You are here: Home / Archives for Miscellaneous

Hosting a Holiday Party? These Recipes Will End It on a Sweet Note

December 17, 2015 by

When it comes to the holidays, the desserts are the truly standout dishes. Everyone has their go-to pie recipe, their favorite seasonal cookies and that tasty twist on hot chocolate, but it’s always fun to experiment with creative new desserts. Here are three great dessert recipes that are sure to impress the guests at all of your holiday parties.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies [myrecipes.com]
Combine two of the most popular seasonal flavors—chocolate and peppermint—into one delicious dessert with this gourmet brownie recipe. The rich, dense brownie portion is incredibly decadent, while the crunchy peppermint topping adds a festive flair that you won’t find from traditional versions.

Holiday Biscotti [foodnetwork.com]
Coffee lovers and dessert fans alike love the classic Italian biscotti cookie, but this unique recipe gives it a festive holiday spin. The biscotti itself has a slight lemon taste that is accented by chopped pistachios and dried cranberries, while the white chocolate coating features red and green sugar crystals for a festive flair.

Cream Puff Tower [realsimple.com]
Instead of the usual pie or cake, create a tower of cream puffs that looks just as elegant. This classic pastry is puffy on the outside with a sweet, creamy filling, and when you place each puff in a metallic wrapper, the tower looks even more shiny and festive.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

These Pumpkin Pie Recipes Will Have You Reaching for Seconds

November 19, 2015 by

Warm soups are great and Thanksgiving turkey is tasty, but when it comes to favorite fall foods, pumpkin pie is typically at the top of the list. There’s just nothing better than this rich, flavorful pie come autumn, whether you prefer to top it with whipped cream or to eat it warm out of the oven. Here are three of our favorite recipes for pumpkin pie.

Libby’s Famous Pumpkin Pie [verybestbaking.com]
Since it requires only 15 minutes of prep time, this pie will be emitting a delicious scent from the oven with plenty of time to spare before the arrival of your last-minute guests. Canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, and a pre-made pie crust make this one of the easiest pumpkin pie recipes you’ll find.

The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie [epicurious.com]
This elaborate recipe from Epicurious is ideal for the experienced baker who wants to add a bit more spice to the usual pumpkin pie. Whipping cream and sour cream make it extra thick and creamy, while the generous helpings of spices add major flavor in every bite.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie [pickyourown.org]
Pick Your Own’s homemade pumpkin pie uses real pumpkin instead of canned to offer the freshest taste possible in your seasonal dessert. Although it may seem intimidating, the results are more than worth it.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Savor Fall Flavors With These Pumpkin Recipes

October 22, 2015 by

It’s not uncommon to want to stay inside once the weather starts to cool down, especially since there are so many tasty fall weather recipes to try out. If you start craving all things pumpkin as soon as the first day of autumn rolls around, you might want to add these brand new pumpkin recipes to your to-do list this weekend.

Pumpkin Butter [marthastewart.com]
Instead of buying store-bought pumpkin butter, try this recipe for an all-natural, wholesome alternative. It uses only four ingredients and a bit of blending, and once it’s complete you can spread it on breads, bagels, muffins, and all of your favorite baked goods.

Pumpkin Bread Rolls with Cinnamon Butter [handletheheat.com]
Can you think of two things that go together better than pumpkin and cinnamon? This recipe not only shows you how to make tasty and adorable rolls in the shape of real pumpkins, it also offers the perfect cinnamon butter to spread on top.

Spiced Butternut-Pumpkin Soup [myrecipes.com]
If you love pumpkin so much that you even want to eat it for lunch and dinner, this is the recipe for you. It’s equal parts sweet and savory, and it makes the perfect small appetizer for all of your autumn dinner parties.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Keep the Kids Busy With These Easy Fall Craft Projects

September 17, 2015 by

When the kids are home on fall break from school, you’ll likely need fun activities to keep them entertained. These fall-themed craft projects are perfect for keeping the kids busy as the days get shorter.

Plastic Cup Crow [craftsbyamanda.com]
The kids will love this simple crow craft that is much more silly than scary. As a bonus, all it takes is a small bathroom cup, construction paper, glue, and a few other supplies that you probably already have around the house.

Toilet Paper Roll Leaf Stamp [craftymorning.com]
If you feel wasteful throwing away all of those empty toilet paper rolls, start saving them to make this colorful fall art project with the little ones. Cut the rolls into handheld sizes, bend them into leaf shapes and encourage your kids to go wild with paint in shades of red, yellow, and brown.

Fall Leaves Garland [abeautifulmess.typepad.com]
Let the kids help you decorate the house for fall with this adorable garland DIY. Children of all ages can trace leaves onto colorful felt (the more the better!), and you can let the older kids cut them out with child-safe scissors. Sew them together with embroidery thread or let a beginning sewer help with this part, too. Hang the garland anyplace in your home that would benefit from a bit of fall charm.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Incorporate Antiques Into Modern Decor

August 20, 2015 by

You love the look of antiques, but you don’t want your home to look stuffy or stodgy. It can be difficult to create a balance between new and old items in your decor, but these simple tips from the pros will show you exactly how to incorporate antiques into an otherwise modern space.

  • Pick the right items. Instead of buying something at an antique store just because you like it, consider whether or not you can actually use it in your home. A large antique bicycle is probably not the best choice in an apartment, but an antique mirror certainly is.
  • Don’t spend too much. Browse thrift stores and yard sales to find low prices on hidden gems instead of making an impulse purchase at an overpriced antique store. That way, you’ll feel good about saving money on something that you really need.
  • Choose furniture. Antique furniture is a great investment because it’s often higher quality than modern pieces from big box stores. Things like dressers, credenzas, and desks are all great options that will stand the test of time.
  • Be sure to contrast. If you’re worried about your antiques making your home look dated, spread them out and use modern elements in between as contrast. Place a vintage coffee table near a modern sofa, or hang an antique frame in an updated bathroom.

