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My Favorite Cranberry Recipes

Recipes

Thursday
Nov / 21 / 2019
Comments 0

Cranberries (the fruit, not the group) have been a part of holiday celebrations for hundreds of years. I enjoy the lively tartness of cranberries all year round and have featured them in a variety of foods here on Inspired By Charm. In this post, I’ve pulled together my favorite cranberry recipes for your convenience.

My Favorite Cranberry Recipes

Gleaming, plump, red ripe cranberries are beautiful to behold and useful for adding color as well as a distinct tart flavor to appetizers, libations, and sweet treats. Today’s collection offers many easy-to-prepare crowd-pleasers. Which cranberry recipes will you serve this holiday season?

Cranberry Recipes: Appetizers

Cranberry Meatballs
It’s the tangy-sweet sauce that takes these meatballs to the next level. Simply combine jellied cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice, spoon the mixture on meatballs, and bake them in the oven. You’ll be looking for lots of occasions to make this cranberry recipe.

Cranberry Bacon and Walnut Cheeseball
You can’t miss with the flavor combination in this festive cheeseball. It looks stunning amidst small pretzel sticks, hearty crackers, and purple grapes. Best of all, it’s simple to create.

Cranberry Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts
I’m one of those people who can’t resist anything bacony, including this classic hors d’oeuvre. In my take on the traditional, I use whole water chestnuts, thick-cut bacon, and a cranberry-infused chili sauce. That burst of tartness with the bacon crunchiness is mouth-wateringly good!

Cranberry Recipes: Libations

Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
Bourbon has become a go-to liquor at my house, and this is a drink I recently made to mark the start of the holiday season. The maple and cranberry play together so well! Even if you’re not yet a big fan of bourbon, this cranberry recipe will let you explore the medley of flavors as you sip and celebrate.

Slow Cooker Holiday Sangria
You know I LOVE Sangria. (I’ve featured it many times on IBC.) This version is ideal for the holidays because it’s resplendent with the colors of the season. Plus, it stays warm in the slow cooker, and your guests can serve themselves.

Cranberry Old Fashioned
I recommend having a signature cocktail for a Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or Christmas celebration. And this fabulous drink is one I often suggest. You can mix one up in a flash with cranberry simple syrup (I’ll show you how to make that, too.), a quality bourbon, and a splash of bitters.

Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
The base of this cranberry recipe is equal parts bourbon and cranberry juice. I fancified it with a rosemary sage simple syrup (Directions are included.) and a little lemon juice. If you haven’t decided what cocktail to serve before the turkey and trimmings, this might be the one.

Cranberry Recipes: Sweet Treats

Mascarpone Cranberry French Toast
This cranberry recipe is likely to become your new favorite breakfast for the holiday and winter season. The creamy mascarpone and fresh juicy cranberries make this French toast appealing to both the eyes and the palette. And when life is even busier than usual, you can put this dish together in advance. Just refrigerate it overnight and bake the next morning.

Apple Cranberry Tart
In this delicious dessert, cranberries are the star and apples and walnuts are supporting players. Bursting with cheery red color and warm, sweet, and tart flavors, this cranberry recipe is my seasonal take on a traditional apple tart. You and your family and guest will love it.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Monkey Bread
Whether you’re planning a small brunch or a big gathering, this monkey bread is the kind of sweet yumminess everyone loves. Drizzled with icing and full of seasonal flavors, this gooey cranberry recipe will be gobbled up in no time.

Cranberry Orange Walnut Tassies
The look and taste of these small tarts will wow your family and friends. Although this cranberry recipe appears time-consuming, it comes together pretty quickly once you’ve made the cookie dough and the filling has had time to chill.

Cranberry Pecan Pie
Something tells me this is a cranberry recipe your dear ones will be begging you to make! The cranberries offer the perfect counterpoint to the traditional rich and sugary pecan filling. And their ruby color gives this pie a holiday touch.

Apple Cranberry Slab Pie
The secret to this dessert is the puff pastry crust. Once it’s rolled out and filled with a mixture of dried cranberries, sliced apples, cinnamon, and sugar, another layer of pastry goes on top. After the pie is baked and cooled, you drizzle it with icing. I promise it will get rave reviews!

Sugared Cranberries
To make these shimmering beauties, you coat fresh cranberries in simple syrup and then in sugar. After the sugared berries are dry, use them for snacks, garnishes, and décor. I recently decorated a Black Walnut Christmas Cake with them. You can find that recipe here. Also, check out my Gingerbread House Cake where I used these cranberries to garnish that too.

I hope this collection of cranberry recipes from IBC inspires you. Enjoy your holiday preparations!

Want more tasty Christmas treats and ideas? Try these:

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Family Room Christmas Decoration Ideas

Interiors

Wednesday
Nov / 20 / 2019
Comments 25

Happy Holidays, friends! Grab a cup of cocoa or make yourself a cocktail and join me as we tour my family room. I have lots of festive and cozy Christmas decoration ideas for you.

Family Room Christmas Decoration Ideas:

In case you missed it, yesterday on the blog I shared the first of my three decorated Christmas trees. I call this one my Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree. You’ll get a peek at it below, but if you want all the details or happened to miss the post, you can click here to check it out.

As promised, today I’m widening the lens of my camera and showing you around the rest of the room. You not only get another glimpse of my tree, but you’ll see how it looks with the rest of the space and (I hope) pick up a few Christmas decoration ideas for your place.

Today I’m joined once again by my Seasons of Home blogger friends. This week we’re sharing a living room space or our Christmas trees. As you might imagine, these posts are loaded with festive inspiration. I will link everyone at the end of this article. Be sure to click through the links to see how these talented bloggers are decking their halls!

(In case you missed any of them, we previously shared our Christmas Kitchen Decorations here and our Christmas Dining Room decor here.)

Also, if you’re curious about sources for things in my space, I’ll do my best to provide a source list at the end of this post. I will inevitably overlook something, so if you have questions, let me know in the comments, and I’ll do my best to update the source list as quickly as possible.

Family Room Christmas Decoration Ideas

In my family room, I decided to incorporate many of my Christmas decorations from last year but do it with a twist. I had thought about totally switching things up, but that didn’t work in my budget or schedule. So, I reused elements from last year in different ways and brought in new things as well.

One of the additions can be found when you come into the family room from the entryway. I recently purchased this vintage wood cabinet with a glass door. My original plan was to create an advent calendar in it (and I still may), but I couldn’t wrap my head around how I wanted it. So, I said to myself, “What do you have a lot of that would fill this cabinet and give it a unique and festive look?” As you can see, the answer was Christmas ribbon!

I confess to having a large tote of Christmas ribbon. (I bet I’m not the only one!) I went through it, picking out some of my favorites, and in no time, my cabinet was full. I’m smitten with the results!

Turning into the room, you’ll see my tree. Again, you can read all about it here. Looking at it, makes me feel all warm inside. (It was inspired by a cozy lodge!)

I highlighted a few of my favorite ornaments yesterday but wanted to point out two more – this Santa in a rocketship and this paintbrush dipped in red paint. Aren’t they fun?

I also styled the base of the tree with wrapped packages. I even included a few vintage elements, such as this red picnic basket, an old scotch tape tin, and a little metal house. I love unexpected touches like these.

Moving to the mantel, I swapped out my old man painting (from my fall family room tour) for a round mirror. I also decorated the mantel with garland. It’s faux but looks real. To tie in the tree, I strung the garland with some coordinating tree ribbon. I also tucked in a few pipe cleaner candy canes and large sugar pinecones.

I decided to try something different this year, so I strung the garland with colored C9 string lights. Although I’m typically a white-light-kinda-guy, I think these colored lights have a vintage vibe in keeping with the lodge/cabin theme. I must admit I adore how they look!

I again hung stockings on the mantel. Last year I did four of the same stocking. This year, I mixed it up with four different stockings but in similar colors and styles.

I added cozy details to the couches with pillows and throws. Given that my TV and fireplace are in this room, it’s where I spend my downtime. It’s always handy to have a few blankets and pillows to get cozy with. (You may have noticed the large bowl of peppermint Hershey kisses. I can’t seem to get enough of them! If you’re a fan of peppermint, give them a try. They are SO delicious.)

On the back wall of my family room, I replaced the mirror above my bar cart with a wreath. To tie things together, I used more of that ribbon.

This past fall, I hung a little paint-by-number collection on this wall. I was fortunate enough to find three winter-themed paintings, so I swapped a few out. I wish they had a bit more red in them, but I think they offer a nice subtle change for the season. You can also see into my powder room, which I recently renovated as part of my kitchen remodel. In case you missed it, you can find out all about it in the reveal post here. I’m still quite taken with the wallpaper.

My bar cart also got the holiday treatment. This included my favorite nutcracker, a candle, and a stocking for good measure. I even swapped out several of my liquors for seasonal favorites. (I usually change them 2 or 3 times a year to coordinate with the season.)

On the wall opposite my fireplace, I hung my vintage glass ornament wreath. I made it last year and couldn’t wait to hang it back up. It’s quickly become one of my favorite holiday decor pieces. You can see how I made it here.

It’s feeling very merry Christmas-y in here, isn’t it?

And that’s it, my friends. I have a few more photos to share with you, and then we’ll wrap up this tour!

I’d say this space is ready for the season. How about you? I will probably still futz with things as the season progresses. When it comes to Christmas decorations, I never stop moving things around until just the week or so before the holiday.

All-in-all I love how this space came together. In addition to my tree, I’m especially enjoying the big colored lights on the mantel. They give a fun and cozy vibe to this entire room. I love seeing them out of the corner of my eye when I’m in the kitchen.

As I’m sure you know, I’ll be back with more Christmas decoration ideas and peeks through my home soon. Until then, be sure to click through all of the fabulous bloggers below. There’s lots of inspiration to be had.

Happy Decorating!

Christmas Living Room Decor Sources:

Sofas: Ravity Sofa in Hailey Linen
Ottoman: Leather Topped Ottoman
Sideboard: Hughes Kelly Sideboard
Fur Lined Pillows: Knit Pillow with Faux Fur Trim
“Snowed Inn” Pillow: Snowed In Pine Trees Hooked Pillow
Round Mirror: Umbra Wall Mirror
Bar Cart: Libations Bar Cart
Gold Coupe Glasses: Pryce Gold Coupe Glasses
Brass and Marble Lamp: Sphere + Stem Table Lamp
Mirrored Tray: Grant Mirror
Wall Sconces: Black Swing Arm Sconce
Rug: Buffalo Plaid Rug
Wall Color: PPG Paints Early Evening
Ornaments Wreath: Handmade – Tutorial Here
Small Trees: Faux Mini Trees
Wreath: Wild Berry Forest Wreath
Garland: Fraser Fir Garland
Throws: HomeGoods
Stockings: HomeGoods & Target
Nutcracker: Target (no longer sold)
Ribbons: Everywhere and Anywhere

Vintage items: Wall cabinet, picnic basket, scotch tape tin, red roof tin house

Christmas Tree Sources:

Tree: 7ft Sanibel Spruce
Garland: Classic Beaded Garland
Tree Skirt: Arctic Holiday Faux Fur Tree Skirt
Ribbon: Sourced locally. Similar version at Joanns, but smaller in width.
Ornaments:

Balsam Hill was kind enough to offer IBC readers a coupon code. Enter code: IBC10OFF at checkout. This will save you 10% off your order of any amount. This can be used on sale items and regular-priced items on the site. It’s a great deal. The coupon is valid now through December 15, 2019.

Seasons of Home Christmas Decorations Ideas:

Ella Claire & Co. | Rooms for Rent | Handmade Farmhouse | Zevy Joy

Kindred Vintage | Home Stories A to Z | French Country Cottage | The Lilypad Cottage

Inspired by Charm | Dear Lillie | Maison de Pax | Nina Hendrick Design Co.

Boxwood Avenue | Craftberry Bush | Jennifer Rizzo | My Sweet Savannah

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Apple Cranberry Tart

Recipes

Tuesday
Nov / 19 / 2019
Comments 6

This Apple Cranberry Tart is a delicious dessert that’s not only gorgeous, but bursting with warm, sweet, and tart seasonal flavors. If you’re looking for a new holiday dessert, this is a great candidate.

Apple Cranberry Tart:

You might remember when I teased you a couple of weeks ago with this Apple Cranberry Tart in my Christmas Kitchen Decorations blog post. It’s been a little while since I made this tart, but I couldn’t be more excited about sharing it with you.

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy baking with cranberries this time of year. My reasons? Here’s a couple of them: First, cranberries are delicious. That burst of fresh tartness helps to cut the sweetness of a lot of holiday desserts. Secondly, cranberries are beautiful. Their brilliant red color and little round shape add to the visual appeal of both sweet and savory dishes.

In this recipe, I used these luscious berries to dress up a standard apple tart for fall and winter. This Apple Cranberry Tart would be a delicious dessert for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s or anything you’re celebrating during the next few months.

Besides the cranberries, this tart recipe has hints of other seasonally inspired flavors. The crust incorporates finely chopped walnuts, and the filling is sprinkled with orange zest, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. It truly is an amazing combination of flavors. (Plus, it smells wonderful!)

Now that I’ve tempted you with all the tasty details, let me walk you through the recipe.

How to Make an Apple Cranberry Tart:

First, you’ll need a deep tart pan with a removable bottom. This is the one I have. You can prepare this recipe in a standard tart pan; you’ll just have leftover crust and filling. (You could just make a second- smaller – tart as well. That’s how my grandma dealt with leftover pie dough and filling.)

I like to mix my crust by hand. You could also mix it in a food processor if desired.

Butter is cut into the dry ingredients. Then egg and half-and-half are added to bring the mixture together. I also put in finely chopped walnuts for a nutty flavor.

The crust gets par-baked before the filling is added. While the crust bakes and cools, you can make the filling. It’s simple.

In a large bowl, add the prepared apples, fresh cranberries, and bourbon. (The bourbon is optional. You could use brandy instead or no liquor at all.) Then mix in the sugar, flour, spices, and a bit of salt and spoon the mixture into the cooled crust.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, this Apple Cranberry Tart gets topped with a streusel. Once the streusel ingredients are combined, crumble it on top. Then scatter a handful of cranberries over the streusel for color.

