Super Bowl Get Together Ideas

Super Bowl get together ideas give game-day excitement the home field advantage.

Football+Helmet+Giclee+Wall+Art+On+Canvas+by+Darren+Gygi+Print

“It’s ridiculous for a country
to get all worked up about a game—
except the Super Bowl, of course.
Now that’s important.”

—Andy Rooney

My tried-and-true Super Bowl get together ideas entertaining formula consists of three basic components:

Casual.

Comfortable.

Easy.

gumbo-bowl

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo Recipe

Regardless if your favorite team is in or is out on Sunday tradition dictates most of us will be joining in on the Super Bowl merriment from the comfort of home- the favorite party zone.

Bose Smart Speaker

Bose Smart Speaker 500 with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Voice Control Built-in 

Great retail prices at this usually slow time of year following the holidays make picking up an accent here and an accessory tops the Super Bowl get together ideas list.

Nebula Capsule Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector Portable

Nebula Capsule Smart Wi-Fi Mini Projector Portable

Samsung - 2.1-Channel 300W Soundbar System with 6-1/2" Wireless Subwoofer - Black

Samsung 2.1 Ch Soundbar with 290W with Wireless Sub

Next best thing to experiencing the sounds of the Super Bowl live and in person is watching the game in enhanced audio quality.

Roku Streambar HD4KHDR Streaming Media Player & Premium Audio, All in One, and Voice Remote with TV controls

Roku Streambar | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Media Player & Premium Audio

Hosting game plans favor spending Super Bowl Sunday knee deep in the fun rather than in a stream of spilled food and drink.

Spot side tables give a good look, and give guests a spot to place drinks, eats, and devices.

Manila Cylinder Drum Accent Table - Project 62™

Manila Cylinder Drum Accent Table Gold – Project 62™

Tossing it back to the heyday of the folding TV tray table.

Folding TV Tray Table

Set up, serve, and store away.

Excellent call.

Defense Football Player

Bronze finish resin figurines can be used over and over again which makes it a super affordable Super Bowl decorative accent.

Bronze Quarterback

In this neck of the woods where mild winters allow magnolia trees, Ligustrum’s, and your basic garden variety greenery to maintain color and growth, cuttings and clippings are readily available for  centerpiece arrangements.

stem cuttings

Cuttings and clippings make a nice showing on their own, but really kick the look up a notch when mixed with a couple of fresh bouquets from the supermarket floral department.

glass cylinder vases

Another inexpensive decoration involves glass cylinder container(s) from the dollar store and a couple of packages of decorative accent gems in team colors.

It’s not about how much it cost, but the wow factor it creates.

whistles

Pick up a pack of coaches/referee whistles for this next idea.

Feed black and white ribbon through the whistle ring and tie around the handles of these black and white ceramic soup mugs in referee fashion.

super-bowl-soup-bowls

Serve on black melamine plates or plate charges in your team’s colors.

The-Best-Chili-Recipe

The Best Chili Recipe – Sugar Spun Run

No hot party food needs temperature interference hence the need for a slow cooker and buffet server.

Cooks 1.5 Quart Football Print Slow Cooker

Cooks 1.5 Quart Football Print Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker and Buffet Server in Copper

Slow Cooker and Buffet Server in Copper

Plastic tubs easily become individual popcorn-nuts-party mix-pretzels holders or fill with ice to create individual beverage tubs.

plastic-tub-with-handles

individual-beverage-tub

My family loves In-N-Out Burger.

In-N-Out-Burger-in-car

We go with the eating in the car option complete with lap mats and paper trays.

in-and-out-burger-order-car

What better time copy the eating in the car concept than a Super Bowl party.

25-Pack-Kraft-Paperboard-4-Corner-Pop-Up-Food-Tray-Carrier-Food-and-Drink-Stadium-Tray-Carrier-Theater-Snack-Carrier-Box (1)

Scrapbook paper is just the right size and design for lap mats, placemats and coasters.

scrapbook-paper

Football Field Scrapbook Paper – 12″ x 12″

Football Textured Scrapbook PaperFootball Textured Scrapbook Paper

footballs-scrapbook-paper

Footballs Scrapbook Paper – 12″ x 12″

Purchase items that easily fit with other occasions and themes.

Walbest Japanese-style Solid Wooden Walnut Plate

Walbest Japanese-style Solid Wooden Walnut Plate

NFL Kansas City Chiefs 4 in. Metallics Coasters (Set of 4)

NFL Kansas City Chiefs 4 in. Metallics Coasters (Set of 4)

Igloo 5-Gallon Heavy-Duty Beverage Cooler, OrangeIgloo 5-Gallon Heavy-Duty Beverage Cooler, Orange

Party Cups 12 oz Reusable Disposable Cups

Spike the Ball Tea

Ingredients

1 gallon iced tea

1 gallon lemonade

1 750mL bottle honey whiskey

ice

Directions

Combine the iced tea, lemonade, and whiskey in cooler and stir.  Add ice.

Please always drink responsibly.

Artificial Grass Table RunnerArtificial Grass Table Runner

An artificial grass table runner can be used on Super Bowl Sunday as well as  springtime gatherings, Easter eggstravaganzas, and bridal showers.

food-football-fun

From a drop by the supermarket spread made for good times and gathering friends to an instant pot-slow cooker feast, easy yet impressive dishes make a taste touchdown.

boiled-Louisiana-crawfish

Boiled crawfish, potatoes, and corn- Louisiana required Super Bowl seafood eating.

Throw in lemons, whole onions, and smoked sausage and laissez les bon temps rouler, cher!

rice scoopStuffed (or not) Pepper Dressing

1 lb. ground beef

1 bag frozen chopped onions

1 bag frozen chopped green peppers

1  teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

½ teaspoon minced garlic

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon basil

½ teaspoon thyme

1 24 ounce can spaghetti sauce

1 cup cooked rice

6 bell peppers

8 ounce package shredded cheese of choice

bellpeppers

Cut the tops and stem off of each pepper.  Remove the core and seeds from inside each pepper.  Cook the bell peppers in boiling water for 5 minutes or until desired softness is reached.  Remove peppers from water and set aside.

rice-dressing

Place ground beef, onions and peppers in a large skillet.  Cook together over high heat until ground beef is browned. Pour or spoon off excess fat.  Reduce heat to medium.

