My holiday treasures and tastes snapshot asks the question, if you love this time of year like so many of us do, why wait until after Thanksgiving to holiday it up?
Decorating one season at a time traditions, like rules, are made to be broken in favor of a richer experience.
Mix, mingle, layer, and jingle the best of the Thanksgiving into Christmas holiday season with treasures and tastes of the ho ho home for the holidays kind.
Well deck the halls- I just heard the Hershey’s Kisses commercial with the bells ringing ♫We Wish You A Merry Christmas.
It’s official- the holidays are here!
Folks, this recipe for Pumpkin Coconut Fluff Pie is easy to make and impressive to serve.
Pumpkin Coconut Fluff Pie
Ingredients
1 9″ graham cracker crust
1 8 oz container whipped topping
1 3.5 oz box vanilla instant pudding & pie filling
1 15 oz can 100% pure pumpkin
½ cup sweetened coconut flakes
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. ground cloves
½ tsp. ground nutmeg
Directions
In a large mixing bowl, add pure pumpkin, vanilla pudding mix, coconut, ground cloves, ground nutmeg and pumpkin pie spice. Using a wooden spoon, stir ingredients until combined.
Next, add vanilla and whipped topping. Fold until incorporated.
Spread the pumpkin fluff mixture into the graham cracker crust; cover with plastic wrap.
Chill covered pie for at least 4 hours to set.
Before serving dust the top of the pie with additional pumpkin pie spice.
Things are beginning to get busy as it does at the holidays.
Temperatures have dropped to baby, it’s cold outside numbers, family is on the holiday road heading home, and my kitchen cabinets and countertops runneth over with holiday dinner fixings to which I am most grateful.
Enjoy the process and the holiday treasures and tastes, dear friends.
Before we get going with the main event I must disclose this post started out with me just updating a few items, links, and sources, and well, here we stand with an entirely new post. I hope you enjoy!
Streaming smooth jazz smooth wave complete with the sounds of summer tunes and sea waves on a Saturday afternoon sets the tones and tunes to a coastal pictorial.
Even though at present it’s just too hot to do anything remotely close to a real day at the coast, the sights and sounds do put me in a sourcing coastal home décor accents and accessories state of mind.
To all chic and stylish accents there is a season, but you don’t have to buy in to locking your decorative items into a particular season.
Coastal home décor steps into the spotlight in the spring through summer season, but is never out of season to the legions of decoristas who realize and embrace this perennial favorite decorating style.
New and vintage mid-century furniture is on-trend, and this pretzel rattan chair is a wonderful example of a classic design and style befitting a coastal castle.
The Chatelet extendable trestle dining table offers European appeal in farm to coastal detail.
Hardwood solids paired with pecan, walnut and maple veneers replicate a provincial patina, making this a dining table contender for the casual yet elegant coastal dining room.
Seashells typify coastal areas, and a striking display of gathered shells from the shore or from the shelf housed in a decorative bowl or urn planter in coastal home décor fashion draws the eye.
It transcends a passing trend and consistently ranks as one of the most popular interior design styles.
Tasteful and timeless coastal home décor accents and accessories accentuate the casual, comfortable, fun, elegance, and seaside sophistication associated with classic coastal style.
The first day of spring didn’t necessarily bring spring like weather to some, but let’s look at the glass of lemonade half full.
Since the weatherman and the calendar have established spring has sprung, one’s thoughts naturally turn to spring activities, colors on parade, how does your garden grow planning, curb appeal and outdoor living ideas.
Accents and accessories in fresh, lively, and warm colors of spring renews our interiors and exteriors, elevates our moods, and brushes away the heaviness of winter.
Do you know the main reason interior decorating choices begin and end with color?
Color is a design and decorating tour de force in the way that it makes a visually powerful statement in a beautifully unpretentious manner.
Spring season 2022 accents and accessories are creating quite the buzz.
