Beth Wood

Christmas menu, Turkey or Ham?

Ladies, will you be roasting a turkey, or do you prefer ham?

I wonder if anyone can relate?

As a young bride, my parents would host Christmas dinner, with the same menu we had for Thanksgiving dinner, though the desserts were varied and more of them.

Every year, growing up, the menu never changed.

Every year, growing up, the praise and appreciation from around the table, never changed.

A great party, a great meal, had just been “had”, our hearts and bellies were full.

Easter was different, we had ham, the rest of the menu was the same.

Then I got married.

and nothing was the same anymore!

We would go to both sides of the family for their holiday dinners, my mother’s menu was the same, turkey and turkey the next time, then ham. THAT was understood.

My husband’s family had a variety of foods, in a much more casual setting. A meat, potatoes, corn and desserts, at their kitchen table. Very relaxed. Well, my husband was “at home”, and I was tense looking for a green vegetable and missing my mother’s centerpiece of flowers on the table. (Not snobby, but that’s how I was “at home”.)

Listen, on our first Easter dinner with my parents, brothers, and grandparents, all HELL broke loose when my husband said, “I don’t like ham, what else do you have?”

It’s almost funny now, looking back, but I was scared to death of my mother’s reaction…. because NO ONE EVER QUESTIONED the menu my entire life! Get this…. she didn’t react at all! My hubs received a slow, long stare, looking directly and thoughtfully at him, as she slowly replied, “we have ham, it’s Easter”.

Enough said.

Silence filled the room, candles flickered, and vegetables grew cold.

He ate several desserts and mashed potatoes.

We may have fought all the way home…. that I don’t really remember, though it sounds right!!!

So, do you have picky eaters or those who are adamant about what they SHOULD eat, and HOW, on the holidays?

I can’t be the only one out there to have experienced a stressed holiday.

I’m a turkey, dark-meat girl, myself,

Happy Holidays all,

xx,

Camp Christmas

By Beth Wood

A vintage Santa will be the focal point of a guestroom refresh for our Christmas guests, both friends and family.

We’ve lived in our home for five years now, and we have yet to paint a guest room in our finished basement. This December, we’re hosting a family Christmas party and expect to have the guest rooms filled with family, of all ages, for the weekend. With that in mind, nothing motivates a homeowner more to start, finish, refresh or clean a room, then entertaining. Knowing that everyone will “see” your progress, or lack of, is indeed the equivalent to lighting a fire under you, moving you along quickly!

What motivates you to refresh a room? … a holiday, the season, an event?

I suppose we all have different answers, and there may be quite a few who simply “do” …. the love of the new, a change, or challenge, is all they need. I’d like to think I’m in that second group, I simply enjoy “doing”. On my own. At my pace. And yes, a party on my calendar motivates and stresses me at the same time, but I will be ready! Ha!

This year I’d like to refresh two bedrooms with a new paint color, perhaps some new pillows or linens, and a small Christmas tree in each room. Festive but not too over the top.

Actually, I’d love to go “over the top”, but we won’t be in this house too much longer, we’re considering selling within a year, or by next Spring.

**Vintage cookie cutters as decor on the kitchen Christmas tree**

This is my current situation, 3 weeks before “THE” party:

Things I did not do:

No painting has occurred.

No shiplap was installed, or purchased, though the walls were measured multiple times, to ensure the measurements remained the same! They did.

No large “Black Friday bargain” rugs were purchased prior to children spilling on them.

No new Christmas trees were needed, I, in fact, had what I needed, or chose to use.

What I actually did:

I used an Ethan Allen quilt purchased years ago by my mother, adding that to top off a black and white bed skirt and sheet set from a previous home. The quilt is a traditional style, using patterns and colors perfectly paired to my Cabin themed Christmas.

Fresh greenery, purchased to use on the porch, is now swagged over the black iron bedframe, letting “nature sing” in a way that changes the entire “feel” of the room. Never underestimate the power of “bringing the outside in” to freshen your spaces.

I hung a shelf with hooks that I made for the lake cottage, used color, primarily pops of red, to unify the room. A small tree with white lights sits in an old washtub, on a vintage green table with a natural wood top (which matches the shelf, and the green matches the Santa), texture everywhere I could find an empty space….

Oh! The green on Santa matched my vintage table perfectly, circa 1930, and Santa’s sleigh rails pick up the swirls on the black iron bed… just sayin’ !

