Fetching Friday: Boo-tiful Scenery

This week’s Fetching Friday features boo-tiful scenery festively depicting hauntingly beautiful images in the spirit of Halloween.

fetching-for-Halloween

Boo-tiful scenery, gorgeous spaces, presentations, accents, displays, delights, and accessories do not rely on tricks to conjure up decorative and stylish treats for the eye.

fairytale-carved-pumpkin

Fairy House Pumpkin

dark-interiors-Elle-Decor (2)

Elle Decor

outdoor-entry-Halloween-Martha-Stewart-photo-Ngoc-Minh-Ngo

Martha Stewart – Photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo

bayou-cocktail-bourbon-street

Bayou Cocktail \ Bourbon Street⠀

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces bourbon⠀

1 ounce fresh lemon juice

¼ cup apple cider⠀

2 teaspoons real maple syrup⠀

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger (or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger)⠀

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon⠀

5 ounces sparkling hard Honeycrisp apple cider⠀⠀

cinnamon sticks, rosemary and apple slices for garnish

cinnamon sugar for rim⠀

Directions⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Rim an Old Fashioned glass with cinnamon sugar and fill with ice.  In a shaker, combine bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice, maple syrup, ginger and cinnamon.  Shake to combine.

Strain into glass and top with hard Honeycrisp apple cider.  Garnish with cinnamon sticks, rosemary and apple slices.⠀

Bayou Life Magazine
Styling by @taylor.a.bennett
Photo by @kellymooreclark

boo-tiful scenery

Alexander McQueen

House of Hackney Troop Wallpaper

House of Hackney Troop Wallpaper

foggy-pumpkin-patch

Flickr

Halloween-outdoor-table-setting

Country Living – Photo by Matthew Benson

dark-interiors-Elle-Decor (1)

Elle Decor

I hope you have a spooktacular Friday, and enjoy boo-tiful scenery on this Halloween weekend.

love signature

Show & Tell

Autumn Harvest Rice

F is for fall flavor, and this Autumn Harvest Rice is a recipe developed with the intention to bring the flavors of fall to table and plate.

autumn-harvest-rice-maple-sweet-potatoes

Dave the Builder and I love spending time at The Buckhorn Inn when we are in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Buckhorn-Inn-grounds

Travel to Tennessee has been off the table for us over the last two years, but where there’s a website and webcam, there’s a way to pop in for a virtual visit every now and then.

Buckhorn-Inn-at-fall

The Buckhorn post its weekly dinner menu at the first of the week, and I’ve noticed Chef Frank including Autumn Harvest Rice Pilaf for fall.

Immediately intrigued and inspired to create, I decided to try my hand at mastering a main to side dish teeming with seasonal seasonings.

Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven.

Out from the cabinet comes my new Dutch oven and seasonings ready to boil, blend, steam and simmer.

Chopped apples, apple juice, brown sugar, butter, cloves, nutmeg, walnuts, and fig preserves do a fall-autumn dessert good, but can I just tell you this sweet power flavor combo delectably complements the savory of fresh mushrooms and onions sautéed in butter, brown and long-grain white rice, chicken broth, Kosher salt, black pepper, and fresh parsley in balanced and well-seasoned taste of fall perfection.

Autumn-Harvest-Rice-Recipe-pumpkins-fall

Autumn Harvest Rice

Ingredients

1 cup uncooked long grain rice

1 cup uncooked brown rice

2 cups water

2 cups chicken broth

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

1 teaspoon salt

½ Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

1 stick (8 Tablespoons) unsalted butter

1 medium onion, peeled and chopped

1 16 oz. container fresh sliced mushrooms

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 teaspoon pepper or to taste

1 apple, peeled and chopped

3/4  cup apple juice

½ cup brown sugar

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 Tablespoon fig preserves, optional

1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Mix butter, water, chicken broth, long grain white rice, and brown rice in a medium saucepan, and bring to boil.  Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 45 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.

cooked-long-grain-white-brown-rice (1)

In a large skillet, melt 4 Tablespoons (½ stick) butter over medium-high heat.  Add chopped onions and sauté until onions become translucent.

fresh-sliced-mushrooms

Next, add sliced mushrooms, salt and pepper, stirring to coat.

sautéed-mushrooms-onions

Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook onions and mushrooms until soft, about 7 minutes.

