I’m a planner by nature. As a 10 year old I drew floor plans for fun and throughout school rewrote notes to relax. NERD ALERT! Now I love that planning is a part of running Design Crush, and there’s not much I love more than planning a good dinner party – real or imagined! (You can see Thanksgiving 2012 right here.)
This morning I’m excited to share a brand spankin’ new line of home accessories with you – the site just went live today! B for Brandie is out to add a dash of fashion to the table in a very chic way. Fresh colors, sophisticated patterns and contemporary designs abound in their debut collection that features dinnerware, flatware, glassware, placemats and napkins. The best part is that it’s all made to be mixed and matched, bringing a very personal touch each and every time you gather around the table. Perfect with the holidays being just around the corner and entertainment being taken up a necessary notch.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
Congratulations, Brittany!
To Enter:
1. Leave a comment below telling us your favorite entertaining secret.
2. Like B by Brandie on Facebook.
3. Leave a valid email address in the form (for notification purposes).
4. Do it all before Sunday, November 17th at 11:59pm CST.
Almost every one of my favorite recipes has a story, so when West Elm asked me to share one of my favorite holiday traditions I knew just the one. When I was in elementary school my grandparents looked after me once school was out every day. My Grandpa picked me up at the bus stop and drove me the fifteen minutes to their house in the next town where my mom would scoop me up after work. Most days when I got into his car there would be a snack waiting for me – an orange we would share or a coconut macaroon cookie. But on really special fall days there was nothing until we got back to their house and I walked in the door to the sight of my Grandma’s apple dumplings, perfectly golden and smelling like heaven. Those apple dumplings meant that the holidays (as well as winter vacation) were right around the corner!
Now that I make my own I cut a corner or two, but the end result still gives me that same feeling of being cozy and loved. I picked up a Scape Oval Baking Dish (the perfect size for four apple dumplings) and a set of Universal Expert Wooden Utensils from West Elm Market to make the recipe all the more fun to pull together and share with you. I can already tell that these pieces are going to get a major workout over the next few months between casseroles and baked goods!
Apple Dumplings
• 4 medium-large apples (I used Fuji)
• 1/4 C quick cooking oats
• 1/4 C brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 4 pie crusts (I use pre-made)
• 4 tsp butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• granulated sugar for dusting
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a large baking dish with cooking spray in preparation. Make or (or open) your go-to pie crust recipe (each apple will use one crust). In a small bowl mix together the oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon then set aside. Peel and core the apples. Roll out (or lay out) one pie crust and set an apple in the center. Fill the hollowed out core with the oat-brown sugar-cinnamon mixture all the way to the top, then place a teaspoon of butter on top. Fold up the edges of the crust, making sure to pinch the seams as you go along. Repeat the process with the other three apples and set each one in the baking dish. Beat the egg and vanilla together and brush all over each dumpling, then dust with sugar. Bake for 50 minutes or until golden brown. These are delicious served with Brown Sugar Sauce (recipe below) or served with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. One dumpling could easily be split between two people.
Brown Sugar Sauce
• 1/4 C brown sugar
• 1/4 C water
Combine brown sugar and water in a small saucepan. Simmer until reduced and thickened.
This post has been sponsored by West Elm. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush going! West Elm is offering 20% off all tabletop items until November 26th.
It’s that time of year! Plenty of dinners with family, plenty of parties with friends, and plenty of outfits necessary to make the whole season go off without a hitch. I prefer at least one dress that’s super versatile and can be changed up in a big way with the right accessories and footwear, and a maybe a second that’s a statement on its own.
Subscription boxes that show up on your doorstep once a month have become quite the trend, and I have to admit I love it. Who can’t appreciate snail mail and packages in this day and age of everything digital and here-and-now? Hatchery is one of the latest, striving to be foodie matchmakers! Each month receive six extra large sample sizes of different small-batch artisinal ingredients and condiments for $20, a guide for what to try them in/with is included. Then when you find something you’d love to make part of your permanent pantry visit Hatchery’s Marketplace and order the full size.
Happy my favorite day of the year to you! Tonight I’ll be lighting a fire and lots of candles inside the house, playing some (hidden) scary music on the porch, and handing out plenty of candy. And I might wear a witches hat, too.
Tiles can either be traditional and boring or fresh and interesting, there’s not really a lot of middle ground to be covered. Fireclay Tile recently released two new designs in their Debris series – Wave and Picket – that fall squarely (no pun intended) into the second category. Wave captures the feel of the undulating Pacific Ocean while Picket transforms the iconic pattern into a bold, geometric design. Both use up to 70% recycled materials that are sourced with 200 miles of their Northern California factory – not only is that good for the environment, but it also results in one of the hardest tiles available.
Multi-functional is where it’s at! I’m loving this brass Can Vase that features three changeable caps. Each one can help you achieve the best arrangement for the type of flowers you’re working with thanks to its cleverly shaped openings.
Yes, I like shopping. When do I like shopping most? When it’s socially conscious and gives back, of course. Given Goods Co. has created a model where with every purchase shoppers become participants in the story of each product. It’s an environment where customers can learn about the origins and impact of each item (which happen to be sustainable) and keep track of their global impact. Discover, learn, give back. It’s that simple. Shop their full storefront of housewares, accessories, and more – new items are being added every day!
