Favorite baked goods for Fall

It's finally Autumn in North Carolina! Can I get a "hallelujah"? I know that some of y'all have been enjoying Fall for awhile now, but our summer just hung on and on this year. And then of course Hurricane Matthew hit and made things interesting, but not fallish.

Well. Now. We're finally enjoying cooler temperatures, which have me in the mood to do some baking! Look what I made this weekend:

Aren't those the most beautiful muffins you've ever seen? One of my birthday gifts was a bag full of pumpkin goodies, and the Nordic Ware pan was my favorite thing. Click here for the recipe I used to make the pumpkin muffins--absolutely delicious!

In case you're in the mood for some Autumn baking, I want to share my favorite recipes for this time of year.

First is my pumpkin bread. I promise it's the very best I've ever tasted--and in 53 years, I've tasted a lot.

For a little sweeter treat, try this pumpkin cake. With its decadent cream cheese frosting, it's always a hit.

Apples are plentiful and delicious this time of year. There are lots of great apple pie recipes, but here's one for apple cake. It's amazing!

And if you want a scrumptious accompaniment to any of these baked goods but don't want to make frosting, try this cream cheese glaze. It's a breeze to whip up in the food processor--quick and simple and so tasty.

These recipes have stood the test of time and lots of taste-testing in our family. I hope you love them as much as we do!

Do you have a favorite Fall baked good? Please share!

Joining Thoughts of Home on Thursday

Back yard updates: new patio and deck

I'm excited to share with you some updates we've made to the back of our house.  Here's how it looks today:

Last year we had to have our deck replaced. 10 years of Southern sun exposure had taken a toll on both the flooring and the railing. Luckily, the posts and support beams were still sound, but everything else had to go.

We were very happy with how the new deck and railing turned out.  Here's an up-close photo of the railing. I chose simple square rails and copper finials for the posts.

Unfortunately, that photo features the way things have looked most days in the past few months. I know that some of y'all live with drought conditions, so I try not to complain about the rain.

After the deck was completed, we decided to make a major improvement to the ground level of our home. We're very fortunate to have a large back yard that backs up to land owned by the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers. A major creek runs through that land, so it will never be developed. Hence our back yard is extremely private. Our house is built on a hillside, so it's two stories tall in the front and three stories tall in the back. All we'd ever had on the ground level in back was a concrete patio under the deck and a muddy mess under the screened porch.  Here's how we solved that.

First, our splurge: a Belgard paver patio. (No affiliation; I'm just a fan of their products.) I'm so glad we didn't try to DIY this project. A wonderful crew spent two full days getting to this point:

Things progressed quickly after that:

Voilà!

We couldn't be happier with the way the patio turned out. 

As for the muddy mess under the screened porch, we certainly could have used the same pavers, but that was cost-prohibitive for us. Our patio contractor suggested a river rock and flagstone approach to make that area attractive and maintenance-free. When you use the term "maintenance-free," you're speaking my love language.

And now:

I added a decorative pot and some hostas for a little visual interest:

Snickers the beagle adds visual interest, too.

Looking back from the rocky area toward the patio:

The window and door there lead into our home gym. The view from the treadmill is much nicer now.

Here's the whole area from one direction:

And from the other direction:

Here's a view looking down from the steps onto the new patio. One of the main reasons my husband wanted a ground-floor patio is to have a safe place to use his Big Green Egg. The new patio is 270 square feet, so there's plenty of room. I can't wait to host a party here--my husband is locally famous for baby back ribs cooked on the Big Green Egg!

The gas grill we left on the deck, so it's just a few steps from the kitchen.

Here's the view now from our screened porch dining table:

Next I'll share some fun updates to the screened porch decor!

I'm joining these wonderful parties:

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
The Scoop at StoneGable

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Thoughts of Home on Thursday at Decor to Adore
Share It One More Time at The Everyday Home

The easiest and best appetizer recipe

It's February, and the Super Bowl is nearly here!  Hard to believe it's nearly time for the big game, isn't it?

Today I'm sharing with you one of my entertaining secrets--an appetizer that tastes out of this world, always garners compliments, and takes only minutes to prepare.

Here's the secret ingredient:

It's a specialty product called Dr. Pete's Praline Mustard Glaze.  It's a delicious sweet and savory glaze that can be used in looks of cooking applications.  Don't let the "mustard" fool you--one of my guests who hates mustard loved this.  It costs less than $10 a bottle, and it's so delicious you won't believe it.  You can order it directly from the Dr. Pete website, or check the website for a retailer near you that carries the product.  (I have no affiliation with this company; I just think the product is wonderful.)