And, I may or may not have made multiple trips to Marshall’s for the “extra” goodies that I had to have,…

I had a ball!

So much fun to put this room together!!!

Note: Imagine if I had ship-lapped those walls, there’s NO WAY I’d ever leave this house!

My photos are a bit blurry, bad lighting I suppose, so sorry. I am making a few reels showcasing areas I’ve finished, or entire rooms. Keep an eye on Instagram and Pinterest, I’m also on Facebook.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, from my home to yours,

xx,

Pecan Shortbread Maple Glaze cookie recipe

By Beth Wood

Do these cookies look incredible, or what?!!!

The oven’s preheating, the ingredients are on the counter, so let’s make cookies!

Truth be told, I saw this recipe on Pinterest, and had to share it; it’s still November, and your house will be full of hungry people on Thanksgiving, so this is the perfect now-or-never-time to share recipes.

Let’s jump right into it:

Pecan Shortbread Maple Glaze cookies

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

Makes 12 cookies @174 cal. each

Ingredients:

1/2 C. plus 1 tbs. unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
- 1/4 C. granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. maple syrup
- 1/4 C. pecans toasted (recommended) and finely chopped
- Candied bacon and pecans (optional)
- 4 strips of bacon
- 1/4 C. pecans, chopped finely
- 2 tsp. maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
- Maple Glaze
- 1 C. powdered icing sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
- 0.5 cup maple syrup
- 2 tsp. unsalted butter, melted

Instructions:

Cream together the butter, sugar and the maple syrup. Line 2 baking trays with parchment paper. In the bowl of an electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, add the butter and sugar and cream on medium speed until pale and light. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add maple syrup and mix again.
Add flour and pecans into the creamed butter, and at low speed, mix until combined. The dough will look quite “raggedy”.
With your hands, squeeze the cookie dough to form a ball. Press it into a rough disk, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to 3/8″ thick.
At this point, if the dough is too soft, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate
10-15 minutes longer, until firm. Do not let it get too firm.
Once the dough is rolled out, you can use a cookie cutter, (I used a leaf shaped cutter) to cut out the cookies. Lay them onto the prepared baking tray. Bring together any scraps, re-roll and stamp out the cookies. If the dough starts to dry out when re-rolling, add a couple of drops of water over the dough.
Refrigerate the cut out cookies for 30 minutes or until the dough is hard.
Preheat the oven to 335*F and bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on tray for 10 minutes then move to a rack to cool completely. Keep oven on and increase heat to 350* F.

Candied Bacon and pecans (optional)

Prepare bacon and bake. Brush the bacon strips with maple syrup and lay them on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes before turning and baking for a further 5 minutes until golden and crispy. Remove from the oven and lay on paper towel until cool. Chop into fine bits.

Prepare pecans and bake. In a bowl toss the pecans in maple syrup then lay out on a lined baking tray. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet. Chop into small pieces and toss on a pinch of sea salt.

Maple Glaze: Mix ingredients together. Add the powdered sugar, maple syrup and butter to a medium bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined and smooth. If the glaze is too thin, then add a tsp. at a time of powdered sugar until it reaches the consistency desired. If it’s too thick, add a tsp. of maple syrup until you reach the desired consistency.

Dip cookies, the face, into the glaze and gently lift, letting the excess glaze drip off and place on a wire rack to harden.

Sprinkle with candied bacon or candied pecans and leave to set for 15 minutes. Or…enjoy it right away!

Remember, kitchen time shared with a little one….

or a spouse, always makes the food taste better!

Happy Baking !

hugs,

xx,

Hello Cozy Season

By Beth Wood

Autumn is nature’s wonderland, every forest is “magical”, every falling leaf a “masterpiece”. Tis’ the Cozy Season…

What is “cozy” to you?

Could it be…fuzzy sweaters, a fire lit in the fireplace, a simmering pot of cloves and cinnamon, fallen leaves across your lawn, the scents of holiday meals prepared? November is found in each of these.

Oh, what a busy and wonderful time of year!

Baking, planning, preparing and shopping, gift-wrapping and gift-hiding from prying eyes, Christmas shopping, decking the halls, and my favorite, celebrating Thanksgiving.

I set my table casually, using both old and new pieces, new linens, chargers and glassware, with my grandmother’s ironstone, Friendly Village dishes and old silverware. It’s the best of both worlds, combined.