Season mixture with salt and pepper, stirring to incorporate.  Stir in spaghetti sauce and Worcestershire sauce.  Add basil and garlic, stirring to incorporate.

garlic-basil

Reduce heat to low, cover with lid and simmer dressing for 10 minutes. Remove lid and spoon in cooked rice.  Sprinkle with thyme.  Stir rice into beef mixture to incorporate. Serves 6.

That’s it!

For Filled Peppers:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Generously stuff (fill) each pepper with the dressing.  Place stuffed peppers open side up in a baking dish.  Top each pepper with shredded cheese of your choice.  Bake covered for 25 to 30 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.

Jalapeño Popper Football Cheese BallJalapeño Popper Football Cheese Ball Recipe from Peas and Crayons

Clocking time in the kitchen preparing complicated snacks takes you away from the play-by-play action.

Easy is the game plan, so let’s take a look at easy recipes.

Totally-Bamboo-Football-Shaped-Bamboo-Serving-and-Cutting-Board

Totally Bamboo Football Shaped Bamboo Serving and Cutting Board

Oversized Carved Wood Tray - Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

Oversized Carved Wood Tray – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia

 goodness & grace Round Distressed Wood Paddle Board

 goodness & grace Round Distressed Wood Paddle Board

Charcuterie boards go into the Super Bowl snack hall of fame.

fall-cheese-board

Variety is the spice of life and the rule of the cheese charcuterie board.  Work with what is available, on sale, and in season.

Here’s the items that make the tray:

One sharp, one mild, one soft, and one blue cheese.

point-reyes-farmstead-cheese-company-original-blue_1_1

Next, I select a trio of in season fresh fruits such as grapes, dates, berries, and apples.  Dried apricots and dried cranberries round out the category.

Good olives and pepperoncini complement well, too.

pecan-halves-shelled

Creole-spices

Creole pecans and mixed nuts bring the kick and the crunch.

Place pecans on a baking sheet. Drizzle melted butter over pecans, hit them with a generous sprinkling of Creole seasoning, and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.  Let cool and serve.

fig-date-chutney

Dates, figs, honey and hot pepper bacon are my jam.

goodbees-honey

 Private Selection® Hot Pepper Bacon Spread

An assortment of crackers and breads of your preference.

Pick up a bag of crostini in the bakery department at Walmart, a box or two of the house brand of entertainment cracker selection (good crackers!), and complete the pass me some of those picture with the crowd pleasing trifecta- pretzels, corn, and tortilla chips.

Prosciutto, salami, and thin sliced smoked turkey enter the field as power proteins.

super-bowl-charcuterie-board

Dip is the official unofficial food of the Super Bowl soiree.

Four quarters, four dip recipes.

slow-cooker-chilis-queso-3

Copycat Chili’s Queso (Slow Cooker Version) from Creme de la Crumb is a Super Bowl appetizer tour de force.

This baby is easy, slow cooker easy, and a crowd pleaser.

Copycat Chili’s Queso Dip

easy cheesy hot pizza dip

 Photography by Joe Lingeman – Food Styling by Amelia Rampe

Football and pizza is a natural pairing, and this Easy, Cheesy Hot Pizza dip recipe from The Kitchn is exactly that.

Easy, Cheesy Hot Pizza Dip

Super Bread Bowl Dip

A football shaped bread bowl full of dip.

Need I say more?

Click on the link for the how to make instructions and Kale-Artichoke Dip recipe.

Baked Kale Artichoke Dip Recipe from Delish

Don’t be a host/hostess hero, you football animal you.

Pop the top on a few cans of fan favorites Fritos bean dip and jars of salsa and go forth and Super Bowl.

bean-dip-salsa

Plastic Football Tray

Did someone say wings?

Cooking/frying food in an air fryer is a healthy compromise without any compromise at all.

Food cooks with less fat, faster than traditional methods, is not limited to frying (grills, roasts, bakes), and the best feature- no oil!

delish-air-fryer-fried-chicken

Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

king-cake-colors

Carnival season is in full swing with all the fun included and the calories consumed from King Cake parties a conversation for another day.

King-Cake-2022 (1)

Standard fare such as grilled or pan fried hamburgers is simple goodness widely received as a Super Bowl party must have.

hamburger-patties-ready-to-grill

hot-spicy-sauces

Pickapeppa Bloody Mary

Ingredients

1 cup Clamato juice

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1½ teaspoons Pickapeppa Sauce

3 drops Worcestershire Sauce

½ tablespoon ground celery seed

2 ounces vodka, optional

Directions

Fill glass half way with ice.  If adding vodka, pour 2 ounces into the glass. Add Clamato juice, lemon juice, Pickapeppa sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and celery seed. Stir well to mix.

Optional spice: kick it up a notch with a generous splash of hot sauce

bloody-mary-fixings

Garnish with spicy beans, celery stalk, or spicy okra.

Baked jalapeño cheese fries

Baked Jalapeño Cheese Fries – Simply Delicious

oven-fries-onion-rings

Here again is the easy way to go with sides.

Crank up the oven, follow the package directions, mix up dipping sauces in sweet and savory flavors, add to individual ramekins (COVID safety practices and general double dipping penalties), and serve.

ramekins

Good old fried chicken from the deli department of your local grocery store qualifies as a can’t go wrong choice of game day offerings.

fried-chicken

Games People Play

tic-tac-toe-bar-games-Lark-Photos

floor-checkers

dart-board-games

Bring your quarters, folks and take a guess.

football-coin-bank

Pick a word or phrase you know will be on repeat throughout the game – think word of the day, salty or sweet. Each time the word or phrase is said by party goers and Super Bowl swearers in goes a quarter into the bank.

Before the game begins attendees take a guess at how much money will be in the bank at the end of the evening. Best guess takes home the bank, the cash, and the win.

wrapped-candy-in-jar

Leftover wrapped candy from the holidays?

Count out the candy pieces, do the same with plastic football beads you can find at hobby stores, throw it all together in a big jar, and let guests guess how many is in the jar for a prize.

football-beads (1)

trophy-plastic

Show a classic football flick on the big screen TV post game entertainment.

football-movies

Options rule the field and Super Bowl get together ideas.

If the jar idea fails to score, load up a football pinata for an outdoor activity.

football-pinata

Whatever works for you works best for your Super Bowl get together.

That’s the winning point of these Super Bowl get together ideas.

