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Pumpkin and Flower Centerpiece
Now is the time of year when my garden blooms with the most beautiful autumn flowers, and the pumpkins at the market are irresistible, so I decided to turn gathered stems into this seasonal centerpiece. Overflowing with lavender, snapdragons, marigolds, chrysanthemums, and more, it’s lush enough to make a vibrant Thanksgiving centerpiece, particularly if made in multiples. As we head deeper into fall, my home will be filled with differently colored heirloom pumpkins, particularly those that tend toward blue and gray – though I also have my eyes on a gorgeous pinky-peach Galeux d’Eysines. Traditional varieties like the sugar pumpkin will certainly make their way into the mix as well…
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Fourth of July Celebration Ideas
July 4th is one of the most enjoyable holidays because it comes with so few expectations and so many opportunities for creativity. Let this list be your guide for a stylish and tasty celebration. Make a Seasonal Barbecue Sauce: Inspired by summers on the Maine coast, this recipe relies on fresh blueberries to create a slightly sweet and smoky sauce in the style of Carolina barbecue. The vinegar-rich sauce celebrates flavors from along the East Coast. Wherever you are, it’s a tasty way to celebrate summer’s finest while adding delicious flavor to chicken and meat. Mix Plaid, Gingham, Stars and Stripes: Traditional red, white, and blue can be found on…
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New Year’s Party Food for Joy and Prosperity
After the elaborate roasts and trays of appetizers you may have served over the holidays, it can be challenging to come up with more recipes for a New Year’s celebration, particularly if you’re entertaining many of the same guests. Aside from champagne and charcuterie, which I know you already have covered, here are my recommendations of what to enjoy as you ring in the new year. Good Luck Foods From good health to good fortune, we each have our wishes for the days ahead. Turn to foods that symbolize these wishes as a way to share good luck with everyone around you, such as pork for progress and prosperity, extra-long…
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Halloween Party Ideas
For most of my life, I’ve lived at least slightly in fear of Halloween, but now I welcome it as a chance to indulge in the non-spooky side of the holiday, meaning candy, fall food, and pumpkins. In preschool I was so terrified of the boys wearing scary masks that my teacher made them remove the plastic disguises to prove their identities. Now I live in fear of a loved one hiring a scary clown to deliver doughnuts to my front door. Whether you celebrate Halloween as a more sparkly Thanksgiving, like I do, or you look forward to binging on horror movies, the tips on the list will help…
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Labor Day Celebration Ideas
We have weeks of summer left, yet Labor Day signals a return of sorts. Little ones get tucked into their fluffy beds a bit earlier. Colleagues come back from their last beach vacation and quicken the pace of work. Even sunlight itself, which seemed endless some days, is meeting the streetlights while we watch. If summer is about ripening berries, September is about the few left to find, making Labor Day celebrations a time to savor what we cherish most about the season. As you entertain family and friends, or take a moment to relax, here are my tips on how to make the most of the holiday. Serve and…
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