Christmas Tablescape

We are officially in the home stretch of the Christmas Countdown (thank goodness)!  I don't know if you all feel the same way, but hosting back to back holidays has definitely contributed to my overwhelming feeling of fatigue.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love hosting and am so happy to have my family coming into town for both holidays.  However, what I think I have learned from this experience is that it takes a lot of work (and money) to host, and when you are working full time on top of all of this holiday prep, it can leave you feeling completely wiped out.  So maybe next year I might scale back a bit (of course I say this now...).   Ultimately, my point is that everyone who is hosting one or both holidays this season should be commended for taking on such an insanely tall order.  I know that I have certainly gained a profound appreciation for what it takes and I laud all of you who have decided to take on this task as well!

Okay, enough of my little self reflections. Onto my Christmas tablescape! This concept was actually inspired by a Martha Stewart Christmas table setting I had come across last year.  She had created a simple elegant tablescape using my wedding china pattern, white linens and red amaryllis flowers encircling tall white tapers.  It was STUNNING to say the least and I knew that it would be the inspiration for my future Christmas tablescape when the time came for me to host.  Plus, who doesn't love an opportunity to use their nice china??  Since there seem to only be a handful of occasions throughout the year where fancy china is appropriate for dinner, I like to take complete advantage of every opportunity!  Below are the details on what I used to create this festive table setting as well as what I plan on serving for dinner.  

Tablescape Details

• Dinner Plates: Bernardaud Constance 
• Napkins: CB2 Restaurant Napkins, Set of 4
• Napkin Rings: Sur La Table (*similar here)
• Place Cards: Caspari Berries & Bow Die Cut Place Cards 
• Wine Goblets: William Yeoward "Fanny"
• Water Glasses: Riedel Vinum Water Glass
• Champagne Flutes: William Yeoward "Fanny"
• Table Gifts: Hammonds Candy Ornaments 
• Candles: CB2 Tapers and CB2 Bronn Candle Holders
• Flowers: Trader Joe's Mixed Holiday Greens

My Christmas Dinner Menu

• Entree: Ina Garten's Filet of Beef Tenderloin
• Side Dish: Tyler Florence's Scalloped Potatoes Au Gratin
• Vegetable: Ina Garten's Roasted Asparagus
• Dessert: Ina Garten's Sticky Toffee Date Cake with Bourbon Glaze
• Specialty Cocktail: Martha Stewart's Classic Eggnog

This table is a relatively simple scape but I am in love with the way it has come together and totally thrilled to have this preparation task checked off of my to-do list!  While I am a little tired, I have to say that seeing these photos and thinking about sharing this holiday with my family has gotten me reinvigorated to keep going with the remaining preparations.  More holiday prep tips and ideas are coming to the blog on Wednesday, so stay tuned!

Holiday Entertaining: A Few Fun Extras

Since Christmas is exactly a week from today, I wanted to share a few fabulous entertaining accents that I will be incorporating into my holiday entertaining repertoire this year.  Sure there are the larger planning tasks, like determining your Christmas dinner menu and finishing up your holiday shopping that most definitely take priority over the fun little extras.  However, in the off chance that you are ahead of schedule and do have a little extra time/bandwidth, these fun and very festive holiday accents can definitely bring your party to the next level!  These are simple and affordable touches that I love and will definitely be incorporating into my holiday entertaining this year.  

Christmas Crackers

This 19th Century British tradition is one that my family has been enjoying for as far back as I can remember.  Christmas crackers are cylindrical shaped gifts with poppers built into both ends of the package, so that when you pull your cracker to open it, you experience a lively and festive popping sound followed by a cascade of tiny gifts.  Contents of the Christmas cracker traditionally include: a paper crown, old fashioned game, a joke and sometimes a trivia question.  The jokes tend to be a little cheesy, but everyone always has fun opening their Christmas cracker and sharing the contents with everyone at the dining table.  Traditionally my family has used these Christmas crackers, but this year I am trying out these crackers just to mix it up a bit.  

Mini Santa Party Hats

I love a fun and unexpected touch of whimsy when I'm hosting a party, so when I came across these fabulous mini santa hats I was sold on site!  Whether you have kids, pets (yes, Dolly will be wearing one) or simply feel inclined to have a festive moment, these party hats are too cute to resist!  Unfortunately these hats are no longer available for sale online, but you can still find them in stores!

Peppermint Candy

From table gifts to coffee table decor, peppermint candy canes are a fabulous holiday accent.  Classic candy canes placed in a small bud vase are a great way to accent almost any space with a festive pop of holiday red. In addition, these candy cane ornaments from Hammonds are going to look divine on my Christmas dinner table this year.  These classic christmas candies are a fun, festive and very affordable holiday accent that I absolutely love to use (and snack on) during this time of year.  

