Oh, gravy!... Boat!

Check out Elle Decor's picks for the best saucey server! 

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... live beautifully.

Thanksgiving Entertaining.. Part Deux!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I say this not only due to the delicious food and the gathering of family and friends, but because of the fall season. I am left breathless every year when the lush, vibrant, green leaves of summer distort to the crisp, rich, warm tones of the fall.

In the fall, mother nature showcases a palette of colors ranging from muted hues of beige, to punched up persimmon and rich saturated tones of garnet, maroon and plumb. Mother nature has inspired me to bring the outdoors in during this season and there is no better time to highlight how beautiful nature is than at Thanksgiving. 

When creating a table setting for Thanksgiving, or any other fall gathering, I love using organic items found right outside my door! There is so much charm in the novelty and rustic beauty of nature, when mixed with stark china the contrast is stunning! 

These place card holders eco-friendly and inexpensive. The directions are quite simple, making this a great project to do with the kids! Below I have attached a template if you wish to cut out leaves as your name tags. 

• Simply select a small pear, gourd, pumpkin, or something mother nature placed in your yard, like a sweet-gum-tree spur!
• Cut out the shape of your choice (a leaf is my pick!) out of card stock
• Punch a hole in the card stock
• Write the names of your guest on the leaves 
• Cut 3" to 4" of ribbon, or for a more rustic design, twine works great!
• Lace the ribbon or twine through the name tag and fasten to your item 

Let the fall season inspire you! And as always... live beautifully!

Thanksgiving Entertaining

At Inspired Interiors we love to entertain as much as we love to design! With Thanksgiving only a few days away I wanted to share with you some of my favorite Turkey Day recipes. 

Apple-Pie Cider

This is not your grandmother's apple pie! This holiday drink is savory, sweet and with a hint of brandy, sophisticate!

Ingredients:

1 1/4 quarts apple cider
3 tablespoons firmly packed light-brown sugar
7 whole cinnamon sticks, (6 sticks for garnish)
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Ground cloves
Freshly grated nutmeg
Salt
1/2 cup brandy (optional)

Directions:

In a medium saucepan, whisk together cider, sugar, spices, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Remove from heat; pour in brandy, if desired. Strain into a pitcher; discard solids. Serve in mugs, garnished with cinnamon sticks.

Stuffed Mushrooms

These stuffed mushrooms are a perfect appetizer when you are entertaining. The bite-sized caps are packed full of flavor and you can customize your filling as you like!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Italian-style dried bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano

2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

28 large (2 1/2-inch-diameter) white mushrooms, stemmed

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Stir the bread crumbs, Pecorino Romano, garlic, parsley, mint, salt and pepper, to taste, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium bowl to blend.

Drizzle a heavy large baking sheet with about 1 tablespoon olive oil, to coat. Spoon the filling into the mushroom cavities and arrange on the baking sheet, cavity side up. Drizzle remaining oil over the filling in each mushroom. Bake until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is heated through and golden on top, about 25 minutes. Serve.


So gather your friends and family and celebrate all you are thankful for, and as always live beautifully!


Up next... Table settings and Tablescapes for your Thanksgiving Dinner!

What Inspires You?

in·spi·ra·tion

 noun \ˌin(t)-spə-ˈrā-shən, -(ˌ)spi-\

a : a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and  communicate a sacred revelationb : the action or power of moving the intellect or emotionsc : the act of influencing or suggesting opinions

As defined, inspiration moves humans to action. In life individuals gain inspiration from many influences, some including: faith, spirituality, literature and nature. Inspiration often is the motivating force driving a person in his or her journey of life.

In design, inspiration can come from the same influences which fuel an individuals personal life, or inspiration can be drawn from a pre-existing piece of work or artist. 

The purpose at Inspired Interiors, is to create a space for clients where the form of the design benefits the function of the space.  The inspiration of the room(s) is obtained directly from the client, this is why I value the relationships I've built with my clients. The more I know about you and those who will be occupying the space, the more successful the final design is. 

Your home should not only be an inspired space, but it should inspire you. That it my goal, that is my inspiration. 

What inspires you?