kitchen

November 13, 2017 By Melinda 6 Comments

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies

The “Tastes of The Seasons” series is continuing into the holidays. I am honored to take part in this series, created by Ella Claire, with 15 other talented bloggers. We are sharing some of our favorite cookie recipes that are sure to have you in the kitchen baking for friends and family in no time.

Let’s get started!

Old-fashioned gingerbread cookies are a staple at this time of year. I generally make one batch of the dough (this recipe makes a lot)and bake small amounts throughout the season. I use them for gifts for friends and treats for the children.

The activity that we enjoy the most with these cookies is preparing a special plate of treats for Santa on Christmas Eve. Different colors of icing and fun embellishments make for some fun creations!

Gingerbread boys and girls make up all of the ornaments on what I call the “kitchen tree” that sits in a corner of our kitchen. It is a living tree and a small version of the one that stands in the living room. The gingerbread boys and girls hang on the tree branches with holiday red ribbons as simple decorations.

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients and Method Below

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

{MORE COOKIES FROM THE TASTE OF THE SEASONS SERIES}

Cranberry Orange White Chocolate Chip Cookies by Ella Claire | Pecan Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies by A Burst of Beautiful | Cinnamon Cookies by Zevy Joy | Gingerbread Houses by Miss Mustard Seed

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti by anderson + grant | Paleo Double Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies by Nesting with Grace | Chocolate Crinkles Cookies by So Much Better with Age | Cranberry Rosemary Butter Cookies by Nina Hendrick Design Co.

Gluten Free Coconut Fudge Bites by City Farmhouse | Maple Sugar House Cookies by Finding Home Farms | Honey Nut Rugelach by Love Grows Wild | Red Velvet Oreo Cheesecake Cookies by Nest of Posies

Mexican Spicy Chocolate Cookies by Maison de Pax | Coconut Shortbread Cookies by My Sweet Savannah | Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies by House 214 | Cinnamon and Sugar Lattice Pie Crust Cookies by Craftberry Bush

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Learn how you can finally decorate your home the right way and to receive my blog updates and teachings.

August 30, 2017 By Melinda 9 Comments

Apple Crisp And A Hello To Autumn

I am truly honored to be taking part in the “Tastes of the Season” series with some of my talented and inspirational blogging friends. We will be sharing some of our favorite seasonal recipes over the coming months. Each feature in the series will focus on a different recipe theme. Today, we are all sharing a favorite apple recipe. Let’s get started!

Doesn’t apple picking seem to always make its way onto your autumn “to-do list”? It usually falls somewhere in between hay rides, pumpkin picking, and bonfires. I know it does on mine!

Once autumn makes its entrance, apple picking is one of my favorite activities to do with our family. We have been embarking on this little “field trip” since our first child was born almost 14 years ago. I still look forward to this time of year and making our way out to the same orchard year after year filling our bags to the rim with fresh apples.

Now, what to do with all of those apples once we get them home always seems to be another story. There are only so many apples you can eat in a day!

When my husband and I were married in 2000 and I became a “Real McCoy”, one of my bridal shower gifts was the McCoy family cookbook. It may not look like much, but what it holds inside those now worn pages are family recipes passed down from generation to generation.

One of those recipes is Grandma Louise’s apple crisp. I love it because it is a family recipe that has been made throughout past autumn days. Another reason I enjoy it is that it only requires ingredients that I always seem to have on hand. Always a winner in my book!

I always feel a sense of joy when I see our children eating this special dish. Knowing that generations before gathered around the table at this same time of year and enjoyed the same dish is a special connection to the past. I hope you and your family enjoy it as well.

Grandma Louise’s Apple Crisp

Ingredients (8×8″ pan)

4 cups of sliced apples
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup butter

Method

Slice apples into 8×8″ pan.

In a small bowl mix the water, cinnamon, and salt together and pour over the apples.

In a separate bowl work together the sugar, flour, and butter until crumbly. Spread the crumb mixture over top the apples evenly.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Tip: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!

