Home Sweet Home #92

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  This week I created Thankful Book Page Leaves.

I made a Dutch Apple Cake from my Depression-Era cookbook.

I also made a favorite Thanksgiving pie, Japanese Fruit Pie.

Now I would like to highlight some of the posts that caught my eye last week.

The Country Farm Home showed off a new checkerboard kitchen floor.  I really liked this!

Aquascape showed off The Beauty of an Autumn Pond.  This water feature is just stunning.

 Two Cottages and Tea showed off an early Christmas gift in a fireside tea.

Robin at Decorating Tennis Girl showed off her newly remodeled fall kitchen.

Holly at Down to Earth Style showed off her newly restyled bedroom. 

Many great links every week!  Keep it coming!  Thank you to everyone who joins me at Home Sweet Home!  It is wonderful to have you here!

Sherry

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Follow me on Hometalk

I will join these ladies today:
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground 

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Home and Garden Thursday  at A Delightsome Life 

Inspiration Friday  at The Picket Fence

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense 

I have a SPECIAL REQUEST of you, if you visit Home Sweet Home and would like to PIN the great post you see here! Please pin from the ORIGINAL SOURCE and not my blog.  If it is my original photo you can pin away, I won't mind! 

 

 Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  

Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing neat shops too!

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!

Holiday gift guide! If you're in DC...

...Check out the Washington Post today!  There's a special issue of FW Magazine ("Fashion Washington") included inside where I and 3 other local bloggers share our holiday gift ideas.  Here's the cover:

 

 

The told us to give our best "Christmas morning" expressions... 

(Apparently, Santa leaves me shockingly good presents under the tree.)

 

I met Grant Harris (who's next to me on the cover) the day of our shoot & he is honestly the best dressed  guy I've ever met in "real life."  Grant writes Image Granted, a menswear blog & runs a menswear consulting firm.  I can't wait to have him meet my husband & work his magic.  (I actually love how Dave dresses but I know Grant will make it even better = good-and-not-a-surprise-for-him- Christmas gift ;) ;)   

 

Also inside are gift guides by Jenna Golden of Eat More Drink More and Elizabeth Fassbender of So Much to Smile About, and Grant & me.  I was selected to pick out the children's gifts.  (Which is really funny to me, because as most of you know, I'm more into kids toys that look good if left on the floor rather than toys that kids are really into;) ;)  But seriously.... no, I'm serious.

 

I'll be sure to share more about my kids' gift ideas sometime after Thanksgiving... I found some ones that I think most kids would looove (and of course, more importantly ;) ;)  .. that you won't mind seeing strewn about your house.)

 

  The article was written by Holley Simmons & I have to say (being extremely uncomfortable in my post-baby-not-fitting-into-my-clothes-yet-body) the team at the Washingto Post was amazing--the editors, photographer, stylist & hair & make-up team- in making me feel okay.  It's a pretty large magazine and might look like an ad (my grandfather was throwing it away today when he looked down & saw my face) but definitely check it out if you get the chance!!



If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Japanese Fruit Pie

The Japanese Fruit Pie has been said to be a Southern alternative to the Pecan Pie.  Whatever it's history it is delicious and one of my favorite holiday pies.  It is a really simple pie too, just mix, pour, and right in the oven it goes.  This is a family recipe we used to make for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter (softened)

pinch of salt

2 eggs (beaten)

1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar

1/2 cup flaked coconut

1/2 cup chopped pecans 

1/2 cup seedless raisins

1-9" unbaked pie shell (regular depth)

Cream butter and sugar with a stand mixer.  Add the salt.  Add in eggs one at a time.  Add vinegar, coconut,nuts, and raisins.  Just mix until blended then pour into pie shell.

Bake at 325 degrees for 35 -40 minutes. 

My kids like this pie refrigerated when cooled.  It is great with a scoop of whipped cream or ice cream.

Enjoy!
Sherry

I will link this to: 

Home at Rose Chintz Cottage

Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm

On the Menu Monday at Stonegable 
Rooted in Thyme Simple and Sweet Fridays
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
A Pinteresting Party  at Tutus & Tea Parties

Dutch Apple Cake

This Dutch Apple Cake is one of the Depression Era recipes that I wanted to try.  I was very surprised by it's simplicity but festive presentation. 

This recipe has been around a long time.  It basically is a baking soda biscuit cake topped with apples, cinnamon, and sugar.  You could butter it or spread any kind of sauce or icing on it.  There are several variations of it on the internet some with sugar added to the cake and I even found one with sour cream added to the cake to make it moister.  But, this is the original 1930's Depression recipe.  If you suffer from allergies or need to reduce sugar you could adapt this cake for these dietary needs.

Mix:

2 cups flour, sifted

1/2 tsp. salt

3 tsp. baking powder

Cut in: 

1/4 cup butter, mixing well

Beat:

1 egg- and add it to 

1 cup milk (scant)

Stir in dry mixture.  Dough should be soft enough to spread 1/2" thick in shallow pan.  Core and peel 4 or 5 apples and cut into 1/8ths.  Lay slices parallel on top of dough, sharp edge down, and press into dough.  Sprinkle 2 tbsp. sugar on apples.  (I also added 1 tsp. cinnamon.)  Bake in a hot oven (400 degrees) for 20-30 minutes.  Serve hot with butter or with a lemon sauce. 

