Nashville House and Home and Garden

A Chilly Day Dish with a Kick

Lori Fisk-Conners — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 04:45:28 +0000

(Culinary.net) Picture in your mind a warm bowl cupped in your hands, defrosting your fingertips after you just walked inside from a chilly afternoon. The bowl is heavy, full of hearty vegetables and spicy pepper that in just a few short moments will overwhelm your palate. You dive in with a spoon, savoring every flavorful bite as you dip down to the bottom of the bowl searching for more to slurp up with every spoonful. Onion, red bell pepper and even corn all blended into not only a vegetarian meal but a chili-lover’s paradise. You throw your sweater to the …

Continue reading "A Chilly Day Dish with a Kick"

Holiday Decorating Trends

Lori Fisk-Conners — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 17:40:45 +0000

Decorating during the Holidays is a tradition like no other. Bridging family, religion, and classic ideas of what the holidays are about, decorating can sometimes feel overwhelming and consuming. Our experts concede that holiday decorating, at its core, should be fun and reflect the relationship a homeowner has with their own traditions. Beyond that, experts say there are a couple of trends that are showing up this year to consider when embracing the uniqueness of the coming season. First, tradition. While COVID-19 is having a significant influence on everyday life, the holiday season is no different. The desire to find …

Continue reading "Holiday Decorating Trends"

Chai Molasses Cookies

Lori Fisk-Conners — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 02:00:14 +0000

A wonderful new holiday recipe with a blend of coconut and molasses. Great for a holiday cookie exchange. 1 cup salted butter, room temperature ¾ cup coconut sugar ½ cup granulated sugar ¼ cup molasses 2 ¾ cups all purpose flour 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon ¾ tsp. ground ginger ½ tsp. cardamom ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp. ground cloves Using the whisk attachment in a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar together until well incorporated. Next add in the molasses and egg and mix until just combined. In a separate …

Continue reading "Chai Molasses Cookies"

Fudge

Lori Fisk-Conners — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 15:51:48 +0000

This is a super easy to make recipe that my Mom made since I was a little girl. It’s great for holiday gifts or for your family. 4 ½ cups sugar 1 can evaporated milk ½ lb butter 3 packages semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 8 oz. jar marshmallow creme 1 tbsp. vanilla 2 cups chopped nuts (if desired) Combine sugar, milk and butter in a large sauce pan. Place over medium heat, stir until mixture begins to boil. Cook for about 8 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips, marshmallow fluff, vanilla, and nuts. Pour into …

Continue reading "Fudge"

Chocolate Martini a Halloweeni Tini

Lori Fisk-Conners — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 08:00:01 +0000

Easy to make and great for anytime

Homemade Halloween Treats

Lori Fisk-Conners — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 04:30:10 +0000

Halloween calls for candies and treats of all kinds as trick-or-treaters roam neighborhoods, but don’t forget to stock your own snack supply with homemade goodies. Skip the store-bought sweets this year and instead opt for ideas like these that can be whipped up in the comfort of your own kitchen. Party Mix As one of the easiest recipes you could imagine, a Halloween-themed party mix simply calls for your favorite snack-type foods tossed together in a group-sized bowl or individual containers. You can try just about anything from candy corns and miniature chocolates to pretzels, popcorn and more. Spooky Cupcakes …

Continue reading "Homemade Halloween Treats"

Godiva™ Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Martini Buttercream

Lori Fisk-Conners — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 20:17:41 +0000

I developed this recipe with my friends at Cool Springs Wines & Spirits. They are a great source for liqueurs and wines for cooking and baking. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my friend and family enjoy it. 1 package chocolate cake mix 1 (5.9 oz) package instant Godiva™ dark chocolate pudding mix 1/3 cup olive oil 3 large eggs 1 cup Godiva™ Dark Chocolate Liqueur Heat oven to 350 degrees. Insert cupcake liners into your cupcake baking pan. Set aside. Mix cake mix and all ingredients in large mixing bowl for about 2 minutes on high. …

Continue reading "Godiva™ Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Martini Buttercream"

Great Garages

Lori Fisk-Conners — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 04:55:25 +0000

Garage space is no longer simply about storage or man caves. While still a space to park your car after a long day, garages are often a flexible space that are being included in the home’s footprint. Our experts offer some ideas for designing or redesigning a garage space with style. According to the National Association of Home Builders, in 1950 only 41 percent of new homes had no garage, while today 91 percent of new homes have a garage, and 83 percent have a two-car or larger garage. Focused entirely on practicality, garages were often left unfinished and lacked …

Continue reading "Great Garages"

A Creative Twist on Halloween Carving

Lori Fisk-Conners — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 09:54:28 +0000

When it comes to Halloween, carving the same pumpkin designs each year can become routine. This year, save a pumpkin and carve your spooky masterpiece into a watermelon instead. Nutrient-rich watermelon can be a healthy alternative to other sweet treats full of added sugar during Halloween festivities as it’s a source of vitamins A and C as well as the antioxidant lycopene and the amino acid citrulline. Because they are made up of 92% water, watermelons can be an effective way to stay hydrated during trick-or-treating, and creations like a Mummy or Jack O’Melon can help satisfy sweet cravings while …

Continue reading "A Creative Twist on Halloween Carving"

Lighting

Lori Fisk-Conners — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 08:34:34 +0000

Great lighting design is always in style. And 2020 is no different yet has its own unique story to tell. We polled our experts for the biggest trends and SOMETHING ideas in lighting design proving that lighting, both inside and out, is an important feature to review when designing a space. While some lighting are mainstays in design, there are some trends that are worth taking a look at in 2020. Some of the hottest trends in lighting design are brass, organic or natural materials, neutral tones and LED lighting. Mary Soeder of PDI Kitchen, Bath and Lighting says, “Brass …

Continue reading "Lighting"