Darleen-signature-love

 

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.

fall-jellies-jams-preserves

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.

love signature

Fetching Friday: Mother’s Day Recipes Inspiration

Today’s most fetching Friday offers Mother’s Day recipes inspiration.

Mother's Day Recipes InspirationBe it breakfast in bed, dining table set to impress, or a picnic spread enjoyed in springtime splendor, a deliciously edible and visually stunning Mother’s Day meal stands as a time-honored gathering held in celebration of Mom.

Elisa+Sham

Picture and pitcher perfect for this special day, colorful vintage pitchers packed full of fresh flowers and cuttings strike a commanding pose.

peonies-in-blue-vase-Kritsada-Panichgul

Better Homes & Gardens – Photo by Kritsada Panichgul

For your Mother’s Day recipes inspiration consideration, I’m featuring traditional favorites from my traditional favorites, Better Homes & Gardens and Southern Living Magazine.

Strawberries and Cream French Toast

Strawberries and Cream French Toast

Ingredients

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1¼ cups heavy whipping cream, divided

¼ cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons strawberry jam

¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar

3 large eggs

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 (16-ounce) loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch-thick slices

Sugared Fruit (see recipe below)

Maple syrup

Directions

Spray an 11×7-inch baking dish with baking spray with flour.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, ¼ cup cream, and granulated sugar with a mixer at medium speed until smooth.  Stir in jam; set aside.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together remaining 1 cup cream, brown sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Dip bread slices in cream mixture. Spread one side of each bread slice with approximately 2 teaspoons cream cheese mixture.

Place bread slices upright, side by side, in prepared dish.  Pour any remaining egg mixture over bread slices.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 2 days.

Preheat oven to 375°.

Remove casserole from refrigerator, and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until center is set and bread is golden brown, about 30 minutes more.

Spoon sugared fruit over casserole before serving. Serve with maple syrup.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Sugared Fruit

Ingredients

1½ cups quartered strawberries

1 cup raspberries

1 cup blueberries

1 cup blackberries

¼ cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons bourbon

Directions

In a large bowl, stir together strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, sugar, and bourbon.

Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

-Victoria Magazine

tarragon-chicken-salad-Jennifer-Davick

Southern Living Magazine – Jennifer Davick

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Ingredients

3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (from 1 rotisserie chicken)

½ cup chopped celery (from 2 stalks)

1/3 cup dried cranberries

2 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives, plus more for garnish

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

½ cup mayonnaise

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ tsp. black pepper

Directions

Stir together all ingredients in a large bowl until well incorporated. Garnish with additional chives, if desired.  Serve immediately or, for best results, chill, covered, at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours before serving.

-Southern Living Magazine

hibiscus-punch-photo-Melanie-Acevedo

Better Homes & Gardens – Photo by Melanie Acevedo

Royal Heritage Bone China Cup and Saucer - Pink Rose

Hibiscus Punch

Ingredients

¼ cup sugar

2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

6 whole cloves

4 hibiscus tea bags

1 ½ cups orange juice

1 ½ cups grapefruit juice

Ice cubes

2 limes, thinly sliced

Directions

In a small pot combine ¼ cup sugar, 2 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger, 6 whole cloves, and 2 cups water.

Bring to boiling over high; cook and stir 1 minute or until sugar dissolves.

Add 4 hibiscus tea bags. Let cool to room temperature.

Strain through a sieve into a large pitcher.

Stir in 1½ cups each orange and grapefruit juices.

Chill up to 24 hours. Serve with lime slices.  Serves 8.

-Better Homes & Gardens

lemon-verbena-ice-cream-pie-photo-Dana-Gallagher

Better Homes & Gardens – Photo by Dana Gallagher

Lemon Verbena Ice Cream Pie

Ingredients

Lemon Verbena Ice Cream

1 cup milk

½ cup fresh lemon verbena leaves or 4 teaspoons lemon zest

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¾ cup sugar

3 egg yolks

1 ½ cups heavy cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

Ginger Shortbread Crust

½ cup butter, softened

1 cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup sugar

2 tablespoons finely chopped candied ginger

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon kosher salt

Herbs and edible flowers, such as lemon verbena, phlox, and/or roses

Directions

For Lemon Verbena Ice Cream:

In a medium saucepan heat milk and verbena or zest just to a simmer over high.  Remove from heat; let steep about 30 minutes.  Stir in salt.

In a medium bowl whisk together sugar and egg yolks until thick and pale. Return milk to a simmer.  Gradually whisk 1/2 cup milk mixture into egg mixture.  Continue whisking until smooth.  Slowly add egg mixture to saucepan, stirring constantly.  Cook and stir over medium-low until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and just starting to bubble.  Stir in cream. Press through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl; discard solids.  Stir in vanilla.

Set mixture in an ice bath to chill, stirring occasionally.  Transfer to a 2-qt. ice cream freezer.  Freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.

For Ginger Shortbread Crust:

Grease a 9-inch pie plate. Preheat oven to 350°F.  In a large bowl beat butter with a mixer on medium 30 seconds.  Add flour, sugar, candied ginger, ground ginger, and salt.  Beat until a soft dough forms.

Press dough evenly into prepared pie plate.  Line with a double thickness of greased foil.  Fill to top with pie weights.  Bake 25 minutes.

Remove foil. Bake 10 to 12 minutes more or until dark golden brown. Let cool completely.  Freeze at least 1 hour.

Spread ice cream into crust.  Freeze at least 4 hours or until ice cream is firm.  Let stand at room temperature 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Top with herbs and edible flowers.  Makes 10 servings.

-Better Homes & Gardens

confetti-cakes-photoo-Antonis-Achilleos-food-styling-Torie-Cox-prop-styling-Kay-E-Clarke (1)

Southern Living Magazine – Photo by Antonis Achilleos
Food Styling by Torie Cox – Prop Styling by Kay E. Clarke 

As easy as they are pretty, this recipe for Mini Confetti Cakes is Mother’s Day perfect.

Mini Confetti Cakes

Ingredients

1 (15 1⁄4-oz.) pkg. vanilla cake mix

3 tablespoons pink candy sprinkles

Homemade Whipped Cream (recipe below)

Edible flowers (such as violas, tuberous begonias, English daisies, and pansies)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Prepare cake batter according to package directions, stirring pink candy sprinkles into batter. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch baking pan. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 28 to 33 minutes.

Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Invert cake onto rack; cool completely, about 45 minutes.

Prepare the sweetened whipped cream.

Cut out 15 mini cakes from cooled cake using a 2 1⁄2-inch round cutter.  Slice each mini cake in half horizontally, making 2 layers per mini cake.

Using a small offset spatula, spread sweetened whipped cream on half of layers, and top with remaining layers.

Cover tops and sides of cakes with whipped cream.  Press edible flowers directly onto cakes.

Homemade Whipped Topping

Ingredients

2 cups heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 tablespoons unsifted powdered sugar

Directions

Beat cream and vanilla in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until foamy.  Gradually add powdered sugar, and beat until stiff peaks form.

-Southern Living Magazine

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, mother-in-laws, like a mother to me, sister moms, and best friends we celebrate and appreciate.

I hope these Mother’s Day recipes inspiration gift you with ideas for preparing a delicious treat to complement your Mother’s Day celebration.

signature-pink

Let the Summer Patio Good Times Begin

Memorial Day weekend traditionally signals let the summer patio good times.

Toledo-Bend-pier

Getting patio, deck, porch or pier summer ready kicks the salute to summer party in gear.

Mainstays Owen Park 28 inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit

Ventless Smokeless Glass & Black Metal Column Tabletop Fire Pit

Ventless Smokeless Glass & Black Metal Column Tabletop Fire Pit

Washing away winter’s remnants always puts a fresh and clean spin on things, and makes way for the patio party part of the process most of us really look forward to- the decorating details.

Outdoor decor items enhance the look of the season and emphasize chic summer style.

Battery Powered Integrated LED Outdoor Floor Lamp

Battery Powered Integrated LED Outdoor Floor Lamp- Lowes

This seagrass pendant lamp shade from IKEA is super summer chic, and the price is so summer sweet.

TORARED Pendant lamp shade, seagrass, 14 "

TORARED Pendant lamp shade, seagrass, 14 “

Patio, deck, porch or pier becomes the perfect summer canvas for the art of decorating.

Ions ago when Dave and I had commercial and residential real estate dealings in Central Florida, we liked to stay at a particular hotel in the International Drive area of Orlando.

Palapa 7.5 ft. Aluminum Patio Umbrella in Whiskey Brown

Palapa 7.5 ft. Aluminum Patio Umbrella in Whiskey Brown

We mixed business with pleasure sitting poolside several afternoons, sipping cool beverages and soaking up the island vibe complete with tiki terrific motif.

Beachcomber Ceramic Tiki Mugs - 16 oz - Set of 4

Relaxing, summer stylish, and memorable- an excellent theme to work with.

Parasol Picks with Large Hibiscus Print Flowers

Parasol Picks with Large Hibiscus Print Flowers

Fresh mint ice cubes add a zip of cool summer minty freshness to your favorite beverages.

Easy to make, delicious to taste, and talk about pretty in a pitcher or glass or both.

fresh mint ice cubes

Place gently rinsed fresh mint leaves into each individual square of the ice cube tray.

Fill  squares with water.

Pop tray into freezer until cubes are solid.

Enjoy these summer minty fresh ice cubes in your beverage of choice.

Summer Patio Good Times Cookout Recipes

Favorite Barbecued Chicken
Click on the link for full recipe

I’ve carted this handwritten recipe on many a camping trip for the express purpose of satisfying the request of our camping crew.

baked-beans-recipe

Discovered on an episode of Paula’s Home Cooking, the recipe for Sue and Gloria’s Baked Beans rates a Fourth of July recipe must.

Oven baking is not always camping convenient, but you know what is? A 7 qt. slow cooker.

Click on the link for full recipeGrilled Corn 4 Ways

Bloomin’ Grilled Apples
Click on the link for full recipe

Decorate.

Cook.

Plan.

Patio.

Summertime is the season of living easy and summer patio good times.

Darleen-signature-love

Sweet Treats No Tricks Halloween Goodies

Coming soon to a serving tray or cake plate near you is the sweet treats-no tricks Halloween goodies sure to tempt and delight.

jack-o-lantern-on-column-1

Flickr

I’ve selected several recipes, ideas, and suggestions for making the Halloween goodies baking process a delicious, easy, and wickedly fun endeavor.

Halloween goodies

Country Living Magazine

Presentation is key, and the vintage cutouts, bendables, honeycomb decorations, candies, and tin tray spell trick or treat.

Vintage Halloween Tissue Dancer Witch Hanging Decor

Vintage Halloween Tissue Dancers Hanging Decor

I loved our annual Halloween shopping trips to Kmart, TG&Y, and Gibsons for decorations.

Selections were limited compared to today’s offerings, but did the trick.

black melamine serving tray

A honeycomb decoration served as a centerpiece, a bendable scarecrow or warty witch a front door decoration, and two plastic jack-o’-lanterns lights to light the Halloween night and living room windows completed the look.

Vintage Halloween honeycomb cat

My mother showed a cake mix who was boss in the original Places In The Home test kitchen.

Duncan-Hines-dark-chocolate-cake-mix

Rae Dunn Large Mix Mixing BowlRae Dunn Large Mix Mixing Bowl

Her bag of tasty tricks included adding candy bar pieces, flavoring extracts, calorie rich whole milk, and food coloring combinations transformed a store bought cake mix into the taste of homemade.

There’s Halloween goodies magic in a bag of Milano cookies and white chocolate chips.

Milano milk chocolate cookies

Milano mummy cookies

M’mm M’mm mummy cookies are easy to make with a bag or two of Milano cookies, white chocolate chips, sprinkles, or candy eyes.

Milano cookie ghosts

Start by placing 2 cups of white chocolate chips and ½ teaspoon shortening  in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 90 seconds.  Stir to incorporate. Microwave in 30 second intervals until chocolate is fully melted.

For extra smooth chocolate, add another ½ teaspoon of shortening to the melted chocolate; stirring well to mix.

*******************************************************
Test kitchen experiment with mint chocolate chips (not a favorite in the Places In The Home test kitchen) proves the times and ingredients accurate.
*******************************************************

mint-chocolate-chips

melted-chocolate-chips

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Place Milano cookies on cookie sheet.

Spoon melted chocolate over the top half of each Milano cookie and allow to set.

