I used to really enjoy a very glitzy, over the top approach to Christmas decor. I loved sparkle, gold, glitter and super shiny elements. The intention was to show a little sophistication, I think. I can’t deny the beauty of a glitz, but it never felt like me…almost like playing pretend. I’ve really been embracing a more nature, vintage and whimsical look…I mean, who doesn’t love a collection of antique Santas. Oh, I still have “stuff”, maybe too much, but the holidays seem more peaceful and family focused. This is a good thing.
Antique postcardsThe church that was always under my Grandmother’s tree.Antique milk bottles with vintage bottle brush trees.Some of my favorite Santas. Snowflake alley…an Annapolis tradition.
It has been a busy few weeks. We decided to check off something from a bucket list and spend our Thanksgiving Break in NYC. It was a wonderful trip despite the rainy parade…we stuck it out for over an hour before the fear of hypothermia set in. Luckily we followed up with a circus afternoon followed by a great meal. The 11 year old Princess was very content.
When we returned we had to hit the ground running as far as Christmas decor. It was so much fun to decorate our new kitchen for really the first time. I love how it turned out. We are leaning toward a more vintage and simple look. Maybe we achieved it…Let me know!
Our picture window in the kitchen. A little baking arrangement A cozy corner for relaxation. I love to use fresh greensSweet little kitchen treeParade in the rain…we were devoted.
So always expect the unexpected, or maybe not so unexpected if you think about it. Brand new kitchen addition downstairs, old unrenovated bathroom upstairs, a ceiling that houses a warren of pipe and valves and stuff over said new kitchen and well…you may just be able to take a shower without going upstairs. Yes, it was a mess but luck, and a good contractor was on our side. Our planned holiday decorating was pushed back a bit. I don’t enjoy delays but we seem to be back on track. I was craving a bit of comfort, however, and what is more comforting than smooth, homemade rice pudding, with the added convenience of a slow cooker. Plus, your house will smell great!
The Usual Cast of Characters
4 cups milk
½ cup white sugar
½ cup long-grain white rice
1 tablespoon margarine
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
⅛ teaspoon salt
The Steps to Glory
1.Stir 4 cups milk, sugar, and rice together in a slow cooker until sugar dissolves. Add margarine, cover, and cook on High for 2 1/2 hours.
2. Whisk egg, 2 tablespoons milk, vanilla, almond extract, and salt together in a bowl.
3. Pour a small amount hot rice mixture into egg mixture, whisking quickly so egg doesn’t cook. Pour mixture back into the slow cooker and whisk until combined. Continue to cook on High until creamy, about 15 more minutes.
4.Transfer pudding to a glass baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap leaving two corners uncovered to vent, and refrigerate until chilled completely, at least 1 hour.
It was a long week…I saw this recipe…I had all the ingredients…I made it…all was right again.
The Usual Cast of Characters
1 frozen puff pastry sheet
2-3 small/medium apples, peeled (I used a both Granny Smith and Honey Crisp)
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. lemon juice, fresh
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
dash of salt
pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg
2 Tbsp. butter, cut into small cubes
1/3 cup preserves ( I used Pumpkin Spice)
The Steps to Glory
1. Allow puff pastry to thaw at room temperature for ~30 minutes.
2. Slice the peeled apples ¼ inch thick. Add them to a mixing bowl.
3. To the apples, add the sugars, lemon juice, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir to combine and set aside.
4. Preheat the oven to 400°F
5. Unwrap the thawed puff pastry and remove the paper, place on work surface, lightly flour the pastry and roll it out.
6. Score the pastry using a sharp knife around the edges, about ¼ inch from the edge. It should not cut all the way through, you’re basically making a square inside so the edges will puff up properly as it bakes.Then poke the inside of the puff pastry all around with a fork.
7. Spread an even layer of preserve on the bottom of the puff pastry. I just used the back of a spoon to make it even.
8. Arrange the apples on top, leaving the juices behind, making them in a pretty pattern. Just make sure they aren’t piled on top of each other too much because it will get mushy. Dot cubed butter over the tops of the apples.
Bake for ~30 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the apples are tender
What a beautiful fall we are having in Annapolis. Clear, warm (almost hot!) days with chillier evenings made for a fire-pit or cozy sweater. Halloween has come and gone and with that October is a wrap. Where is the time going? I love the fall and I am in no hurry for the festive holiday season. Let’s give Thanksgiving it’s time and space.
One place I always enjoy during the beautiful fall is our porch. Come on up, there is always room for one more.