March arrives and just like that busy bees and designing decoristas thoughts turn to seasonal updating their abode with touches of the corresponding season.
Count me in as one of the new season, new look loyal ready to let the sunshine in and the spring color, texture, and pattern seasonal updating begin.
Today’s post is a first of the season show and tell tailor-made to excite those of us ready to refresh, renew and pretty up around the house for a new season.
Late winter camellias floating in a vintage tureen serves up a preview of garden party blooms soon to come.
Mother Nature has been giving us a preview of warm afternoons to come, and the talk among local meteorologists is we are now in a pattern of after 6:00 p.m. sunsets.
Things are looking positively sunny, friends!
Speaking of positive outlooks…
My mother took a tumble last week which resulted in her breaking her hip. She will be convalescing at Places In The Home, and we’ve got all kinds of fun activities planned to make the best out of a less than wonderful situation.
Discovering new playlists, popcorn and movie viewing classic favorites compliments of TCM 31 Days of Oscars, new recipe development and taste testing (the best part of the process), and perusing retail and vintage sites for what’s new spring 2022 finds.
I spy with my decorating eye a preview of spring 2022 décor finds that have my decorating interest piqued, present colors that typify the season, and prove to be show and tell worthy.
As the fictional character Bob Ryan asks, “is that something you might be interested in?”
If so, you’ve come to the right places in the home.
Cement Buddies 8 in. Rust Cement Rabbit Planter is wonderful in its intended use as well as a charming addition to a spring themed tablescape or home bar as a flatware or garnish holder.
Linens of crisp comfortable cotton in pastel palettes and enchanting patterns remind me of springtime visits to Minden, Louisiana to spend a week with Dave the Builder’s aunt.
Spring may not be here yet, but I’m ready for it in all its splendor to arrive.
Until it officially makes it presence known, I’ll enjoy sourcing and sharing spring forward finds sitting pretty at the ready to update your home for the season.
Lemon influenced home décor pieces lend a bright and fresh energy to a space, showcasing natural beauty and inspiring a simple yet elegant design style.
Accentuating a fresh and bright personality is easily accomplished by adding fun, chic, classic, and new-traditional lemon influenced home décor accents and accessories to the decorative scheme.
Soon it will be spring, and with the arrival of a new season comes seasonal updating home and garden to reflect the fresh, new, bright, and color awakening nature and retailers gift the decorista with.
Small touches make big visual impressions.
Cake stands, porcelain bowls, silver compotes, a simple dinner plate all perfect for displaying a “bouquet” of fresh lemons.
If perhaps the addition of literal lemon influenced home décor doesn’t fit your scheme and style, freshen up a space with splash accents and accessories in bright and fresh shades of traditional lemon yellow.
Homey seasonal decor finds in rich hues and flavorful tastes frame this picture perfect season.
Excitement surrounding the first day of fall compares to Christmas day in my book.
I’m selecting songs for a fall into autumn playlist, and the big blue gumbo pot is ready for the c’est si bon celebration of the season and its cornucopia of seasonings.
Y’all know my affinity for taking a photo and replicating it with in the style finds.
Well let me just say how taken I am with this bountifully beautiful display created by event designer Keith Robinson as featured in Flower Magazine.
I can’t locate a recipe for pecan pie from Mr. Robinson, but I use the Homemade Pecan Pie recipe from Karo Syrup, so classic it is.
Homemade Pecan Pie
Ingredients
1 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter melted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-½ cups (6 ounces) pecans
1 (9-inch) unbaked OR frozen deep-dish pie crust
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.
Bake on center rack of oven for 60 to 70 minutes (see tips for doneness, below). Cool for 2 hours on wire rack before serving.
Place cookie sheet in oven and preheat oven as directed. Pour filling into frozen crust and bake on preheated cookie sheet.