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

{MORE APPLE TREATS FROM THE TASTE OF THE SEASONS SERIES}

Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls by Ella Claire | Rustic Apple Cranberry Pie by Anderson and Grant |

Apple-Cranberry Slab Pie by Inspired by Charm | Apple Donuts by A Burst of Beautiful |

Caramel Apple Tart by Julie Blanner

Easy Apple Dumplings by Craftberry Bush | Apple Crisp by House 214 Design |

Apple Cider Scones by Everyday Occasions | Apple Fritter Skillet Bake by Nest of Posies |

Rustic Apple Tarte Tatin by Maison de Pax

Paleo Apple Crisp by Nesting with Grace | Crock Pot Applesauce by My Sweet Savannah |

Gluten Free Apple Crisp by City Farmhouse |

Baked Breakfast Apples with Oatmeal by French Country Cottage |

Apple Blossom with Salted Caramel Sauce by Nina Hendrick Design

No Churn Apple Pie Ice Cream by Boxwood Avenue | Bird’s Nest Apple Pie by Zevy Joy |

Apple Upside Down Spice Cake by Love Grows Wild

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June 7, 2017 By Melinda 5 Comments

A Touch of Summer

There is a feeling of ease when it comes to summer, isn’t there? Spring is a very busy season, with the welcoming return of light and warmth. In summer, nature slows down a bit and subtlety becomes the new path to take.

When April from House by Hoff and Krista from The Happy Housie asked me to join them and 25 other bloggers in The Seasonal Simplicity Home Tour, I couldn’t resist the invitation! I was so excited to share how I add a nod of summer to our home.

If you are joining the tour by way of my talented friend Abby from Just A Girl and Her Blog, welcome and thank you for joining us. Now, let’s get started!

I like to begin decorating for the seasons starting at our front door. It is the first moment you see when you visit our home and it sets the feeling for what is to come when you open it.

I decided to try my hand at making a wreath of my own using a wreath form, floral wire, and the most beautiful rosemary branches from Rose Bredl. In the winter season I place emerald green boxwood wreaths against my painted black door and I absolutely love the contrasting colors. I thought the rosemary branches would provide a similar effect. What do you think?

This time of year means the local farmers markets are up and running. I love to visit the busy scene on the weekends, find inspiration, and stock up on local foods. There is just something about the sun shining on a beautiful day, seeing some of the familiar faces of my neighbors, and trying the goods of people who put a lot of care into their products.

On this particular visit local breads and eggs found their way into my basket at the market. I thought they would be a wonderful addition for a summer breakfast outside on the patio.

I gathered different “serving” pieces that I have collected over the years to hold the bread, eggs, and butter. It just makes the everyday feel a bit more special. Of course it is not something that I do all of the time, but I thought a nice summer weekend with my family was the perfect reason to use it.

I love to decorate my home in a way that just feels like me. If you have any interest in learning how to do the same I am teaching a FREE 5 day email course called, “Finally Decorate Your Home”.

If you doubt yourself when it comes to making decorating decisions for your home and/or you feel overwhelmed by all of the choices available in making those decisions this free course is for you.

In this free course you will be introduced to the step by step process I created that teaches you the right way to making decorating decisions for your home. It is a framework that will teach you how the feeling you want to create in your home (hint, it has a lot to do with your personality) has specific patterns, textures, colors, collections, finishes, etc., that will communicate it best. Making decorating decisions for your home becomes easier and something that you are happy with for a long time.

Okay, now it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy our beautiful breakfast with my family. A simple summer morning that is made special with what might be little effort, but effort that can create some of life’s biggest moments.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my home today. If you have any interest in learning the same process I use to make the decisions I do for my home please sign up for my free 5 day email course, “Finally Decorate Your Home”.

Please be sure to visit the next stop on the tour with Kristy from Robb Restyle. Also, don’t forget to check out all the home tours throughout the week!