Your pie is now ready to go into the oven. While it’s baking, you may need to place a piece of foil on top of the tart to keep it from getting too brown. This will depend on your oven.

Allow the tart to cool a bit before serving. I recommend serving it slightly warm, but it’s equally delicious at room temperature. (I should know. – I had a piece for breakfast the day after I made it. Ha!)

This Apple Cranberry Tart is a dessert recipe that you and your family and guests will love this holiday season and beyond. All of the flavors blend beautifully – buttery nutty crust, sweet and tart filling, and crumbly goodness on top. What’s not to like?

You can get the full recipe and ingredient list for this Apple Cranberry Tart below. Enjoy your baking, my friends!

Looking for More Cranberry Recipes? You’ll love these:

Apple Cranberry Tart Recipe:

Apple Cranberry Tart

| Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 1 hr

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

5 from 2 votes

This Apple Cranberry Tart is a delicious dessert that's not only gorgeous, but bursting with warm, sweet, and tart seasonal flavors. If you're looking for a new holiday dessert, this is a great candidate.

Ingredients

Crust:

1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold unsalted butter cut into cubes
1/2 cup walnuts finely chopped

Cranberry Apple Filling:

3 large apples peeled, cored, and sliced (I used Granny Smith apples.)
2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
1 tablespoon bourbon optional
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon orange zest
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/3 teaspoon salt

Streusel:

1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Additional cranberries for garish

Instructions

Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. In a small bowl, mix the egg yolk, half-and-half, and vanilla. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and then use a pastry cutter, to cut it in until it's about the size of peas. Stir in the egg mixture and combine with a spoon. Add the chopped walnuts and mix with your hands to thoroughly combine. The dough will be crumbly.
Add the mixture to a deep 9.5-inch diameter tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough mixture into the sides and bottom of the pan to create a 1/4-inch thick crust. Prick the bottom of the crust with a fork and place in the freezer for about 10 minutes. Remove and bake for 15 minutes until the crust just begins to brown. Remove from the oven to cool.
Adjust the oven to 350 degrees F.
To a large bowl, add the apples, cranberries, bourbon, sugar, flour, orange zest, spices, and salt. Mix with a spoon to evenly combine. Pour this mixture into the prepared crust.
In a small bowl, prepare the streusel topping by mixing the flour, brown sugar, and salt. Add the melted butter and vanilla. Combine with your fingers until the mixture begins to clump together. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the tart. Add cranberries for garnish.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 50-60 minutes or until the apples are tender when poked with a fork. (If the tart begins to brown too quickly, cover it with a piece of foil during the rest of the baking process.) Before serving, allow the tart to cool until it is barely warm.

Recipe Notes

Deep Dish Removable Bottom Tart Pan found here.

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Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree

Interiors

Monday
Nov / 18 / 2019
Comments 35

Ideas for Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree Decorations #christmastree #decor #holiday #decorations #christmas #tree #ideas

Yes, dear friends, the tree has been trimmed. Today I am super excited to show you my first Christmas Tree of 2019! I’m calling it my Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree.

Oh, what a good time I had this past week decorating my tree in anticipation of today’s post. It is so nice to turn on the tree lights when the sun goes down at 5 pm. As much as I’d love the sun to stick around a little longer each day, the glow of the tree makes up for the lack of daylight.

This year I’ve decided to do three Christmas trees. One in my living room, one in the foyer, and this tree in my family room. This Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree is in my family room. I’m especially excited and honored to show you this tree since my friends at Balsam Hill invited me to again take part in their 12 Bloggers of Christmas series. (You might remember I joined them back in 2017 with my Rustic Modern Christmas Tree.) They were gracious enough to send me a tree along with ornaments for it.

The 12 Bloggers of Christmas series runs today through Wednesday. Each day four bloggers will share their Christmas trees. I’ve gone ahead and linked up everyone at the end of this post. (I will update the links on Wednesday with all of the bloggers’ trees once everyone has posted.)

Balsam Hill is also running a 12 Days of Giveaways that starts today and continues through November 29, 2019. They are giving away many wonderful items. You can click here for details.

Balsam Hill Coupon Code:

Before I show you more of my tree, I wanted to mention one more thing, Balsam Hill was kind enough to offer IBC readers a coupon code. Enter code: IBC10OFF at checkout. This will save you 10% off your order of any amount. This can be used on sale items and regular-priced items on the site. It’s a great deal. The coupon is valid now through December 15, 2019.

Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree:

Now that you have that important information, let me show you my Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree!

Ta-da! I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out. What do you think?

You might have noticed that I again have a red-themed tree in my family. (If you’re new here, I did a red tree in this room last year. You can check that out here.) I thought about doing something completely different, but I’m enamored of red in this room. To change things up a bit, I pulled inspiration from a cozy lodge.

First, I started with a new tree – a 7ft Pre-Lit Sanibel Spruce from Balsam Hill. This is easily among my favorite trees. I’ll include a picture of it sans decorations. I love the long needles/branches. Since I’ve been digging sparser trees lately, I also love how realistic it looks and the spacious gaps between the branches. The needles are slightly icy blue, which was different for me, but I think it works well in this room and with my theme. (You’ll notice throughout this post I have images with the lights on and off. They are in no particular order. I just wanted to show you both ways.)

Once I had the tree up, I added ribbon. (You can find my tutorial for how to add ribbon to a tree here.) I found this ribbon at a local shop. It reminds me of a Christmas sweater, which fits my cozy lodge theme. This tree took slightly more than 30 yards of ribbon.

From there, I filled the tree with red balls. As you can see, I like a fuller looking tree, so I always start with lots of round glass balls that fit my color scheme. While some of these are vintage, I also used several of Balsam Hill’s Essentials in Red and Burgundy. (I will link all of the Balsam Hill products I used at the end of this post.)

Next, I hung the special ornaments. I used a few sets of the diorama ornaments from Balsam Hill’s Christmas Cabin Ornament Set. These are probably my favorite ornaments on this tree. They are made of glass and there are three designs: a tree, a house, and a car. Aren’t they beautiful?

Since I can’t resist camper ornaments or vehicle-with-a-tree-tied-to-the-roof ornaments, I used two sets of these On The Road ornaments (also part of the Christmas Cabin Ornament Set.) The variety of vehicles and campers is delightful. What a beautiful little collection!

My next step was filling in with some of my other favorite glass ornaments that fit the theme, including this adorable hot cocoa mug and vintage plaid thermos.

I also spotted these Alpine Ski ornaments at Balsam Hill and thought they were perfect for my cozy lodge theme. Their scale is wonderful, too. I love the fun and interesting element they add to this tree.

For my tree topper, I went with a vintage metal star. This poor thing barely hangs together, but I am so fond of it that I continue to use it year after year. It’s one of my absolute favorites.

As a finishing touch, I draped the tree with this classic glass beaded garland. I’m still so amazed at the impact of garland. Although the tree looked lovely without the garland, once I added it, the tree seemed to come to life. I haven’t always used garlands like this on my trees, but I don’t think I’ll ever go without one again. This garland also feels vintagey and nostalgic, which always tugs at my heartstrings during the Christmas season.

My tree skirt (which you can barely see under all of the presents) is the Arctic Holiday Faux Fur Tree Skirt. It’s stunning. The faux fur and red trim are so luxurious!

Once the tree was decorated, I wrapped gifts to pile under the tree. I also added a couple of unique vintage finds to my gifts. I spotted this red picnic basket at a local antique shop. As soon as I saw it, I said to myself, “That would be PERFECT under my Christmas Tree!” I also found more goodies including this old tin house and a tin container for scotch tape. They both fit perfectly with all of my plaid wrapping paper, don’t you think?

One tree down, two to go. My Cozy Lodge Christmas Tree is complete. I hope you’re enjoying it as much as I am and that you picked up a few ideas for decorating your own Christmas Tree.

I’m loving how the tree turned out and how it looks in the space. On Wednesday, I’ll be showing you how I decked out the rest of the room for Christmas. Be sure to stop back then.

Also, don’t forget to check out all of the 12 Bloggers of Christmas over the next few days. It’s such a talented group. I’m sure you’ll come away with a great new idea every day.

Early wishes for a merry Christmas!

Balsam Hill Christmas Tree Sources:

And remember, Balsam Hill was kind enough to offer IBC readers a coupon code. Enter code: IBC10OFF at checkout. This will save you 10% off your order of any amount. This can be used on sale items and regular-priced items on the site. It’s a great deal. The coupon is valid now through December 15, 2019.

12 Bloggers of Christmas:

MONDAY 11/18

French Country Cottage
Inspired by Charm – You are here!
Golden Boys and Me
Styled with Lace

TUESDAY 11/19

WEDNESDAY 11/20

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White Birch Yule Log

Recipes

Friday
Nov / 15 / 2019
Comments 3

Delicious and beautiful Birch Yule Log Recipe for Christmas entertaining! #yulelog #yule #cake #christmascake #chirstmas #holiday #dessert #recipe

In today’s post, the classic chocolate yule log recipe receives a modern update in design, but still packs loads of delicious flavor for the holiday season. Inspired by a birch bark log, this White Birch Yule Log will be a wow-worthy dessert for your holiday celebration.

White Birch Yule Log:

Yes, my friends, I’m back with another yule log cake recipe for you! This one has a bit of a backstory.

If you’ve been following IBC for a while, you might remember back in 2016 when I made this stunning Pink Velvet Yule Log recipe. It turned out better than I could have ever imagined. Well, flash forward three years, and the yule log recipe is now in Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Ideas Magazine. (You can read about this article here.) I still have a hard time believing this happened, but I have visual proof to remind myself. (Yes, that’s a picture of me holding this exact yule log cake. So surreal!)

The folks at BHG wanted to include my yule log in the article, but pink didn’t work with my green and red Christmas decor. That’s when I challenged myself to create the same recipe, but with a different look. Inspired by some of the decor in my living room and the birch bark logs in my fireplace, I opted for a Birch Yule Log.

I took my Pink Velvet Yule Log recipe, and with a few simple changes, I created this!

I love recipes like this one because they allow you to get creative. Just by changing the food coloring and using different baking chips, I had a stunning yule log cake with a whole new look. Want it red? Go red! Green? Do it!

Pretty fun, right?

How to Make a Yule Log:

Whenever I’m working on a new recipe for the blog, I typically like to do it the day time so I can snap pictures along the way. (I like to shoot in natural light.) However, because of the schedule of my magazine shoot with BHG, I had to bake this recipe at night. While I have lots of pictures of the completed cake, I don’t have process shots.

However, if you’re a visual learner like me, you’re in luck because when I made my Pink Velvet Yule Log recipe, I took lots of pictures throughout the process. You can check out that post here for a visual presentation on how to make a yule log.

Although it looks pretty fancy, it’s fairly simple. My biggest tip (which is noted in the recipe below) is to pre-roll the cake when it comes out of the oven. This prevents it from cracking and splitting after you add the frosting/filling and attempt to roll it up again. However, since this cake is frosted, a few cracks won’t matter.

I also had fun creating mushrooms for this cake. I used melted milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips. Typically, yule log recipes call for meringue mushrooms (which I may try the next time I make one), but I wasn’t comfortable with meringue, so I went with chocolate. I dressed up the mushrooms with sprinkles and coarse sugar for a whimsical touch. I think they turned out pretty darn cute.

And that, my friends, is the Birch Yule Log Recipe for the cake that appeared in BHG!

If you’ve never made a yule log cake, I encourage you to give it a go. The process is a lot of fun, and the cake looks stunning on your holiday or Christmas table. I may even make another one this season. Stay tuned!

Want more sweet holiday treats? Try these:

Again, you can find the recipe below. Happy baking!

Yule Log Recipe:

Birch Yule Log Recipe

Servings: 14 people | Prep Time: 1 hr | Cook Time: 15 hrs | Garnishes and Decor: 45 mins

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

5 from 1 vote

The classic chocolate yule log recipe receives a modern update in design, but still packs loads of delicious flavor for the holiday season. Inspired by a birch bark log, this Birch Yule Log will be a wow-worthy dessert for your holiday celebration.

Ingredients

Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
8 eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
gel food coloring optional
Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Filling / Frosting:

3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese softened
3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups confectioners' sugar
15 ounces white baking chocolate melted
Brown gel food coloring Optional

Garnish:

Sprinkles, sugar pearls, coarse sanding sugar
Melted white chocolate, milk chocolate, and peanut butter chips

Instructions

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 15x10x1-inch pans with baking spray, cover with parchment paper, and then spray again.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the eggs on high for 3-5 minutes, until pale in color. Continue beating as you slowly add the sugar. Once combined, add the oil, buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat to incorporate. Finally, beat in the dry ingredients until just combined.
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared baking pans. Tilt the pan (or spread with a spatula) to even out the batter.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched.
While the cakes bake, lay two tea towels out on your countertop and sprinkle each towel with powdered sugar.
When the cakes are done, immediately invert them onto the prepared towels. Remove the parchment paper and then roll the cake in the towel starting at either of the narrower ends. Set the rolled-up cake on a wire rack to cool completely. (This step is important because it will prevent your cake from cracking later when you reroll it after it's cooled.)
In the meantime, prepare your filling. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and salt until smooth. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and beat to combine. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar and white baking chocolate until smooth. Divide this frosting evenly into three bowls. (I added a bit of brown gel food color to two of the bowls because I would be using it as the filling frosting for the cakes.)
Once the cakes have cooled, unroll them. Using two of the three bowls of frosting, spread one bowl over each of the cakes to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Roll them up again, without the towel. Place both rolls seam side down onto a large platter and refrigerate until the filling has set. This will take about 2 hours.
Once the cakes have cooled, trim off the edges of each cake. Set one cake roll on a platter. Then cut the second cake roll to create the branches for the other cake roll. Trim the cake branches so they fit snuggly against the first cake roll.
Divide the remaining bowl of frosting into two bowls. Use a touch of brown gel food coloring to dye the frosting in one of the bowls; leave the frosting in the other bowl white. Spoon each frosting into a separate piping bag, cut off one corner of each, and pipe lines on the cake to resemble bark. Fill in any areas where the cake connects.
Garnish the yule log with sprinkles, sugar pearls, and coarse sanding sugar for sparkle.
To create chocolate mushrooms, put melted white chocolate, melted milk chocolate, and melted peanut butter chips into separate piping bags. Pipe the desired shapes onto wax paper. Sprinkle with coarse sanding sugar or add sugar pearls to the mushroom shapes before the chocolate sets for added interest. Allow the chocolate to cool completely, and then tuck them into your yule log.