Now for the way I use it.  I simply soften a brick of cream cheese, generously spoon Dr. Pete's glaze on the cream cheese, and sprinkle with roasted pecans.  The result isn't particularly beautiful to look at, but it's beautiful to eat!  I serve it with plenty of crackers, and it always gets devoured.

Every time I serve this, people clamor for the recipe.  I once took it to an event at The Nester's house, and she called me a "dip savant." True story!

This would be a perfect addition to a Super Bowl party--super easy to make, absolutely delicious to eat, and no leftovers!

What's your favorite party food recipe?  Please share it!

Super-easy DIY placemats

If you're like me, you like to set a pretty table for holiday meals such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, but you don't necessarily own enough tableware for large gatherings.  I have plenty of china, but I seem to own placemats only in sets of eight.

When I happened upon this product in the wedding supply section of Walmart, inspiration struck.  It cost $5.00 a roll.



I measured one of my placemats and decided on a width of 19" per mat.  Then I simply cut the runner (it's so easy to cut straight across burlap!)



and fringed both sides.  (Just pull out however many strings you like to form a fringe; I pulled five strings on each end).

Voilà!  Instant placemat!


Now I can set a pretty table for four or fourteen!



I got a great idea for setting a table for lots of people when I was privileged to attend a bloggers' luncheon at the beautiful home of Shirley of Housepitality Designs.  To accommodate more people at the table, she turned her placemats lengthwise and let the ends dangle off the table.  Isn't that brilliant?  This would work easily with my burlap placemats.

Do you have any tips for setting a pretty table?  I'd love to hear them!

I'm joining these parties:
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Brag-Worthy Thursday at Bless 'Er House
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Share It One More Time at The Everyday Home

How to prepare your home for guests

If you're like me, you're preparing to host guests during the upcoming holidays.  And you'd truly like to be a gracious host.

This year will mark the 30th Thanksgiving and Christmas my husband and I have celebrated in our own home.  "Home" for us has ranged from a 500-square-foot apartment in married students' housing to our current large house.  Over the years I've learned that the welcome I provide my guests is much more important than the fanciness of the space.

The goal of hospitality is not to pamper our guests; it's to make them feel welcome.  So don't be intimidated by the idea of trying to create a guest space that's comparable to a four-star hotel. Instead, try to anticipate your guests' needs and try to make them feel at home.



Here are some simple tips for preparing your home for guests.

Make sure the bed(s) are comfortable.  The best way to do this is to spend a night in the guest bed!  I did this and learned that my guest beds weren't quite supportive enough.  I remedied that situation by placing a sheet of plywood underneath each mattress, then added a foam topper to each bed.

I like twin beds in a guest room, which makes the space more versatile.  I've found that most married couples don't mind sleeping in twin beds for a night or two, and this way the space can easily accommodate others.

Be sure that your bed linens are nice and clean.  Since some guests suffer from allergies, don't use heavily-scented detergents or fabric softeners when laundering linens.  Instead, add some white vinegar to the rinse water.  Don't forget to launder or dry clean blankets, bedspreads, comforters, and pillows as needed.

If space allows, keep extra sheets, blankets, and pillows in the guest room.  Mine are on the top shelf of the closet.

While the linens are off the bed, take the opportunity to dust and vacuum the guest room thoroughly. Take a good look at the carpet or rug while you're vacuuming to see if steam cleaning is needed.



If your guest bed needs a headboard, you can easily and inexpensively make an upholstered one!  All you need is a piece of plywood, some foam, fabric, and a staple gun.  Click here for a simple tutorial. And if you're in need of a night stand, consider any piece of furniture you might be able to re-invent. The nightstand in this room was a small chest from Bombay--remember that store?  I painted it with homemade chalk paint, and now it has a new life!

Supply the guest room with a spot for guests to place their luggage and room to unpack their clothes. Guest closets often provide necessary storage space in homes, but be sure there is ample space for guests to hang clothes.  Provide plenty of nice hangers and an ironing board and iron if possible.

Provide several sources of light, including a lamp by the bed.  You may also want to provide a night light which guests can unplug if it's not needed.

Since most guests will come with electronic devices, it's a good idea to provide a surge protector for them to use to charge their devices. (You might want to provide one that includes USB ports; I like this one.)

