Innehållsförteckning för Celebrate Festive Fall Issue 2011 från Southern Lady

Celebrate. The mere word makes me smile. I loved Halloween as a child. It was an innocent time, when we dressed up in Momma’s jewelry, put on red lipstick, ran doorto- door playing gypsy, and collected all the candy we could in one day! Oh the fun of it—and the competition among the siblings to count the most candy pieces after trickor- treating was fierce. Everyone who knows me knows that I am not a pink girl. I am a red girl! But when it comes to the pink ribbons and celebrating with friends who have overcome breast cancer, I love pink. You’ll like the “after-the-race” brunch I’ve planned. Pink is the color and a reminder of the steps we are taking to conquer this disease. Join in the fun,…

Pumpkin Martini Makes 1 drink Cinnamon-flavored syrup* (optional) Graham cracker crumbs (optional) 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree 2 ounces half-and-half ½ ounce vanilla-flavored vodka ½ ounce spiced rum ½ ounce butterscotch-flavored schnapps ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice Dip rim of a martini glass in cinnamonflavored syrup, then into graham cracker crumbs to coat, if desired. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add pumpkin puree, half-and-half, vanilla vodka, rum, butterscotch schnapps, and pumpkin pie spice. Shake vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds. Strain into prepared martini glass. Serve immediately. *We tested with Monin cinnamon syrup. It’s available where Monin syrups are sold or at moninstore.com.…

Define your brand for the aff air. I like to see each party as an experience. Create an inspiration board, determine the color palette, and define what single element is going to be the thread that ties the experience together. Is it your love for Paris? Or maybe a piece of art? Figure out what you want to share with the group you are gathering, and make sure that “brand” is present in the details. Send a formal invitation. I don’t mind an electronic invite, but I always prefer an invitation that sets the tone for the party—whether it’s a dinner party for eight people or a large event for 100-plus. It’s a way to let guests know you care about creating an experience for them and that this will…

Pumpkin Phyllo Cups Makes 15 servings 3 ounces cream cheese, softened ½ cup canned pumpkin 2 tablespoons minced green onion ½ teaspoon salt 1 (1.9-ounce) package frozen mini phyllo cups, thawed Garnish: Th ai chili sauce, sliced green onion In a medium bowl and using a hand-held electric mixer at medium-high speed, beat cream cheese until fluff y. Add pumpkin to cream cheese. Beat until smooth. Add green onion and salt, stirring to combine. Spoon pumpkin mixture into phyllo cups. Garnish with Th ai chili sauce and green onion, if desired. Note: Th ai chili sauce can be found at grocery stores in the ethnic food aisle. Hot Pumpkin White Chocolate Makes 6 servings 4 cups whole milk 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon…

Each year, we gather our loved ones, rejoice in our blessings, and partake in abundant feasts of mashed potatoes and gravy, casseroles, and dressing—along with any other comfort food that follows family tradition—all arranged around an oversize turkey. Th is Th anksgiving, why not add to your annual customs? Invite more than family members to this year’s gathering. Spreading the cheer to friends—especially those far from home—adds to the grateful spirit of the holiday. When guests arrive, ask them to write on a paper leaf what they are most thankful for (find the template in our Designed for You section). Then, attach the leaf to the Th ankful Tree, easily assembled using gathered branches placed in a tall vase. Set the tree in a prominent spot so everyone can read…

A casual backyard barbecue began the weekend wedding festivities for Kim and Alex Johnson. Set in a family friend’s backyard, the party had an atmosphere that was warm and inviting and exuded casual elegance. Trees boasting rich golds, oranges, and reds surrounded the party area, creating a natural color palette. It was the perfect venue for out-of-town guests and family to gather. A welcome table, featuring framed photos of the couple, and hot apple cider greeted everyone as they arrived. Monogrammed pumpkins carved with the bride’s and groom’s first initials added a unique seasonal touch to the table. To whet guests’ appetites, a chalkboard menu announced the traditional barbecue fare to be served buff et style. Barbecued chicken and pork were off ered, along with the groom’s favorite food, macaroni…

The night I met Matt he was wearing a powder blue suit with a lime green T-shirt. Despite meeting him at a Halloween party in costume as Don Johnson from Miami Vice, I quickly fell head over heels. While I knew early on that this was the man I was going to marry, it took Matt a little while to catch up. But good things do come to those who wait, and it surely did for us. When I look back on our big day, I can’t help but smile and think how completely blessed we were with the most perfect celebration. I don’t like to admit it, but I was defi- nitely the little girl, teenager, and woman who daydreamed about her wedding. Although the daydreams changed over the…

Candy Corn Cupcakes Makes 48 mini cupcakes 1 (18.25-ounce) box white cake mix 1. cups water ? cup vegetable oil 3 egg whites . cup butter, softened 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 5 cups confectioners’ sugar 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream . teaspoon lemon extract Yellow food coloring paste . teaspoon orange extract Orange food coloring paste Garnish: candy corn, white, yellow, and orange jimmies Preheat oven to 325°. Line 2 mini muffin pans with mini liners. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, using 1. cups water, ? cup oil, and 3 egg whites. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake for 11 to 14 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove from pans,…

