A Tablescape for the Birthday Star

Good Morning and thanks for stopping by! I thought it was time to do another tablescape since it's been a while. Our youngest son turned 15 over the weekend so it was a great time to pull out some dishes. Fall and Halloween are his favorite time of year. So my challenge was to combine his love of music with a bit of Halloween using things that I already had. Not easy but here is what I came up with.

I think it has a elegant tone tying in red, black and silver stars. After all 15 year olds are way too cool for a kiddie birthday table. As I am reminded. We had a great time and I made Stromboli, salad and his favorite Peanut Butter Chocolate cake.

I will be in trouble for posting the birthday boy but I couldn't resist! I wish that I had added black place mats, they would have grounded the place settings more. Next time I will set up the night before because the candle light would have served this table better. Always learning!


I thought I would add this quick and easy cake recipe also for all you other peanut butter and chocolate lovers.

Peanut Butter Cake with Chocolate Peanut Icing

1 yellow cake mix (from scratch just doesn't hold up)
1/3 to 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter (depending on your taste)
2 pound bag of powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 stick or 1/2 cup of room temp butter
1/4 cup of milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup of crushed peanuts or nut topping (I just crushed my own with a Ziploc and a rolling pin)

First mix your cake batter to the mix instructions. Add the peanut butter and mix well. I used 1/3 cup this time but you can add up to 1/2,  any more and it doesn't work well. Pour into  two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans, I used 9. Bake at mixes time and temps. I did 350 for 25 mins. Cool layers on baking rack.

While cakes are cooling. Place butter in large mixing bowl with 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Give it a little mix. Slowly start adding powdered sugar, mixing well. Once you have half of the sugar mixed in add the cocoa. Now you can judge if you want to add some of the milk. Finish by adding remaining sugar, adding more milk till you get your desired consistency. This makes quite a bit of icing.

After cakes are cooled, place one layer on cake plate and ice just the top. Place the second layer on icing its top as well. Dipping your cake knife in warm water will help with smooth spreading. Now you can rotate cake as you ice the sides. Lastly take your crushed peanuts and press them into your sides of the cake.

I handed the bowl of extra icing to the kids and let them fight it out! It was worth the ten minutes of "When is dinner going to be ready" being silenced. Use your own discretion on sugar overload!


Thank you so much for stopping by. I am linking up with Susan for Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.