Reheat the remaining chocolate for 10 seconds to melt.  Carefully spoon melted chocolate into a resealable plastic bag.   Zip or seal the bag and snip off the bottom corner off the bag.

Drizzle chocolate over each cookie to create the bandage look.  Finish by adding candy eyes or sprinkles for the eyes to each cookie while chocolate is soft.

Refrigerate cookies to allow chocolate to set.

Halloween graveyard cake

Halloween Graveyard Cake from Country Living Magazine

Milano cookies make excellent tombstones.

Classic-Chocolate-Creamy-Home-Style-Frosting

Spoon canned frosting in your choice of color into a resealable plastic bag.

Seal or zip the bag and snip off the bottom corner off the bag.

Pipe RIP on top half of a Milano cookie, and that’s it.

halloween-cookie-recipes-black-cat-cookies

These Black Cat Cookies from Good Housekeeping immediately caught my eye.

Granted, there’s several steps included in this recipe, but the finished product makes it worthwhile.

Black Cat Cookies

Ingredients

Basic Sugar Cookies – recipe here

Black Cocoa Cookies – recipe here

Royal Icing – recipe here

Vodka or other clear alcohol (you might need to add a dram or two for the baker!)

Black and silver luster dust

Directions

Prepare cookie doughs as directed.  Use flour-coated circle cutters to cut out circles from sugar cookie dough, and use cocoa-coated cat cutters to cut out cats from black cocoa cookie dough.  Bake as directed and let cool completely.

Use royal icing to decorate sugar cookies and attach cat cookies on top.

Mix a small amount of clear alcohol with silver luster dust and use a paint brush to paint small brushstrokes on the royal icing of the sugar cookies. Repeat with black luster dust to paint bats.

Makes 1 dozen.

-Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen

witch-cupcakes

These witch cupcakes are so ugly they’re darling.

I’m taking baking liberty here by suggesting you make the cupcakes using cake mix.  Where the cake mix calls for water, I use milk for a richer homemade taste.

How to make the witch hats:

Place a wire rack over a baking sheet.  Use a serrated knife to carefully cut 3 in. from the point of the sugar cones.  Place the chocolate wafers on the rack.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave according to package directions. Spoon the melted chocolate over one cone at a time making sure to evenly cover each cone.

With a spatula, spread the chocolate to cover the wafer, adding more chocolate if necessary.

How to make the frosting:

Using an electric mixer, beat 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 1 ¼ cup butter (2½ sticks), 1 tsp vanilla and ¼ tsp salt in a bowl until smooth and fluffy.

Tint frosting green by mixing two drops of yellow food coloring with two drops of blue.

How to make the witches:

Spread a small amount of frosting onto each cupcake, top with a doughnut. Frost sides and top of the doughnut.

Place the jelly beans, cut-side down, into the frosting for eyes.

Cut each taffy into 4 pieces, shape each into a nose and place under the eyes.

Pipe the brown frosting ( two drops of red and two drops of green) onto the jelly beans for pupils and over the jelly beans for eyebrows.

Pipe a mouth with the red frosting.

Break the shredded wheat into strands and place on top of each doughnut.

-Woman’s Day

The homemade and the taste of homemade Halloween goodies trick is to treat the eye and the sweet tooth.

love your style

 

Bake, Chill, Sweet and Dill: Summer Food Recipes

With summer’s official arrival and the 4th of July coming up, happy summer times are here again, friends.  Like the summer temps, summer food recipes are a hot topic of conversation.

I really look forward to picking, preparing, and plating traditional summer fare.  I’ll put a new spin on an old favorite to spice the taste factor up a bit, but all in all I stay true to the original recipe.

Fresh is best for many summer food recipes.

Fresh tomatoes?

The official unofficial fruit of summer.

Yes, a tomato is a fruit.

fresh-tomatoes-summer

Fresh corn?

fresh corn

Flickr

Stir in chopped bell pepper, onion, Kosher salt, fine black pepper and you’ve got a sweet summer treat.

tomatoes-bell-pepper-green-onions

Fresh peaches?

fresh peaches

Peel ’em up and pass the sugar.

summer food recipes

When I can’t make it out to the local growers, it’s to the farm to market produce section at the local grocery store I go.  There’s plenty of summer food recipes out there with an ingredients list of seasonings ready to enhance the flavor quotient.

Today I’m shining the summer food recipes spotlight on traditional and new traditional favorites sure to please.

summer-macaroni-salad

Classic Macaroni Salad

Ingredients

1½ cup (12 ounces) dry elbow macaroni

½ cup mayonnaise (I use Duke’s)

1 Tbsp white wine vinegar

¼ cup milk

2 teaspoons sugar

½ teaspoon Kosher salt (or more to taste)

black pepper to taste

1 medium tomato, chopped

1 medium bell pepper, diced

¼ cup red onion, diced

1 whole green onion (green and white parts), sliced

1 cup whole kernel corn, drained

Directions

Cook the elbow macaroni in salted water according to directions on package. Drain cooked macaroni, rinse with cold water, and allow to completely cool.

Chop, slice, and dice the tomato, bell pepper, red onion, and green onion.

summer food recipes

To prepare the dressing grab a medium mixing bowl.  Add the mayonnaise, vinegar, milk,  sugar, salt and pepper.  Stir all together to incorporate and set aside.

Place macaroni in a large mixing bowl.  Add the bell pepper, green onion, red onion, tomatoes, and corn.

macaroni salad dressing

Pour dressing over top and toss to evenly coat.  Chill salad for at least 2 hours before serving.

Bread-and-butter-pickles

Bread and butter pickles recipe from Recipe Girl.  Click on over to the  delicious Recipe Girl blog for the recipe details.

Recipe Girl Blog Link HERE

pickled tomatoes

Marinated Tomatoes and Onions

Ingredients

1 medium red onion, sliced and separated

3 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges

½ cup vinegar

½ cup granulated sugar

1 Tablespoon honey

1 cup water

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

1 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper

½  teaspoon allspice

Directions

Layer tomatoes and onions in jar.  Sprinkle the pepper and allspice into jar.

tomatoes-sliced-onions-Ball-Mason-jar

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, honey, sea salt, and water to combine.

Pour vinegar-sugar-honey-sea salt-water mixture into jar covering the tomatoes and onions.  Place lid on jar and seal tight.  Give the jar a vigorous shake to incorporate the flavors and to thoroughly coat the tomatoes and onions.

Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Firecrackers, chicken, and the summer soiree are part of the recipe for summer entertaining success.

baked-firecracker-chicken

Contrary to summer soiree belief, not everyone grills and barbecues.

Oppressive heat, inclement weather, building restrictions, personal taste preference- you get the idea.

If you’re not on board the grilling/barbecue train, this recipe for oven baked Firecracker Chicken from Jo Cooks has got your name written on it.

Click HERE to get the recipe.

And now for something sweet

Chocolate-chip-smores-bars

Dessert puts the cherry on the top of the summer spread cake, so to speak.

It’s always a good time for a good s’mores recipe, and this Chocolate Chip S’mores Bars recipe from Glorious Treats is, well, glorious.

Who remembers cranking out homemade ice cream on a hot summer afternoon?

Dave the Builder and I both have done our fair share of cranking over the years of childhood.  What complaints we had about having to crank were quickly diminished when the ice cream was ready.

When a good crop of peaches came in at the local orchard, my grandmother would peel and dice a bowl full of fresh peaches to add to the ice cream.

Talk about good!

In the spirit of summer, good memories, and great summer food recipes, this recipe for fresh peach ice cream from Southern Living is deliciously appropriate.

Fresh Peach Ice Cream

Ingredients

5 large egg yolks

½  cup sugar

2 cups whole milk

1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12-oz.) can evaporated milk

2 cups mashed peaches

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

Whisk together the egg yolks and sugar in a large heavy saucepan. Whisk in the milks.  Cook over medium-low, stirring constantly, 15 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon.  Stir in the peaches and vanilla.

Cool completely (about 30 minutes); cover and chill at least 4 hours or up to 8 hours.

Pour the custard into the freezer container of a 2 ½ to 3-quart electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. (Instructions and times may vary.)  Transfer to a freezer-safe container; freeze 2 hours or until firm.

-Southern Living

enjoy

Summer Simple Suggestions In Chic Summer Style

Summer simple suggestions in chic summer style for bedecking interior and exterior settings, entertaining, dishing up summer fare, and outdoor living it up easy peasy is greatly appreciated.

summer simple suggestions

Southern, Northern, Eastern or Western Living- regardless of geographical location, summer living and loving decoristas have got the memo, and it’s all about keeping it summer simple and summer simple suggestions.

best-of-summer-Southern-Living

It’s kinda sorta tough to kick back, relax and savor the season when you notice heavy equipment sitting on the sidewalk in front of your house and you, the homeowner, have no earthly idea what it is doing there.

heavy-equipment

Seems our city water department has a little curb appeal water line improvement of their own in mind.

This does not make my summer simple suggestions list.

dug-up-sidewalk

Progress isn’t always a pretty process, and the installation of a new water lines makes it difficult to achieve summer curb appeal style, but we forge on.

sago-palm

We trimmed the unattractive dead sago palm fronds and within a week new green growth emerged.

Here’s a trick in my simple summer suggestions repertoire for getting your Sago palm(s) summer curb appeal ready.

Sago Palm Care

Outdoor planted Sago palm care involves watering the plant regularly until it takes root.

I like the look and the drought tolerant aspect of the mature Sago palm.

Fertilize at least once a month beginning in spring to aid in active growth.

Covering the base of the plant with mulch will help to protect the roots from cold snaps.

In inclement winter weather or fall freeze, we cover the exposed Sago palm with a heavy duty extra large black trash bag to protect it.

shattered

If it’s not one thing, it’s this.

Cue The Rolling Stones, cause it’s shattered.

The lawn and garden guy’s super duper heavy duty weed eater took aim at a loose piece of exposed aggregate, obliterating the exterior glass panel of the patio French garden door.

One simply can’t patio pretty with ugly on parade.

Thank goodness for the friend who frequents our summer patio soirees that just so happens to own a local glass company.

Better Homes & Gardens 10-Count Warm White LED Ribbed Outdoor String Lights

Better Homes & Gardens 10-Count LED Ribbed Outdoor String Lights

Did someone mention summer soiree?

Why, yes.

It’s time once again to get your summer soiree on, and the ideas for fun in the sun or evening tiki torch, lantern or string light are flowing.

We’re working with what we’ve got in the front of the house, and if you are like us, you’re getting your porch, patio and deck hangin’ game plan down pat.

Comfortable, fun, relaxing, refreshing, simple, tasty and stylish as chic- this is my number one summer simple suggestions formula for a festive summer gathering.

If Ina Uses It

I read with interest an article listing the pros and cons of a charcoal grill.

The pros outnumber the cons, and personal preference trumps all however, the one pro of the charcoal grill worth mentioning is worth mentioning.  Grilling on a charcoal grill ups the flavor quotient and gives great grilled flavor.

grill

Better Homes & Gardens

Brushing the grate with oil helps to prevent food from sticking.

Take three or four paper towels and wad them up in a bunch.

Pick up the paper towels with tongs and dip into a bowl of peanut, Canola or vegetable oil.

Lightly coat the grate and proceed to grill.

charcoal-chimney-starter

Country Living

Ina is a huge fan of the charcoal chimney starter.

Using a charcoal chimney starter is both easy and a safe way to get things cooking.

I hate the taste of lighter fluid, and am leery of it as well.  When you use a charcoal chimney starter there is no need for lighter fluid.

Simply fill the chimney starter about ¾  full with charcoal and light it over several sheets of scrunched up newspaper over the bottom grill grate.

chimney-starter

Weber® Rapidfire® Chimney Starter

Allow the fire to catch and then burn for about 10-20 minutes or until the fire comes out of the top and the coals are glowing orange.

Carefully spread out the charcoal in a single layer across the bottom cooking grate, place the oiled grate on top, and you’re ready to grill.

As Ina Garten would say, how fabulous is that?

Speaking of Simple Summer Suggestions, Ina Garten, Summer Fare and Grilling

ina-garten-sliders

Sliders

Ingredients

2 pounds premium ground beef (80 percent lean and 20 percent fat)

1 tablespoon good Dijon mustard

3 tablespoons good olive oil, plus extra for brushing the grill

1 teaspoon chopped thyme leaves

3 teaspoons chopped garlic

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 ounces grated Gruyere

12 small Brioche buns

4 ounces baby arugula

3 medium tomatoes, sliced in 1/8-inch-thick rounds

2 small red onions, sliced in 1/8-inch-thick rounds

Ketchup, for serving

Directions

Build a charcoal fire or heat a gas grill.

