Innehållsförteckning för November - December Christmas Very Special Holiday 2017 från Southern Lady

We Southerners hold our traditions close to our hearts, and never more so than at Christmastime. As our Southern Lady team put together this special holiday issue, with page after page of familiar Yuletide motifs, sweet temptations, tablescapes inspired by classic carols, and more, it kindled a sense of nostalgia for the Christmas customs that each one of us has come to cherish. For assistant editor Elizabeth Bonner Czapski, travel is the common thread that ties together her family’s holiday festivities, such as an annual father-daughter New York getaway followed by trips to Michigan and Texas to share in a regional mix of merrymaking with her and her husband’s kith and kin. Our lead stylist, Tracey Runnion, and her family venture to the local farmers’ market every year to find…

wintry fairyland Infuse a refined tablescape with a dash of childhood wonder, drawing inspiration from an enchanted sleigh ride and a classic Christmas scheme. Abundant notes of red and white bring a neutral backdrop to life. Atop snowy-white table settings, salad plates depict a horse-drawn sleigh in winter woods. On the sideboard, a magical scene plays out as reindeer prepare to take flight with Santa’s sleigh, filled with gifts of evergreens, red ranunculus, and roses. nice and rosy Along the center of the table, a lineup of patinaed compote bowls adds depth to the display with red amaryllis, roses, cedar, and glowing white taper candles. Distinctive red glassware instills a festive feel. A flocked tree covered in coordinating ornaments and flickering lights brightens the room, while a boxwood wreath…

sleigh bells ring “The Byrd family never met a Christmas they didn’t love,” says designer Cindy Barganier, who helps Sally and Lomax Byrd ready their home for the holidays. “We start talking about Christmas in March.” The residence sits amid a pecan orchard with 60 acres of rolling hills and valleys in the south Alabama hamlet of Brantley, and Cindy took her decorating cues from the glorious setting. She and her team covered a fresh 12-foot tree with handblown glass balls in shades of cream, bronze, and green. Long, flowing icicles hang on the outer branches and a tree topper made from six types of greenery completes the scene. Cindy painted the wrapping paper used on gifts below in free-form patterns that blend sepia and leafy hues. On the…

Parsnips Au Gratin MAKES 8 TO 10 SERVINGS 2 pounds parsnips, peeled and thinly sliced 1½ cups shredded Gruyère cheese, divided 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 medium Vidalia onion, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups heavy whipping cream 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 1½ teaspoons kosher salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom Garnish: chopped fresh rosemary, ground black pepper 1. Preheat oven to 400°. Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. 2. Place parsnips in an even layer in bottom of prepared pan. Sprinkle with ¼ cup cheese. Repeat layers, using remaining parsnips and all but ¼ cup cheese. 3. In a small Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and…

sparkle & shine Instead of discarding the remains of your ribbon creations, gather miscellaneous clippings and tie them together for a finish that’s as unique as a snowflake. Embossed white paper makes the perfect backdrop for this festive display of lovely leftovers. past meets present Repurpose a cherished collection of holiday greeting cards by fastening them to this year’s gifts. Wrap a piece of solid-color ribbon around a wrapped package, and use transparent tape to keep both ends in place on top. Affix double-sided tape to the back of the Christmas card and gently press it onto the center of the gift, conveniently hiding the ribbon’s seams. mix & match Layer elegant accents in shades of turquoise and brown to create a sophisticated scheme. After wrapping each gift with paper…

gifts of the magi Borrow from a tale of the season’s wisest men, and set a table with an imaginative scheme rooted in Oriental splendor. Strands of evergreen mixed with olive branches evoke the air of the East, spilling forth from a chandelier while also serving as a verdant base along the center of the table. King and camel figurines from a porcelain nativity scene rest amid the greenery, gilded ornaments, and glowing candles. Coordinating arrangements feature Star of Bethlehem bulbs along with lilies and white anemones. Lovely glass icicle ornaments hung from bows of golden ribbon dress the backs of the chairs. floral finery Coalport Indian Tree china echoes the fresh blossoms around the room with a distinctive motif that depicts the natural beauty of the Magi’s native land.…

tableau aglow When Robin and Jimmy Parnell moved into their Maplesville, Alabama, home last year, they continued the momentum they had going with designer Cindy Barganier and began work on a Christmas open house. In the dining room, purple and lavendar provide a nontraditional scheme with a royal touch, appearing in vintage Depression glass and in an arrangement of roses, privet berries, baby eggplant, and calla lilies. Robin’s love for music inspired chair-back accents featuring antique Christmas carol sheets. holiday hearth “The family had dreamed of this home for many years, but had never really gone all out for Christmas before,” Cindy says. “I worked to create new traditions for them.” In the living room, an asymmetrical swag takes center stage on the mantel, including a mix of Douglas fir,…