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Warm Goat Cheese Dip with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Recipes

Thursday
Nov / 14 / 2019
Comments 7

Delicious Baked Goat Cheese Dip with Sun-Dried Tomatoes #dip #recipe #baked #goatcheese #sundriedtomatoes #appetizer

If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and flavorful dip recipe, this Warm Goat Cheese Dip is a guaranteed winner. Topped with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil, it’s a delicious combination that’s sure to satisfy your guests.

Warm Goat Cheese Dip with Sun-Dried Tomatoes:

In the coming months, I plan to host a dip party. It’s like a potluck, but everyone brings a different dip recipe. There will appetizer dips, main-course dips, and dessert dips! Doesn’t that sound fun and delicious!?

You know I love dip (Click here for some of my favorite recipes.), so I couldn’t resist adding another to my collection. This Warm Goat Cheese Dip with Sun-Dried Tomatoes is a delightful combination of several of my favorite ingredients.

I also like a quick recipe that I can whip together with things I have on hand, and this Warm Goat Cheese could certainly be one of those dishes. It’s made with goat cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil. What a great bunch of flavors!

How to Make Warm Goat Cheese Dip:

As I mentioned above, this recipe comes together quickly.

You start by putting the cheeses, olive oil, and pepper in a bowl. Then, using an electric mixer, you whip it all together. You could do this by hand, but an electric mixer will give you smoother results.

Next, spoon the cheese mixture into a baking dish and pop it in the oven for about 25 minutes or until heated through.

While the mixture bakes, press the sun-dried tomatoes between a couple of paper towels. Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes are the best because of their texture and flavor, but you don’t want the extra oil in this recipe.

Once your Warm Goat Cheese Dip is hot, top it with the sun-dried tomatoes and julienned fresh basil leaves.

Serve with toasted baguette slices or Triscuit crackers.

Voila! Your Warm Goat Cheese Dip with Sun-Dried Tomatoes is complete.

Can I substitute with feta cheese?

One other thing: I often hear that people want to substitute feta cheese for goat cheese. This is something I don’t recommend in most cases. The two types of cheese have very different flavor profiles and textures. If you think you don’t like goat cheese, I recommend giving it a try, especially in a recipe like this. I think you’ll quickly become a fan.

Looking for more baked dips? Try these:

I hope you enjoyed this Baked Goat Cheese recipe! If you’re looking for more delicious dips, I have a full collection here on the blog. Click here for all the tasty details!

Warm Goat Cheese Dip with Sun-Dried Tomatoes Recipe:

Warm Goat Cheese Dip with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

| Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 25 mins

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

5 from 1 vote

If you're looking for a quick, easy, and flavorful dip recipe, this Warm Goat Cheese Dip is a guaranteed winner. Topped with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil, it's a delicious combination that's sure to satisfy your guests.

Ingredients

10 ounces goat cheese room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup julienned oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes drained
2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves
Toasted baguette slices for serving

Instructions

Begin by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a bowl, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, grated parmesan, olive oil, and black pepper. Using an electric mixer, mix until smooth and combined.
Lightly spray a small (1-quart) baking dish with cooking spray; then add the cheese mixture and spread into an even layer. Baked until golden and heated through, about 20-25 minutes.
Meanwhile, transfer the drained sun-dried tomatoes to a paper towel. Press to remove any excess oil. Set aside.
Once the dip is baked, remove it from the oven and top with freshly julienned basil leaves and sun-dried tomatoes. Serve warm with toasted baguette slices.

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Vintage Modern Christmas Table Decor

Interiors

Wednesday
Nov / 13 / 2019
Comments 45

Vintage Modern Christmas Table Decor ideas to dress up your home for the holidays! #diningroom #decor #tablesetting #tablescape #table #decorating #christmas #holiday #modern #vintage

You’re in for a treat today because I’m inviting you to join me in my dining room to share my vintage modern-inspired Christmas table decor.

Yes, my friends, I’m excited to show you my Christmas tablescape. It’s a joy to decorate my home for the holidays and then share the results with you. I hope that these tours offer ideas and inspiration for decking your halls if you’re inclined to do so. Last week I posted about my Christmas Kitchen Decor and today we’re over in the dining room to check out my holiday table setting.

It’s a pleasure to again be teaming up with my Seasons of Home blogger friends. That means LOTS of festive dining room decor ideas for you. Each of the 15+ bloggers has a unique style so everyone will find inspiration. Be sure to click through all of the links at the end of this post.

As you know, I completed a kitchen remodel this summer. My dining room also got a few changes as part of that project, so I’m slowly working to redecorate the space. It’s bare-bones at the moment, but I am making progress. When you see my fall table setting, you will probably notice my new-to-me dining room table!

I was so excited to find this table. I’d been hunting for a vintage dining room table (and am still hunting for a vintage sideboard) and was lucky enough to score this one at a local antique shop. Because my new kitchen peninsula extends a couple of feet into the dining room, I wanted something a tad narrower than the standard width, and this vintage oak table was the perfect fit.

Although I still need a rug, artwork, that vintage sideboard, and more, this space is starting to feel more like I envisioned. And the nice part is, I’m in no rush. It’s fun to be able to style this room as it transitions. It’s like a new space every time.

Now that I’ve given you all the background, let me show you my Christmas table decor!

Vintage Modern Christmas Table Decor:

My inspiration for this table came from several places. First, was the color. I knew I wanted red, black, and wood.

Next was the style. I envisioned a touch of modern, a bit of vintage, folded up in a simple Scandinavian style. I think I achieved that look!

I started with this beautiful white runner with red stitching around the edge. (All sources will be linked at the end of this post.)

From there, I set out my go-to white dinnerware. This is the dinnerware I use every day, and I love it. It’s affordably priced, and you can dress it up or down. It works so well here.

Side note: If you’re looking for some festive music to play while entertaining this holiday seasons, I can help! I’ve created FIVE Christmas music playlist. You can find them all here.

Naturally, I needed some plaid (I can’t seem to get enough!), so I added the napkins.

Because of the matte black of my chandelier, I wanted a few black elements in my Christmas table decor to tie it into the space. (If you remember, I did the same thing with my fall tablescape.) This matte black flatware is gorgeous and worked perfectly here.

The table needed one more black element, so I used these black candlesticks. Every table, especially at Christmas, needs some sparkle. These candlesticks contribute a Scandinavian feel.

For my vintage elements, I turned to glassware. I was lucky enough to find both of these glasses the day before I styled this table. The “holiday cheer” highballs were a must. I was so excited when I saw them because I knew they would fit in perfectly.

And since I can’t resist a little gold and glam, these more traditional-looking water goblets with gold trim were a nice unexpected element. Aren’t they beautiful?

The table only needed a couple more things. For additional sparkle, I strung a set of rice lights down the middle. Battery operated, these lights are a quick and easy way to give a little glow. I also added two mini evergreen trees to the table.

As you may have noticed, I hung evergreen wreaths on my dining room windows. I thought the trees on the table tied them in nicely.

The wreaths on the windows are faux. To hang them, I used these clear Command Hooks. The red satin ribbon is there for aesthetic reasons, though I do like how it looks as if the ribbon is holding up the wreaths.

And to wrap up this Christmas tablescape, I included two sweets. First, the Black Walnut Christmas Cake that I shared with you yesterday. This cake is not only crazy delicious, but it’s beautiful too, making it the perfect centerpiece for my table. (Get the recipe here.) I also added a large red and green candy cane to each place setting as a treat for my guests.

And with that, my Christmas table decor is complete! I’m loving how it turned out. What do you think? Does it make you want to join me for a holiday meal?

It brings me so much joy to style pretty spaces and then to share them with you. As I mentioned above, I hope that my Christmas table decor gives you a few ideas for styling your table for the holidays. Whether you spend the season with only a few people or dozens of family and friends, it’s always nice to create a beautiful, festive, and welcoming space!

Again, if you’re looking for more Christmas table decor inspiration, I encourage you to click through the links below. Enjoy!

Christmas Table Decor Sources:

Table Runner: Red Embroidery Oversized Table Runner
Napkins: Holiday Plaid Square Napkins
Candlesticks: Black Taper Candle Holders
Dinner Plates: Hue White Dinner Plate
Salad Plate: Hue White Salad Plate
Flatware: 5 piece Matte Black
Candy Cane: Strawberry Single Candy Cane
Small Trees: Faux 7″ Mini Tree
Mini Lights: Copper Wire Starry Lights
Chandelier: Radcliffe 30″ Round Oil-Rubbed Bronze
Chairs: At Home (not longer sold)
Cakestand: HomeGoods
Wreathes: Sewickley Creek Greenhouse (sourced locally)
Wreath Hanger: Clear Command Hooks
Glassware: Vintage
Dining Table: Vintage

Seasons of Home Christmas Table Decor:

Ella Claire & Co. | French Country Cottage | Craftberry Bush | Julie Blanner

Maison de Cinq | Rooms for Rent | Beneath My Heart | Home Stories A to Z

Dear Lillie | The Handmade Farmhouse | Zevy Joy | Inspired by Charm

Maison de Pax | Keeping it Cozy | Kindred Vintage | My Sweet Savannah

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Black Walnut Christmas Cake

Recipes

Tuesday
Nov / 12 / 2019
Comments 26

This Black Walnut Cake is a delicious Christmas Cake perfect for the holiday season! #blackwalnut #cake #recipe #christmas #christmascake #cake #dessert #recipe

This Black Walnut Cake is a delicious, unique, and festive Christmas cake idea. Decorated with sugared cranberries, sprigs of rosemary, and black walnuts, it’s a cake that will also look beautiful on your holiday table.

Black Walnut Christmas Cake

It’s been a hot minute since I made a layer cake recipe here on Inspired by Charm. That’s why I thought I’d bust out my baking pans and whip up this wonderfully tasty traditional Black Walnut Cake. I’ve dressed up like a Christmas cake, making it perfect for any holiday celebration.

And if you’re looking for holiday sweets, you’ve come to the right place. Today I’ve teamed up again with my Tastes of the Seasons blogger friends. Each of us is sharing a delicious holiday dessert. I got a sneak peek at the list and can hardly wait to try the recipes. (Deciding which ones to make is going to be difficult!) You can find all of the recipes linked at the end of this post.

And if you all the details on this beautiful Christmas table, I have them for you. Check out this post here for lots of pictures and sources.

But first, let’s talk about this Black Walnut Cake!

What Are Black Walnuts?

You may be wondering what black walnuts are. They are similar to regular walnuts, but they have a distinct flavor that’s bolder and earthier.

To me, black walnuts smell a little like anise. That concerned me because I’m not a fan of anise flavor. However, once I tasted the result, I was so impressed and delighted with the flavor they added to the cake. It’s a warm, spicy, and comforting flavor that is perfect for the holiday.

I purchased mine here, but I’ve also seen them at my local grocery store.

How to Make a Black Walnut Cake?

If you’ve ever made a homemade cake, the process for making this Christmas cake is quite similar. The only difference is that you fold in black walnuts at the end.

Start by whisking together the dry ingredients; then set them aside. (The full recipe and ingredient list can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Next, in the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar. Then beat in the eggs (one at a time) along with vanilla extract.

Now add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with buttermilk. The buttermilk gives a creamy richness to this cake.

Finally, fold in the black walnuts.

I wanted to create a layer cake, so I lined three round baking pans with parchment paper and then gave them a good spray of baking spray.

Bake the cakes for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cream cheese frosting is perfect for this cake, so I used my go-to recipe which you can find here. However, I did eliminate the almond extract and used eggnog instead of milk. It’s not essential, but it’s a subtle holiday touch.

Once your cakes are cooled, level them off (if necessary) with a serrated knife. Then you’re ready to add the frosting. I wanted a rustic look so I opted for a “naked” cake. This just means that the frosting is spread on thin so you can see the cake through the frosting. You’re welcome to frost this cake however you like.

I did want to mention one thing I would have changed about the way I stacked the three layers in the cake. I stacked the top and bottom layers upside down (to create a more level surface) but put the middle layer right-side up. (I should have just stacked them all upside down.) While you can’t tell from the outside, when you cut the cake, you can see two lines of caramelization between the middle and bottom layers and no lines of caramelization between the middle and top layers.

It’s not important, except for aesthetic reasons. However, I wanted to note.that you can avoid this by simply staking your layers all in the same direction, or if you want to get extra fancy, you can remove the caramelization from the bottom of each layer.

To finish off my Christmas cake, I decorated it with additional black walnut pieces, small sprigs of rosemary, and sugared cranberries. You can find my recipe for sugared cranberries here. They are simple to make and, as you can see, they are wonderful for decorating holiday desserts or garnishing cookie trays and cocktails.

And with that, my Black Walnut Christmas Cake is complete.

Isn’t it pretty? You need zero cake decorating skill to make this festive Christmas cake. An offset spatula will make the job easier, but you could manage with a butter knife.

I am now a fan of the black walnut flavor. At the start, I was a little nervous, but as soon as I cut this cake, I couldn’t resist a bite. I ended up eating the entire slice.

I think you’re going to love this Black Walnut Cake. Don’t forget, if you want to see more of my holiday table and Christmas dining room decor, click here.

Want more sweet holiday treats? Try these:

Now, that your Christmas Cake is made, all you need to do is bake a few batches of Christmas cookies, and your holiday dessert table will be ready for entertaining.

Happy baking, friends!!

Black Walnut Christmas Cake Recipe:

Black Walnut Christmas Cake

Servings: 16 people | Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 30 mins

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

5 from 4 votes

This Black Walnut Cake is a delicious, unique, and festive Christmas cake idea. Decorated with sugared cranberries, sprigs of rosemary, and black walnuts, it's a cake that will also look beautiful on your holiday table.

Ingredients

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 cups finely chopped black walnuts
Sugared cranberries, black walnuts, and rosemary to garnish
1 batch Cream Cheese Frosting (Substitute egg nog for milk.)