cooked-mushrooms

In a large saucepan, melt 4 Tablespoons butter (½ stick).  Add the chopped apples, brown sugar, ground cloves and ground nutmeg.

apples-butter-brown-sugar

Stir in apple juice and fig preserves and bring mixture to a boil.

brown-sugar-butter-covered-apples

Reduce heat to medium; stir in chopped walnuts.

apples-butter-brown-sugar

Lower heat to low, allowing walnuts to slightly soften.

fall-rice-dish

Fold cooked rice into sautéed mushrooms and onions then incorporating seasoned apples and walnuts mixture into the rice combination.

autumn-side-dish-fall

Maple sweet potato patties rounded out the menu, and the crowd went wild.

Well, our taste buds did.

autumn-harvest-rice-for-fall

Dave the Builder put his request in for Autumn Harvest Rice to be added to our traditional Thanksgiving menu.

We aim to prepare, plate, and please.

Let me know if you make this recipe, and what you think.

cest-si-bon

Show & Tell

Fetching Friday: Around the House

Today’s Fetching Friday invites you into my around the house world.

fall-fetching

It’s amazing how fall shows out around the house.

On a late afternoon stroll with Ollie the Wonder Dog the colors in our yard and around the neighborhood caught my eye, so I grabbed the camera and snapped several pics to share with you all.

Loropetalum-fall

Purple in shades of deep and bright.

purple-clover

Autumn gold best describes this deep yellow with variegated tones of green beneath.

in-full-fall-color

We just cut this front flower bed crop down for our annual end-of-summer lawn and garden purge, and as if on cold front cue it’s back in blooming wonder.

around the house

New to my ironstone-porcelain-so pretty collection of platters, plates, and pitchers is this October for November surprise.

ironstone-platter-blue-green-white-oval

Exciting times and anticipated cold fronts hit the Boot (Louisiana) late this evening and stays for a nice crisp weekend long visit.

A new Dutch oven is ready to sauté and simmer a pound of Cajun trinity for the first gumbo of the fall season and seasons.

Just now (7:24 p.m. cst) Dave the Builder rushed in the back door telling me, “come quick, the geese are flying over.”

My daddy firmly believed low flying geese meant cold weather was on the way, and he loved to hear them this time of year.

As I stood on the sidewalk this evening listening to their fall flyover, I winked up at Jack.

Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven.

To commemorate fall, the cold front, and the annual parish fair being in town baked caramel apples will be the featured dessert this evening.

apple-filled-with caramel

I so hope you have a most fetching Friday enjoying the beauty of the season.

love signature

Show & Tell

Festive Halloween Decorating Ideas

Guests and ghouls alike will gasp with delight at these festive Halloween decorating ideas not too tame, not too terrifying.

It’s not too early to begin gathering festive Halloween decorating ideas and devilishly delightful goodies for your Halloween decorating extravaganza.

Bewitching decorative treasures festively bedeck your Halloween haunt for a day into night soiree of visual tricks and tasty treats.

Festive Halloween Decorating Ideas

Light the night and set a mood of stylish intrigue by illuminating your fright night soiree with distinctive lighting options.  

Halloween-tablescape-with-candles

Many moons ago I tricked out our kitchen and breakfast room in grand Halloween splendor.

black-tulle-Spanish-moss

Black tulle, white taper candles, Spanish moss, a vintage candelabra, glass cloche, a decorative black crow, and magnolia leaves spray painted black dressed the night in fright and fun.

Cat in Window laser cut wood tea light holder

Cat in Window Laser Cut Wood Tea Light Holder

Party possibilities range from pumpkin luminaries using clear glass cylinder vases to clear cylinder vases filled with moss, mini pumpkins and creepy plastic creatures thrown in for decoratively dreadful measure.

Halloween-pumpkin-luminariesSouthern Living

fairytale-pumpkin-7

pillar-candle-in-tall-glass-cylinder-holder

You local dollar store is an excellent starting point for party needs or party decoration fillers.

Did you hear the recent news of a popular dollar store raising their prices from $1.00 per item to $1.25 – $1.50 to offset rising production/shipping costs?

Now I guess we’ll call these party decor go-to stores dollarish stores.

Regardless, if you’re anything like me you favor festive Halloween decorating ideas like the following that remain big on festive Halloween decorating ideas fun, not big on festive Halloween decorating ideas prices.

black-green-tall-candles

Candles.

