October Tastebud article:

Halloween doesn’t have to be just for the kids. Celebrate this fall holiday with a table set using classic black and white elements with added playful and spooky surprises.
Start with a tablecloth in a bold black and white pattern. This could be a fun animal print or classic damask. I found this material at a local fabric shop and made my own. Next, use the staple white dishes topped with a smaller Halloween themed plate. Try to find and use a variety of these dessert sized plates to keep the table from feeling too formal.
The centerpiece for this table starts with a large white ceramic soup tureen placed on top of a cake platter. Serving soup or chili on Halloween is a great idea for several reasons: you can prepare it ahead of time, it is usually cold and rainy in Kansas City this time of year and it can easily accommodate any extra goblins that may show up on your door step! Surround the soup tureen with acid green hedge apples-these brainy looking fruits add to the theme. Then add in the other spooky choices: wooden blood shot eyeballs, spiders and furry rats or other night time creatures. Hanging spiders from the chandelier with fishing line is another great surprise. Now add in the pumpkins. Stay with the black and white theme by choosing a white pumpkin then painting or stenciling it with black paint. Be creative with varying widths of stripes, scrolly vines or bats and ghosts. You may even choose to write a Halloween message to friends.
This table, with it’s classic color palette and goulish details, is sure to please both the adult and child in all of us. Now it’s time to decide on costumes!

Find it Here (if you dare)
Creepy crawly spiders, webs and rats
The Curious Sofa
3925 W. 69th Terr.
Prairie Village Shops
http://www.curioussofa.com/

Soup Tureen
Nell Hills
4101 N. Mulberry Dr.
Briarcliff Village
Or
Atchison, KS
and
Target Stores

Easy Taco Soup
2 cans of northern beans
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of shoepeg white corn
1 can of diced green chiles
Packet of taco seasoning
Rotisserie chicken (shred meat)

Add all ingredients to a stock pot
(do not drain beans or veggies)
Thin with chicken stock if needed
Simmer until ready to serve

Top with crumbled tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa

flowers from this weekend's wedding at longview mansion-a great kansas city venue. this bride chose to carry a wine colored bouquet of roses, cymbidium orchids, mini calla lilies, chocolate cosmos and cranberry viburnum berries. her attendants carried ivory bouquets of hydrangea, cymbidium orchids, mini calla lilies, roses and dahlias. her four-tier cake by the bridal kitchen was topped with a mix of the wine and ivory flowers and a monogram.

this bride requested locally grown, vibrant flowers for her bouquet. with all of the rain we didn't have many choices but fred kautt provided us with beautiful zinnias, gomphrena and feather celosia. we added in dahlias, gerbera daisies, kangaroo paws, grevilia and scented geranium for a hand-picked style bouqet. venue: powell gardens.

(photo by sara farrar)

here is my september article for tastebud. i am bummed because they did not use the correct photo of the flowers in the magazine! oh well....

Market Fresh
Ahh, September: back to school, the pace of life starts to slow and the weather cools (at least all of these happen in theory). To celebrate this change in seasons, create a fun and colorful occasion with cool treats, perfect for gathering with old friends or new families met at school.
This affair starts with a brightly colored table. Create a container for the centerpiece out of a recycled can and playful paper (directions follow). I chose a paper that accents the vivid flowers gathered at the Overland Park farmer’s market. We know that farmer’s markets are a great venue to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables but they are also terrific for finding fresh flowers. It’s always exciting to see what new varieties are being grown and which mid-west classics are available in their vibrant hues. Some perennial favorites are the velvety cockscomb, electric fuchsia and red gomphrena, blue ageratum, bells of Ireland, amaranthus, blue bedder sage, queen anne’s lace and hydrangea. This arrangement includes happy and festive zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, sunflowers and hosta leaves. The best part is that this bouquet only cost $6.00! If you love flowers and gardens make a special trip to a local flower farm. Whittaker Flower Farm in Olathe has 6 acres of flowers, woodlands and a serene pond. Visit in the summer to cut your own bouquets and into the fall for the pumpkin patch.
To keep things easy and bright serve several flavors of homemade ice cream to guests in classic latte bowls from Anthropologie. These versatile bowls come in a rainbow of colors and will quickly become a household favorite. Offer plenty of toppings from fresh berries and nuts to crushed cookies and sprinkles. If making ice cream doesn’t fit into the schedule, head to Foo’s Fabulous Frozen Custard and choose from any of their flavors of fresh custard to go.
Enjoy the last of summer’s heat with this simple and sweet soiree!

D.I.Y. Container
Clean an empty can.
Cut a piece of paper that is the height of the can and long enough to wrap around with a 1” overlap.
Use a paint brush to spread mod pod (found at craft stores) onto the can and secure the paper.
To create a more water-resistant vase, paint on 2-3 coats of the mod pod over the paper, allowing it to dry between layers.
Fill with water, give the flowers a fresh cut and enjoy!
After the flowers are gone use this on a desk to hold pens, pencils and other supplies!

UPDATE! THE WHITAKER FLOWER FARM IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS! SORRY FOR ANY CONFUSION AND PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE THINKING OF VISITING!

Overland Park Farmer’s Market
79th & Marty
Wed.7:30-sellout
Sat. 6:30-sellout

Foo’s Frozen Custard
In Leawood
Ranchmart Shopping Center
3832 W. 95th
913.383.3667
In Brookside
6235 Brookside Plaza
816.523.2520