Place the ground beef in a large bowl and add the mustard, olive oil, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper.  Mix gently with a fork to combine, taking care not to compress the ingredients.  Shape the meat into 12 (2-inch) patties of equal size and thickness.

When the grill is medium-hot, brush the grill grate with oil to keep the sliders from sticking.  Place the sliders on the grill and cook for 4 minutes. Turn the sliders over with a spatula and cook for another 4 to 6 minutes, until medium-rare, or cook longer if you prefer the sliders more well done.

For the last 2 minutes of cooking time, place ½-ounce Gruyere on the top of each burger and close the grill lid.  Remove the sliders to a platter and cover with foil.

Slice the buns in half crosswise and toast the halves cut side down on the grill.

Divide the baby arugula among the 12 bottom buns, top each with a slider, and finish with a slice of tomato and red onion.  Cover with the top of the bun and serve hot with ketchup.

– from Food Network

hot-dog-1

Culinary experiments put the taste and c’est si bon in the summer entertaining mix.

Summer menus require summer classics, new discoveries and improved additions.

fried-chicken

Fried chicken is practically required eating in the South and a mainstay of the summer dining and picnic table.

Once the Places In The Home gang discovered how good the fried chicken is from the deli at our local Kroger, frying chicken at home has become a thing of the past.

smores-fixins

Here’s my tip for simply summer impressive- it’s all in the presentation.

I go heavy on the presentation and simple with the preparation.

A pack of mini terra-cotta clay pots from the dollar store become individual s’mores supply pots.

Vintage Hershey's Milk Chocolate Metal Tray

Vintage Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Metal Tray

Chippy, rusty, and charming- this vintage Hershey’s Milk Chocolate metal tray would make a great serving tray or decorative accent for the s’mores table.

plum smoothie pop

Country Living Magazine

Vintage ironstone and in the style of vintage table linens set a summer chic table.

A quick trip to an antique shop, garage sale or Goodwill store usually results in an ironstone serving piece find or two.

Vintage picnic wares and baskets bring memories to the table, and can be used for the actual purpose of food and beverage and/or as decorative accents.

basket-hydrangea

Dave the Builder and I bought a vintage picnic table from a fellow antiques dealer with the express purpose of featuring it in a summer display at Hopefully Classic.

I used a vintage picnic basket filled with hydrangeas for  a super easy, super cute centerpiece.

You can make quite the keep it summer simple statement with a collection of glass jars or melamine vegetable bowl and whatever flowers, greenery or veggies are growing fresh in your yard or garden.

No garden or flowers on the homestead?

summer-sorbet-watermelon-Blaine-Moats

Check out the floral department and produce section of your favorite grocery store or farmers market.

Fresh watermelon at a market

Mini watermelons on a natural table runner of Pittosporum paired with Lemon Lime Nandina is summer simple and summer chic.

corn-centerpiece

corn-cobs-red-ribbons

Ears of fresh corn with the husks slightly peeled back in order to expose the corn kernels grouped in threes and tied with woven ribbon of your color, pattern and texture choice or metallic twisted rope is another fresh centerpiece idea.

ironstone-tureen

H&Co France Lidded Casserole- White Ironstone lidded dish

H&Co France Lidded Casserole- White Ironstone Lidded Dish

Vintage Homer Laughlin Blue and White Platter Oval Plate Dish Restaurant Ware

Vintage Homer Laughlin Blue and White Platter Oval Dish

summer-serving-pieces

4pc Indoor Outdoor Gingham Napkins
Cotton Striped Table Runner Blue – Threshold™
Design Imports 18″ Square Farm Fresh Stripe Napkin (Set of 4)
Farmhouse Living Homestead Stripe Red/White Napkins (4-Pack)
Buffalo Check Navy 100% Cotton Napkin (Set of 4)

12-Piece Damier White and Black Porcelain Dinnerware Set (Service for 4)

12-Piece Damier White and Black Porcelain Dinnerware Set (Service for 4)

Buffalo Plaid Woven Cotton Napkin, 4 Piece, Black and White

Buffalo Plaid Woven Cotton Napkin, 4 Piece, Black and White

Summer Simple Suggestions for Refreshing Treats 

Summer is fun, but summer is hot.

Delicious and easy frozen treats of the leaded and unleaded type make a big splash with guests.

plums

Plums

Plum Smoothie Pops

Ingredients

¼ cup sugar

1 Tablespoon corn syrup

1 lb. assorted plums

8 tsp. fresh lime juice

6 oz. plain yogurt

Directions

Bring the sugar, corn syrup, and ¼ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and cool.

Puree the plums, cooled syrup, and lime juice in two batches, using a blender, until smooth.  Stir the plum puree and yogurt together in a large mixing bowl.

Pour the mixture into popsicle molds, leaving about ½ inch at the top, as the mixture will expand when it freezes.  Follow popsicle mold manufacturer’s instructions and freeze until solid, about 4 hours.

-Country Living

popsicle-outdoor-throw-pillow

Pair your favorite frozen treat with a glass of sparkling wine for a little zing.

Dipping a frozen treat into a chilled glass of sparkling wine pops the flavor notes and takes summer treat to a whole new tasting dimension.

Prosecco grapes is another winner.

These frozen treats are super easy to make and quite refreshing.

prosecco-grapes

Prosecco Grapes

Ingredients

2 lb. green grapes

1 bottle prosecco

4 oz. vodka

½  cup granulated sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, pour prosecco and vodka over grapes.  Let them soak in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Drain in a colander and pat dry.  On a shallow plate, roll the grapes in sugar until fully coated, then serve.

-Delish

original-bomb-pop-frozen-treat

Inspiration is everywhere!

Huber+Popsicle+Throw+Pillow

I saw this VW Bus throw pillow and immediately my thoughts went to summers spent camping with my childhood friend and her family in their VW Bus.

VW-bus-summer-throw-pillow

Louisiana is a long way from the California coast, but the Gulf Coast is a fun place to sand, swim, sun and sing we’ve been having fun all summer long, Louisiana style.

The Beach Boys definitely make up the soundtrack of summer.

he-beach-boys-greatest-hits

My final summer simple suggestions tip is as follows:

Don’t sweat the details.