Now for the guest bathroom.  If you're very fortunate, you have a bathroom attached to the guests' sleeping space.  If not, be sure that your guests know which bathroom to use and be certain that the path to the bathroom isn't blocked in any way.  If the bathroom is down the hall, you may want to place a night light in the hallway.

Scrub the bathroom thoroughly.  If needed, wash the rugs.  Check the shower curtain liner and wash or replace if necessary.

Double-check the sink and bathtub/shower drains.  If they're running slow, use a drain opener to get them cleaned out.  Alternatively, pour some full-strength bleach down the drains, followed by the hottest water your tap will produce.  Or to clean your drains more gently, pour some baking soda followed by white vinegar into the drains, then flush with hot water.

Stock the bathroom with plenty of fluffy towels and washcloths.  Towels needn't be expensive, just thick and thirsty.  Taking a cue from luxury hotels, I prefer white towels, which are easy to keep clean and stain-free and work well with any decor. (My local Sam's Club has wonderful fluffy towels for just a few dollars each.)  Be sure to provide lots of wash cloths, which you can buy inexpensively in bulk packages.  If you don't have a bathroom attached to your guests' bedroom, simply place a stack of neatly folded towels and washcloths in their sleeping space.

I had some some hand towels monogrammed for the guest bathroom;
don't they look pretty hanging with the fluffy white guest towels?

In addition to towels, stock the bathroom with toiletries your guests might need, such as:

• hand soap
• bath soap (a new full-size bar)
• shampoo
• conditioner
• lotion
• toothpaste
• toothbrushes
• dental floss
• disposable cups
• cotton balls
• Q-Tips
• disposable razors
• shaving cream
• feminine hygiene products
• hair dryer  

Be sure there's plenty of toilet paper close at hand.  Also, consider keeping a plunger and a package of disinfecting wipes in the guest bathroom.  Many houses now have water-saving toilets, which can easily be clogged; most guests would prefer to remedy that situation quickly and without having to bother the host.  In the same vein, keep a package of light bulbs handy.

Provide at least one mirror outside the bathroom.  A full-length mirror is ideal.  Be sure the mirror is close to an electrical outlet.

Once all those things are done, think about the little things guests might need while they're in your home.  Gather those items and make a welcome basket.  Here's mine:



My welcome basket contains:

• bottles of water
• snacks
• first aid items (band-aids in various sizes, alcohol wipes, instant cold pack)
• OTC pain medications (acetaminophen and ibuprofen)
• small sewing kit
• scissors
• tube of lip balm
• lint roller
• box of tissues
• extension cord (use a t.p. roll covered in pretty paper to corral the cord)
• phone charger
• small flashlight
• candle
• matches

You might also want to include a key to your house so that guests can come and go as they please.

I printed a Welcome Card with pertinent information about our home, including our wifi password, home phone number, street address, nearest cross street, and the code for our alarm system. Here's a blank form that you could customize and print with your own information:

You may also want to provide some reading material, such as a Bible, a devotional book, and current magazines.  If little children are visiting, provide some story books. Just before guests arrive, place some fresh flowers in the guest space.  Avoid flowers with a strong fragrance, such as lilies, hyacinths, and amaryllis.   (For tips on arranging your own flowers, click here.)

However grand or simple your space, your guests are sure to appreciate your hospitality if it's offered with grace and love. Click here if you'd like a full tour of my guest room. Now tell me, how do you prepare your home for guests?  Do you have any other tips to share?

I'm joining these wonderful parties:

The Scoop

Inspire Me Monday

Tutorials and Tips

Inspire Me Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday

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DIY Drink stand

Every now and then, I experience a bit of what I call "DIY serendipity," and it always makes me smile.  That was definitely the case in my new drink stand.

 If you saw my kitchen island makeover, you know that I removed a section of cupboard and had U-Line beverage center installed.  I love the new island, but I was left with the guts of the cabinet, such as this drawer:

As I pondered what to do with the drawer, I discovered that the hardware was simple to remove.  And I had plenty of green paint left over from painting my kitchen island.  Hmmm. . .

Too big, really, to use as a tray, but I thought there must be something I could do with it.  Then I remembered that I had a pair of folding legs left over from another project.  They were in poor shape, but I just wiped some Restor-a-Finish over them and they were good as new.  And

voilà!

A handy, completely portable drink stand!  It reminds me of a campaign desk.  It's easy to store and to move because the top comes off and the legs fold up when not in use.  And the best part?  It cost me nothing but a little time and imagination!

Now, who would like to come sit on the porch and have a cold drink with me?

 

Do you ever have moments of DIY serendipity?  What have you made lately?