Pear-Ginger Cider MAKES ABOUT 6 CUPS 8 cups pear nectar ¾ cup fresh ginger, chopped 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon allspice berries 1 teaspoon ground cardamom Garnish: chopped Bartlett pears 1. In a large Dutch oven, bring pear nectar, ginger, sugar, allspice, and cardamom to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain, discarding ginger and allspice. Serve warm. Garnish with pears, if desired. Mulled Wine MAKES ABOUT 10 SERVINGS 2 (750-ml) bottles Zinfandel ½ cup sugar ½ cup vanilla vodka 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon whole cloves 5 star anise pods 5 cardamom pods 1 cinnamon stick 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped and reserved Garnish: cinnamon sticks 1. In a large Dutch oven, bring all ingredients to…

Cranberry-Pistachio Cookies with Coconut and White Chocolate MAKES ABOUT 66 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 2½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ¾ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 (11-ounce) bag white chocolate morsels 1½ cups sweetened flaked coconut 1 cup roasted salted pistachios, chopped 1 cup dried cranberries 1 tablespoon sea salt 1. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars with a mixer at medium speed until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. With mixer on…

Chocolate Truffles MAKES 36 3 (4-ounce) bars semisweet chocolate, chopped ¾ cup bittersweet chocolate morsels 6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam, room temperature 1 tablespoon orange liqueur* ½ teaspoon coconut extract 1 (16-ounce) package chocolate-flavored candy coating ¼ cup freeze-dried raspberries, crushed ¼ cup roasted salted pistachios, finely chopped ¼ cup sweetened flaked coconut 1. In a microwave-safe medium bowl, microwave chopped chocolate, chocolate morsels, and cream on high in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until chocolate is melted and smooth (1½ to 2 minutes total). Divide chocolate mixture among 3 small bowls. 2. To first bowl, stir raspberry jam into warm chocolate mixture. To second bowl, stir orange liqueur into warm chocolate mixture. To third bowl, stir coconut extract into warm chocolate mixture. Cover each…

family ties For Rob and Mary Beth Howland, preparing their new Mountain Brook home for the holidays was a natural extension of the decorating process they had just completed. They let their home décor guide them, choosing tree ornaments to complement the azure hues of the living room rug and playing up the airy Mediterranean feel with bright bouquets of Mary Beth’s favorite white lilies. Every Thanksgiving, the Howlands give each of their three children a silver ornament to add to the tree. When the children move out on their own, their personal collections will serve as sentimental holiday decorations for their future homes. bright beauty The breakfast nook is a hub of activity during the family’s holiday gatherings—from the Howlands’ annual Christmas party to fundraisers like the Independent…

Vidalia Onion-Stuffed Peppers MAKES 24 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 cups chopped Vidalia onion 1 cup shredded Emmentaler cheese ¾ cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon hot sauce ½ teaspoon kosher salt 12 mini sweet peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Garnish: chopped fresh parsley 1. Preheat oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly. 3. In a medium bowl, combine cooked onion, Emmentaler, mayonnaise, hot sauce, and salt. Spoon onion mixture into sweet pepper halves, and place on prepared pan. Sprinkle with Parmesan. 4. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Increase oven to broil. Return peppers to oven,…

Cover Photography by Jim Bathie; Wreath by Tracey MacMillan Runnion. All Wrapped Up Pages 11-16: Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele; Styling by Tracey MacMillan Runnion; Text by Ashley Shaw. Goodies to Give Pages 17-22: Photography by Stephanie Welbourne Steele; Recipe Development and Food Styling by Anita Spain; Text by Mona Moore. Through the Woods Pages 25-30: Photography by Mac Jamieson; Styling by Tracey MacMillan Runnion; Text by Mona Moore. Resources: Spode Woodland Salad Plate, Cup & Saucer, Salt & Pepper Shakers, and Tureen, Boradallo Pinheiro New Vine Dinner Plate, Bill Goldsmith Faux Bois Green Service Plate, Match Pewter Classic Iced Tea Glass; Replacements, Ltd. Fit for a King Pages 31-36: Photography by Mac Jamieson; Styling by Tracey MacMillan Runnion; Text by Elizabeth Bonner Czapski. Resources: Coalport Indian Tree Multi Scalloped…