High Altitude Adjustments: Reduce sugar to 2/3 cup and increase butter to 3 tablespoons. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
Cozy is easily achieved when the emphasis is placed on inviting- the main ingredient in the recipe for putting together a fall fête for a party of two or intimate gathering for friends and family.
Crisp notes in the late afternoon air, tole serving trays, cake domes, and fall themed loaf pans stirs up all the fall feels, finds, and flavors.
Apple nut cake is set for the cake stand come Wednesday, but first, whipped maple pie.
Maple is among the taste of fall favorites, and is the featured flavor in this super easy to make dessert.
Whipped Maple Pie
Ingredients
1 deep dish pie crust
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) vanilla instant pudding
1½ cup cold milk
½ cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp. maple flavoring
1 container (8 oz.) thawed whipped topping
nutmeg for dusting
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Remove frozen pie crust from package and allow to thaw for 20 minutes.
Using a fork, prick the bottom and sides of the pie crust with to help reduce shrinkage and bubbling. To ensure the crust bakes off properly, place an empty pie pan the same size inside the crust.
Place pie crust on baking sheet and bake on lower oven rack for 12-15 minutes, allowing to cool once removed from oven.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together instant pudding and milk until firm. Add maple syrup and maple flavoring; mix well. Fold in whipped topping; mix until incorporated.
Spoon mixture into cooled pie crust. Dust top of pie with nutmeg and top with nuts.
Grab a jar, tumbler, or goblet and working in layers begin with crushed cookies (vanilla wafers, gingersnaps, graham crackers- all delicious choices).
Next, add a generous tablespoon of the maple pudding mixture.
Repeat with another layer of crushed cookies and complete the dish with a final addition of the maple pudding mixture.
Top with a dollop of whipped topping, a drizzle of pure maple syrup, and walnuts or fresh Louisiana pecans.
The delicious proof is in the pudding.
Gorgeously anticipating fall’s color rich-seasonally tasty arrival on this blog post writing afternoon makes for perfect blog post writing conditions.
That and streaming The French Chef with Julia Child featuring three French favorites:
Tarte aux Pommes Classique
Tarte des Demoiselles
Tarte Tartin starring apples, cinnamon, and butter- the fall baking trinity.
Julia Child is a classic, her personality endearing, and her recipes favorites in the Places In The Home test kitchen.
Between the show, recipes, and hint of crisp in the air I’m inspired to add her Tarte aux Pommes to my must make for fall recipe file.
Tarte aux Pommes
Ingredients
10-inch partially cooked pastry shell
4 pounds cooking apples
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/3 cup apricot jam/preserves
1/3 cup Calvados, rum or cognac (or 1 tablespoon vanilla)
2/3 cup granulated sugar for topping
3 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 375F. Quarter, core, and peel the apples. Cut enough to make 3 cups into 1/8-inch lengthwise slices and toss them in a bowl with the lemon juice and sugar. Reserve them for the top of the tart.
Cut the rest of the apples into rough slices. You should have about 8 cups. Place in a pan and cook over low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
Beat in apricot jam, Calvados, sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Raise heat and boil, stirring, until applesauce is thick enough to hold in a mass in the spoon.
Spread the applesauce in the pastry shell. Cover with a neat, closely overlapping layer of sliced apples arranged in concentric circles.
Bake in upper third of preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the apples have browned lightly and are tender. Slide the tart onto a serving dish and paint over it with a light coating of apricot glaze. Serve warm or cold with whipping cream or a scoop of ice cream.
Apricot Glaze
½ cup apricot preserves, forced through a sieve
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Stir the strained apricot preserves and sugar over moderately high heat until thick enough to coat the spoon with a light film, and the last drops are sticky as they fall from the spoon (225-228 degrees on a candy thermometer). Do not boil past this point or the glaze will become brittle as it cools.
Apply the glaze while it is still warm. Unused glaze will keep indefinitely in a screw-top jar.
-Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, Volume I
Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Dish – Threshold™
Delicious year round, but these flavors shine at the fall table.