Natural Moss Mix

Natural moss mix.

glass cylinder vases

Glass cylinder vases.

Halloween-faux-flowers

Faux flowers in dark and boo-tiful colors.

All of the above make delightful and frightful additions to captivating centerpieces.

Koyal Wholesale Compote Bowl Centerpiece Mercury Glass Antique Pedestal Vase

Koyal Wholesale Compote Bowl Mercury Glass Antique Pedestal Vase

Creepy chic.

Anatomical-Heart-Shape-Form-Bud-Vase-red

Heart Shape Form Bud Vase

grapevine-witches-hat

11″ Grapevine Witch Hat by Ashland®

Centerpiece ideas include classic orange and black Halloween decorating accouterments, fresh or faux festive flowers, and creepy and crawly spiders and snakes in hauntingly beautiful form with a hint of chilling chic compliments of a can or two of spray paint in your favorite color(s).

Halloween Decorative Sculpture - Hyde & EEK! Boutique™

Halloween Decorative Sculpture – Hyde & EEK! Boutique™

boot-jack-cricket

Iron Boot Jack Cricket

Halloween tabletop decoration today, iron boot jack cricket hearth  decorative figurine tomorrow.

Assorted Eyeball Tabletop Accent by Ashland

Assorted 3.5″ Eyeball Tabletop Accent by Ashland®

top-hat-Halloween-decor

The top hat tips its hat to decoration triple duty.

skeleton-head-figurine

Primp it out for Halloween, tidy it up with a gold band and pheasant feathers for the perfect Pilgrim piece at Thanksgiving, and top it off with glitter stems at Christmas as a tree topper.

chicken-wire-figures-Halloween

Fun idea found on Pinterest.

dining-room-chairs

It reminds me of my dress painting adorning the dining room sideboard that I’ll drape sheer white lace over and backlight for a white wedding theme.

eye throw pillow

Oh, and the eyes on you throw pillows will work into the night perfectly.

The call to edit and decorate with items you already have is coming from inside the house.

grapevine-wreath-ribbon

Create a little tone on tone visual magic with a can or two of spray paint in your Halloween color of choice.

Begin with a grapevine or straw wreath.

Hunt and gather a harvest of dry leaves, stems, twigs, vines, and branches from nature’s arts-and-crafts-store (your yard).

Spray paint both sides of the crop and allow to completely dry.

Snake and intertwine your painted gathering work of decorating art down the center of the table in table runner fashion.

Painted wreaths become everything from a cake stand base to a candle ring.

black-straw-wreath

Scary chic, super affordable befitting centerpiece and table runner problem solved.

jack-o-lantern-Halloween-decoration

Pumpkin Man Tabletop Accent by Ashland®

Dark and eerie rules the night for adults, but may prove to be frightening for younger attendees.

Halloween Black Crescent Witch sign (1)

Halloween Black Crescent Witch Sign

Vintage style decorations make an excellent choice of theme for a family-friendly soiree.

Tabby Cat Vase

Tabby Cat Vase

Halloween Candy Bowl Options

copper-pot-handle

Vintage Copper Pot – EBTH

Hammered Copper Party Tub

Hammered Copper Party Tub

I lost my head.

Grecian Bust Pot

A&B Home Visage Medium Cement Vase

Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Dish - Threshold™

Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Dish – Threshold™

grapevine-bird-nest (1)

Pair a grapevine bird nest from the craft department with a black feathered crow found in the Halloween section for a spook-takular candy dish alternative.

spirits-boos

A cast iron cauldron pot fits right in with the trick and treat taste of Halloween.

black-cauldron-brass-ladle

Large Black Cauldron
Alchemade Pure Copper Ladle

Serving ideas for party potions of the leaded and unleaded varieties include a bewitching large black cauldron, copper ladle, DIY beverage dispenser,  punch bowl made from a pumpkin, and of course, dry ice to create a special effect foggy look.

Kitchen Ghosts

Special effects cast a spell of delight for the eye at a Halloween happening.

Dry ice punch bowl recipe

The dry ice punch bowl recipe from SheKnows spells how simple and safe instructions on how to boil over the Halloween punch bowl or cauldron.

skull-beverage-dispenser (1)

Skull Beverage Dispenser

Dispensers and decanters in the Halloween spirit.

