You are here: Home / Archives for Seasonal

Delicious Football-Themed Desserts for Game Day

September 15, 2016 by

Whether you’re hosting your own football viewing party or attending a game day potluck at a friend’s house, there are a number of football-themed desserts that your fellow fans will love. Here are three great recipes that will sweeten up the big game.

Pumpkin Football Cakes [bhg.com]
The pumpkin flavor makes these whoopie pie-style cakes perfect for the fall season, and their football shape makes them feel truly festive. This simple recipe even shows you how to make your own buttercream frosting for the football’s stitches.

Pull Apart Touchdown Cupcakes [foodnetwork.com]
Create a miniature replica of the football field using delicious cupcakes with this fun and creative DIY recipe. Bright green icing with white details create the field itself, while cookie sticks, gummy candies, and marshmallows add the teams and the finishing touches.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Footballs [domesticfits.com]
While you might think of chocolate covered strawberries as an elegant dessert, this cute and quirky recipe brings them down to earth just in time for the big game. By simply melting white chocolate, you can use it to transform the strawberries into realistic footballs that your guests will adore. Because this recipe doesn’t require any baking, this is one that the kids can even help make!

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Add a Touch of Springtime to Your Home’s Decor

April 21, 2016 by

If you’re bursting with excitement about the warmer temperatures, longer days, and cheery sunshine that come along with the changing seasons, you can channel that springtime energy into your home by using just a few simple decorating tips. Here are some of the best ways to fill your living space with the bright, bountiful look of spring.

Lavender Linens [southernliving.com]
While you may have stocked your bathroom with plush, white towels to keep warm during the winter, the springtime calls for something lighter and more colorful. Invest in some lavender colored linens in the bathroom, and imagine yourself enjoying a warm weather getaway at a quaint B&B.

Milk Pail Garden Pots [marthastewart.com]
Use this gardening DIY to incorporate rustic milk pails into your springtime decor. Old-fashioned milk pails are commonly found at flea markets and agriculture supply stores, and they gain a chic look when filled with full, green ferns.

Bountiful Spring Bouquets [designsponge.com]
One of the best ways to add the feeling of spring to your home is by displaying fresh flowers, and this expert tutorial will show you how to arrange a florist-quality bouquet. Place them in a wooden crate for a country-inspired look that’s perfect for spring.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Boo! Read About the History of the Jack-o’-Lantern

October 22, 2015 by

Carving pumpkins is a beloved tradition in most households, but this history of the jack-o’-lantern dates back much farther than just your own family’s Halloween festivities. Here are a few interesting points about the history of the spooky, silly jack-o’-lantern.

  • The name “jack-o’-lantern” is derived from a 17th century British term that described a man carrying a lantern, usually a night watchman. Townspeople began to call the mysterious lights that they often saw over the wetlands "jack-o’-lanterns" because they thought that they were ghosts or spirits.
  • Irish tradition also uses the term jack-o’-lantern in a story about Stingy Jack, a man who was forced to wander the earth for all eternity with only the light from a dull ember.
  • In some parts of Great Britain, it became customary for children to carry jack-o’-lanterns door-to-door on All Saints Day to represent the souls of deceased relatives.
  • Irish immigrants brought the tradition of the jack-o’-lantern with them to the United States, and they soon began to use the more readily available pumpkin instead of the turnip.
  • Pumpkin carving and the jack-o’-lantern didn’t become a part of Halloween tradition until the late 19th century, almost 200 years after it was initially invented.

History of the Jack-O’-Lantern [History Channel]
What’s the Origin of Jack-O’-Lanterns? [Mental Floss]
Why Do We Carve Pumpkins on Halloween? [About News]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

What’s in Season? Your Handy Guide to Autumn Fruits and Veggies

October 16, 2014 by

The autumn season is known for its bountiful harvests of sturdy root vegetables and tart fruits, which provide a welcome change after months of summer produce. If you’re already planning the next few months of fall recipes, this handy guide will show you which fruits and vegetables are in season.

  • Apples. Perhaps the most popular autumn fruit, apples can be used in pies, tarts, ciders, and even as a healthy handheld snack while on the go.
  • Broccoli. Although broccoli grows year-round in most climates, it becomes sweeter and less bitter when harvested in the fall.
  • Brussels sprouts. This hearty vegetable can be prepared a variety of different ways and is becoming increasingly popular in the gourmet food world.
  • Root vegetables. Carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, and other root vegetables are common during the autumn season and can be used in soups or roasted in the oven.
  • Cranberries. Although cranberries usually take center stage during the wintertime, they’re harvested throughout New England during the fall.
  • Figs. These sweet, chewy fruits have a second season later in the fall.
  • Garlic. If you prefer to use fresh garlic in recipes as opposed to dried or canned, the fall is the best time to purchase it.
  • Artichokes. Top your salads or pizzas with flavorful artichokes, which produce a smaller second crop in the fall.

Fall Fruits and Vegetables [About Food]
The Best Fruits and Veggies to Eat This Fall [Greatist]
What’s In Season? Fall [More Matters]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Pin It on Pinterest