Instructions

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottoms of three 9-inch round baking pans with parchment paper. Spray with baking spray. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt to combine. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, vegetable shortening, and sugar. Mix until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add in the vanilla. Mix to combine.
Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Beat after each addition until smooth. Fold in the walnuts.
Evenly divide the batter among the three prepared baking bans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick interested near the center comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pans for 8-10 minutes; then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
In the meantime, prepare cream cheese frosting* using the recipe linked below. Eliminate the almond extract and substitute the milk with eggnog for a festive touch.
Once the cakes have cooled, level each with a serrated knife, if necessary. Then spread about 1 cup of frosting between the layers of cake. Add another cup of frosting to the top of the cake. Spread over the cake in an even, thin layer,** using an offset spatula.
Top with additional black walnut pieces, sugared cranberries***, and sprigs of fresh rosemary to garnish.

Recipe Notes

*You can find my go-to cream cheese frosting here. As mentioned above, do not use the almond extract, and use eggnog instead of milk for a fun seasonal taste.

**With this technique, you are creating a "naked" cake. This is a rustic style of decorating a cake in which some of the cake shows through a thin layer of frosting.

***You can find my recipe for sugared cranberries here.

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

If you’re looking for even more dessert treats, don’t forget to check out all of the Tastes of the Season blogger recipes below.

Tastes of the Season Holiday Desserts:

Peppermint Whipped Cream by Ella Claire & Co. | Fondant Christmas Cupcakes by Craftberry Bush | Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle by anderson + grant | Dairy Free 6 Ingredient Salted Caramels by Zevy Joy | No Bake Healthy Coconut Bars by Tidbits

Easy Peppermint Bark by Jenna Kate at Home | Black Walnut Christmas Cake by Inspired by Charm | Chocolate Covered Marshmallows with Salted Pretzel Topping by Boxwood Avenue | Christmas Popcorn by Town and Country Living | Snowman Cheese Ball by Julie Blanner

Slow Cooker Candied Pecans by Live Laugh Rowe | Fudgy Peppermint Coconut Flour Brownies by Farmhouse on Boone | Hot Peppermint Mocha by Shabbyfufu | Homemade Take 5 Peanut Butter Cups by Chronicles of Home | Slow Cooker Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels by Nest of Posies

Berry Topped Chocolate Cake by French Country Cottage | Pecan Butter Tart Bars by So Much Better With Age | Chocolate Pinecones by My Sweet Savannah | Peanut Butter Fudge by My 100 Year Old Home | Simple Holiday Fudge by House 214 Design

Coffee Cake by Rooms for Rent

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

Recipes

Monday
Nov / 11 / 2019
Comments 5

If you’re looking for a delicious no-bake Christmas treat, check out these Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars. “Kids” of all ages are sure to enjoy them.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars:

Long-time followers of IBC are familiar with my fondness (That may be an understatement.) for peanut butter and chocolate. So when a friend recently gave me this recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars, I couldn’t wait to try it. Because the bars are so yummy and easy to make, I thought you’d also want to know about them!

As you probably know, I have my favorite Christmas cookie recipes (You can find lots of them here.), but I’m also always looking for different cookies. I think it’s fun to experiment with new (-to-me) recipes. You never know what you’re missing or what will become your newest must-make!

I’m enamored of these Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars for several reasons. First, they are a no-bake recipe. Second, once they’re assembled in a pan, all you have to do is cut them. It doesn’t get much easier than that. And finally, there’s the flavor! Chocolate and peanut butter, plus a hint of salt from the pretzels. Yes, please!

Now that I’ve got you drooling (like I am), let me show you how to make them!

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars:

Up first is making the crust. It comes together by melting peanut butter, chocolate, butter, and vanilla in the microwave. (Full details and a list of ingredients are found below in the printable recipe card.)

Once everything is melted and smooth, mix in crushed pretzels and confectioners’ sugar. Then, press the mixture into a foil-lined 9×13-inch baking pan.

Next, melt more chocolate and pour that on the crust.

Before the chocolate sets, top it with mini pretzels and your favorite holiday sprinkles. Set this aside for 1-2 hours.

The last step is to cut 2-inch square bars using a very sharp knife.

That’s it, my friends.These Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars are ready to be enjoyed. With all of those colorful sprinkles, they will look so festive on your cookie trays, in school lunches, or on dessert plates.

Again, if you’re looking for more Christmas cookie recipes, be sure to take a look at this post here. There are oodles of recipes to try. I’m certain you’re going to find more cookies to love.

Happy Holiday Baking!

Want More Chocolate Peanut Butter Treats? Try these:

If you’re looking for a delicious no-bake Christmas treat, check out these Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars. “Kids” of all ages are sure to enjoy them.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars Recipe:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

Servings: 24 bars | Prep Time: 20 mins | Cooling Time: 1 hr

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

5 from 1 vote

If you're looking for a delicious no-bake Christmas treat, check out these Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars. "Kids" of all ages are sure to enjoy them.

Ingredients

Base:

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups crushed pretzels
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Topping:

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups whole mini pretzels
Sprinkles

Instructions

Begin by lining a 9x13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Set aside.
In a microwave-safe bowl, add peanut butter, chocolate chips, butter, and vanilla extract. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until fully melted and smooth.
Add the crushed pretzels and confectioners' sugar. Beat with an electric mixer to blend. When mixed, press into the prepared baking pan to form an even layer.
Then, in a microwave-safe bowl, add 2 cups of chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until fully melted and smooth. Pour over the prepared cookie base.
Immediately top with pretzels, pressing them into the chocolate. Then decorate with sprinkles.
Set aside for 1-2 hours to make sure it's completely set. With a sharp knife, cut into 2-inch squares. Pack and store in an airtight container.

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My Favorite Cookie Recipes

Recipes

Sunday
Nov / 10 / 2019
Comments 3

Like Cookie Monster, I always seem to want a cookie. And since starting Inspired By Charm, I’ve baked hundreds of them. Today I’ve pulled together some of the best of these cookie recipes.

This collection offers cookies of all shapes and types – drop cookies, rolled cookies, bar cookies, and sandwich cookies. There are cookie recipes made with peanut butter, chocolate, and even pumpkin. Some of the cookies are filled, others have sprinkles, and still others are frosted. Check them out below.

My Favorite Cookie Recipes: Peanut Butter and Chocolate

Buckeye Brownie Cookies
The name of this cookie recipe comes from buckeye candy, which is a ball of sweetened peanut butter covered in rich chocolate. This cookie version of a buckeye, however, is much easier to make. It uses a brownie mix!

Peanut Butter Brownie Pillow Cookies
I created this cookie recipe during one of IBC’s Fall Cookie Weeks. The best of two flavor worlds are combined via the chocolate on the inside and peanut butter on the outside.

Peanut Butter Lovers Cookie
This may be the ultimate peanut butter cookie. It’s stuffed with PB in the middle so that when you bite into it, your taste buds are hit with double the peanut butter flavor. I promise there is no stopping at one cookie!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprints
Here’s a cookie that offers the other classic combo – peanut butter and jelly. I love how these cookies look and taste. They are fun for school lunches and study breaks, but they are also fancy enough for adult get-togethers.

My Favorite Cookie Recipes: Surprise Inside

Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies
Are you fond of maple flavor? I love the subtle sweetness of real maple syrup. It’s what’s in the maple buttercream filling of these cookies. One bite, and you’ll be in cookie heaven!

Cream Horns
If you’ve never made cream horns, you’ll want to try this cookie recipe. This is a doable and delectable traditional cookie. I will walk you through the process and show you all of my tricks. (I’ve also made a Pumpkin Spice Version that’s perfect for fall. Click here for the recipe.)

Cream Wafers
Readers of IBC know I have many “favorite” items and that these change over time. When it comes to cookies, however, these cream wafers have been my favorite forever. I will use any excuse to make them, and I will pass up every other cookie if these are available. Sorry, chocolate chip.

Caramel Apple Butter Snickerdoodle
Do you enjoy the toasty creaminess of a caramel as it melts in your mouth? Bake a caramel in a soft apple butter snickerdoodle cookie, and you have an out-of-this-world cookie recipe you’ll want to whip up whenever you can!

Sour Patch Kid Cookies
In this cookie recipe, you mix in Sour Patch Kids, possibly ones to match the occasion or season. I used heart-shaped ones for a special Valentine’s treat. The chewy candy becomes even softer when you bake it.

My Favorite Cookie Recipes: Sprinkled or Frosted

Salted Caramel Shortbread Cookies
This cookie recipe was featured in an IBC Fall Cookie Week, but the crisp shortbread, gooey caramel, drizzles of semi-sweet chocolate, and sprinkling of flake sea salt make it a year-round winner. When will you make it?

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Here’s a cool, contemporary take on the traditional sugar cookie recipe. Press the dough in a half-sheet pan lined with foil. (The foil makes for easy removal from the pan after baking.) Once cooled and before cutting, generously spread the bars with colored frosting that complements your party theme or decor.

Frosted Pumpkin Cookies
This cookie recipe starts with a soft pumpkin cookie. That is topped with frosting made from cream cheese and brown sugar and sprinkled with cinnamon. As soon as autumn ends, you’ll be looking forward to its return so you’ll have a reason to bake these cookies again.

Cinnamon Sugar Pie Crust Cookies
These unique cookies are made from leftover pie dough. Just cut the dough into strips or stamp out shapes using a cookie cutter. Before baking, sprinkle them with sugar and cinnamon. To serve, dip the cookies in caramel sauce or garnish ice cream with them!

Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies
I hope you’ll give this cookie recipe a try even if you’re not nuts about pecans. The flavor of this cookie is on point for fall and the frosting is super easy and super sugary. And the pecans—they add great texture and crunch.

Nom nom nom. All the “cookie monsters” (big and small) in your life are sure to find what they’re looking for in this collection of cookie recipes.

Happy Baking and Munching!

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How I Plan my Christmas Home Decor

Holidays

Friday
Nov / 8 / 2019
Comments 44

How I Plan My Christmas Home Decor / Tips and Tricks for Holiday Decor #christmas #decor #holiday #decorating #planing #inspiration #ideas

As I was planning this year’s Christmas home decor, the process felt a bit different from past years. That reminded me of the questions I’ve been getting lately on Instagram about how I plan my Christmas home decor. And that led to this post! (I do realize this information may not be relevant to everyone, but I thought it was worth posting.)

Before I get into details, please know that what I’m sharing is not a bunch of hard and fast “rules” I follow every year or the way things always unfold. Sometimes inspiration will strike mid-season and take me completely off course (for better or for worse!). However, in general, my planning process goes something like this.

My First Thought is about Color (and my Trees).

When I’m designing anything, nine times out of ten, the first thing I think about is color. This is the case when I’m planning a room design, party, or tablescape.

However, when it comes to Christmas home decor, thoughts of color and thoughts of my Christmas trees usually go hand-in-hand. This means that during the fall, I try to be especially open to inspiration that might help me come up with a color scheme. I know it may sound crazy, but I sort of have a conversation about this in my head.

If you’ve been following IBC for a while, you might remember the year I was inspired by gradients and the colors of the rainbow. That led me to make this Rainbow Gradient Christmas Tree. Another year I LOVED a dress Adele wore at a live performance, and that inspired this gold and green tree. Last year I found green velvet chairs for my living room, which inspired me to go green. That decision prompted me to go mostly red in my family room.

Then I’ll Think About Themes.

In general, I try not to get too “themey.” But there are times when a loose “theme” can help with the decorating process.

For example, this year I’m going with reds in my family room. I chose that color because I used it in the space last year, and I loved how it looked and wanted something similar this year. However, I also wanted to change things up a bit, so I’m using the theme of a “lodge in England.” I realize that probably makes no sense to anyone, but when I think of “lodge in England,” I get a clear vision in my head: ski lodge meets the house in England where Cameron Diaz goes in the movie “The Holiday.” Can you see it now?

Another example is my living room decor from last year. I had the theme of the Emerald City in mind. You wouldn’t think of the magical city in Oz when you looked at that room, but that’s what guided many of my decisions. I hope that makes sense.

Having a color scheme or theme helps me resist all of the pretty distractions I find as I’m decorating. There are too many temptations this time of year, and if I want a cohesive look, I know I can’t have all of them at the same time in one place.

Yes, I Coordinate My Wrapping Paper.

Another area where a theme helps is in selecting wrapping paper. I realize this makes me sound like a loon, but here’s the deal. I like wrapping paper. I like it so much that I want it ALL. Having a theme lets me narrow my focus when I’m out shopping. It also helps to create a coordinated look under the tree. This might not be important to everyone, but for someone like me who takes lots of pictures of his home and wants an area to be aesthetically pleasing, it’s important.

When I was in my apartment two years ago, I went with deep teal, gray, and white as my theme. Last Christmas I used mainly plaid/tartan and buffalo check papers.

Yes, it’s sort of weird, but it suits my sensibilities.

Take Inventory.

With those three things in the back of my mind, I take inventory of what I have. I store my Christmas items in totes in my attic. Before decorating begins, I bring down the totes and look at what I’m working with. Since I’m a blogger, I change my decor every year, so I have plenty of decorations in storage. After taking inventory, I pack up things I won’t need or use this year and then either donate them or put them back in the attic. This keeps me from feeling overwhelmed by all the stuff.

As you can imagine, I do love shopping for holiday decor, so I also hit up some of my favorite places for holiday decor.

They include but are not limited to:

HomeGoods / TJ Maxx
Crate and Barrel
CB2
Balsam Hill
Anthroplogie
eBay
Etsy
Local Shops
Antique Stores

Just Start.

At this point, I’m always feeling slightly overwhelmed and freaking out a bit. As someone who puts his decor on display to the world via the internet, I’m prone to panic: “Is this the year I’m going to miss the mark? What if my ideas suck? What if my creative well has dried up?”

When I start feeling this way, my go-to rule is: “Just Start.” I pick something I’m comfortable with or know is going to be a “win” for me and start there. This builds my confidence, and in no time I’m up and running! I still have my moments of doubt, but in general, it’s good from there.

For example, I recently posted my Christmas Kitchen Tour. This was the first time I was decorating this space for the holidays, so the misgivings and fear of failure rolled in. It only took hanging two wreaths on the windows, and then the ball started rolling! The rest of the space came together pretty smoothly and without a lot of second-guessing.

Another tip is to just try things. When I was decorating my kitchen, initially I had my Santa mug collection on shelves in the dining room. They looked good there. However, I decided to try them in my pantry, and that’s when the magic happened. They look fantastic in there! So try and try again until YOU love it!