Glass Decanter Skull Patterned

Glass Decanter Skull Patterned

Shade Skull Decanter

Shade Skull Decanter

Foster & Rye Skull Liquor Decanter, Clear Glass Skull Shaped Whiskey Decanter with Stopper

Clear Glass Skull Shaped Whiskey Decanter with Stopper

Take a pumpkin, stick a spigot in it, and you’ve got a party pumpkin keg.

pumpkin

black-spigot

DIY Pumpkin Keg

What You’ll Need:

large pumpkin

serrated knife

long handle spoon

marker pen

spigot

Directions

Begin by cutting the top off the pumpkin.  Set aside.

Using a long handle spoon, remove the pumpkin seeds and pulp.

Select where you want the spigot to be on the pumpkin.  Using the marker pen, trace a circle around the spot.

Being very careful, take the knife and cut the hole out for the spigot.  Make the hole the same size as tap to eliminate leaking from the opening.

Insert spigot into the hole and tighten.

Pour the fall seasonal beer or hard cider of your choice into the pumpkin and place the pumpkin top on.

Your beverage will pick up a slight to complementing pumpkin flavor, so select with that in mind.

smoking blackberry sage margarita

Smoking Blackberry Sage Margarita

Devilishly delicious drinks, anyone?

creepy-eyeball-MartiniCreepy Eyeball Martini

fairytale-pumpkins-trio

Non-alcoholic Pumpkin Punch

Ingredients

8 cups apple cider

2 cups orange juice

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves

2  15 oz cans pumpkin puree

For Garnish:

1 cup maple syrup

1 cup cinnamon sugar

cinnamon sticks

apple slices

star anise

Directions

In a medium sized saucepan, simmer cider, orange juice, cinnamon and cloves for 5 minutes.  Whisk in pumpkin puree until combined with other flavor and a smooth consistency is reached.

eat, drink, and be scary tumbler

Eat, Drink, & Be Scary Tumbler

For an extra blast of tasty fall flavor, rim glasses by dipping the rim into maple syrup first and then dip into cinnamon sugar mixture.

Garnish with a cinnamon stick, apple slices, and star anise.

cinnamon-water

Cinnamon water is a delicious beverage option that’s as tasty as it is easy to make.

This stove top method brings out the flavor and color of the cinnamon.

Begin by adding 2 cinnamon sticks to 2 cups of water to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.

Allow concentrate to cool before adding to cold water and ice.

Halloween-inspired-wines-beer-ales

 

red-vibrant-color-wine-goblets

TableTop King 10 oz Wine Glasses, Stemmed Style in Red, Set of 6

Skull Ice Cube Mold Tray

Skull Ice Cube Mold Tray

Tablewares and Serving Pieces

oan-Crawford-Straight-Jacket

Tarot cards make whimsical place cards.

tarot-cards-fan-deck

Select a Sharpie in a commanding color and personalize with guests name.

Tattoo Tarot Board Game Cards

Tattoo Tarot Board Game Cards

Eat, Drink and Be Scary Serving Platter - Threshold™

Eat, Drink and Be Scary Serving Platter – Threshold™

Delivery!

Target-package

6″ Stoneware Cat Face Appetizer Plate – Threshold™

Treasures found, ordered, and delivered today make me Halloween happy.

stoneware-pumpkin-appetizer-plate (1)

When Halloween party hosting for twenty or less guests, and with Dave the Builder sharing KP duties, I go with “real” plates, utensils, glassware, etc…

orange-dinner-plate

Royal Norfolk Orange Stoneware Plate

Dollarish store stoneware plates and plastic chargers in traditional Halloween colors stack up a wicked good look.

black-dinner-plate

Royal Norfolk Black Stoneware Plate

Super scary-cute-sweet Halloween theme plastic and paper tableware options are everywhere this time of year, and make an impressive showing and an easy clean-up undertaking.

Royal Norfolk Red Swirl Side Plate

Royal Norfolk Red Swirl Side Plate

Metallic Silver Scroll Charger Plate

Metallic Silver Scroll Charger Plate

black-formal-plate-charger

Leopard love!

leopard-print-charger-plate

Leopard Print Charger Plate

This Mystic Eye Ouija Cutting Board is so unique.

mystic-eye-ouija-cutting-board

Mystic Eye Ouija Cutting Board

skeleton-tongs

Skeleton Tongs

Rats and cheese go together like a Halloween themed cheese board.

slate-cheese-board-display

black-wood-rectangular-cheese-boards-assorted-sizes

Black Wood Rectangular Cheese Boards

Rubber rats straight out of the Halloween decorations aisle placed on a black cheese board create a deliciously eerie display most Halloween appropriate.

 black-rubber-rats

Natural beauty pumpkins are simple to make and simply elegant when completed.

