Holiday/Game/Fun Tablesettings

DOUBLE YOUR LUCK



Score big at your next game night with these fun appetizer plates. Use two at each setting to replace a normal-sized plate. Continue the casino and gaming theme with matching geometric napkins. Not all casinos are created equal: Make sure yours is five stars with small votives and reed place mats.

CUPPA SOUP

Spice up your soup with fun, oversized teacups and matching salad plates. Mismatch colors and styles for a cheerful look or set each place with a different pattern. These whimsical oversized mugs and teacups are available at discount retailers and some craft stores. Some ceramic shops sell blank mugs and plates: Paint it yourself and have them fire it for you for a one-of-a-kind design.

PLASTIC PICNIC

"Glass in the grass" is a phrase you want to avoid hearing during summer picnic fun. For a much better guest, invite plastic trays to your next outdoor meal. Durable and easy to clean, they're also inexpensive. Lipped trays help contain silverware and condiments as well as provide a clean, flat surface to rest forks in between bites. Bright colors and festive patterns create a retro-chic feel; find melamine if you want a real blast from the past. Once you have a color scheme, flowers and even grass can be handy setting decorations.

TABLE TALK

Everyone has a few spoons or forks of unknown origin. Celebrate these mismatched mystery pieces at your next fete: Try to give each place setting a different set of silverware. To fill out your own collection, try estate sales, thrift stores, and yard sales; often you can buy large quantities cheaply. Personality counts: The right find can be a real conversation starter. Complement the look with antique and vintage linens, or older cloth napkins. Whether it's sterling or real silver, the easiest way to prevent tarnish is frequent use, so invite your friends for dinner tonight.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

"Yule" love spreading holiday cheer by doing your table up in festive hues. Go for the full range of red and green: crimson, scarlet, sage, evergreen, hunter, and more. For an added touch, slide a candy cane in each napkin ring as a favor, and use large, peppermint-striped candles at the table. Be sure to get unscented candles, as you don't want a scented candle competing with the tasty aromas of the meal. Individual dessert dishes of chocolate kisses complete the look.

Entertaining/Soft Black Bean Tostados

This hearty Mexican meal has countless variations. Fix the salsa and bean spread separately for snacks, roll the tortillas burrito-style, or make this dish vegetarian-friendly by omitting the chicken.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 tostada)

Ingredients

Salsa:

1/2 cup chopped peeled avocado
1/2 cup chopped seeded tomato
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

Remaining ingredients:

2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 cup shredded roasted skinless, boneless chicken breast (Optional)
3/4 cup (3 ounces) preshredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

Preparation

Preheat broiler.

To prepare salsa, combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Toss gently, and set aside.

Combine 2 tablespoons water, lime juice, cumin, salt, ground red pepper, and black beans in a blender; process until smooth.

Place tortillas on a baking sheet, and spread about 1/4 cup black bean mixture evenly over each tortilla. Top each evenly with 1/4 cup chicken and 3 tablespoons cheese. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts and tortilla edges are just beginning to brown.

Top each tortilla with 1/4 cup lettuce, 1/4 cup salsa, and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Cut each tortilla into 4 wedges.