Need help getting started? Looking for more Christmas inspiration? I’m so excited to share a list of my favorite blog posts to help inspire you holiday endeavors. These are a few of my favorite that I’m certain you’re going to love.

The Ultimate Christmas Idea and Recipe Resource List:

100+ Creative Christmas Ideas – my favorite resource!
The Best Christmas Cocktail Recipes
My Favorite Christmas Cookies
Christmas Q&A – answering YOUR Christmas questions
Christmas Appetizer Recipes
The Ultimate Christmas Music Playlist
2018 Christmas at Bayberry House – latest Holiday Home Tour
2018 Evening at Bayberry House

How I Decorate My Trees:

This section is slightly out of place in this post, but a number of you have been asking about this, so I wanted to include it. (I am going to try and put together a full post on this topic, but I wanted to give you some information right away.)

As with the rest of my decor, when decorating my trees, I start with a general theme or color scheme. In recent years it’s been a color scheme. Once I have that, I review my inventory and start shopping, if needed. I check out the stores listed above and see what strikes me. (You can see a round-up of some of my past trees here if you need a little inspiration.)

Once I have most of what I need, it’s time to trim the tree.

Here’s the order I follow:

Set up and fluff tree.
Add lights, if not pre-lit. (All of my current trees are pre-lit.)
Add ribbon. (Please see my tutorial here.)
Add large or heavy ornaments*.
Add smaller ornaments*.
String garlands.
Add the tree topper.

*Tips about adding ornaments
-For the most part, I use ornament hooks. My current favorites are these from Amazon. They are small so they disappear. I’m not a fan of decorative hooks because they tend to take attention away from the ornaments.
-I do wire heavy, delicate, or sentimental ornaments to the branch with floral wire.
– I like a layered look with ornaments, so I tuck some into the tree and hang some on the tips of branches.
– I use only glass ornaments.

Final Notes:

I wanted to make a few more comments before wrapping things up.

Most years I do not switch out furniture or paint walls as part of my holiday decorating. I limit my decor to seasonal items and soft goods such as pillows and throws.
If you have sentimental ornaments or decorative items that don’t match your theme or color scheme, use them anyway. Treasure them. Family, friends, and memories are what’s most important during the holidays (and all through the year).
This list is intended as a guide. You do not have to do any of these things to have a beautiful and happy holiday season. Do what works for you. My friend Kate of Centsational Style just wrote a brilliant post about this topic. If you’re feeling stressed, I encourage you to read it.

And that’s it, my friends. If I’ve missed something or you have questions, please leave them in the comments below. I’ll do my best to answer your questions and update this post as needed.

I hope this information helps you create your happy place for the holidays!

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Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip

Recipes

Thursday
Nov / 7 / 2019
Comments 6

Need a tasty appetizer? Try this Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip #broccoli #cheddar #bacon #cheese #appetizer #dip #recipe #appetizer

This Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip recipe combines the classic broccoli and cheddar flavors we all love in a dip no one can say no to. Plus, it’s easy to make!

November and December are packed with holiday entertaining. My goal on IBC is to bring you new appetizer recipes that are simple to pull together and sure to please a crowd. I’m confident this Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip fills the bill.

If you’re looking for even more holiday appetizer ideas, I created an entire post dedicated to them. You can find that here. Like dips? I’ve got a post for those too! You can find them here.

Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip:

Have you ever had Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup? This recipe follows that flavor profile but in dip form. Broccoli Cheddar Soup is among my favorites, so this dip is, too. (And, yes, there’s bacon involved.)

Like many folks, I have my go-to recipes, but I also like to try different things. This recipe allows me to do both in one dish. The combination of the broccoli and cheese flavors gives this recipe a comforting familiarity, while the creaminess of the dip takes the classic taste to a new level.

No matter how you fix them, you can’t go wrong with broccoli and cheese. Still, what seals the deal for me with this dip is the crumbly and buttery RITZ crackers topping. Yummy!

Okay, that’s enough talking about the dip. Let me show you how to make it!

How to Make Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip:

Start by cooking the bacon. Once it’s done, set it aside on a paper towel and allow it to drain. Save the bacon grease in your skillet and cook your broccoli in it. You want the broccoli to be crisp but tender.

When the broccoli has cooled, chop it and the bacon into tiny pieces.

Next, in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and garlic powder. Then toss in the bacon, broccoli, and shredded cheddar cheese and mix that to combine. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Then transfer all that goodness to an 8×10-inch baking dish.

Before baking, in a small bowl, stir together the crumbled Ritz crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle this on the top of the dip. (Every dip needs a little crunch, right?) Finally, bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the top is golden!

The dip is now ready to serve. I like to serve it with Ritz crackers and broccoli florets. The fresh broccoli makes me feel a little less guilty about indulging, but it also tastes so good with the dip.

That’s it my friends. Not too difficult, right?

Looking for delicious dips? Try these:

This Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip will make a lovely and delicious addition to any of your holiday gatherings. (You may want to make extra so you don’t run out.)

Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip Recipe:

Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip

Servings: 12 people | Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 30 mins

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

This Broccoli Casserole Cheese Dip recipe combines the classic broccoli and cheddar flavors we all love in a dip no one can say no to. Plus, it's easy to make!

Ingredients

4 slices bacon
3 cups fresh broccoli florets plus more for serving
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese softened
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup crumbled Ritz crackers
2 tablespoons melted butter
RITZ crackers and broccoli florets for serving

Instructions

Over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel to drain.
Keep about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the skillet. Add the broccoli and cook 4-5 minutes until crisp but tender.
Remove from heat. Chop the bacon and broccoli into very small pieces.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and garlic powder to a large bowl. Mix until smooth. Mix in the bacon, broccoli, and shredded cheddar cheese. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Transfer to an 8x10-inch baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine the crumbled Ritz crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle on top of the dip. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the top is golden.
Serve warm with Ritz crackers and broccoli florets.

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Christmas Kitchen Decor Ideas

Interiors

Wednesday
Nov / 6 / 2019
Comments 50

Festive and Beautiful Christmas Kitchen Decor Ideas #holiday #christmas #kitchen #decor #decorating #ideas

Well, friends, it’s officially the most wonderful time of the year. This past weekend, I got the Christmas totes down from the attic and did a little decorating, so today I’m ready to share Christmas kitchen decor ideas with you!

When I post about Christmas this early in the season, I always like to offer the following disclaimer: Bloggers post early so you’re able to take it all in and implement what you like whenever YOU are ready. Get to decorating, crafting, and creating now, or wait until later. It’s up to you, if, when, and how you do things for the holidays!

I am thrilled to be back today with my Seasons of Home Blogger friends. Each of us is giving you a peek at our kitchen Christmas decor. Once you’re done checking out my kitchen, be sure to click through the additional 11 bloggers below. Everyone is incredibly talented, and there are so many styles. I know you’ll find lots of reasons to ooh and ah!

Since it’s early in the season and I’m happily decorating a new space (In case you’re new to Inspired by Charm, I remodeled my kitchen earlier this year. The full tour and complete source list is here.), I’m still getting a feel for how I want my kitchen to look for Christmas. So please consider this a work-in-progress and sneak peek into my full Holiday Home Tour which will go live in early December. (I have A LOT of decorating to do before then, but at least I’ll have started on my kitchen!)

With that introduction behind us, let me show you around!

Christmas Kitchen Decor Ideas:

In styling my Christmas kitchen decor, my goal was to bring in festive moments but keep things simple.

My process for this space started with hanging small wreaths on the windows above the sink. The wreaths are faux but quite real looking. I found them at a local Christmas store (Sewickley Creek Greenhouse if you’re in the Pittsburgh area). Inspired by the knobs on my range, I wanted pops of red in this space, so I added red ribbon to the wreaths. It’s purely decorative since I used these Command Hooks to hang the wreaths.

Because my kitchen gets a lot of use, especially this time of year, there is minimal decor on my countertops – a few bottle brush trees with gold, green, and red ornaments, a couple brass tea light holders, and small wire lights. Isn’t it amazing how a string of lights instantly makes a space feel like Christmas.

On a recent visit to a local antique store, I found these pine tree salt & pepper shakers. What a great shade of green! I paired them with a new candle my sweet friend Laura of Finding Home Farms sent me. This one is Cinnamon Bark & Anise. I never thought I was a fan of anise, but this candle smells divine!

I also swapped out the artwork to the left of my range. I found this original colored pencil drawing at an antique shop last year and instantly fell in love with it. It works beautifully here. I used Command Picture Hanging strips to attach it to the tile. I ended up using four of the large strips to be on the safe side.

As I do on most of my tours, I also baked a delicious treat for you. This is a Cranberry Apple Tart. It’s just the thing for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any dinner or party in-between. On my tour, it doubles as a lovely prop. I can’t wait to share the recipe with you. Stay tuned! In the meantime, you can find more of my holiday recipes here.

One other thing I wanted to point out is my new crock. It’s another of my antique finds. I filled it with (mostly) vintage rolling pins. The red and green handled rolling pins bring in the colors of the season but will look great all year long. The two glass rolling pins are a nod to my maternal grandma. She always used a glass rolling pin. After she passed. my mom inherited that rolling pin. I mentioned to my mom how much I love it and that I was looking for a similar one. Mom was able to find one on eBay and gave it to me for my birthday. A couple of weeks later I happened upon one at an antique store. Now I have two. I do love how this little display looks.

Christmas Kitchen Decor Ideas: Butler’s Pantry

I added a couple of festive touches to my butler’s pantry as well. I chuckled as I wrote that last sentence. A year ago the space housed a single-stall shower with only cold water. Now, my pantry is there, and it’s one of my favorite places in my home. What a difference!

I continued the red theme in the pantry. When deciding on the paint color for this cabinetry, I purposely chose something that would work well with “Christmas” red. (That’s how much I love Christmas!) I couldn’t be more pleased with the combination of sage green, cherry red, and walnut. It’s warm and inviting!

Several years back I picked up this set of Santa mugs. Since then I try to purchase one or two vintage Santa mugs every year. I now have a nice-size collection. I love how they look on the shelves.

The ceramic tree is another recent vintage find. I’m hoping to find a place this year where I can paint/make one!

And with a few other holiday touches here and there, my Christmas kitchen decor is complete. What do you think?

I’m still going to futz around a bit (as I tend to do) so I’ll have more to share soon. Just recently I hung shelves in my dining room AND got a new dining room table. It’s been loads of fun to add personality to that new space.

I hope you enjoyed looking around my kitchen. Again, If you’re looking for any sources, please visit this post here for more details.

Want more decor ideas? Check out all of my Holiday Home Tours Here:

And of you have the holiday-itch and want more decor inspiration, then you’ll want to check out all of my blogger friends below. I’m certain you’ll snag some inspiration for your own home. Enjoy!

Seasons of Home Christmas Kitchen Decor Ideas:

Ella Claire & Co. | Zevy Joy | Inspired by Charm | Maison de Pax

Dear Lillie | The Lilypad Cottage | Maison de Cinq | Kindred Vintage

Rooms for Rent | Home Stories A to Z | Craftberry Bush | French Country Cottage

The Handmade Farmhouse | Boxwood Avenue | Nina Hendrick | My Sweet Savannah

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Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers

Recipes

Monday
Nov / 4 / 2019
Comments 6

These Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers are a delicious bite-sized appetizer that’s ideal for the holidays.

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers:

As I’ve told you, given the opportunity, I could make a meal of appetizers. How about you? One of my menu items would be these Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers.

I hope you enjoy this new appetizer recipe for the holiday season. If you’re looking for other unique and tasty holiday appetizers, I’ve put together a fantastic list for you here. It’s full of my faves, such as a Christmas tree-shaped cheeseball and the veggie dip recipe I make every chance I get!

I was also inspired to create these Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers because they are similar to a bacon-wrapped pepper I made in the past. Do you remember my Bacon-Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños? I included a special/secret ingredient in the cream cheese of that recipe.

Even if you haven’t tried that recipe, I think you are going to love this one. Sweet peppers, cream cheese, AND bacon. Could it get any better than that? Let me walk you through some of the details.

First, you might be wondering …

What are Peppadew Peppers?

Peppadew Peppers is a brand name for red, cherry tomato-sized Juanita peppers. This type of pepper is often made by companies that produce pickles. Pickling helps to preserve the sweet flavor and crisp texture of the peppers. (You want the peppers you use in this recipe to have both qualities.)

Most of the varieties I’ve seen (and purchased) have little to no heat. However, you’ll want to pay attention to the labels/signage to make sure you’re getting the heat level you prefer.

I usually purchase the peppadews that are available on the olive bar in my local grocery store. However, a jarred variety works well in this recipe.

I like to serve peppadew peppers on cheese and antipasto platters. They are perfect for this type of snacking. They are delicious on their own, but even better stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped with bacon.

How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers

Now that you know what Peppadew Peppers are, let me show you how to make this appetizer. (Full recipe details are available in the printable recipe card below.)

Precook the bacon to give it a head start in the cooking process. I like doing this in the oven. Start by adding a cooling rack to a foil-lined baking sheet. (This makes clean-up much easier!)

Cut the bacon in half; then place it on the cooling rack in a single layer. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the fat starts to render and the bacon starts to brown a bit. Remove from the oven, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, and allow too cool. (Set the baking tray aside.)

Add the softened cream cheese to a piping bag (or put it in a plastic bag and cut off the corner) and pipe the cheese into each of the peppers.

Then, wrap each pepper with a piece of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. (Note: Soak the toothpicks in a small bowl of water for about 20 minutes to prevent them from burning in the oven.)

Place the bacon-wrapped peppers back on the baking sheet you used to cook the bacon. Put them in the oven and cook for 14-16 minutes or until the bacon is crisp.

That’s it! You’re ready to enjoy these delicious Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers.

The sweet pepper pairs perfectly with the smooth cream cheese and crispy bacon. It’s a bite-sized party for your mouth!

I think these would make a delicious holiday appetizer, but you can serve them any time of the year. Enjoy!

Want more bacon-inspired appetizer recipes? Try these:

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers Recipe:

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers

Servings: 24 peppers | Prep Time: 30 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

These Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Peppadew Peppers are a delicious bite-sized appetizer that's ideal for the holidays.

