ria x

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  8. The cake and tablescape are all so gorgeous! I just love all the color you share It makes me smile.

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  9. Happy Easter,how beautiful the pictures are,your table looks most inviting,I adore the pink teapot.Well done on the cake, looks brilliant!

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  10. Happy Easter,how beautiful the pictures are,your table looks most inviting,I adore the pink teapot.Well done on the cake, looks brilliant!

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  11. Oh Madelief
    How very special to sit at your Easter table and be part of this celebration.
    A belated Happy Birthday to your daughter!
    The colours of the beautifully embroidered table cloths are what I would call "Madelief" colours - like the jewel shades of Zinnias.
    Maybe you should revive this type of embroidery - it looks like YOU!
    I have an old supper cloth that a 90y friend of my mothers made for me when I was in my teens - it is one of heirlooms to pass on to one of my granddaughters.
    Beautiful cake, Easter eggs, chocolate rabbits, bunting, flowers and cups!
    Easter hugs
    Shane

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  12. The cake is absolutely beautiful! Can you share the recipe for both the cake & the frosting?

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    Reacties
    1. Hi Jenny,

      Thank you for your sweet comment. I am sorry I did not post the recipe, but it's not mine. Unfortunately I could not find it on the internet either. I advise you to buy the book 'Gorgeous cakes' by Annie Bell. It's not that expensive, and full of delicious recipes. You will find the basis of my Easter cake recipe in there.

      Madelief

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  13. Easter looks very inviting in your corner of the world Madelief - belated Happy Birthday to your daughter. I really prefer Easter to be later than this year it feels a little bit too early.

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  14. Happy birthday to your daughter, her cake looked amazing as did all your decorations, so lovely to have a Spring birthday.
    V x

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  15. You KNOW how to celebrate. I like how you flicked cocoa on the cake with a toothbrush, a very pretty effect.

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  16. Happy Easter and happy birthday to your daughter - everything looks so beautiful and can see you celebrated wonderfully. The cake looks gorgeous and the embroidery on the cloth and flowers all so pretty.
    Hugs and blessings
    Carolyn

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  17. The cake looks delicious. Happy Easter!

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  18. Everything is a feast for the eye Madelief. The embroidered cloth is a wonderful find, and while I know lots of embroiderers, I don't think many people make tablecloths these days. It certainly makes your Easter table shine with happiness. The cake looks so pretty and original. Happy Easter to you and your family.

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  19. beautiful table settings and the cake looks delicious too. I can only imagine how pretty using beetroot has made the cake look!

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    Reacties
    1. Thank you for your sweet comment Ann! Unfortunately the beetroot didn't colour the cake as much as I hoped. I think I will have to use more next time.

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  20. YOU have eyes for beautiful details. Looks soooo pretty!

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  21. Just beautiful. Happy Easter, Happy birthday x

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  22. Happy belated Easter dearest Madelief! Your colorful world is enchanting as always! Anita

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  23. Such beautiful decorations and birthday cake! Hope your daughter had a lovely day!

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  24. Heerlijk driedubbel Paasfeest, wat een mooie taart en wonderschone, kleurrijke foto´s. Van simpele dingen maak jij altijd zo´n schitterend kleurrijk geheel. Eerlijk gezegd weet ik niemand die dit zo goed kan als jij.
    Een plezierige winderige tweede Paasdag toegewenst!
    Janneke

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  25. Beautiful as always! Belated Happy Birthday to your daughter.
    Carolyn


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  26. Your Easter celebrations look delightful! :) xxx

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  27. Hartelijk gefeliciteerd met jullie verjaardagen!
    En wat ziet dat er allemaal gezellig en kleurig en lekker uit!
    Nog een fijne dag!

    Liefs, Gerry

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  28. Wonderful and full of lovely color, love your blog it makes me feel warm and cozy and good. Happy new week with love Janice

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  29. Beautiful table and delicious looking cake Madelief. As always your table and flowers look exquisite! A happy belated birthday to your dear daughter. I have some saffron but I have yet to use it in any recipe. Your speckled cake looks incredible and so different, I really love how it has turned out! Wishing you a lovely week ahead. Sharon x

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  30. How beautiful as usual. Happy Birthday to your daughter and indeed to you when the day arrives. Your tables look splendid and that cake so yummy I could eat it now! Hope you have all had a lovely break. X