The simplicity of summer is an easy theme to work with and makes a great backdrop for mixing and mingling with friends and family in the good old summertime.

Darleen-signature-love

 

I earn a commission for purchases made through affiliate links

Two Peas In A Stylish Pod: Art and Interior Design

Art and interior design are like two peas in a stylish pod.

green-peas

Fresh starts, fresh vegetables, and fresh colors do the body, mind, soul, and home good.

Just ask Sasha Emerson.

The Los Angeles based interior designer is mastering the art of personal downsizing without sacrificing the creature comforts of home through art and interior design.

Del Monte Sweet Peas framed supermarket ad

As explained in “Sasha Emerson’s California Cottage -Funky Decor Ideas”  in Country Living magazine, scaling down from an expansive 4500 square feet home to half that in an English-style cottage signals it’s edit-yard sale-Craigslist-donate-giveaway time.

As they say, you can’t fit a square peg in a round hole.

I know.

I’ve tried.

It ain’t happening.

Ikea cabinets

Repurposing from within allowed Sasha’s decorative integrity to remain intact.  She discovered balance and comfort frame a pretty picture through art and interior design.

oil_painting_of_paint_brushes_in_an_english_pea_can

Paint Brushes in an English Pea Can by Elizabeth Blaylock

I’m forever reminding clients and fellow decoristas the importance of incorporating a sense of you into your design and decorating scheme.

The art of individuality is paramount to personal style, and what better place to express yours than house and home.

palette-canvas

Imagine your home as your canvas.

Dip your brush in a palette of personal style and paint a gorgeous scene of individuality throughout.

benjamin-moore-split-pea

Art is the manifestation of creative expression rooted in imagination, emotion, and inspiration.

Let me ask you something, what is not art?

Author Unknown

BM-split-pea-paint-color

Benjamin Moore Split Pea

Benjamin Moore’s Split Pea makes a made in Palm Beach style color match to the lush purple window coverings in the main room of  Designer Sam Allen’s Connecticut apartment.

IS Architecture

“Color is a creative element, not a trimming.”

– Piet Zwart 

green-breakfast-room-1

IS Architecture

Peter-Rogers-kitchen-new-orleans

Peter Rogers Historic Creole Cottage in New Orleans

art and interior design

“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away.  It is always on his doorstep.”

– Paul Strand

wood-marquetry-dresser

AD France

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” 

 – Edgar Degas

give-peas-a-chance-garden-marker

Give Peas A Chance Garden Marker

The framed 1960’s supermarket ad for Del Monte Sweet Peas captures the essence of Sasha’s flea-market chic home decor, and fancifully pays homage to Pop Art Icon Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup I: Green Pea.

andy-warhol-campbell's--soup-green-pea

McGaw Graphics Campbell’s Soup I: Green Pea, 1968 by Andy Warhol 

When I first saw the pop of art, it immediately evoked thoughts of weekend grocery store excursions to our local  A & P- my mother’s idea of big fun.

mother-daughter-grocery-shopping

Looking back it was.

Thinking about split pea art and interior design brings back memories of shopping at A & P and the display feature for School Days Brand Early June Peas.

A&P-brands

Design and color are the cornerstones of visual merchandising.

I vividly remember brand labels rich in color, distinctive font and visual design.

The aforementioned School Days peas and the I remember it as if it were yesterday red tomato-green lettuce leaves- navy blue background Ann Page Mayonnaise label serves memory and a craving for a spring Easter comfort food classic.

Ann-Page-mayonnaise-Capetown-Lobster-Salad

This comfort food recipe for pea salad is uncomplicated, styled for a classic taste, and quick to please.

I liken it to the creature comforts of home through art and interior design and memories of the walks down the aisles of A & P hand in hand with my darling Mother.

I’ve learned so much from both.

pea salad recipe

English Pea Salad

Ingredients

2 large hard-boiled eggs

1 yellow bell pepper

2 oz. Cheddar cheese

½  c. mayonnaise

½  c. sour cream

3 tbsp. dried basil

2 tbsp. finely chopped red onion

2 tsp. chopped pimiento

1 tsp. Apple-Cider Vinegar

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. soul-food seasoning or seasoned salt

1 tsp. granulated garlic

½  tsp. Freshly ground pepper

2 dash Hot sauce

60 oz. early peas (such as Le Sueur)

Directions

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the peas, mixing well. Stir in the peas.  Refrigerate the salad for at least 10 hours or up to overnight.  Serve at room temperature.

Country Living

sweet-pea-ricotta-tart

With spring and Easter right around the corner, I thought I would include this two peas in a pod recipe for Sweet Pea and Ricotta Tart from Good Housekeeping.

Sweet Pea and Ricotta Tart

Ingredients

Tart Crust

1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour

¼ tsp. salt

5  Tablespoons cold butter

3 Tablespoons trans-fat free vegetable shortening

ice water

Filling

2 teaspoons olive oil

1  medium leek, chopped

2  cups fresh or frozen (thawed) peas

1  Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

¾  cup ricotta

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

¼  cup grated Pecorino cheese

½  teaspoon grated lemon zest

½  cup microsprouts or microgreens

Directions

Make the Crust:
In the bowl of a food processor, blend flour and salt. Add butter and shortening and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Sprinkle in 3 to 5 tablespoons ice water, one tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition, until large, moist crumbs just begin to form.  Shape dough into disk; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight. (If chilled overnight, let dough stand 30 minutes at room temperature before rolling.)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll pie crust into a 12″ circle and fit into a 9″ pie plate.  Trim excess dough, leaving 1″ overhang; tuck overhang under and crimp edges.

Line dough with large sheet of parchment paper or foil; fill with pie weights or dried beans.  Bake 15 minutes or until dough is set. Remove parchment with weights and bake until crust is golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes more. Remove from oven; let cool completely on wire rack.

Make Filling:
In a 10″ skillet, heat oil on medium heat. Add leek and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.  Cook until leek is tender, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes.  Add peas and cover; cook until tender, stirring once halfway through, 3 to 5 minutes.  Let mixture cool, then stir in lemon juice.

In a medium bowl, stir ricotta, cream cheese, pecorino, lemon zest, and 1/8 teaspoon salt until well-combined.  Spread in cooled pie shell.  Top with cooled pea mixture and garnish with microsprouts.

~Good Housekeeping

enjoy