Festive Paper Napkins & Guest Towels

What would this post be without a nod to my favorite cocktail napkins and guest towels this holiday season!?!  For guest towels, I am completely over the moon for these Caspari Wild Christmas Guest Towels.  As for cocktail napkins, I actually found these Papyrus "Holiday Cheer" napkins in the checkout aisle at Whole Foods and had to have them.  One last paper napkin that will be part of my entertaining ensemble this year are these Caspari Wild Christmas Luncheon Napkins. Thanks to a fabulous suggestion from a co-worker, I am going to be setting up a Panini Bar on Christmas Eve to serve my family for lunch. How much fun will that be!?!  

Next week I will be revealing my Christmas Tablescape along with a few other fun ideas for celebrating Christmas, so stay tuned!!!

Tips for Making a Delicious Holiday Cheesescape

Tis the season….For attending and hosting holiday parties!!  Over the years I have hosted my fair share of holiday parties with an array of themes, menus and guest lists.  One common element from my parties over the years has been the inclusion of a holiday cheesescape.  It's a party food that is really easy to make and always a crowd pleaser.  Today I wanted to include a few tips/ideas for how to assemble a unique, delicious and festive cheesescape that your guests are sure to love!

Think Outside of the Box

In addition to my classic assortment of cheeses, I also like to include a cheese that has a homemade touch.  This recipe for Goat Cheese Bites from Martha Stewart is fabulous!  Really easy to make and I love that you can coat these bites in an array of flavors.  For this spread I have opted to use chopped fresh chives, but other great flavor ideas include chopped dried cranberries, pistachio pieces, fresh cracked pepper, etc.  For those of you who are curious, here is a list of the other cheese included in this scape: 

• Cypress Grove's Midnight Moon
• Cypress Grove's Truffle Tremor
• Vermont Creamery's Double Cream Cremont
• Uniekaas Yodeling Goat Gouda

Add a Little Luster

The holidays are all about sparkle and festive decor.  Opt for a cheeseboard that suits the yuletide season, like my metallic cheese board pictured in this post (similar here). 

Go Seasonal

Pomegranates and figs are in season right now, making them easy to find in most grocery stores.  Since these seasonal fruits pair beautifully with an array of cheeses, they make for perfect additions to any holiday cheesescape.  In addition, during the holidays certain food companies release limited edition flavors, like Virginia Chutney Company's Cranfiggy Chutney, which is absolutely fabulous and quite festive.  Capitalizing on the array of unique seasonal cheesescaping acoutrements during this time of year will really help you to create an outstanding finished product.  

Festive Color Scheme

Be mindful of the overall color story on your cheesescape.  Subtle touches of red (pomegranates, chutney, figs and even cured meats) and green (fresh chive encrusted goat cheese bites and an assortment of fresh herbs) can really help you to achieve that festive and delicious holiday cheesescape.  There are so many fabulous natural flavor options available in stores that can really help to bring a holiday-esque aesthetic to your cheesescape, so definitely keep this aspect in mind when assembling your board.   

Holiday Baking: My Two Favorite Cookie Recipes

As many of you may or may not know, blogging is actually just my "Mornings/Nights/Weekends Job."  During weekday business hours, I have a full-time job working in healthcare.  Since my company is a non-profit, I have to be mindful of gift giving around the holidays (meaning, gifts of any significant monetary value are not really appropriate workplace gifts).  In an effort to be mindful of these parameters, while still wanting to do something thoughtful for my colleagues during the holiday season, giving homemade baked goods as gifts to my colleagues has been the perfect solution.  

Over the years I have baked an array of treats for my colleagues (Ina's Sour Cream Coffee Cake, My Rum Bundt Cake, Peppermint Bark, etc.).  Last year I decided that it would be a nice gesture to give everyone a cookie sampler consisting of both Kentucky Bourbon Balls and Spritz Cookies wrapped in little cellophane treat bags.  This ended up being a major hit with all of my friends/colleagues at work, so I have decided to repeat this popular cookie combination again this year.  Below is a breakdown of how I go about making both of these cookies, along with a few baking tips and links to my favorite recipes.  

Bourbon Balls

A southern classic and honestly, a personal favorite.  This is a no-bake cookie recipe with a "spirited" (aka slightly inebriating) kick!  Of the various takes on how to make this confection, I have found this recipe from Food Network to be the best.  It is easy to make and almost impossible to eat only one.  A few notes to keep in mind when making these cookies-

• If you are making this recipe for a large group, I would suggest processing the pecans and vanilla wafers in bulk.  Having these ingredients on hand and ready to go makes it really quick and easy to whip up a batch in a snap.  Simply store at room temperature in gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bags.   
• You can roll these bites in either confectioners sugar or granulated sugar.  Personally, I am a fan of granulated sugar because I think it gives the cookies a nice crunch and is slightly less messy than using the confectioners sugar.
• The dough for this recipe should be moist in order to properly roll into bite-sized balls.  If the dough appears to be dry, don't hesitate to rehydrate with splashes of bourbon or water (1 Tbs at a time).
• Rule of Thumb- Use a bourbon that is good enough to drink by itself.  I suggest Wild Turkey.
• Since there is a certain amount of uncooked alcohol in this recipe, it goes without saying "Always Enjoy these Cookies Responsibly!"