Unlike Christmas, there is no rush to shop or decorate Christmas trees all over the house, rather the focus is on Gratitude, gratefulness and truly the Giving of Thanks. It’s a peaceful holiday. I surround myself with loved ones present and with loved one’s past, by using their old china, silverware, cups and saucers…and thinking that they are indeed here with us, today… this Thanksgiving Day.

I make a very traditional-for-us meal.

This is the meal that my mother prepared when I sat on a pillow to reach the tabletop, and my brother sat in his highchair.

This is the meal that I prepared for my three daughters, with my parents and grandparents as our only guests; I had never made a turkey before and was quite mortified when my husband pulled out a steaming plastic bag of the neck and gizzards!

You can imagine…a Thanksgiving that went down in history, my grown daughters still roll with laughter!

Traditions make memories.

Memories that are laughed about and cried over, the memories that last forever.

I hope you have a chance to “gather”; to gather your friends and family, to celebrate just being together, celebrate your family ties and close friendships, it may sound overly sentimental, but indeed, I am overly sentimental.

Who knows why?

I just am, aren’t you?

“During this month of cozy, cozy homes and comforting memories, I want to thank you all for your presence and support this past year, when I count my blessings, I will surely think of you…

Blessings,

xx,

Collect the things you love…

By Beth Wood

that are authentic to you, and your house becomes your story!

~ Erin Flett~

I chose this statement because I absolutely agree with Erin!

What “story” would your house tell about you?

When it comes to creating a “home”, I believe we express ourselves by choosing items that bring back fond memories, or will create new memories, items that both represent and remind us of who we are, where we’re from and where we’ve been, that are “authentic” to you, and you alone. For myself, I want my home to be a welcoming place to others, a respite from a hectic world, and a safe haven for my children.

The very act of gathering cherished and curated items, the “things” that tell our “story”, is what transforms an empty shell of a house into a “home”.

A few years ago, I remember walking into a neighbor’s house during the Christmas season. The formal dining room was “Christmas Holiday Hosting” ready, each festive item “en trend”, with every detail perfectly paired and matching. I noticed that everything was “new”, and it actually looked like it was straight out of the showroom. I complimented the homeowner, sincerely, on her lovely room.

Walking away, I had to giggle a little, inside, when I thought, “what would she think of my old stuff”?

We each have different likes and dislikes, different tastes and preferences, our own versions of what “comfort” should look like and feel like.

My tastes?

Actually, what I “like”, is always changing and always growing… Out of necessity, I feel that the seasons of my life dictated my preferences, choosing practicality and security when I was young, preferring function over form and fashion, for a growing family, followed now, by the ease of relaxed pleasure and the freedom of self-expression.

Are you a “sentimental” decorator?

I tend to be very sentimental, and I also have a huge appreciation for handmade items derived out of need. I now mix new upholstered pieces (for comfort), with old pine furniture, and my kitchen wares, utilitarian-purposed items that were once staples in homes years ago, are now currently residing in the kitchen drawers, if not used for decor.

The “authenticity” of our homes, the expression of our lives, may or may not appeal to anyone else, and that’s okay!

My home IS my story.

Your home is YOUR story.

Opening the door, you’ll see my collected and cherished goods, having no “showroom” appeal, no en-trend status, but together, the items reflect where I’m from, who I was and have been, and the woman I am today.

(Not my photo, but a great example of how I want my current house to look like, it just takes time. The old tables, slipcovered chairs, floral block- print pillows and stoneware are a few of my favorites.)

What does your home say about you?

This year, what will you add or subtract from your decor?

I have a few plans for this “current” house, though my current partner doesn’t agree with all of it, preferring to buy a newly built house, instead of investing time or money into our home. I don’t mind moving to a new location, though a brand-new build doesn’t appeal to me. Where’s the story? Where’s the character?

Rest assured my friend, no matter where I may land, you will find me in a state of “creating home”.

Knowing who you are and what you like, isn't always easy.

For example, it took me a full year to choose my dining room wallpaper! For a client, it takes about 2-3 weeks or less, plus I’m on their schedule. I choose carefully, it’s easier for me, maybe you as well, to know what I do NOT like or want, and that’s at least a start!

This is the “thing” I want you to know,

Nobody does “you” better than you do.

Be authentic to yourself and enjoy the process!

Your home will thank you!

(and don’t giggle out loud when leaving someone’s home:) )

Be blessed,

xx,

simplyhomebybeth