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April 16, 2021 By Melinda Leave a Comment

How to Make an Easy Spring Wreath

As April showers and sun bring in fresh green grass, blooms and feathered friends, I was inspired to create a new wreath that reflected my spring home.

A wreath inspired by the bird’s nest that becomes part of my front door decor every year.

Every spring a bird will start to build a new nest out of its findings and nestle in a little covered corner over our door.

I welcome these birds and the eggs they lay.

I love watching their process of building their home with what they can find and awaiting their babies.

A true sign of spring every year.

This spring season I am being resourceful in the same way as those birds.

I am using materials that I already have in the house to build my own “Bird’s Nest Wreath”.

For my own spring wreath that meant moss, which is a favorite element of mine,

a grapevine wreath base, floral wire,

branches, and faux eggs.

You can watch me make my “Bird’s Nest Wreath” in my video tutorial  HERE. Oh, and be sure to like and subscribe to my YouTube channel, so that you don’t miss any new content!

{CLICK HERE}

Take care,

 

Filed Under: home, spring, Uncategorized Tagged With: house, interior decorating, moss, spring, wreath

October 22, 2019 By Melinda 1 Comment

Classic Autumn Chicken & Dumplings

I knew once the colder temperatures began  I would want to start adding soups to my dinner menu on a more regular basis. Anyone that knows me knows that I will eat and enjoy a hot bowl of soup any day of the year, no matter the temperature outside.

I have a long list of favorites, but chicken and dumplings is one that I tend to make more often this time of year.  An added bonus is that my flat leaf parsley in my kitchen herb garden is still thriving outside, so the dumplings tasted particularly delicious in this batch of soup!

This is a recipe that I have been making for years, and is a family favorite now. I know it will become a favorite of your family’s as well.

A little tip…if you have an unexpected guest show up at your dinner table, this recipe can easily be stretched out. Add more chicken stock and you will be good to go!

Classic Autumn Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 to 2 1/2 pounds meaty chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, drumsticks)
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 medium onion cut into wedges
  • 1 tsp dried basil, crushed
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup sliced celery
  • 1 cup thinly sliced carrots (2 medium)
  • 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 T snipped fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 beaten egg
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 T cooking oil
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Method

  1. kin chicken, if desired. Rinse chicken. In a large pot combine chicken, the 3 cups water, onion, basil, the 1/2 tsp salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to boiling, reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add celery, carrots, and mushrooms. Return mixture to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes more or till chicken and vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaf.
  2. For dumplings, in a mixing bowl combine the 1 cup flour, parsley, baking powder, the 1/4 tsp salt, and oregano. In another bowl combine the egg, milk, and oil; add to flour mixture. Stir with a fork just till moistened. Drop batter onto the hot chicken in broth, making 6 dumplings. Do not drop batter into the liquid. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes or till a wooden toothpick inserted into a dumpling comes out clean. Do not lift cover while simmering. Transfer chicken, dumplings, and vegetables to a serving platter; keep warm.
  3. For gravy, pour broth into  a large measuring cup. Skim fat from broth; discard fat. Measure 2 cups of the broth; return to pot. Combine the 1/2 cup cold water and the 1/4 cup flour; stir into the broth. Cook and stir till mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Serve gravy over chicken and vegetables with dumplings. Makes 6 servings.

Please be sure to visit my amazing friends, who are also joining me on this autumn soup tour for more holiday inspiration and delicious soup recipes.

{MORE AUTUMN SOUPS}

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 and Dumplings by House 214 | Chicken Gnocchi Soup by Tidy Mom | 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 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

Discover Your Home Decorating Style

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Filed Under: autumn, Christmas, classic, Cooking, design board, Fall, fall decorating, free resource, giveaway, home, home decorating, home tour, interior, Kitchen, laundry room, One Small Thing, Outdoor, Real Goods, rugs, spring, summer, Thanksgiving, timeless, Uncategorized

March 26, 2019 By Melinda Leave a Comment

“Spring Table Decorating List” Download

 One of the simplest places to start decorating for a new season is the place where we gather with family and friends…the TABLE.

Get a head start on the 5 items that I start with when it comes to decorating my spring table by downloading the list below. I will teach a short lesson on each of the items on my Instagram stories(@house214design) starting on Monday, April 1, 2019. 

Oh, and I will also be hosting a giveaway during the lessons, and one way to enter is to sign up to download the list!

Free Spring Table Decorating List

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Thank you! Please check your email to find your free resource. If you do not see an email from me, check your Bulk/Spam folder. Take care!

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Image by French Country Cottage

Filed Under: home, spring

March 14, 2019 By Melinda Leave a Comment

Video #1: How to Decorate for Spring

The key to decorating your home seasonally, in a real and authentic manner vs. a “decorated” and scripted way, is to first understand the season. Think the hygee way of thinking.

Every season has different sides that represent it, and spring is no different. Here is a sneak peek at a video from our “7 Days of Simple Spring Decorating Workshop” that will give you a quick lesson on the topic.

 

You are still able to join the spring workshop, community, and receive all of the content for $12! Click here to learn more: Spring Workshop

 

Filed Under: home decorating, spring

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