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  31. Such beautiful colourful Easter pictures! Happy Birthday to your daughter...I love the pretty cake and the sweet bunting. The embroidered tablecloths were a real find, so lucky you didn't miss them! I wonder too if people still embroider tablecloths? Perhaps it is time to revive the fashion if not?
    Happy new week, Madelief!
    Helen xox

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  32. Belated birthday wishes to your daughter. It must have been wonderful to wake up to the bunting. I love the speckled effect on the cake. You have just reminded me that I have a table cloth just like yours. I must be get it out and use it. Sarah x

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  33. It looks like you had a beautiful celebration....so colourful and flower-filled.
    I don't think many people embroider such beautiful cloths anymore. In truth, I think that many people don't even bother to use a cloth, preferring not to have to iron. I have a number of old cloths that have been passed down to me and I love to use them, to decorate the table to enhance the cloths. They are a lovely link to past generations.

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  34. I think I love the pink tea pot and cloch. This seemed to be the week end for birthday. My oldest is March 27th. She didn't celebrate with us this year, so we celebrated her birthday last weekend. Your Easter decorations are so pretty, simple and pretty. The cake sounds delicious and looks very pretty.

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  35. A belated Happy birthday to you and your daughter Madelief ........ and such lovely Easter images. I can remember embroidering tablecloths and napkins like that when I was quite young { mine weren't as good as yours though !!!! }You ironed on a transfer pattern and then embroidered. My sister and I loved doing them.
    Your colour combinations are just lovely. XXXX

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  36. Gefeliciteerd met je jarige dochter. Wat heerlijk dat je dat dan met Pasen kunt vieren. Lekker een vrij weekend. Je taart ziet er echt fantastisch uit en ik kan me voorstellen dat deze verrukkelijk was. Je hele ontbijttafel ziet er trouwens geweldig uit. Zo'n heerlijk kleurrijk vrolijk sfeertje. Dat zal ook best wel genieten zijn geweest.
    Fijne dag vandaag,
    liefs,
    Mirjam

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  37. What beautiful colors, dear Madelief. I`m sure you had a great celebration.
    Hugs from here

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  38. Gefeliciteerd! De taart ziet er super uit! Het feest en de lente spat van het scherm af. Mooi! XX Esther

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  39. What a lovely colourful post Madelief! The Easter /Birthday cake looks wonderful, as do all the decorations, china and flowers.
    Hope you all had a happy weekend!
    Gill xx

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  40. Oh, my goodness - Happy Birthday to you both - how lovely everything is! The cake, the decorations and embroidery, the flowers....it is all so pretty and happy! Your little teacups are so sweet and then, when I saw the pink flowered teapot....oh - so adorable. Thank you for sharing your lovely celebration and making me smile. xx Karen

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  41. Wat een gezellige, vrolijke, kleurrijke, lekkere paas en lentepost. Ik word er helemaal vrolijk van! Lieve groetjes

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  42. What a beautiful table! Lovely Easter decorations, the flowers, the eggs, the tea pot, the table cloth, oh my gosh!

    That cake looks delicious! When I make cakes, I often reduce the sugar by 1/2 cup. (American cake recipes tend to be too sweet.) Other then reducing the sugar, I've never been able to alter a cake recipe without ruining the taste or testure. So I'll have to collect some healthy successful recipes.

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  43. Dearest Madelief,
    Happy belated birthday to your daughter!
    And yours is still coming up I guess... hope it will be a lovely and sunny day.
    We had a very dreary and wet Easter but a happy one!
    Love the way your special Easter and Birthday cake turned out.
    Sending you hugs and blessings,
    Mariette

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  44. Absolutely beautiful. I hope your daughter had a lovely birthday and that you all had a wonderful Easter x x

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  45. Everything is absolutely gorgeous!!! :)

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  46. Dearest Madelief,
    I can imagine your kitchen after the toothbrush attack! ;O)) The cake looks really beautiful and delicious! And the entire decoration of Easter brunch and birthday party is so nice and tasteful! Magnificent tablecloth and adorable pennant garland!
    I wish your daughter Happy birthday!
    Sweetest Küschelbüschel and Groetjes,
    Traude
    http://rostrose.blogspot.co.at/2016/03/raus-in-den-fruhling.html
    ♥∗✿≫✿≪✿∗ ♥ ✿ ♥ ∗✿≫✿≪✿∗♥

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  47. Amazingly beautiful! Looks you all had a unforgettable Easter. Happy belated Easter.

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Thank you for your lovely words.