Simply heat up the old glue gun (caution, it’s hot!) and hot glue lush leaves to the pumpkin.

fall-pumpkin-cheese-board

I hope one or more of these tasty and festive Halloween decorating ideas tricks and treats your Halloween soiree spook-takular.

Show & Tell

October Vibes Come Home

October vibes come home to a warm welcome, seasonal updates, creature comforts, and hearth and home enchantment.

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers

Friday officially brings October to the table, a perfect time and a perfect month as can be, autumnally speaking.

October vibes come home

Chilly sweater weather days and crisp fall evenings will eventually make it down to Louisiana.

Fleeting as it was, we did get a fall preview last week.  Colors on parade outside our dining room windows grabbed my attention inspiring me to grab the camera and snap the above photo.

Two days later the color treat was completely gone.

Nature not only showed up and showed out, it showed me the importance of enjoying every facet of the season I love while it’s here.

homebody-mug-sweet-water-decor-etsy

Sweet Water Decor Homebody Mug

Cozy, comfortable, cool, and crisp amplifies the fall at home quotient.

Fall autumn days into evenings mark a prime time for a bit of personal downtime spent enjoying the creature comforts of the season we wait for all year long.

If you find the time.

When time affords.

Give yourself permission to give yourself the gift of me time.  Most of us realize it’s a labor of love to nurture, comfort and cozy hearth and home, family and friends.

But what about you?

What better way to recharge the battery we run down during our busy and hectic week than with a good book, a hot beverage and a few creatures of cozy comfort.

foodiesfeed.com_woman-in-a-warm-blanket-holding-a-cup-of-coffee

Foodiesfeed

Comfort and cozy lives on through the generations.

Although the linen closet is packed with a slew of throws and blankets to choose from, invariably I go for the crocheted afghan my grandmother had made for my mother Christmas circa 1974.

It’s a familiar and familial source of comfort; a tactile touchstone accessory perfect for a fall settle in.

fall-colors-vintage-throw

Remember hot spiced tea from Tang?

Talk about bringing back precious and tasty memories.

pumpkin-teapot (2)

Both my maternal and paternal grandmothers mixed up gallons of this fall into winter spiced tea, serving it up on chilly afternoons to warm the bones and set the tone.

spice-tea-made-with-Tang

Hot Spiced Tea

Ingredients

1  1/3 cups TANG

½  cup sugar

½  cup instant tea*

1  teaspoon cinnamon

½  teaspoon cloves

*Or use lemon-flavored unsweetened or sugar-sweetened instant tea

Directions 

Combine ingredients and store in tightly covered jar.  Makes approximately 24 servings.

For 1 individual serving, place 1 teaspoon of spice tea mix in a cup, fill with boiling water and stir until dissolved.

-Hot spice tea from Tang recipe from Recipe Curio.

fireplace-townley-terrace-home-tour-domino

Domino – Photo by Jessie Cuts

Touches reflecting the season.

Fireside chats.

cozy cardigan candle

Cozy Cardigan Candle

Scents of the season floating throughout the house.

Sweater-Knit Slippers

Enjoying the comfortable and warm styles of the season.

Fall is an extraordinary time of the year where we seem to embrace the places and spaces in the home a bit more than usual.

I came to realize the silver lining of time at home during the lockdown phase of virus life.

At home times seasoned, shared, and experienced in a haven of warmth and comfort, reassuring and familiar in the very best and coziest of ways, is time well spent.

pink-turtleneck-knit-sweater

October vibes come home in comfortable spaces with a fall flavored beverage of choice and a good book.

home-decorating-design-cook-books-fall

Finding Home: The Houses of Pursley Dixon 
The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook
A Well-Kept Home
2021 Christmas with Southern Living

I put this activity on respite and repeat.

October-breast-cancer-awareness-month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Annual mammograms can detect cancer early when it is most treatable.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.

Women 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.

Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms.  Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

Early detection through a routine mammogram is one of the attributing factors in my mother’s breast cancer being caught in the early stages which contributed to her survival.