Decorated steps.You are always welcomeThis swing is a new addition Festive corn dryerThe colors of the seasonWelcome!Happy fall from our family.
Two weekends ago we spent a lovely weekend picking apples. It is such a fun activity, until you realized you picked apples for an entire year! You get creative and look for a few fast shortcuts. This air fryer baked apple recipe fits the bill. Easy, fast and delicious.
Usual Cast of Characters
Baked Apples
3 Apples Gala, Honeycrisp or Pink Lady work great
1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter Melted
½ Tsp Cinnamon
Honey Oat Topping
½ Cup Old Fashioned Oats
1 ½ tablespoon Unsalted Butter Melted
1 tablespoon Honey
2 teaspoon All Purpose Flour
½ teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Pinch Nutmeg
1 Pinch Sea Salt
½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Begin by preheating your air fryer. While the air fryer is preheating, prepare the apples and topping. Add all the topping ingredients to a small prep bowl and stir to combine. Make sure to distribute the honey well so all the oats are coated. Set aside.
Combine the melted butter and cinnamon in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Slice the apple in half through the core. Use a knife or spoon to remove the seeds and core from the center of each apple half. Be carful not to cut too deep and break the apple. Brush each apple half with the melted butter combination.
Spray the basket of your preheated air fryer with cooking spray and carefully place each apple in. Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to cook in several batches. Close the lid and press START, then AIR CRISP and set the TEMP to 350 degrees F using the arrows. Next, set the TIME to 15 Minutes then press START.
After 15 minutes check the apples, they should be soft and the oat topping should be browned. Once they are finished remove the apples with tongs and enjoy warm with additional honey, vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!
Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Wonderful Wednesday.. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Funtastic Friday. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations creative muster
Last week I started my car to warm it up before I left for school. All of a sudden fall was in the air. You could feel it, smell it, hear it and taste it. Somehow summer gave way to crisp fall. Summer fought a good battle but eventually it gave in. I love fall. It was so nice to put on a sweater, enjoy some fresh picked apples and hear and feel the heater click on in the middle of the night. I wanted our bedroom to reflect this change so I added some fall touches…I think it looks quite festive.
Our cuddly fall quilt.A great place to relax with a book.
I love the rich colors of fall.
A great reminder Apple picking is a family tradition.
Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me Fluttering from the autumn tree.
I shall smile when wreaths of snow Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night’s decay Ushers in a drearier day.
A brighter day with Bubble Tea
Metamorphosis Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Wonderful Wednesday.. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Funtastic Friday. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity inspiration party share the wealth Karen’s kottage. Crafty creations sunshine Sunday potpourri creative muster
Today it felt like fall. Kinda dreary but still warm, evening creeping in early, the faintest glimmer of red and yellow on the trees…I love this time of year. There is a contemplative quality about it. A time to gather at home and begin the process of “cozy”. Granted, it will probably still be in the 80’s so cozy dressing might need to wait a bit, but pumpkins, apples, darker colors are all fair game. I hope you enjoy some of my fall touches!
Pumpkins line our stairs. A welcoming foyerCozy living roomTime to cozy up Homework…the Princess’ most unfavorite part of fall.
Life is busy these days, between work, school, field hockey practice, homework and the general busyness of keeping a home running slightly smoothly, it is nice to have a meal you literally dump into a pan, bake and enjoy the deliciousness. This Greek Orzo bake fits the bill and is on rotation for dinner. I find it makes enough for several meals and freezes beautifully. What are your favorite go to “fast meals”?
The Usual Cast of Ingredients
6 oz.feta cheese
2 cups orzo pasta
4 cups chicken broth
20 oz cherry tomatoes
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp oregano
1 cup packed spinach
Drizzle of olive oil
The Steps to Glory
1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. In an oven proof pan, Place orzo evenly on the bottom. Drizzle Olive oil. Over low heat gently toast the orzo until fragrant.
3. Pour the chicken broth over the orzo pasta until it’s fully submerged. Add the cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, and dried oregano and feta cheese to the baking dish, distributing them evenly on the orzo.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked through and the cherry tomatoes are soft and bursting with flavor.
4. Remove the baking dish from the oven and add the packed spinach to the mixture. Stir well to incorporate the spinach into the dish. Return the baking dish to the oven and cook for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the spinach to wilt slightly.
5. Once cooked, remove the dish from the oven and give everything a good stir to combine the flavors. Cool and enjoy!
A Day of Small Things... 