Spritz Cookies

The second cookie that has recently become a baking tradition during the holiday season in my house is the spritz cookie.  The spritz cookie, at its core, is a butter cookie.  I had originally gotten the idea to make these cookies after watching an old Martha Stewart Christmas episode, where she and her niece Sophie had made these cookies for the Yale Alley Cats (see this video).  

I was so excited to finally have an opportunity to use the cookie press that my mom had given me and decided to make a full experience out of my first spritz cookie baking session.  I prepped the Martha Stewart Basic Butter Cookie Dough Recipe, poured a glass of wine and turned on the Martha Stewart cookie episode to really get in the baking spirit.  As I went to squeeze the dough out of the cookie press and onto the baking sheet, I was met with the most incredible resistance.  I checked the press to make sure that there wasn't anything obstructing the disks (there wasn't) and proceeded to try again to press the cookies.  

Long story short, I ended up sweaty and frustrated from the unsuccessful cookie press attempts.  Naturally, I figured that my cookie press must be broken.  My very sweet husband offered to run to the store to pick up a new cookie press in hopes of trying to salvage this cookie baking experience for me.  Using the new cookie press and same dough, I was met with the same resistance.   I finally realized that it was not the press that was the problem, but rather it was the dough (way too thick and not enough butter).  So I rolled out Martha's dough recipe and made little gingerbread men shaped cookies dipped in chocolate and finished with crushed peppermint (definitely a lemonade from lemons moment).  

After salvaging the first dough, I decided to go through the cookie press instruction manual to see if I had missed a key step.  It was then that I saw the suggested cookie dough recipe for making spritz cookies (completely different ratios than the recipe Martha had used).  I have it one last college try, made the OXO Spritz Cookie Dough and voila!  Cookie perfection was finally achieved!  Now while it could be that Martha's recipe works best with the cookie press featured in her Christmas episode with her niece Sophie, the best dough recipe for the OXO Cookie Press was the one they provided in the box.  Lesson learned!

Spritz Cookie Baking Tips:

• Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature.  The dough needs to be quite soft in order to push through the press with ease, so it is important to have all of your dairy ingredients at room temperature.
• I highly recommend using the spritz cookie recipe that comes with the OXO cookie press.  The ratio of butter to flour was perfect and the cookies turned out beautifully.
• Decor- if you plan on decorating your spritz cookies with colored sugar, brush the tops of the unbaked cookies with either milk or an egg wash and then apply desired decorating sugars.  

Making Garland for Under $30

My holiday decorating is officially complete!  Over the past week I have been working on this final project, which I personally think is a show stopper.  Yes, I have adorned my staircase with gorgeous gold ornament garland and my woodland chic tree is a wonderful, but my illuminated homemade fresh garland really takes the cake.   Why?  In addition to being a fragrant and very attractive piece of holiday decor, it is actually made from waste!  Well not really waste, but trimmings that would have gone to waste had I not rescued them.  This garland is made from the tree trimmings found in the discard bin at Home Depot!  Additional fun fact- I scored these trimmings for a grand total of $0.  Yep, FOR FREE!!! So fabulous and really speaks to the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure."  Here is how I went about turning these perfectly good trimmings/waste into a gorgeous masterpiece.

Supplies

• Natural Fiber Rope
• Green Floral Wire
• 2 - 100 ct Light Strands
• Spool of Wide Ribbon (here and here)
• Extension Cord
• 1" Nails (Optional, but they do look cleaner than using wire)
• Tree Trimmings from Home Depot (or equivalent)
  • *Note- You will need to get about a shopping cart full tree trimmings in order to make two strands of garland.  Just ask one of the employee tree trimmers if you can have some of the trimmings.  Most likely they are going to be more than happy to let you take whatever you want (I have never been turned down).

Instructions

1. Trim off 6"-8" pieces of lush pine branches (*I like to work in batches, so I will create a large pile of trimmed pieces to attach to my garland, but you can also cut pieces as you go along if you prefer)
2. Loosely drape the rope along the space you wish to adorn with garland
3. Add 8 inches of additional rope to each side and then cut your piece of rope using Fiskars (or similar)
4. Starting 8 inches in on your rope, gather your first bunch of pine trimmings, wrap with green floral wire and continue to wrap onto rope, never cutting the wire
5. Rotate the rope slightly, gather your next bunch of trimmings and attach to the rope by wrapping the trimmings and rope in the floral wire
6. Continue this process of attaching and rotating until the garland reaches your desired length
7. Tie off the end of the garland by wrapping wire tightly around approx. 10x
8. Take one strand of 100ct lights and carefully wrap the strand around the garland, making sure avoid the bondage/mummy look
9. Tie a knot at each loose end of the rope and use that as an anchor to wrap your wire around when securing it to your railing. (See my ornament garland post for details on attaching garland to your stair railing)
10. To make the bows pictured in this post, see this YouTube video
11. The wreath was purchased at Costco for $15.99 and wrapped in a 100ct Strand of White Christmas Tree Lights.
12. **Make to wrap your garland and wreath with the light plugs all on the same side and the light sockets all on the same side so that they can seamlessly connect when you go to install your garland/wreath masterpiece.