Happy Thanksgiving

Throwback to 1975 Thanksgiving when poor little me did not get her fill of pumpkin pie.

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU

HAVE A FABULOUS TURKEY DAY EVERYONE

Busy Since Gobbling

I just finished off a bag of chocolate covered pretzels and had a moment of depression.  When does diet season begin?  January 1^st is the classic pledge date right?  On New Years Eve we hold our champagne glass high and pledge that beginning tomorrow we will lose the ten pounds we packed on between Halloween and now. This is totally unfair because it is directly after presents stop coming and ferocious sales expire in the stores.  Sales should actually begin when the dieting starts and there should be a gift waiting for us when we drop the pledged weight.  Just a thought.

So what is going on with LoveYourRoom designs?

Glad you asked.  We are working on some new fantabulous projects and amazing clients, including a living room reno adding a new contemporary fireplace design (see above for initial plans and materials). We have been busy with an eighty year old home reno.  We are helping another couple change their Santa Fe style to a more contemporary design. We just completed three projects I will blog about in the new year and nearing completion on a few more.  With great excitement we are also nearing completion on our new website and blog that is not just getting a facial, but a total make-over!!!!  I am doing the moonwalk over it!   And Wednesday of this week at 8:40 am I will be appearing on WFMZ-TV 69 News at Sunrise to divulge my Fave-O-Fave design ideas this year and décor pieces so I am right now narrowing down my list.

Re-cap of Turkey Day

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.  I shared turkey and my favorite Riesling wine from Clover Hill in Long Island with Becks, my sister, and her family.  I made my Mom's recipe 'Elaine's Yam and Apple Casserole' and received so many thumbs up (no left overs!). Since blogging about it previously (click here) I have received requests for the recipe so I listed it below (Mom would be blushing with joy).  P.S. Becks made the most delish corn muffins made from a simple Trader Joe's corn muffin mix.  I am hooked on it now; there were real corn kernels in it (Trader Joe's, if you read this please, please open a store in the Lehigh Valley of PA!).

Elaine's Yam and Apple Casserole

8 medium sweet potatoes

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 stick melted margarine

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2 cups apples sliced paper thin

1/8 tsp. pepper

Dash cinnamon

Mini marshmallows (buy a bag and place as many as you want on top)

Boil the sweet potatoes until tender.

Remove skin (should come right off) and mash.

Melt margarine and remove 4Tbs. for Yams later.

To margarine add brown sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon in a large bowl.

Place apples over the sugar mixture and drench them.

Place the drenched apples in bottom of 9"x13" pan.

Add 4Tbs margarine, dash of cinnamon and pepper to mashed sweet potatoes.

Place over apples in pan.

Bake - 350° for 40minutes covered.

Top with some mini marshmallows and brown under broiler (watch closely).

Enjoy!

Come on back to my blog Wednesday for my list of my Fave-O-Faves of 2010

Thanksgiving Memories & Hot Kitchen Stools

Three things I don't do - shop at Wal-Mart in my pajama bottoms, bedazzle my shoes, and have the ability to whip up an artistic edible meal on a wing and a prayer.  Yet I am home today cookin’ up a storm!!  I love food and I do make dinner most nights but when I am in the kitchen I am like an ape throwing it all together, then dancing on the island while it bubbles in the oven.

So why am I slaving over one recipe?  Because it is Elaine's Yam and Apple Casserole that I am so honored to make.  Elaine is my mother and we have been re-creating this sweet dish every Thanksgiving since I was a true brunette (and that was a long time ago my friends).  I am testing out a few variations so I get it right on Thanksgiving.

 For me Thanksgiving is a holiday that hands down, is my favorite because my mother rocked it every year.  Growing up on Long Island, she introduced my sister and I to the NYC Macy's Day parade, and simultaneously created the ultimate feast we all gathered for and enjoyed with our extended family (and anyone else because my Mom had an open arms policy).  My memories of Thanksgiving are leg warmers, the smell of my Dads turkey, and my Mother humming to the jazz playing on the radio while cooking.  My task was always to make my Mom’s Yam and Apple Casserole because that was my favorite, and to set the table which I loved doing.  It was an all day affair ending with watching my sister scientifically pull apart her slice of the Mrs. Smiths custard pumpkin pie (per my sister, only this particular pie will do) crust, then pound the pumpkin part down with a fork before gobbling it up.  There was a lot of sitting around, laughing, and, as usual, watching my Mom fiddle with her coffee cup as she sweetly hung onto every word we would say.

Three years and four months ago my Mom passed away from cancer.  

(My Mom holding my daughter right after she was born)

My Mom and I were really close.  Losing this incredibly remarkable woman in my life, who was my biggest fan, conspirator of fun, and, favorite person hands down, still hurts.  And I find myself pondering daily life, asking an invisible person how my jeans look, humming out of no where, and enjoying coffee suddenly-something I never liked before.  And when I make Elaine's Yam and Apple Casserole, those glorious Turkey Day memories with her come flooding back.  So let me tell you what is so amazing about this casserole....It is filled with ingredients that make me happy....sweet potatoes, apples, brown sugar, and marshmallows!  Thanks for letting me share a little about me.                      Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Let's Talk Turkey about Hot Kitchen Stools

Make room for more family in style using one of these hot stools! Since Thanksgiving is all about gathering together, I made a little list of kitchen stools that would add some character and fun this holiday season. Some are on the high end and some are good buys.  Just click on the captions below the pictures to go to the product link.

For a more traditional look the curvy detail in the legs are lovely.

Start your engines!

Love the natural feel with woven rattan seat.

A sleek style that looks comfy.

This modern square back will make a big statement in this yummy hydra blue colored leather.

Add a bit of animal! 

This stool has that modern appeal we are seeing a lot of.

Funky!

Like sitting in a little egg.

I definitely have a 'thing' for this blue color.

Hi Mickey Mouse!

And for those of you who have an upholstered stool already but looking to give it a new life, re-upholster the seat.  Now you may think this would be a big job so to prove how easy it is check out Transforming Home blog who shows you her step by step process.

Remember to catch my news segment this Wednesday on WFMZ-TV's 69 News at Sunrise at 8:40 am.  I will answering two viewer questions and sharing a DIY dresser project I recently completed.