Ingredients

24 peppadew peppers (Drained upside down on a paper towel.)
12 slices bacon cut in half (not thick cut)
8 ounces cream cheese

Instructions

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Then, soak 24 toothpicks in a small bowl of water for about 20 minutes.
Precook the bacon by placing it in a single layer on a cooling rack in a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the fat starts to render and the bacon starts to brown. Remove from oven, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, and allow too cool. (Set the baking tray aside.)
Add the softened cream cheese to a piping bag (or put it in a plastic bag and cut off the corneand pipe the cheese into each of the peppers.
Then wrap each pepper with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
Place the bacon-wrapped peppers back on the baking sheet you used to cook the bacon. Place these into the oven and cook for 14-16 minutes or until the bacon is crisp.
Serve warm.

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Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail

Recipes

Friday
Nov / 1 / 2019
Comments 10

This Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail recipe is the kind of delicious tart-meets-sweet libation you’ll want at every get-together from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.

Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail?

Well, friends, it’s the first day of November, so that means it’s the official kick-off to the holiday season here in blogland! (You may have noticed that we bloggers are always a month or so ahead when it comes to holidays. That’s so we can get ideas and info out to you in plenty of time for you to use them.) And since today also happens to be Friday, I thought this Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail would be a tasty way to get the weekend started. (If you’re looking for more Christmas cocktails, check out this post HERE. I’ve shared all my favorites!)

As I’ve mentioned, bourbon is a newly acquired taste for me. A couple of years ago I was on a mission to start liking the stuff, and now I can say I’m a fan. It all began with this Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail I made several years ago. (It’s different from the bourbon libation I’m sharing today.)

I’m not at the point where I can drink bourbon straight or even on the rocks, but it has become a go-to liquor at my house. If you’re new to bourbon or looking to gain an appreciation of it, may I recommend Four Roses Single Barrel? I think the type of bourbon you get makes a huge difference, and this is a favorite of mine. I also recently tried Redbreast 12 Year when I was in Ireland. It was delicious, too. I did pick up a bottle to sample it at home. A report will be coming!

Okay, back to this Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail. Even if you’re not a fan of bourbon, I think you’ll still like this recipe. The maple and cranberry flavors play so nicely together!

How Do You Make This Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail?

The secret ingredients in this recipe are the maple cranberries and the maple cranberry syrup. Don’t worry; both are simple to make. Here’s what I did.

In a saucepan, simmer one cup of fresh cranberries with 1/2 cup maple syrup. Heat until the cranberries start to pop. Then remove the mixture from the stove. As I said, it’s simple.

Once that cools, you’re ready to make the cocktail.

First, add ice to a rocks glass. Then, top the ice with some of the cranberries you cooked in the maple syrup.

Next, fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add some of the syrup from the cranberries. You can add as much syrup as you want to make the drink as sweet as you like. Now add the bourbon and cranberry juice, and shake vigorously.

Strain that into the prepared rocks glass. Top with a splash of seltzer water or club soda. For garnish, add a sprig of fresh rosemary, and if you like, a few fresh cranberries.

Cheers, friends!

The flavor combination is so good. Maple + cranberries + bourbon = cold-weather cocktail perfection. The garnishes also make this libation pretty for the holidays.

Looking for More Bourbon Cocktail Recipes? Try these:

Give this Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail a try and let me know what you think.- Ready or not, it’s the holidays on IBC! And it’s about to get very merry around here.

Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail?

Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail

Servings: 2 cocktails | Prep Time: 8 mins

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

his Maple Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail recipe is the kind of delicious tart-meets-sweet libation you'll want at every get-together from Thanksgiving through New Year's.

Ingredients

4 ounces bourbon (I prefer Four Roses Single Barrel)
3 ounces cranberry juice
2 ounces maple cranberry syrup (adjusted to your desired level of sweetness)
2 ounces seltzer or club soda
Maple cranberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish

Maple Cranberries:

1/2 cup real maple syrup
1 cup fresh cranberries

Instructions

Begin by preparing the maple cranberries and maple cranberry syrup. In a small saucepan, mix the real maple syrup and fresh cranberries. Simmer until the cranberries begin to burst (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and cool completely. (You will have enough maple cranberries and syrup to make 5-6 cocktails.)
Next, add ice to two rocks glasses. Top each with a tablespoon of the maple cranberries. Set aside.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the bourbon, cranberry juice, and maple cranberry syrup. Shake vigorously.
Strain into the prepared rocks glasses. Top each with a splash (1 ouncof seltzer water. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

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Living Room Autumn Decorations

Interiors

Thursday
Oct / 31 / 2019
Comments 60

Living Room Autumn Decorations - Fall Decoration Ideas #autumn #decorations #fall #decorating #livingroom #decor #seasonal

Today I’m sharing the autumn decorations in my living room. With a focus on color and a few nods to the season, my living room is now ready for guests.

Yes, my friends, it’s been forever and a day since I gave you a peek into my “formal” living room. (The last time was probably my 2018 Christmas tour. How time flies!) That’s why I’m so excited about today’s post.

As I’ve mentioned, I kept my autumn decorations low key this year. (If you’re interested, I’ve previously shared my family room/den here and my kitchen here.) I didn’t buy a single pumpkin this fall. Can you believe it!? So, if you’re looking for subtle seasonal decorating ideas, this post is for you.

If you’re curious about any product sources, I will do my best to link everything below.

Living Room Autumn Decorations

All of the large furnishings are the same as when we last toured this space. The big difference, which you might not even notice, is the floor. As part of my recent kitchen remodel and the installation of new hardwood floors in my entryway, I had the floor in this room refinished so now all of the floors on the first level of my house are the same.

Of course, that meant that this past summer, everything in the living room had to be removed and later all put back into place. Such fun! Ha.

Once the furnishings were in order, I slowly added autumn decorations. As I mentioned above, I wanted to create a subtle feeling of fall rather than a more literal interpretation of the season.

The biggest source of inspiration for the room and my autumn decorations was vintage amber bottles. I picked them up throughout the summer as I visited antique stores and flea markets. As you’ll see, I placed these around the room and tucked in a few branches of bayberry for a befitting botanical element.

It’s amazing how one small element can inspire a whole space.

I love how this amber color works with my existing green chairs. That led me to a few other coordinating decorative items, including the faux dried hops wreath on the mantel, a couple of new pillows, and the throw on the couch. I think this vibrant yet mellow color combination is striking and fresh.

I also restyle my little living room bar cart. Cheers!

Living Room Autumn Decorations: Ghosts and Pumpkins

I couldn’t resist a few pumpkins and ghosts, but they are chic interpretations of the traditional versions – white ceramic pumpkins in my hutch and ghost tea light holders on my dry sink.

I only recently purchased the ghost tea light holders. I think they’re fabulous. I have a feeling I will treasure them for years to come.

The pumpkins are hanging out over in my vintage wood cabinet.

I had fun styling my shelves with books and lots of vintage brass treasures. As you can see I’ve started a little brass animal collection.

Earlier this week I shared a new fall playlist. In that post, I mentioned how much I love my Sonos players. You can see one hiding on my shelf below. It blends in so well and has such great sound!

One other thing I wanted to point out is this view into the living room. As part of my kitchen renovation, I had three large windows installed in my dining room. You can see them from this angle. It’s amazing how big an impact this one small change has made on the entire first floor.

As you can probably tell, the dining room is lacking in pretty much everything. I’ve been hunting for a new dining table and sideboard. I’m hoping to find something vintage/antique, but I’m open to anything. I’m also thinking that the dining room walls may need a coat of color. (Do you agree? Any suggestions?) So that’s to be determined as well. Stay tuned.

And that, my friends, is a look at the autumn decorations in my living room. I know it doesn’t look that different, but I thought you might enjoy seeing how a few colorful touches and subtle reminders of the season can affect the look and feel of a space.

Have questions? Please let me know in the comments below. Until next time, Happy Autumn Decorating!

Living Room Autumn Decorations Sources:

Wall Color: Agreeable Gray Sherwin-Wiliams
Sofa: Carlisle Upholstered Sofa (more details here)
Green Chairs: Anthropolgie (no longer sold)
Ottoman: La-Z-boy
Rug: Distressed Foliage Rug
Tall Wood Hutch: Nadeau (vintage)
Ghost Tealights: Mollie Jenkins Pottery
Lamp: Modern Acrylic Accent Lamp
Wreath: Faux Yellow Hops Wreath
Bar Cart: Gold Mid-Century Bar Cart
Glasses on Bar Cart: French Champagne Flutes
Modern Abstract Art: Lindsay Letter Peppermint Moss
Sonos Speakers: Sonos Play:1
Large Fabric Print Art: HomeGoods
Leaf Print Throw: TJ Max
White Throw: West Elm (no longer sold)
Plaid Wool Throw: Weavers of Ireland (purchased in Ireland)
Green Pillows: HomeGoods
Tassel Pillow: Nilo Hook Pillow – Justina Blakeney
Amber Bottles: Vintage
Decorative Brass Items: Vintage
Small Art: Vintage
Dry Sink: Vintage
Mantel Mirror: Vintage
Living Tree: Audrey Ficus

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Autumn Acoustic Music Playlist

Life

Tuesday
Oct / 29 / 2019
Comments 5

I’ve been wanting to share an Autumn Acoustic Music Playlist with you for a while now. I finally got it finished so it’s ready to post. If you’ve been looking for new music inspired by the season, then this post is for you!

Autumn Acoustic Music Playlist

It feels as if I blinked, and now we’re halfway through fall. I don’t know where October went. (Though I could say the same thing for much of 2019.) As I mentioned in a recent post, I was traveling in Ireland during the first week and a half in October, so maybe that’s what’s throwing me off. In general, I prefer not to travel this time of year (I love being home during the fall and holiday season), but my trip was wonderful and so worth it.

Sorry, I’m getting off track here. Back to the music! It’s been ages since I’ve shared one of my Tuesday Tunes playlists, so I thought that’s what I’d do today. I’ve been listening to this particular playlist for about a month, but it wasn’t quite “finished” so I hesitated to share it. However, I’m finally happy to call it complete.

Recently, over on Instagram, whenever I’ve told you about a new blog post, I also uploaded an Instagram story. It’s usually a video with a song playing in the background. So many folks have complimented my music selections and asked for more information on the songs and what I’ve been listening to lately. I was thrilled to hear this because I LOVE music and greatly enjoy sharing it with others.

So, if you are one of the people who’s been asking about my Instagram story songs, you are going to love this playlist. Many of the songs I’ve used over there were inspired by this collection.

Some of my favorites (and yours) include:

“Take Me Home, Country Road’ (cover) – Mountain Man
“The Open Road” – Hollow Coves
“San Luis” – Gregory Alan Isakov
“S.O.B.” (cover) – Eddie Berman
“Bang Bang” – The Avett Brothers

As the title of this playlist suggests, most of the tracks are acoustic, folk, or singer-songwriter style. While I love a variety of music (from Lizzo to LeAnn Rimes) the acoustic/folk genre just might be at the top.

I think this particular playlist is the perfect backdrop during a fall dinner, while enjoying coffee/cocktails with friends, or even to sing along with as you flip through seasonal magazines.

Like I usually do, I’m sharing my music playlist via Spotify. This isn’t an advertisement or a sponsored post. I simply love Spotify and use it exclusively for all of my music. (In fact, I pay for their yearly premium membership to eliminate ads.) Whether you use the paid or free version, I can’t recommend Spotify enough.

Sidenote: I also wanted to mention that I recently purchased some Sonos Speakers for listening to music. I have a couple downstairs and one in my bedroom. They’re definitely in the running for my favorite purchase of 2019. (My kitchen is also on that list. LOL.)

Autumn Acoustic Music Playlist: Listen Here

If you want to enjoy this playlist with me, you can find it here on Spotify. If you like my taste in music, you’re welcome to follow along with all of my Spotify playlists here. (You can search “Michael Wurm Jr” and my profile should come up.) I’ve also added the Spotify widget below, should you want to listen here.

I hope you like this playlist as much as I do. It’s my wish that this will become the soundtrack for many of your fall adventures and cozy autumn afternoons. Happy listening!

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Olive Wreath Holiday Appetizer

Recipes

Monday
Oct / 28 / 2019
Comments 14

This Olive Wreath is a delicious and beautiful holiday appetizer idea. You can assemble it in minutes, and it adds a tasty and colorful touch to any party spread.

Olive Wreath Holiday Appetizer:

I will admit it’s too early, but my brain has already switched to Christmas mode. It’s mainly because of my job. Like my fellow bloggers, I need to work a month or two in advance to get seasonal ideas posted in time for you to use them. If the holidays are not on your radar yet, I get it. Feel free to skip this post or save it for later.

Now that I’ve said that, today I want to share this creative olive wreath holiday appetizer with you. (I promised I’d get the recipe to you in my recent post about the 2019 BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine.) As I mentioned above, this appetizer is super simple. Plus, it will add a festive touch to your Christmas table or holiday get-together.

And speaking of holiday appetizer ideas, I have a huge collection of favorite Christmas Appetizer Recipes from IBC. Every time I scroll through the list, I start dreaming of making and eating these delicious yuletide treats. You can find all of them here.

What do you need to make an Olive Wreath Appetizer:

Fresh rosemary
Mixed olives
Cherry tomatoes
Mini mozzarella balls
Olive oil, flake sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper

These are the basic ingredients I used to assemble my olive wreath holiday appetizer. However, you could add other goodies, like teardrop peppers, marinated almonds, cured meats, and so on. Use whatever you and your family or guests will love.

How to Make an Olive Wreath Holiday Appetizer:

Start with a large round plate. Any kind of plate or even a cutting board will work, but I found that a round plate helps when shaping a round wreath.

Once you’ve selected the plate, spread a layer of fresh rosemary sprigs around the perimeter to create a wreath shape. I like to keep things organic and have a few pieces sticking out so it’s not a perfectly manicured wreath.

With the rosemary in place, start filling in with olives, tomatoes, and mozzarella. I prefer to mix up the ingredients as I’m putting them in place to keep things looking random and natural.

Finally, if desired, finish off the wreath with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt flakes and freshly ground pepper.

And with that, your Olive Wreath Holiday Appetizer is complete! As you can see, it’s a low-fuss dish with lots of impact. I recommend pairing it with a big cheese board for the ultimate holiday nosh!