Monday

House by Hoff / House of Wood / Refresh Restyle / Cassie Bustamante / That’s My Letter

Tuesday

The Happy Housie / Simplicity in the South / at HOME with the barkers / Sincerely, Sara D.

Wednesday

Nina Hendrick Design Co. / The Wicker House / A Burst of Beautiful / Paint Me Pink / Town and Country Living

Thursday

At Charlotte’s House / Just a Girl and Her Blog / House 214 Design / Robb Restyle

Friday

My Fabuless Life / The Turquoise Home / Erin Spain / Place of My Taste / Cherished Bliss

March 9, 2017 By Melinda 16 Comments

Spring Home Tour

When I was asked by April from House By Hoff and Krista from The Happy Housie if I would like to participate in the “Seasonal Simplicity” home tour, I thought what a fantastic way to celebrate the start of this time of year. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to represent new life, optimism, and the changes that take place outside that all occur at this time of year. Budding branches, a fresh feeling, and learning something new were all at the top of my list to help welcome spring.

If you are here by way of At Charlotte’s House or any of the other talented bloggers on the tour, welcome, and thank you for visiting me!

Learning how to arrange flowers was a fantastic way for me to kick off the spring season. Doing it with friends made it even better!

I have a passion for teaching and the home, and teach the “everyday home designer” that design isn’t about a look, but a feeling. A feeling that is about emotion and simply put, feels right to you and your home. It is that “something” when you walk into a space that just feels right.

The feeling you want to create in your home (hint, it has a lot to do with your personality) has basic design elements that you can choose to communicate that message consistently. Making design decisions for your home becomes intentional, easy, and something that you are happy with for a long time.

In my kitchen you can see evidence of the feeling I created in the space. Timeless, simple, and welcoming are the words I used as a guideline for the design elements that I chose for the room. By using these words as a guide and their design framework I was able to make decisions with intention, rather than make decisions on what the latest trend was at the moment.

As I noted above, I wanted to create a fresh feeling in my home to help celebrate the spring season. Pastel greens, fresh greenery, and forsythia branches were all ways that I created that feeling in the space.

Please provide your email address below to receive the mudroom drawing plans and resource list.

Mudroom Drawing Plans and Resources

Yes, please send me the plans and resources!

Please be sure to visit the next stop on the Seasonal Simplicity Home Tour, my friend Jennifer from Town and Country Living, and all of the other homes on the tour for more inspiration!

Monday

House by Hoff / The Happy Housie / The Turquoise Home / Maison de Pax / Refresh Restyle

Tuesday

The House of Wood / Simplicity of the South / Place of My Taste / Tidy Mom / That’s My Letter

Wednesday

Sincerely, Sara D. / at HOME with the barkers / Paint Me Pink / Nina Hendrick Design Co. / A Burst of Beautiful

Thursday

Just a Girl and Her Blog / Cherished Bliss / At Charlotte’s House / House 214 Design / Town and Country Living

Friday

Cassie Bustamante / Robb Restyle / Erin Spain / My Fabuless Life / The Wicker House

November 4, 2016 By Melinda Leave a Comment

“It’s Not About the Perfect Home”

Do you have a list of things that you hope to accomplish some day? Whether you have them in the back of your mind or actually have them written down, they are there, and little by little you work towards them in one way or another.

When I discovered Karen and Zandra from Little Yellow Couch I just knew I wanted to take part in what their philosophy was regarding the home. In their own words, ” It’s not about the perfect home. It’s about creating moments that delight you amidst your everyday life”.

Their past guest list includes Grace Bonney from Design Sponge, John and Sherry Petersik from Young House Love, and many many more. So, when I was asked to take part and be a guest on their podcast, Style Matters, I was beyond thrilled. To listen to the full episode, please see below.

Oh, and the icing on the cake was Karen and Zandra had asked to teach a segment on my new and live (that you take on your own schedule) course, Creating a Timeless Feeling Home. It really has been a wonderful and rewarding collaboration. The best kind in my mind!