How do you like my new teacup?  It is J & G Meakin (Made in England)  the pattern is Classic White.  I found them at the Salvation Army,  2 cups and saucers for 25 cents a piece. 

 Sherry

 I will link this to:

 Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage 

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life 

Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites

Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Tuesday Cuppa Tea  at Antiques and Teacups

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday  at Coastal Charm

Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove
 Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm  
On the Menu Monday at Stonegable 
Friends Sharing Tea at Bernideen's Tea Time Blog 
Tea Talk at The Teaist

Thankful Book Page Leaves

I took my book page leaves from the Halloween decorations below and decided to recycle them by taking a Sharpie and writing something my family is thankful for on each one.

You could also recycle them and make place cards for the dinner table this fall.

It is just another fun way to use book page leaves for fall decorating.  

Sherry

I will join:

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Cottage Style Link Party  at Lavender Garden Cottage

Mod Mix Monday  at Mod Vintage Life

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Sunny Simple Sundays  at Sunny Simple Life

Share Your Cup Thursday  at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

My Monday Muse at Carter's Cottage
Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo

Progress at Our Place & luxe magazine

We're ALMOST able to move downstairs at our house!!! I CANNOT wait!!!

 

Here's where we started:

 

The beams were sanded down, we added insulation & drywall to the ceiling, the floors are in and we took out the tiny windows & added two large ones farther apart so there will be more wall space between them...

The old fireplace and paneling....

....are gone.  A new fireplace is going in between the windows next week:

 

...And our sofa arrived!! wahooooooooooooo

 

This is my "little louie" enjoying it:

 

{poor Luke has a nickname from his big brother that's stuck!! hahahaa}

 

Our kitchen will be going in behind the sofa so we'll just have one big open room for living & eating.  (what we do best ;)

 

I pulled in some more furniture in so we can enjoy the room.  It's so open & airy!! (and empty!!)

...But I'm really happy just to have somewhere to sit down there.  The white sofa is in an indoor-outdoor linen.  I tested the sample with greesy tomato sauce... I smeared it all over the sample to make sure it would wash off.  It did.  We'll see how it fares at our place.  A wet sponge is supposed to do the trick.

 

And... we went to the luxe magazine (DC) launch party last night...

 

 

The first issue is beautiful and I'm so excited to have a new design magazine in DC!!  The quality of the magazine /paper itself is amazing too... reminds me of those thick glossy Veranda covers.  Photographer Greg Powers is coming over to our house Monday to take some pictures of me in my new "studio" (i.e. very messy office ;)  for the "stylemaker" section in the next issue of luxe.  We met him last night & he really sweet so it shoud be fun.  (I feel pretty awkward when I'm having my photo taken alone so nice people make it much better ;)

 

Here's a quick pic of Dave & I heading out to the party:

 

{ignore the scary eyes}

 

Have a great day!!

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Home Sweet Home #91

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!  I want to say that my prayers go out to our friends on the east coast that were hard hit by Sandy.  May your recovery be speedy and help be plentiful.  This week here at TCOH I showed off our colorful fall leaves in Sweet Fall.

I put the last three Halloweens from TCOH all in one video.  For those with hand held devices you can click here if the above video doesn't work.

And, I showed off an annual Witches' Party that is a lot of fun each year.

I also am excited to bring your attention to TCOH's  Sponsor RoseKraft.   This is a wonderful Etsy shop featuring Cottage Decor and Gifts: Victorian Scrap Die Cuts. 

Some of the lovely things you might find at Rosekraft are Thanksgiving Table Decor or

framed Victorian emphera.

Please go and check out Rose's shop Rosekraft.  There are many pretty things that would make great gifts.

Now I would like to highlight some of the posts that caught my eye last week.

The Farmer's Daughter did a table centerpiece with a cotton theme that was very nice.

Mary at Sweet Little Bluebird shared a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Tortilla Rolls that looked fantastic!

Maggie at Little Miss Maggie showed off her friend's Halloween decor which was really unique and fun.

Our Neck of the Woods shared a recipe for easy crock pot Sweet Potato Chili.

Many great links every week!  Keep it coming!  Thank you to everyone who joins me at Home Sweet Home!  It is wonderful to have you here!

Sherry

Follow me on Twitter  
Follow me on Facebook 
Follow me on Pinterest 
Follow me on Hometalk

I will join these ladies today:
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground 

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Home and Garden Thursday  at A Delightsome Life 

Inspiration Friday  at The Picket Fence

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense 

I have a SPECIAL REQUEST of you, if you visit Home Sweet Home and would like to PIN the great post you see here! Please pin from the ORIGINAL SOURCE and not my blog.  If it is my original photo you can pin away, I won't mind! 

 

 Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  

Link up anything in your home or garden.  I love seeing neat shops too!

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!