It made a believer out of me, so every October a mammogram it is.

pink-pumpkin-flowers-wreath (2)

Heartfelt Additions

October vibes come home in seasonal splendor on this gorgeous first day of the month.

Take it in, enjoy the bounty, and have a lovely weekend.

Darleen-signature-love

 

 

 

Show & Tell

Homey Seasonal Decor Finds

Homey seasonal decor finds in rich hues and flavorful tastes frame this picture perfect season.

fall-2021-inspiration

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.

pecan-pies-fall-Keith-Robinson-Flower-Magazine-photo-David-Hillegas

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.

Wood Cake Stand - Hearth & Hand

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.

-Karo Syrup

pink-rust-orange-mums (1)

Chrysanthemums (mums) are plentiful at fall, relatively inexpensive, and the color array spectacular.

Stone-like Grey Large Decorative Vase

Stone-like Grey Large Decorative Vases

Stone and earthenware decorative vases and planters become focal point accents for housing seasonal flowers, branches, and stems.

Rustic Vase Brown

No fuss-no muss simplicity at its serveware best is achieved with new or vintage stoneware bowl(s).

Pure fall, pure vintage beauty.

chocolatey brown antique farmhouse, stoneware mixing bowl

Antique RED WING Yellow Ware Bowl
Chocolatey Brown Stoneware Mixing Bowl

Serving boards made from natural materials serve well as versatile, uncomplicated choices for showcasing the foods and flavors of fall.

Brown Wood Look Plate

Wood Style Plate from Hobby Lobby

As I’ve stated before, never confuse simple with cutting corners or skimping on the details.

tondo-12-round-platter

Tondo Wooden Plates

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.

Teak Root Wedge Reclaimed Wood Serving Board

Teak Root Wedge Reclaimed Wood Serving Board

When casual elegance meets tone on tone layering meets inviting ambiance, a stellar result is achieved.

pumpkin-wood-serving-platter

Amber Glow Pumpkin Wood Serving Platter

Pumpkins quickly come to mind when considering autumn-fall theme accessories for home and table, but have you noticed the popularity of the mushroom?

Handmade Wood Mushrooms Tabletop Decor Collection

Handmade Wood Mushrooms Tabletop Decor Collection

Homey seasonal decor finds in a neutral colors fit right in with the natural state of the season’s beauty.

Seagrass Woven Pumpkin

Seagrass Woven Pumpkins

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.

tole-tray-cake-cover

Apple nut cake is set for the cake stand come Wednesday, but first, whipped maple pie.

whipped-maple-pie

Maple is among the taste of fall favorites, and is the featured flavor in this super easy to make dessert.

maple-syrup-flavoring-vanilla

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.

whipped-pudding

Spoon mixture into cooled pie crust. Dust top of pie with nutmeg and top with nuts.

Refrigerate 1 hour.

Drizzle maple syrup over pie just before serving.

stoneware-pie-dish-set

Stoneware Pie Dish, Set of 3

Pie today, parfaits tomorrow with this recipe.

Bee & Willow™ Goblet in Gold

Bee & Willow™ Goblets

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.

empty-mixing-bowl

Gorgeously anticipating fall’s color rich-seasonally tasty arrival on this blog post writing afternoon makes for perfect blog post writing conditions.

fall-is-my-favorite-color-blog

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.

red-fall-apples (2)

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™

Stoneware Pumpkin Serving Dish – Threshold™

Delicious year round, but these flavors shine at the fall table.

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Sunday night dinners here at the Places In The Home ponderosa tend to be the breakfast for dinner type.

Biscuits.

Pancakes.

Eggs with fried apples.

round ceramic baking dish grill dinner plates

Found and placed on my fall finds list for suppers such as these is a set of Bruntmor Set Of 4 Matte Glaze Ceramic Food Serving Plates With Skillet Look.

coffee-tea-flavors-fall

Coffee drinking and tea sippin’ season and seasoned warm beverages complement and spice fall’s crisp days into brisk cozy evenings.

Homey Seasonal Decor FindsMason Cash | In The Forest Batter Bowl
Polyresin Pine Cone Table Decor     
Antique BM&T Covered Vegetable 1896  
Metallic Silver Scroll Charger Plate
Nordic Ware Leaf-Lettes Cakelet Pan, 2.5 Cup

fall-home

Homey seasonal decor finds frame this picture perfect season and welcome the best of the season to home and hearth.

