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November 20, 2008
New Items at ETSY
Posted by cathieandsteve at 3:52 PM
Thanksgiving Blog Recap
I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving. I'll be cooking up a storm with a house full of family and friends, and using my new (and first ever) dishwasher to clean up the whole mess! Below I have complied a list of my Thanksgiving blogs and some tips and tricks for a smooth Thanksgiving. Enjoy!
Click here to view all the blogs at once.
Reciepes:
Thyme & Cheese Appetizer
Roasted Veggies
Maple Sweet Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce & Leftover Ideas
Oven Bag Roasted Turkey
Cocktails:
Pumpkin Pietini
Table Setting:
Centerpiece Ideas & Copper Painted Table Runner
Fall Leaf Place Cards:
Simple Place Setting Etiquette
Thanksgiving Crafts & Activities:
Copper Mesh Tea Lights
Clove & Orange Candle holders
Delightful Doggy Bags
Things to do with family on Thanksgiving.
no mess: I love to use cooking bags for cooking the turkey, they are a “no brainer” way to cook a moist turkey and the clean up is a snap.
Too many cooks in the kitchen: The meal is ready and you need space to dish it out! Keep guests occupied out of the kitchen, make some funny trivia cards or have a camera on hand and designate a guest to take a fe pre-dinner pictures.
tight spaces: Carve the turkey in the kitchen and platter the meat with an additional side dish like stuffing.
small dishes: I like to use individual ramekins for making mini sweet potato casseroles (one for each guest). I make them the day before and just re-heat on Thanksgiving day. The ramekins can be placed right on to a guest’s plate and you won’t need any additional serving dishes on the table or space on a buffet table.
enlist help: Ask friends or family to bring extra side dishes.
no buffet no problem: You can create a buffet out of almost any piece of furniture. Just drape the furniture with festive fabric of a tablecloth and use protective trivets – and you got yourself a buffet.
cook early: Make as many dishes ahead of time as possible – like cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole rolls, salad & pies.
oven safe: Try to use serving dishes that are oven safe. You can prepare meals in advance and reheat in the serving dish.
pies: If you are not going to bake pies… just pick a few up at your local bakery. Just remember – you might need to pre order.
no table?: Don’t worry if you don’t have a traditional dining table, A low coffee table can be doctored up with a few floor cushions and a table runner. You can pick up folding tables and chairs at any discount store. If you don’t want to buy - most cities have rental shops that will rent additional chairs for $3-$5 each.
Posted by cathieandsteve at 3:14 PM
November 14, 2008
bake it: Thanksgiving Thyme & Cheese Appetizer
Thanksgiving Thyme & Cheese Appetizer
Mix:
Add the swiss cheese and continue to mix. Place in the refrigerator for 3 hours.Spread:
Combine in a bowl the chives, remaining thyme and the walnuts. Place a piece of wax paper on your work surface and evenly spread the mixture onto the wax paper.Roll & Chill:
Roll the cheese mixture into 3 in balls (you should get about 3 balls) Roll each ball in thyme, walnut and chive mixture until the ball is top coated. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until you are ready to serve.Posted by cathieandsteve at 10:26 AM
shake it: Pumpkin Pietini
pumpkin pietini
1 part pumpkin schnapps
cream
nutmeg
cinnamon stickshake: 2 parts vodka, 1 part schnapps, splash of cream in a shaker with ice.
strain: martini glass.
Garnish: Sprinkle of nutmeg on the rim & cinnamon stick.
Posted by cathieandsteve at 10:25 AM
make it: Thanksgiving Centerpieces
Making your own Thanksgiving centerpiece is not as hard as one might think. Here are a few simple ideas that can be made with everything from dried beans to texture paint. For more Thanksgiving tips and tricks visit my Thanksgiving page at www.cathieandsteve.com.
(this project was designed specifically for Plaid)
On the table runner the simple and modern shapes were created with low tack painter’s tape and FolkArt fabric paint. By combining the metallic bronze and chocolate brown this project is perfect for fall holidays.
Table Runner Materials
FolkArt Fabric Paint – 4429 Metallic Solid Bronze
Store bought cotton or linen table runner
Scotch painter’s tape corners – 2 rolls
Ruler
Foam paintbrush
Wax paper
Iron and board
Steps:
1. Iron the table runner to remove any wrinkles. Choose a work surface where the runner can sit for the duration of the project. Place the runner with a sheet of wax paper under it on the work surface.
2. Adhere the corner tape pieces to the runner in your desired position. (We made this design in blocks of 4 corners.) Press down on each piece of tape to ensure the edges are firmly against the fabric. If needed, use a ruler to help you center the pieces.
3. Pour a small amount of paint onto a plastic plate or palette, dab the brush into the paint and tap off the excess. You will want a semi-dry brush for this project. For best results, paint in an “up and down” fashion rather then side to side. Paint the entire runner.
4. All the paint to dry and allow to air dry for 24 hours. Heat set with a dry iron and a pressing cloth. Handwash only after 72 hours.
Use hot glue to attach dried beans to the sides of Styrofoam balls. For candleholders, slice off a section of the ball to form a base and carve a well for the candle to sit. Cluster the balls and candles together in the center of the table.
Posted by cathieandsteve at 10:24 AM
make it: Delightful Doggie Bags
Fall Leaf Doggie Bags
Fall Leaf Bags:
Use leaf shaped rubber stamps and metallic inks to decorate kraft paper gift bags. To add texture to your stamping, emboss with sanded embossing powder. For extra pop, tie silk flowers and paper clay leaves to the handles. Make guest place cards or thank you notes by stamping onto folded blank note cards.
Posted by cathieandsteve at 10:23 AM
make it: Clove and Orange Candles
Orange & Clove Candle Holders
Supplies:
thick-skinned oranges or grapefruits cloves paring knife mellon baller metal tea light
1. Cut a hole in the fruit that's slightly larger than the diameter of the tea light. Use a knife to gently trace and carve out the area where the tea light will sit.
2. Use the melon baller to remove bits of fruit and create a well for the candle to sit.3. Place a tea light in the well and press cloves into the skin to release the aromatic oils of the fruit and spice. If the fruit is thick-skinned, use a toothpick or a bamboo skewer to make the initial opening before inserting cloves.
Posted by cathieandsteve at 10:22 AM
make it: Thanksgiving Place Card Holders
Scraps of fall colored printed fabric
Large old bowl
6 clip hangers or clothesline
Leaf template large
Leaf template - small
Scissors
Eyelet & Setter
Printed-paper nametag
Thin ribbon
Steps:
2. Trace around the leaf templates with a pencil onto the dry pieces and cutout.
3. Layer 2 leaves on top of each other and attach with a decorative eyelet.
4. Create a printed-paper nametag by either printing one from a computer or making one with stickers. Attach an eyelet to the top of the tag.
5. Thread the tag and leaves onto a ribbon and tie with a decorative bow.
6. Place one at each place setting.
Optional: Leaf ornaments! Skip the nametags and just add a piece of looped ribbon for a hanger.
Download the picture for the templates
Posted by cathieandsteve at 10:20 AM
November 6, 2008
Where Women Create
The premiere issue of Where Women Create is on the news stands now! The magazine is loaded with creative spaces, organizing ideas and inspiring pictures. I was thrilled to be in the first issue along with Karey Bresenhan, Mary Jane Butters, Jenny Doh, Shelli Gardner and Jen O'Connor. Here is a peek into my space.....
Posted by cathieandsteve at 9:48 AM | Comments (1)