Want more Christmas appetizer recipes? Try these:

Olive Wreath Holiday Appetizer:

Olive Wreath Holiday Appetizer

Servings: 6 people

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

This Olive Wreath is a delicious and beautiful holiday appetizer idea. You can assemble it in minutes, and it adds a tasty and colorful touch to any party spread.

Ingredients

Fresh rosemary
Mixed olives
Cherry tomatoes
Mini mozzarella balls
Olive oil, flake sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper

Instructions

tart with a round plate. Lay a ring of fresh rosemary around the edge of the plate creating a "wreath."
With the rosemary in place, fill in with mixed olives, cherry, tomatoes, and mini mozzarella balls. Stack as much as you can while still maintaining a wreath shape.
Optional: Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Recipe Notes

*serving size will vary

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BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine

Interiors

Wednesday
Oct / 23 / 2019
Comments 36

Christmas Inspired from BHG Christmast Ideas Magazine 2019 #christmas #holiday #decor #recipe #entertaining #ideas

I realize the end of October might seem early to start talking about Christmas, but I couldn’t resist popping in to share details about my little feature in the BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine 2019.

It always feels awkward writing a post such as this because I don’t want to come across in the wrong way. However, I’ve been getting questions about the BHG article, so I thought it might be best to have a place to answer those and also share a few links. Plus, having a 10-page spread in a magazine is a dream come true for me, so it’s hard to contain my excitement! The issue is out on newsstands now through Christmas if you’d like to pick up a copy.

BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine 2019:

Back in February of this year, the Better Homes & Gardens crew descended on my home to photograph it for their Christmas Ideas Magazine. If you experienced deja vu as you read that, there’s a reason. In 2017, the same crew came to photograph my St. Marys home for the 2017 Christmas Ideas Magazine. My Christmas tree made the cover of that issue. (You can read more about that here.)

Even though my decor didn’t make the cover this year (They did shoot a few cover test photos.), my home is featured in a beautiful 10-page spread that I couldn’t be more pleased with!

While the crew was here, I snapped a few photos to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the process. They were at my home for two full days. Their process is much more intense than my photoshoots. They bring lights, screens, filters, and so much more. During the two days, they only shot 20-25 photos. Some photos took up to an hour to shoot.

What I love about working with BHG on this type of shoot is that they barely touch or move anything. They will move and adjust things so they look more pleasing in the photo, but the design is 100% mine. I love that.

Looking at some of the behind-the-scenes photos, you might be able to tell that the photoshoot took place before my big kitchen remodel. It’s fun to see that and know I’ll have a new space to decorate this year.

It was also bittersweet for me to view these behind-the-scenes captures. Sebastian, my first-ever kitty, was sick around that time. He would slowly work his way through the photographers’ gear and find places to sleep. It was so sweet. He passed away a couple weeks later.

Unlike my previous Christmas photoshoot with BHG, the decorating for this issue stayed pretty much the same as it did when I shared my 2018 Christmas home tour. Typically, they like the decor to be new and fresh for the issue. However, I was notified a little too late in the season to completely redecorate. In one way, that was nice because decorating twice for Christmas is A LOT!

BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine Sources:

If you want a closer look at my decor or are looking for sourcing information for things you see in my home, I want to direct you to this post here. This is my full 2018 Christmas Home Tour. There are loads of photos and lots of details about items in the space, plus even more holiday decorating inspiration.

I also wrote two posts about my 2018 Christmas trees. You can find information about my green-themed tree here and my red-themed tree here.

And if all of that isn’t enough, I did a bonus photo tour of my home. Typically, I take photos of my home during the day, but for this special tour, I snapped photos of my home at night. If you want another look around during the evening hours, click here to see that post.

Printable Plaid Gift Tags:

Every year I like to pick a theme for my wrapping paper. (Yes, I know that may sound a bit extreme, but that’s me!) This past year it was plaid. Inspired by that, I shared plaid gift tags you could download and print.

Better Homes & Gardens was also kind enough to show my plaid-inspired Christmas gift tags. They are available as a free printable here on my blog. If you’re looking for those, you can find them here.

Recipes from the Issue:

The BHG team asked me to prepare a few recipes for the shoot. Since baking and cooking are two of my other passions, I happily obliged. If you’re looking for links to any of the recipes, just tap on the photo or recipe name below.

Christmas Tree Cheese Ball – I made this Christmas Tree Cheese Ball two years ago, and the recipe continues to be a holiday favorite. I’m one of those people who LOVES a cheese ball. I’ve compiled a post with cheese ball recipes for every season!

Very Merry Ornamentini – In addition to my three-ingredient Jingle Juice Holiday Punch, this Very Merry Ornamentini is one of the most popular IBC pins on Pinterest during the holiday season. It’s a delicious cocktail, and the presentation is wow-worthy. If you’re looking for more holiday cocktail recipes, I have plenty. Take a look at this post here.

Birch Yule Log – The BHG team loved the Pink Yule Log I made several years ago. However, they knew pink wouldn’t match my Christmas decor. I suggested doing a birch-inspired version of that recipe.

This was the result. You can find the recipe for my Pink Yule log here. I used the same recipe; I just didn’t add red/pink food coloring for the one I made for the BHG crew. I will be posting my Birch Yule Log version soon.

Olive and Rosemary Wreath – This Olive Wreath is a delicious and beautiful holiday appetizer idea. You can assemble it in minutes, and it adds a tasty and colorful touch to any party spread. Get the recipe here.

Christmas Ideas Magazine FAQ:

As I said, I’ve been getting emails and messages with questions about the article and where to find things. I’ve linked and sourced a few items above, so please read through this post first. I also wanted to create this Frequently Ask Questions section for other inquiries. Let’s get to it!

Q: Where can I find the large paint-by-number in your dining room?

A: It’s from the fabulous Lindsay Letters. You can get it here. The artwork in my living room, is also from her site.

Q: Any tips for decorating Christmas trees?

A: My goal for 2019 is to write a post about my process from start to finish. Until that is ready, let me direct you to a few posts where I offer guidance on various aspects of trimming a tree:

Q: Where do you get your Christmas Tree ribbon.

A: Anywhere and everywhere. I spend a ridiculous amount of time sourcing and shopping for Christmas decor, but I love doing it. If you’re curious about my green and red tree from this issue, I found the green ribbon here. The plaid ribbon on my red tree came from TJ Maxx and HomeGoods.

Well, friends, I think that covers everything. If you’re looking for more Christmas and holiday inspiration, I’ve listed more posts below. They are packed with dozens of Christmas crafts, decorating ideas, and recipes, plus lots of holiday merriment!

More Christmas Ideas:

If you have any questions about the 2019 BHG Christmas Ideas Magazine, please let me know in the comments below. I’ll do my best to answer your questions as quickly as possible.

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Apple and Celeriac Soup

Recipes

Tuesday
Oct / 22 / 2019
Comments 10

This Apple and Celeriac Soup is a delicious fall soup recipe with a beautiful and unique presentation. #apple #celeriac #celeryroot #soup #fall #recipe

Creamy, fresh, and flavorful, this Apple and Celeriac Soup is an ideal dish to make and serve now and during the holiday season. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Apple and Celeriac Soup Recipe:

As many of you may know, this year I’ve teamed up with my Tastes of the Season blogger friends to share seasonally-inspired recipes. Today we’re all about soup! I made this delicious Apple and Celeriac Soup, which I am thrilled to share with you. The name may sound a bit odd, but trust me, this soup is absolutely delicious. If you’re looking for more fabulous soup recipes, just scroll to the bottom of this post. You’ll find links to 18 recipes!

Now, back to my Apple and Celeriac Soup. A while back, I decided to take a photography workshop in Ireland, and a couple of weeks ago I boarded a plane and headed to the Emerald Isle. I spent a few days exploring the country on my own, and then five more days participating in the workshop. It was an extraordinary experience (More on that is coming soon!) and the source for this soup idea.

The inspiration for my soup recipe came from two of the meals I enjoyed over there. One day for lunch we had an incredible Celeriac Soup. I’m usually not a big fan of soup, but this was so amazing. I couldn’t wait to try making it at home.

More inspiration came one evening when we had Thai-inspired noodle soup. The soup was presented in a jar (like I did here), and the lid was topped with a variety of garnishes. Before enjoying the soup we were instructed to remove the lid and drop in as many or as few of the garnishes as we liked. I love a unique presentation, and this idea had me swooning! It was so beautiful and so much fun!

I couldn’t wait to get home and put these to ideas together to make my version of celeriac soup to share with all of you.

As you can see, it turned out lovely. I promise you it tastes equally good. (A shout-out to Jamie Oliver for the recipe. I tweaked his recipe for Celeriac Soup to create mine.)

Now, before we talk more about the soup, you might be wondering…

What is Celeriac?

Celeriac is a fancy term for “celery root.” Technically, it’s the same plant as celery, but celeriac is harvested for the large root, rather than the stalks.

Celeriac has a hint of celery flavor and is similar in size to a turnip or a potato. (It can be used in similar ways.) Since celeriac is not as starchy as a potato, it’s often used in low carb recipes. It’s also great for creamy soups, which we are making today.

How to Make Apple and Celeriac Soup:

I kid you not. This recipe is simple. The only thing you might not have on hand is an immersion blender. Although you could process this soup in a regular blender, an immersion blender simplifies the process. This is the one I recommend.

Start by cooking the onions and celery. Once they are soft, add the peeled and chopped celeriac along with the apples, which have been peeled, cored, and chopped.

Let everything cook for a few minutes; then add chicken stock and thyme.

At this point, you’re almost finished. (It told you this recipe isn’t complicated.) Now let all of this goodness for 35-45 minutes or until the celeriac is tender. Then, remove it from heat and blend it with an immersion blender. Finally, stir in crème fraîche for extra creaminess and season with salt and pepper to taste.

With that, the soup is ready!

While it’s delicious as is, I think the presentation is also important. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls. (I’m using these jars as bowls. You can find them here.) Then, drizzle with more crème fraîche and a little olive oil.

Add the lid to the jars and top with a variety of garnishes. For this recipe, I recommend chopped hazelnuts, sliced red Fresno peppers, diced apple, edible flowers, thyme leaves, and fried sage leaves. (In the recipe card below, I’ve shared how to fry sage leaves.)

When you serve the soup, you can instruct folks to add as many or as few of the garnishes to their soup as they wish. They will be impressed with the presentation and activity, but I promise they will love this Apple and Celeriac Soup, too!

This take on celeriac soup is delicious, bright, and creamy with lots of tasty little bits and bites.

Pretty special, right? I hope you’re enamored of this idea as much as I am. Even if you don’t make this particular recipe, I hope you’ll give this presentation a try with a soup recipe you love. It’s a lot of fun!

Looking for more cozy fall recipes? I recommend these:

Before you click away, be sure to check out all of the Tastes of the Season soup recipes below. There is something for everyone!

Apple and Celeriac Soup Recipe:

Apple and Celeriac Soup

| Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 1 hr

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

5 from 7 votes

Creamy, fresh, and flavorful, this Apple and Celeriac Soup is an ideal dish to make and serve now and during the holiday season. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions chopped
2 celery stalks chopped
1 celeriac peeled and chopped
5 medium Golden Delicious Apples peeled, cored, and chopped
48 ounces chicken stock
2 sprigs thyme
6 ounces crème fraîche
Salt and pepper to taste

To garnish:

Crème fraîche
Olive oil
Chopped hazelnuts
Sliced red Fresno peppers
Diced apple
Edible flowers
Fresh thyme leaves
Fried sage leaves*

Instructions

Begin by heating the oil in a large pan. Add the onions and celery to the pan. Cook over medium heat for about 10-12 minutes or until soft.
Add the celeriac and apples to the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add the stock along with two sprigs of fresh thyme. Cover and simmer on low for 35-35 minutes or until the celeriac is tender.
Remove from the heat. Remove thyme stems; then blend until smooth with an immersion blender. Stir in crème fraîche.
To serve, spoon the soup into bowls. Drizzle with crème fraîche and olive oil. Place the lid onto the bowl and top with garnishes, including chopped hazelnuts, sliced red pepper, diced apples, edible flowers, thyme leaves, and fried sage leaves*.

Recipe Notes

*Fried Sage Leaves: Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Add the sages leaves, 5 or 6 at a time. Fry for 8-10 seconds. Remove from the oil with a fork. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

*You can find the bowls I used in this recipe here.

Tastes of the Season Soup Recipes:

Easy Slow Cooker White Bean and Ham Soup by Ella Claire & Co. | Creamy Cauliflower Soup by Tidbits | Butternut Squash Minestrone by Nest of Posies | Light Creamy Mushroom Soup by The Chronicles of Home | Corn Chowder by On Sutton Place

Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup by Live Laugh Rowe | Apple and Celeriac Soup by Inspired by Charm | Chicken Gnocchi Soup by Tidy Mom | Chicken and Dumplings by House 214 | French Onion Soup Bowls by Shabbyfufu

Sausage Tortellini Soup by My 100 Year Old Home | White Chicken Chili by Rooms For Rent | Roasted Pumpkin & Garlic Soup by Home Made Lovely | Healthy Halibut Chowder by Town and Country Living | Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup- Japanese Udon by Happy Happy Nester

Creamy Low-Carb Roasted Cauliflower Soup by Summer Adams | Dairy Free Cream of Broccoli Soup by Zevy Joy | Butternut Squash and Pear Soup by Nick + Alicia | Harvest Lentil Soup by French Country Cottage | Creamy Asparagus Soup with Bacon and Lime Creme Fraiche by My Sweet Savannah

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Adding Phantom Screens to my Exterior Doors

Interiors

Monday
Oct / 21 / 2019
Comments 12

Adding Phantom Screens - Retractable Screen Door to your Home #screendoor #retractablescreendoor #retractable #screen #door #phantomscreens

Slowly but surely, I’ve been posting about the details of all the changes and updates from my recent kitchen makeover. Today, I want to tell you more about the wonderful Phantom Screens (a retractable screen door) I added to my exterior doors.

As you saw in my kitchen remodel reveal post, I updated two exterior doors as part of the project. I added a Dutch door in the kitchen and replaced the French doors in the dining room.

