Dotter was close to victory in the contest of 2007, she decided to go for the gold again in 2008 with her Americana Christmas Tree. We decided since it was an election year, she had to choose the theme of Americana. We mixed up the pip berries on this tree with reds, whites, and blues […]
In this post, I’m showing you how to make turkey gravy. Making lump-free gravy easier than one might think. How to Make Turkey Gravy 1 ⅛ cup turkey fat, butter, or olive oil 1 cup flour 2 quarts turkey broth or juices 2 tablespoons Better Than Bouillon Turkey or Chicken Base or bouillon (optional) Sea […]
Feel-Good Snow Day Movies What movies would you add to this list of feel-good snow day movies? New in Town While You Were Sleeping Home Alone National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Jack Frost
One of the wonderful things about How to Make Cranberry Sauce is that you can make it ahead of time and save it in the fridge for your turkey dinner. Your friends and family might miss the can-shaped cranberry sauce but you will win them over with this easy recipe made from scratch. How to […]
How to Cook a Turkey and Stuffing. There are too many videos of turkeys gone wrong to count. If you’re nervous about roasting a turkey for the first time, I think you might appreciate how easy it really is to do. See the charts below for defrosting and roasting times. How to Cook a Turkey […]
A Christmas Tea Tree. A sweet scent. A decorative explosion of silverware. I decorated this tree for the Washington State Fair. In 2009, the theme I entered was “A Christmas Tea”. I was seeping with ideas! I adorned the branches with everything sweet and cozy. Have not ever using silver – real or plated – […]
Mini Pecan Pies. One of the most beloved pies of all time… the Pecan Pie. Pecan Pie Makes 12 mini pecan pies or 1 large pie. Preheat oven to 400°F. 1 recipe Basic Pie Crust 3 eggs 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla […]
Parmesan meatloaf is just the answer. the only thing that warms the soul on a cold, stormy evening is comfort food and family. It’s easy to make and is even more flavorful the next day, making it the perfect meatloaf sandwich. Parmesan Meatloaf Makes about 6 servings. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2 1/2 pounds ground beef, […]
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find very many pictures of this Vineyard Christmas Tree so I will share with you what I could find. For the topper, I just took various elements of the tree and made them into a top that captured the splendor of a full harvest. Yeah, I know. Those dark blue walls only […]
I found this French Country Christmas Tree while digging through my photo archives to find the trees of Christmases past to share with you. I chose some softer, unique colors for my French country tree. Notice how the pillows add so much? Yet they were so, so easy to make. The details are in the […]
A Gingerbread Christmas Tree is a quick favorite for adults and kids alike. This post is dedicated to my cuzzie, Vanessa, with whom I baked mini gingies last week. We both heart a very early Christmas. In 2004, I went a little spicy with my gingerbread boys. My colors were light greens, soft pinks, and […]
I’ve been hunting for this Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake recipe for years. Turns out, I didn’t really have to look all that far for there it was right in our old family cookbook. I am convinced that I have now found the cause of my chubby childhood for these chocolaty bars were at every family […]
Move over, traditional pumpkin seeds… here come sugared pumpkin seeds and they’re sweeter than you could ever be. For a unique spin on pumpkin seeds, try these yummy treats. This recipe also works awesome for sugared pecans, walnuts, almonds. Sugared Pumpkin Seeds Preheat oven to 250°F. Pumpkin seeds from two sugar pumpkins (or pie pumpkins) 2 egg […]
Nothing says autumn more than colorful fall leaves and Pumpkin Coffeecake with Cream Cheese swirls and pecans. With the leaves still falling at the inn, I just had to make an autumn breakfast treat for our guests. One mention of it on Facebook and Twitter made for recipe requests. This recipe was just invented last […]
How to Make Pumpkin Puree. As convenient as it is to go pick up a can of pumpkin at the store, there is great satisfaction in making your own. And if you’re not into having the largest pumpkins in the neighborhood, you can just buy cute little sugar pumpkins a week before Halloween, carve them, […]
