Jarring dinner party serving ware! Glass containers repurposed for afternoon tea: lemon curd, pumpkin butter and clotted cream.

Jarring dinner party dessert served in yogurt glass cups.

The dessert presentation was quite jarring!

At a recent dinner party, the dessert was served in extraordinary glass cups. One could say, they were literally jarring as they were once yogurt containers, available at most grocery stores. For our friends' repast, the jars were filled with creme fraiche lined with chocolate and topped with fresh berries and the glass containers allowed this beautiful confection to really show off its layers. 

Another purpose for glass jars at the tea table - serving ware for curd, cream and butter.

But, these jars weren't done, yet. . . 

Last month, our friends (and fellow podcasters) hosted a small dinner gathering at their home. The theme started as an Oktoberfest celebration with our hosts demonstrating how to prepare home baked pretzels. (Delicious!) Guests had the option of bringing something to the table.  I brought my husband, Chris, 😉-  who as the gourmet cook in the family - is the one to contribute to any meal.   He did not disappoint with his recently perfected whitefish pate. 

Dessert, however, like cream itself, rose to the top with not only taste, but with both pretty and practical serving ware.

Benefits of glass jars: perfect for display, reuse or recycle. 

Fortunate to have a trained pastry chef volunteer to make dessert, we were treated to creme fraiche in recycled yogurt jars. Among the benefits of these mini glass pots: they showed off the cream, they did not need to go home with the chef, and could either be recycled or repurposed. For the latter, we had just the place for their return: our afternoon tea table.

With the help of Trader Joe's, we set up a festive fall afternoon tea including cranberry and vanilla scones with both their traditional and seasonal accompaniments: lemon curd, clotted cream and for October, scrumptious pumpkin butter. All toppings found their place in my newly acquired glass jars. 

Glass jars hold generous amounts - bonus for those of us who don't follow "recommended servings".

Of course, I still have my collection of salt cellars to use for curd and cream, but it's fun to mix it up occasionally.  Additionally, the yogurt jars can hold generous amounts of spreads and jams. That's a bonus for us who don't always adhere to "recommended servings".

We're always fans of a good mixed-use or recycle and we'd love to hear of more tabletop repurposing. Comment or send us an email at barb@barbsteaservice.com if you have performed some serving-ware alchemy!

In the meantime, Happy Fall. A teacup cheers to colorful leaves, cozy fires, and lots of pumpkins - glass or butter.