46 Comments

Lovely post, as always!! ☺️

One of our North American friends here in Spain made fancy pigs in a blanket at a Christmas party a couple of years ago and they flew off the table! There’s a type of small sausage called “chistorra” here that I bet would make for an awesome variation 🤔 You may have given me a new idea for an appetizer! 😂

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Thanks, Kiki! Let me know if you make them 😄 I’m googling “chistorra” now! :)

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I already mentioned them to David and he was into the idea, so I will definitely update you on how they turn out!

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Thank you for sharing the smoke sheaths posts, Jolene! I love this post too 🌭❤️

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I LOVED your shared post with Liz, Andrew! Definitely will make smoke sheaths for the ‘fellows’ 😂❤️ 🌭

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Swellegant, indeed! I bet I'll start using that one...so good.

This makes me think about how I do make "relish trays" regularly when entertaining - I did a lot of seasonal home picking even before moving to the rural realm - and I never considered them so iconic, but there you have it! I don't remember those growing up, but I definitely recall the fingers of black olives at the family celebrations...

I definietly missed that the Shirley Temple was the drink of the summer according to the NYT, what a hoot. I cherished those as a kid in the 80s at King's Wok up on Main Street you-know-where ; )

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Jess! King’s Wok, yes!! Everyone was sad when it closed :(

I’d love to see a photo of one of your relish trays-

Let’s make ‘Swellegant’ the word of 2023 (I first heard it in a Cole Porter song, ‘Well Did You Evah” ) 😂

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I never thought I wanted to eat cheddar cheese + pineapple on a toothpick before this post (though why am I surprised?... I love pineapple on pizza)

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😂 you gotta tell me when you try it, Leigh! It’s good! 😋

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I'm in love with your photography Jolene, dreamy! Also, I could do with a drink lol

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Thank you, Sinù! You have a standing offer to come over for a drink!

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Coming!

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🍸😂

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Oh your wonderful spread evokes so many memories, Jolene, especially those pigs in a blanket, which I'm sure showed up at my parents' house, along with many, many things on toothpicks and a relish tray! I'm thinking I need to hit a few vintage store to see if I can find some interesting platters and trays for a future party. It all looks delicious and welcoming--perfect for inviting guests back into our houses this holiday!

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Ruth, I found a bunch of reasonably priced relish trays on eBay! I agree, it’s nice to entertain again! ❤️

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Thanks! I will take a look!

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So much delight in this post, Jolene! Was thinking about you this morning, as we had neighbors over for brunch and my husband made a variety of champagne cocktails 🌟

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That’s sound like so much fun, Domenica! Save me a French 75! 🍾 🍸 ✨

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And there was me, thinking Pigs In Blankets was a super-extremely-super Northern English thing. I am utterly delighted to be wrong!

That said, there are many English variations - the Yorkshire pig-in-a-blanket is usually a sausage wrapped in a rasher of bacon, while the pastry-wrapped version is what we call a "sausage roll" (and the smallest types, as pictured here, are labelled "mini sausage rolls", which is a very lazy name indeed and they really needed to try a little harder, you can't just put "mini" in front of food when it's smaller, that's cheating, guys).

I will point this out to you on the way to Betty's, Jolene, when you come visit York. Yes indeed.

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🤣 “You can’t just put ‘mini’ in front of food when it’s smaller”

And, Yes, to Betty’s! I have another bakery I’ve been looking at, this one in Edinburgh called Söderberg, do you know it, Mike?

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Oooh. I do not. BONUS CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

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Excellent! It’s a Swedish bakery. Bring on the Fika! 😂

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Oh, Jolene, this is wonderful! Time Travel Kitchen always stirs up wonderful family memories for me. I love the tablecloth, what a rich keepsake. You know, I don't think I've ever been to an actual "cocktail party," but I surely would attend yours--great food, drink and conversation! ❤️

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Thanks, Pam! You are invited! 🍸 ❤️ (ps - I use the tea towel all the time!)

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🤗 so excited for this week!!

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Me too, Sam!

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My mother grew up on LI in the late 50s/60s! I can’t wait to share this post with her! I can say for sure that she LOVES pigs in blankets.

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Love it! I grew up in Islip (Suffolk County) where is your Mom from, Jillian ?(if you don’t mind sharing)

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Plainview, I believe.

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That grapefruit Sputnik is something else — I’m kind of into it 😂 Excellent post as always, Jolene!

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This is why we are friends, Sarah.😂 You get the grapefruit flavor on the skewer, it’s good! My brother reminded me that my Mom also did olive, cheese and pepperoni skewers, and something with cocktail onions. I know she did tomato, I updated my version with the mozzarella and Basil. Let’s bring these back! 😉

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Yes!

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I love how your photos have that 1960s look. I don't know how you create that lighting, and the tablecloth is great too. Looking forward to the Vienna post.

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Thank you, Vicki! I’m so interested to read about what Samantha saw in Vienna, too!

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Canned pineapple and cheddar chunks on sticks were even de rigeur at children's parties in 1970s England, but we didn't waste a grapefruit, just popped them on a plate. I'm not sure why I haven't eaten them since. They were a great treat!

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It’s such a delicious combo! I like the grapefruit flavor you get on the skewer, but I’ll try them in a plate, next Annette! 🤗

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Noo, don't give up the grapefruit because of 1970s England! :)

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🤣 ok

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We didn't have much money in those days, and I bet imported grapefruits were pricy! :)

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I just watched an episode of Mad Men in which Trudy serves Pete hearts of palm. I’ve never had those. I love little pickles though. The smaller the better.

The tablecloth reminds me of a scarf I bought in Helsinki. It was red and black with little deer on it. I was very sad when I lost it.

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Sorry you lost it, Marimekko is doing vintage sales via Instagram, I’ve seen scarves, maybe you can find something similar there for a good price!

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Cool, I’ll check that out!

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I’m in charge of the pigs in a blanket for every family gathering and I can’t agree with you more they’re the first to go. God forbid if I try to mix it up I hear about it. So many family memories centered around the “pigs”. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face.

Ps. Love the tablecloth!

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So true! 🤣 it’s like ‘are there any more pigs in the blanket?’ And then the disappointment sets in when the answer is ‘No.’ 😂 Thank you for sharing this!

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