Add Antique Accents To Your Modern Home Décor [The Accent Wall]
How To Mix and Match Antique Furniture In Modern Spaces [Build Direct]
Can You Mix Antique Furniture with Modern Furniture? [Savvy Examiner]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Cheers to Summer! Sip These Refreshing Summertime Mocktails

July 23, 2015 by

Mocktails are delicious and refreshing when relaxing by the pool, enjoying an alfresco lunch, or just winding down after work. Here are three great mocktail recipes for you to try this summer.

Non-Alcoholic Sangria [thekitchn.com]
Jazz up a Spanish-style lunch with a classic sangria made sans wine. This fresh, fruity beverage uses pomegranates and oranges to give it a tart flavor, while cinnamon sticks and black tea gives it the rich, complex taste that red wine sangria normally has.

Peach Cooler [eatingwell.com]
Just like a traditional wine cooler, this peach cooler mocktail is light, refreshing, and just a bit bubbly. Sparkling grape juice gives it a bit of carbonation, while peach juice and sliced peaches have a hint of sweetness that’s perfect for the summertime.

Coconut, Cucumber, Lime and Mint Cooler [townandcountrymag.com]
Have you ever heard of a more refreshing combination of flavors than coconut, cucumber, lime, and mint? This mocktail will quickly become your signature drink all summer long after you taste its hydrating blend of herbs and tropical fruit. Its coconut water base might even make your skin glow!

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

What Are Logic Mazes? Find Out Here!

June 18, 2015 by

If you love mazes and other types of tricky logic problems, logic mazes will take your hobby to the next level. These advanced mazes, sometimes called "mazes with rules," have special rules that extend far beyond simply navigating around a two-dimensional maze. In a logic maze, the participant must abide by the rules in order to reach the finish line, and they sometimes even include multiple states of the maze or the navigator.

Here are a few of the most common logic mazes.

  1. Area mazes. These are mazes in which the area of tile traveled must alternately increase and decrease with each step.
  2. Rolling dice mazes. A die is rolled with each turn based on a number of different rules.
  3. Number mazes. A grid of numbers is traveled by moving the number of spaces shown in the current square.
  4. Multi-state mazes. The rules in this type of maze change depending on the person's navigation.

To find out more about logic mazes, click here.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Stumped by Cooking Conversions? Bookmark These 3 Websites!

June 4, 2015 by

Using precise measurements is very important when cooking or baking, but that can be difficult to do when a recipe uses the Metric system or a tool using a unit of measurement that you don’t have on hand. Bookmark these cooking measurement equivalent websites to use during your next kitchen endeavor.

Info Please
This simple, easy to read website offers a few different comparison charts that will help you to find a measurement in cups, tablespoons, or whatever type of measuring tool you have in your kitchen arsenal. It includes cups to tablespoons, Metric measurements to US measurements, and many more.

Fact Monster
This website is equally simple, and it offers comparison charts for a variety of different measurement equivalents. It also includes a conversion calculator that enables you to input your own units if you run into a particularly tricky measurement.

The Science of Cooking
Whether you need to know oven temperature conversions from Celsius to Fahrenheit or volume measurements from Metric to American Standard, The Science of Cooking has it all. This site also offers charts converting volume units, dry measurement equivalents, and much more.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Newly Betrothed? Don’t Miss These Wedding Boards on Pinterest!

May 21, 2015 by

You can't stop admiring that brand-new ring on your finger, but now it’s time for the real fun to begin. Even if you’ve been dreaming of that fairy tale wedding since before you can remember, things can get a bit overwhelming once it comes time for the actual planning. Here are three Pinterest boards that offer hours of wedding inspiration, while also helping to keep you on schedule—and on budget!

Wedding Ideas
Are you planning a shabby chic wedding, or is your style more glitz and glamor? Whatever type of nuptials you have in mind, this Pinterest board is filled with ideas to help plan your dream wedding. Creative honeymoon funds, fun wedding favors, and simple, handmade decorations will make your big day even more special.

Weddings
Browse Pinterest’s main wedding board by categories like wedding photography, flowers, and invitation inspiration to find tips and tricks for every aspect of planning a wedding. There are even printable checklists and calendars to help you stay organized along the way.

Romantic Weddings
Whether you’re actually planning a wedding or if you just love looking at ideas for that day far off in your future, the Romantic Weddings board is an endless source of dreamy inspiration. Best of all, this board is filled with photos from real weddings to offer a sneak peek of real life couples’ special days.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Seeking Original Artwork? Here’s Where to Shop for It Online!

April 16, 2015 by

Furnishing your home with original artwork is a very fulfilling hobby, but unfortunately it can also be very expensive. There are quite a few websites that offer artwork created by independent artists for much less than gallery prices, which makes them beneficial to both you and the artist. Here are a few of the best.

Etsy
Etsy has become the internet’s go-to spot for handmade art and home goods, and for very good reason. This online marketplace enables independent artists to create an online shop and sell their goods, whether those goods are paintings, sculptures, or even wall hangings made out of old license plates. Best of all, you can search Etsy by keywords to find exactly what you have in mind for any room in your home.

Fine Art America
If you’re looking for more traditional paintings or photography for your home, Fine Art America is a great resource. This site features artwork from artists and photographers from around the world, at all price points.

Zatista
While many online art stores sell reproductions of famous works, Zatista offers only unique, original works that none of your neighbors will have. If you live in a small town or city that isn’t teeming with art galleries, this is the ideal way to browse thousands of pieces from artists who could be the next big thing.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Pin It on Pinterest