For me, fall and fun have always been synonymous. The season’s calendar is filled with so many occasions and holidays to celebrate— football games, Halloween, Th anksgiving. But before any of that begins, it’s back to school for the kids. I loved the excitement of going back to school and seeing old friends. But like most kids, I was a little nervous about the upcoming year. To help ease your children into the new school year, check out our backto- school party, a fun lunchtime get-together. We’ve even included a couple of behind-the-scenes shots so you can see our stylist, Jenny Fuller, and test kitchen specialist Loren Wood putting things together. If you love tailgating during the football season, you’re probably always searching for new recipes. You’ll find a few…

To set a party mood, we packed a lunch for each child in a small, red cardboard suitcase and filled little pails with veggies and chips for hungry nibblers. We cut blackboard paper to use as place mats so the kids could write and erase all lunch long. (To protect the table, we did not remove the paper backing that exposes the adhesive.) Zesty Chips and Party Dip Makes 12 servings 3 (10-inch) sun-dried tomato and basil-flavored flour tortillas, cut into 4x1-inch strips 3 (10-inch) garden spinach herbflavored flour tortillas, cut into 4x1-inch strips 3 (10-inch) flour tortillas, cut into 4x1-inch strips ½ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons ranch-flavored seasoning and salad dressing mix 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Party Dip (recipe follows) Preheat…

Those who live near Harpersville, Alabama, need look no further than Old Baker Farm, a 220-acre property with history that stretches back more than 100 years. Run by Jerry Baker and his wife, Pam, it has seen six generations of Bakers and has yielded corn, cotton, tomatoes, okra, watermelon, and, of course, pumpkins. Every year, the Bakers raise about 40,000 pumpkins on a 20-acre plot of their land, resulting in rows and rows of bright orange as far as the eye can see. The patch is open for Fall Harvest on September 24 through the end of October. Visitors—more than 20,000 each year—wander through the vines to choose the pumpkin that’s just right for carving or for displaying as fall décor. But visiting Old Baker Farm is about more than…

Kelley Moore knew early on she had a knack for entertaining. She threw her first party—a surprise birthday bash for her mother— when she was just 9 years old. “I grew up around parents who entertained all the time,” she says. “I realized when I was both watching my parents and becoming a young entertainer that it was a great way to make people happy.” Now, Kelley is a lifestyle and entertaining expert based in Seattle, and her clients have included Microsoft, Getty Images, Lexus, and Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities. She debuted her TV show, Moore to Life, on Seattle’s NBC affiliate KING 5 TV in 2009. And her design tips have been featured on HGTV, The Today Show, Ellen, The View, Rachael Ray, and more. Her book Cube Chic:…

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Make a difference this year by organizing a few friends to participate in a local Race for the Cure. Races typically start early in the morning, so after you’ve crossed the finish line, invite your team over for a pinkthemed brunch to celebrate breast cancer survivors and to honor those fighting the battle. Running isn’t your thing? You can support the cause in other ways (and year-round!) by bowling, golfing, or even cooking. Visit komen.org to find an event near you. Bagel Toppings Lox-smoked salmon Sliced tomatoes Sliced red onion Capers Berry Cream Cheese (recipe follows) Herb Cream Cheese (recipe follows) Berry Cream Cheese Spread Makes approximately 2 cups 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened ¼ cup coarsely chopped raspberries ¼ cup coarsely…

Savory Biscotti Makes 4 dozen biscotti 2. cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder . teaspoon freshly ground black pepper . teaspoon kosher salt . cup butter, softened 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 large eggs, divided . cup buttermilk . cup chopped fresh rosemary . cup finely chopped oil-cured black olives . cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes 1 tablespoon wate In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, pepper, and salt. Add butter, and beat mixture at medium speed with an electric mixer until mixture resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, 2 eggs, and buttermilk. Gradually add milk mixture to flour mixture, mixing to combine. Add rosemary, olives, and tomatoes, stirring to combine.Turn mixture out onto a lightly floured surface. Preheat oven to 350°.…

When Helen O’Hagan’s cousins told her they wanted to throw her an 80th birthday bash, she had only one request: that it be just like the family parties she attended during her childhood in Charleston, South Carolina. (For this special gathering, Helen would fly down from New York, where she has lived since 1955.) Because her cousin Mariana Hay (who is more like her niece) now lives in the home where Helen spent much of her time growing up, that was easy to pull off . Mariana and her sister Rhett invited three generations over to celebrate 80 years of Helen’s life. They even gathered around the table that had been in the house since Helen was a girl. “I celebrated many, many meals at that table,” Helen says. “It…

Autumn Table Page 14–plates and glasses, Pottery Barn Back 2 School Lunch Page 23–red mini suitcases, Paper Source; milk bottles (Frappuccino bottles), Starbucks; striped straws, Shop Sweet Lulu Page 24–chalkboard place mats, Resources for Reading Page 29–apple erasers, rulers, pencils, Parent-Teacher Store Bibbity Bobbity Bunco Page 33–Trick or Treat wine, World Market Page 34–black vodka, Blavod Brunch for the Cure Page 50–drinking glasses, Bed Bath & Beyond; place mats/card stock, Hobby Lobby; silverware and plates, Target Page 52–pink ribbon pins and stickers, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, north-central Alabama Give Thanks Page 59–square wood plates, Table Matters; round plates and silverware, Target; wineglasses and water glasses, Bed, Bath & Beyond; napkins, Bodrum; lantern, Pottery Barn Page 61–wooden pencils, Patina; round wooden platter, Table Matters; wine bucket, candleholder, The Nesting…