Thank you to Phantom Screens for providing me with the doors and installation for this project. The opinions and thoughts are my own.

I wanted to add a screen door to each of those doors. However, given that both are unique in style, the screen door needed to be just as unique. I wanted screen doors that would function well but not interfere with my views or change the clean look of the new doors. Enter retractable screen doors (a.k.a. Phantom Screens)!

I realized that Phantom Screens were what I wanted after sharing an Instagram Story around this time last year. I already had a Dutch door in my family room. The screen door on it needed to be replaced, so I asked if anyone had suggestions for something that would offer a cleaner look. The response was unanimous: Phantom Screens.

What are Phantom Screens?

In a nutshell, Phantom Screens are retractable screens doors. They are screen doors that remain out of sight when not in use so your view is never blocked. They also preserve the look of your doorway and fill all types of doors in function, color, and style.

These retractable screens doors fit most standard and oversized doors. And Phantom Screens are professionally installed.

My Phantom Screens:

I thought you might want to take a quick look at my Phantom Screens and find out how they operate.

As I mentioned above, I had them installed on my new kitchen door and dining room doors. I also had one installed on the Dutch door in my family room to replace that worn-out screen door. Phantom Screens can be added to new or existing doors.

Here is how the doors look with the screens installed but not in use.

You can hardly tell there is a screen door there, right?

And here is how the doors look with the screens in use.

Yes, there’s a screen there, but it’s just the screen. There are no crossbars or a door frame holding the screen in place. I love the clean look. As you can see below, when the screens are not in use the unit is practically invisible. Love that!

Here’s how the Dutch door looks with the screen open and closed.

So How Does a Retractable Screen Door Work?

Each door has a unit on the side that holds the screen. (You’ll notice on the French doors there is a unit on each side.)

Then, tracks are installed at the top and bottom of the door frame.

There are various tracks available for the bottom of the door so that it seamlessly lines up with your existing threshold. This eliminates any sort of tripping hazard. Tracks are also available in a few colors to match your existing threshold material.

As I mentioned above, everything is professionally installed, so there’s no need to worry about the installation process. It is neat and fast! It only took my installers 3-4 hours to install all 3 doors.

Here’s a view of the French doors from inside my house. The two screens meet in the middle to make a full screen. You can use the screens independently of each other. Meaning, if you want to keep one screen in place, you can do that. You don’t need to open both screens to come in or go out of the French door.

And finally, here’s how the screen looks on my side porch.

From inside the family room, it’s hard to tell when the screen is in use. I am so happy that the view is not unobstructed.

One final thing I wanted to mention is that the retractable screen doors are not completely cat-proof. My new kitty, Frankie, who spent part of his life outdoors, is often determined to get back outside. He has figured out that if he pushes hard enough at the bottom of the screen, he can squeeze his way out. I mention this as it might be something you want to consider if you have pets.

Regardless, I am thrilled with these retractable screen doors and so glad I decided to add them to my home. If you’re looking for retractable screen doors, Phantom Screens is the way to go. You can find more about them here.

If I overlooked anything in this post or you have questions about my retractable screen doors, please let me know in the comments below.

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Entryway Update

Interiors

Friday
Oct / 18 / 2019
Comments 23

Entryway After Renovation - Entryway Ideas #entryway #foyer #decor #decorating #style #renovation

Well, my friends, this is probably the last post in the series on my kitchen remodel project. (That is until I finally finish decorating my dining room!)

In case you’re new here, I recently completed a major kitchen remodel. During the renovation, I also added a butler’s pantry, made significant changes to my dining room, updated the powder room, and refinished the hardwood floors throughout the first level of my home. The latter change included replacing the slate flooring and removing the closet in the front entryway. I have yet to show you around that space, so I thought I’d do that today.

Not a great deal has changed in this space. As I mentioned, I installed new flooring and took out the closet. There are a couple of reasons why I decided to tackle both of these projects at the same time I was remodeling my kitchen.

Entryway Update:

First, the slate floor in the entryway needed some love. Although it might not be visible in the before photos, the grout was cracking in several places and a couple of the slate tiles needed to be replaced. I also wasn’t happy with the finish that had been applied to the slate. It was glossy and seemed to have yellowed/discolored over the years.

Secondly, knowing that I would be replacing my kitchen floor with hardwood to match what’s in the other rooms on the first floor, it just made sense to redo the entryway at the same time. I figured that would increase the likelihood of getting a seamless look among the spaces and mean I wouldn’t have to deal with the disruption and dust of a separate remodel down the road.

Because I was changing the flooring in the foyer, it seemed like an opportune time to remove the existing drywalled closet as well. I plan to do custom cabinetry in the entryway to create storage and seating. Removing the closet now, allowed me to open up the area and refinish/replace the flooring in this whole space.

It seems like this is how renovations often go – one change leads to another, and another, and another . . .

Now that I’ve shared all of my reasoning, here’s how my entryway looks today.

Entryway Ideas:

Yes, it’s painfully empty in here. Other than bringing in a mirror and small chair, I haven’t done anything to this space. I’m not sure how soon I will have funds to tackle the built-in closet/storage bench, so in the meantime, I’ll probably just pick up an inexpensive bench and a few other decorative items so the entryway looks more welcoming, especially with the holidays just around the corner.

Overall, I couldn’t be more pleased with the changes. They are exactly what I wanted. The crew was able to seamlessly tie in the new hardwood floors in the entryway with the ones in the living room, family room, and kitchen. The hardwood in the family room runs in the opposite direction, so that made the transition between the spaces noticeable, but it was unavoidable.

I thought about painting the entryway a different color or possibly installing new molding, but I opted to keep the existing paint and molding. (You may remember that I put up the molding and painted the walls last fall. You can get more details here.)

One of the things I especially love about this entryway is the view into the dining room and through the new windows. Previously, it looked like a dead-end back there. It’s amazing how those windows impact every room on the first floor. I’m so glad I decided to add them.

I realize this isn’t a super exciting update, but I thought it was important to post it since the entryway was part of the renovation process. I will be back to show you around again once I have more furnishings and decorations in the space. Until next time!

Entryway Sources:

Floor Stain: Bona Dark Walnut
Paints: Details can be found HERE
Light Fixture: Mello Semi-Flush in Lacquered Polished Brass with Clear Shade
Rug: Loloi Skye in Apricot / Mist

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Cinnamon Roll Butternut Squash Pie

Recipes

Tuesday
Oct / 15 / 2019
Comments 5

Do you love pumpkin pie but yearn for something new and equally delicious? Then you need to try this Cinnamon Roll Butternut Squash Pie. It has all the seasonal flavors of pumpkin pie complete with a unique cinnamon roll-inspired crust.

Cinnamon Roll Butternut Squash Pie

Last week I made a big batch of butternut squash puree. I’m a huge fan of butternut squash, so I wanted to test out a few new recipes using the puree. A few days ago, I shared my Butternut Squash Scones; today I’m back with this Cinnamon Roll Butternut Squash Pie.

Is that not gorgeous?

It’s also so-o-o tasty! It took everything in me not to scarf down the entire pie in one day.

I knew I wanted to attempt a butternut squash pie, but what sealed the deal on this recipe was spotting a pie in Taste of Home magazine that had a fun cinnamon roll-inspired crust.

If you’re a long-time IBC follower, you might remember that this cinnamon roll pie isn’t my first. Back in 2014, I made an apple pie with a cinnamon roll crust as the base. That’s still one of my all-time favorite desserts.

However, for this Butternut Squash Pie, instead of being at the bottom of the pie, the mini pie crust cinnamon rolls are on the top. I prefer this latter placement because, unlike in my Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie, that beautiful crust is not hidden.

But Why a Butternut Squash Pie:

As I mentioned above, I’m fond of butternut squash. It’s one of my favorite fall side dishes. When I saw a large pile of butternut squash at the local farmer’s market, I decided to experiment with a few recipes, including pie. I assumed butternut squash puree would be similar to pumpkin puree.

To make my butternut squash puree, I roasted the squash in the oven and then pureed the flesh in my blender. The process does take a little time, but it’s quite simple. (If you need more details or want an actual recipe, I recommend this one.)

If you want more butternut squash recipes, be sure to try my Butternut Squash Scones. You can find the recipe here.

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Butternut Squash Pie

I started with my pie dough recipe. (You can find that here.) You’re welcome to use your favorite recipe or store-bought pie crust. You will need a top and bottom crust for this recipe.

The bottom crust is placed in the pie dish and then filled with the butternut squash pie filling. You will find all the details and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

(You can find this beautiful ruffled pie dish HERE. It’s one of my favorites!)

Making the cinnamon roll-inspired top crust is not hard. Roll out the pie dough as you normally would for a pie. Brush the crust with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Then, roll it up into a cylinder.

To ensure that these mini cinnamon rolls stay on the top of your pie, you need to bake the filling a bit before adding them. Once the pie is about halfway baked, remove it from the oven, slice up your cinnamon roll pie crust cylinder, and place the pieces on top of your pie.

Then, the pie goes back into the oven to finish baking.

When the filling is puffed and set, and the cinnamon roll circles are light brown, your pie is done!

Note: If you have extra pie crust cinnamon rolls, do not throw them away. Pop them in the oven and bake them until golden brown. They are delicious! They are kind of like my Cinnamon and Sugar Pie Crust Cookies but rolled up!

I like to thoroughly chill this pie in the refrigerator to ensure it’s completely set. You can remove the pie from the refrigerator a couple of hours before serving to bring it back to room temperature. You’re also welcome to serve it warm; it just may not be set as much as you like.

I recommend topping the pie with a scoop of freshly whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Dang, this is good . . . not to mention pretty.

From my recent experimentation with butternut squash, I’ve learned that it makes a delicious pie. It reminds me of a pumpkin pie but with a slightly different flavor. I might even like it better.

Bake up this Cinnamon Roll Butternut Squash Pie and let us know what you think. Are you Team Pumpkin Pie, Team Sweet Potato Pie, or Team Butternut Squash Pie?

Happy Baking!

Looking for more fall dessert recipes? Try these:

Cinnamon Roll Butternut Squash Pie Recipe:

Cinnamon Roll Butternut Squash Pie

Servings: 8 slices | Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 1 hr

Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!

5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

1 Inspired by Charm Pie Dough* rolled into two 14-inch diameter circles
1 cup sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3 cups butternut squash puree
1/2 cup butter almost melted
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cinnamon Roll Crust

1 tablespoon melted butter
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/3 cup sugar
Freshly whipped cream for serving

Instructions

Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a 9-in pie plate with one pie crust. Trim and crimp edges. Place on a baking sheet and set aside.
Next, prepare the cinnamon roll crust topping. Take your second 14-inch pie dough and brush it with the melted butter. In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the pastry. Pat it in lightly with your fingers.
Roll-up the pasty into a cylinder. Press the seam to seal. Cover and chill until needed.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, spices, and salt. Beat in the squash puree, butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Pour into the crust.
Cover the edges of the crust loosely with foil or a pie crust guard. Bake for 25 minutes.
While the pie bakes, cut the chilled cinnamon roll pie crust cylinder into 1/4-inch slices. Remove the pie from the oven and take off the foil. Carefully arrange the cinnamon roll slices** on top of the filling. They should be close together but not touching. Return the pie to the oven and continue baking for another 30-35 minutes or until the filling is puffed and set and the cinnamon roll circles are lightly browned.
Cool on a wire rack for one hour. Then transfer to the refrigerator to finish cooling.
Slice and serve with freshly whipped cream.

Recipe Notes

*You're welcome to use my recipe (find that HERE), your favorite pie dough recipe, or store-bought. You will need dough for a bottom and "top" crust.

**Any leftover slices can be baked on an ungreased cookie sheet until lightly browned.

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Vintage Metal Tray Gallery Wall

Interiors

Monday
Oct / 14 / 2019
Comments 9

Today I’m sharing all the details about the Vintage Metal Tray Gallery Wall I installed in my pantry. You can learn more about my tray collection and how I assembled the gallery wall.

Vintage Metal Tray Gallery Wall

In my kitchen remodel reveal post, I gave you a peek of the vintage metal tray gallery wall that I was starting to put together on a large wall space in my pantry. Today, I thought I’d show more of the gallery wall and tell you how I put it together.

As my kitchen remodel was nearing completion, I started to think about the ways I might style and decorate the space. The idea for this vintage metal tray gallery wall came from a couple of different places.

First, for the past few years, I have been collecting vintage metal trays (also known as snack trays). I’m not sure what it is about them, but I’ve long been attracted to them. I have a variety, but especially appreciate the ones with a Pennsylvania theme. You’ll notice a few on my wall. They’re one of several small collections I have. It’s fun to look for them when I’m out antiquing and thrifting.

Secondly, I knew there was going to be a large empty wall in the pantry that would be the perfect place to display something special and unique. Given the location, an arrangement of my serving trays seemed like a fun choice.

With all of that in mind, I looked through my collection and selected my favorite trays. At first, I went with trays in a wide array of colors (including some red and orange ones). However, once they were on the wall, the display felt a little too busy.

Ultimately, I decided to remove those bolder colors and stick with shades of green, black, and gold. I’m so pleased with the result!

How to Hang a Vintage Metal Tray Gallery Wall:

Because these trays are light and not fragile, hanging them was fairly simple. I just used 3M Command Strips. To hang, I removed the tape from both strips, placed them on the back of the tray, and then pressed the tray onto the wall, holding it in place for a few seconds to make sure things had adhered.

For most of the trays, I used two medium Command Strips. For the three smaller trays, I only used one.

I’ve had some bad luck with Command Strips in the past. They seem to work well at first but eventually give way. However, I’m not worried about using them in this application since the trays are light. Plus, if they do fall, they won’t break.

I did lay out my preferred pattern for the trays on the floor before adding the trays to the wall. I did not measure anything. I relied on my eye for placement.

And that’s it! With a bit of planning, some antiquing, and a little work to hang them, my vintage metal tray gallery wall was complete!

I think it turned out well. Down the road, I may add trays or even swap out some based on the seasons. For now, I’m loving this collection as is.

It does seem somewhat busy given the items on the shelves on the back wall, but that doesn’t bother me much. My goal is to keep those shelves orderly, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

What do you think of my little vintage metal tray collection turned gallery wall? In case you’re looking for more details on my Butler’s Pantry, check out my kitchen remodel reveal post here.

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