This is how we welcome fall home.

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Show & Tell

Fetching Friday: Pretty Sights All In A Scroll

Today’s Fetching Friday shines the spotlight on pretty sights all in a scroll. I find a visual respite from the unpleasant beautifully works to clear out the cobwebs and reset mind and soul.

fetching-definiton

Dutch-mastery-salmon-walls

Luxe- Photography by Annie Schlechter

Richard-Keith-Langham

Richard Keith Langham

Janine-Stone-country-estate

Janine Stone – House & Garden

Utah-Valley-Bride-pretty-sights

Utah Valley Bride

coral-fireplace-mantel

Apt La Fayette

pink-walls-dining-hall

Brides- Photography by Rebecca Yale

Charlotte-Moss-Flower-Magazine-roses-in-basket

Charlotte Moss – Flower Magazine

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Victoria Magazine

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Tucker & Marks

philippians-4-8-kjv-whatsoever-things-are-true

Life is a beautiful experiment best served when we open our eyes, ears and hearts to the pretty sights all around us.

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Show & Tell

Never Forget the Attacks on 9/11

Shall we never forget the fateful attacks against our nation on Tuesday,  September 11, 2001 (9/11).

Has it really been 20 years?

I remember it like it was yesterday, and as time marches on my memories surrounding that day remain crystal clear.

Katie Couric relating to the viewers details too horrific to imagine, too grievous to ignore, too important to forget.

Shared phone calls of disbelief.

Telling Dave the Builder I knew the towers would collapse based on the knowledge of detonation practices learned from studying Las Vegas hotel implosions.

Discussions with other parents of how to explain the events of the day to our children in an honest yet measured manner as not to scare and upset their hearts and thoughts any further than the attacks in the name of pure evil this morning presented.

Twin Towers NYC

We revere 9/11 as a day of remembrance and reflection; a day Americans  come together in reverent thought, solemn moments of silence, ringing of bells of remembrance and prayers for comfort and strength.

Life as Americans knew it up to that point forever changed on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 at 8:46 a.m. EST.

never forget twin towers after being hit 9/11

Biography

7:59 a.m. EST– American Airlines Flight 11 departs from Boston’s Logan International Airport bound for Los Angeles with 11 crew members and 76 passengers on board.

Five al-Qaeda terrorists hijackers on board are excluded from the total numbers.

8:15 a.m. EST– United Airlines Flight 175 takes off from Logan International en route to LAX with 9 crew members and 51 passengers aboard.

Five al-Qaeda terrorists hijackers are excluded from the total numbers.

8:20 a.m. EST– American Airlines Flight 77, en route to Los Angeles, takes off from Dulles International in Washington, D.C. with a total of 59 innocents on board; 6 crew members and 53 passengers.

The 5 al-Qaeda terrorists hijackers are excluded from the total numbers.

8:42 a.m. EST– United Airlines Flight 93 departs Newark Liberty International with 7 crew members and 33 passengers on the flight.

Four al-Qaeda terrorists hijackers aboard this flight are excluded from the total numbers.

8:46 a.m. EST– American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into floors 93 through 99 of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

9:03 a.m. EST– United Flight 175 crashes into floors 77 through 85 of the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

9:37 a.m. EST– American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.  The crash and the fire as a result of it take the lives of 59 passengers and crew and 125 people on the ground.

Pentagon during 9-11

9:42 a.m. EST– The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounds all flights.

9-11 from Jersey City

Flickr

9:59 a.m. EST– Fifty-six minutes after impact the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses in a mere 10 seconds.  More than 800 people inside the South Tower and the surrounding area of the building perish.

10:03 a.m. EST– United Airlines Flight 93 crashes near Shanksville, Pennsylvania killing 40 people on board the aircraft.

The hijackers are not included in this number, and rightfully so.

passengers-crew-flight-93 (1)

Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial

10:15 a.m. EST– The outer ring of the Pentagon collapses.

10:28 a.m. EST– The North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses killing more than 1,600 both in and around the tower.

FDNY

Fear came to call not expecting bravery and resilience to answer back united we stand.

Our memories will forever be filled with the events of that horrific day in our history, and even though painful to remember we should choose to never forget the attacks on 9/11.

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We are the United States of America.

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We differ from one another on many points, views, and opinions, but when all is said and done we are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Never forget.

Show & Tell