Sunday night dinners here at the Places In The Home ponderosa tend to be the breakfast for dinner type.
Throughout this post I’ll include decorative ideas for firewood storage along with new, vintage, and in the style of accents for your seasonal decorating consideration.
Accent and accessories used in expected ways and in unexpected placement have the ability to impress and add charm to the spaces and places in and around the home.
Implementing decorative ways to house firewood, fire starters, fatwood, pine cones, newspapers, and safety matches at the ready is a sure fire way of marrying seasonal style with seasonal convenience.
Crisp fall days into chilly fall evenings into winter holidays frame a cozy and warm fireside narrative.
Classic tunes such as the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young “Our House” frames a lovely fall scene and heard.
I’ll light the fire You put the flowers in the vase that you bought today Staring at the fire for hours and hours while I listen to you Play your love songs all night long for me, only for me Come to me now and rest your head for just five minutes, everything is good Such a cozy room, the windows are illuminated by the Sunshine through them, fiery gems for you, only for you Our house is a very, very, very fine house with two cats in the yard Life used to be so hard Now everything is easy ’cause of you
I’m really digging the pig kitchen decor of late. As time is on my side in today’s world of thinking twice about venturing out if it’s not necessarily a necessity, it leaves me unhurried time to explore new things out there in internet land.
Last week I shared with the Places In The Home Facebook page followers a new page I’ve started to follow, Cooking with Brenda Gantt.
Miss Brenda cooks up Southern favorites with her own unique flavor of the South.
Homemade buttermilk biscuits.
Chicken and dumplings.
Boston butts.
Marinated vegetable salad.
Hot water cornbread.
Orange pineapple ice cream.
Candied sweet potatoes.
To quote Brenda, “It’s gonna be good y’all!”
And it was!
Brenda shops the local farmers market, Wingard’s Produce, and a Southern staple of grocery store traditions, Piggly Wiggly aka The Pig for fresh fruits, vegetables and meats.
Inspiration is everywhere, and this particular pig post is coming to you inspired and ready to root.
My pig kitchen decor choices lean toward the classic, the vintage, the whimsical, the unusual, and the traditional with a touch of farmhouse flair thrown in for good and stylish measure.
This Winged Pig Bird Feeder is my idea of a breakfast table or kitchen island centerpiece focal point fruit bowl.
This Cape Craftsmen Pig Planter will easily fill the bill as a planter, but it’s also decoratively capable of becoming a stylish desk accessory for the kitchen home.
Staying on the subject of breaking with convention and the art of focal point pieces for kitchen island placement, this Nichols Bros. Stoneworks Cast Stone Brother Pig Garden Statue in Dark Walnut makes a grand showing and perfect best in show pig presentation.
With thoughts of the fall into autumn season beginning to pique my interest, I’m thinking how great these pig shaped serving pieces will look filled with seasonal fruits, cheeses, and delicious dishes.
Gorgeous best describes the stunning 24 carat gold “lucky pig” table lamp with a gold lined black lamp shade, however, the price is not so right for my lighting budget.
In a box buried deep in the Places In The Home climate controlled storage unit is my cast iron pig mold purchased eons ago at an antiques store in Forney, Texas.
When the dust settles in these crazy times it’s going to be like Christmas rediscovering packed away treasures.
Pair this polka dot pig with pink Himalayan salt and you’ve got yourself a super cute salt pig.
For the home bar set up in the kitchen or kitchen adjacent, the Pleasant Pig Card Holder is mix and mingle marvelous as a pig kitchen decor bar accent.
Pig kitchen decor comes in variety of styles ranging from I ♥ country French to vintage whimsy to farmhouse chic.
Avoiding decor items that tend to be too trendy by opting for those that have staying power such as classic form, good bones, and clean lines promotes a stylish result and keeps the what in the world was I thinking when I bought this regret at bay.
