Last Minute Party Preparations

I always joke that the better the party I throw, the worse I look when my guests show up. I’ve gotten better at getting ready way in advance so I don’t look like a madwoman. However, I do have a little routine I go through before the party starts. Even though I make sure the house is clean the day before, right before the guests begin showing up, I will do a quick “walk through.” Basically, I pretend I am a guest in my own home. I try to think about what would make people more comfortable and then go around sprucing things up.

Current Obsession: Monogrammed Cloth Napkins

I love shopping estate sales, thrift shops and tag sales -- I get a thrill out of saving money. A few years back, on a cold fall morning, as I was digging my way through a lovely old home here in Dallas, I came across a treasure trove of cloth napkins with our initials monogrammed on them. I could not believe my luck and I bought all of them before anyone else saw the wonderful prize I had found.

Happy Thanksgiving 2016

This morning, as I find myself in the kitchen cooking and preparing for our family to join us later in the day (and Mr.P is drinking his coffee while THE parade plays in the background) I turn my mind to the things that I'm most thankful for this year. 

Our Favorite Cinnamon-y & Sugar-y Treats Round-Up

I've still got the cinnamon-sugar coated sopapillas on my mind after dinner last night. Are you in the baking mood? Do you love the cinnamon-sugar combo as much as me? Here is a list of some of our favorite cinnamon-y and sugar-y treats that would be perfect to bake for the holidays or any day! Follow the links and enjoy.

Plan a Large Outdoor Cookout with FIX

The good people at FIX.com contacted me about their new party planning illustrations. Grilling expert and founder of Grilling 24X7, John Thomas, breaks down how to host a successful cookout for a crowd! I thought with Labor Day upon us, I'd play along and share their very informative illustrations and post. John makes planning and throwing an outdoor BBQ simple and fun. So call your friends and family, turn on your grills and get to grilling people -- and enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

Valentine’s Gifts for Friends and Family

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about roses and romance. Take the opportunity to show your family members and dearest friends how much they’re loved and admired with a thoughtful gift they’ll cherish well past Valentine's Day.

MY FAVORITE THINGS - DECEMBER

The definition of “joy” is widely subjective, but most people would agree that the end of the year holds a special place in their lives. Whether it's because of family and fudge, or snow angels and holiday parties, December is a joyous time. For me, it really is the "most wonderful time of the year". I find joy in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping - yes it's true - and hot chocolate in front of the fire after that long day at the mall, the sound of Santas on the corner as they ring their bells and call out "Merry Christmas" to those who pass by and mistletoe hung where you can see. Bright Christmas lights, whimsical department store windows, cookie decorating parties and the smell of fresh cut evergreens at the local tree lot. Quaint Christmas carolers, the look of my breath as it hangs in the cold December air and if we're really lucky, the crunch of snow under our boots on Christmas Day. What's NOT to love about December? It means family. It means giving. And most of all it means the Christ child. The Son of God was born of a virgin, sent to us as THE gift of Salvation. Love came down, bringing all of mankind our ultimate JOY! What a truly remarkable time of year to celebrate His coming! This is my definition of December joy, what's yours?

If you'd like the individual links to my favorite things, you can find them here.

Thanksgiving Is Fast Approaching! Here's My Easy Plan Ahead Timeline

I'm a firm believer in planning ahead, hey I have already started buying Christmas gifts! It's never too early. If you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends this year, advanced planning is a must. Don't let a long Thanksgiving to-do list overwhelm you at the last minute; here are some things you can do in the weeks leading up to the big day to keep your to-do list under control.

Remember when.... Halloween 2008

When your children leave home weird things happen. Some days Mr.P and I act like teenagers; giddy that we have the house all to ourselves. Some days we're so busy I forget that E is off at college. But when it comes to days like Halloween, which my children love, I really miss them. There are no costumes to make, parties to throw, or giggles and screams to listen to. So this is where I found myself today. 

When it came time for Ms.B's weekly 'bath' and grooming session, I was missing the kids. A light bulb went off and I remembered I had made little Halloween hats for my pumpkin boo bags. I just knew they would fit Ms.B perfectly. I quickly hot glued some ribbon to one of the hats, grabbed my camera and tied this little witches hat to Ms.B. Isn't she cute?

Carving The Perfect Halloween Pumpkin!

If you haven't carved up your Jack-O'-Lantern this year, no worries—there is still time! Here are 7 simple step-by-step instructions to creating a great Halloween pumpkin that you will  be proud to place on your windowsill or front porch. So, go forth my friends and CARVE!

TIN ROOF CHOCOLATE PIE

I know when it comes to desserts, right now 'salted' caramel is all the rage. And to be sure, it's good, but why not take it up a notch with this chocolate, caramel, salted peanut confection. It is the dessert to beat in this particular category, and one of my favorites.

Hosting A Dinner Party

If we want to be connected with the people around us, we need to be willing to make room in our world for others. I’m the first to admit that into days busy world, throwing a dinner party is not on the top of my list. So when it comes to entertaining friends and family, it takes some planning. Today I’m sharing a few simple principles for planning and hosting a casual dinner party, whether seasonal, during the holidays or anytime of year.

Weekly Reflections — September 13, 2014

I was under the impression that once all the kids flew away, and our home became an empty nest, Mr.P and I would have so much more time on our hands. It is strangely NOT the case. We are more busy now than ever, maybe not with

Essential Kitchen Equipment For The Make-Ahead Cook

Everyone knows the benefits of home cooking—tastier, healthier meals and significant savings. But some nights there's just no time to make dinner from scratch. Below are a few essentials of top-performing gear, from freezer bags to casserole

Weekly Reflections — August 23, 2014

It's been a few weeks since I shared what's been going on in the Porter household. I have been crazy busy getting child number two back to college. Now that the dust has settled, Mr.P and I are back to our regular schedule. So for a quick update, here we go.

Mr.P's Favorite Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans

Family recipes are our most favorite foods.  We've made them so many times that we don't even need a recipe to follow. Do you have recipes from your mother, mother-in-law, aunts, grandmothers? Are your family recipes filed in a recipe box, stuck between the pages of a cookbook, shoved in a kitchen drawer or like me...in a huge accordion file folder? Do you have written copies of family recipes to pass on to your children and grandchildren? I have to say that I LOVE written recipes the best! I enjoy baking a cake from a recipe that my grandmother wrote out by hand. I somehow feel more connected to her, almost as if she were in the kitchen instructing me on how to make 7 minute frosting.

My niece and her little family live in Maine, her husband is in the Navy. During the holidays we enjoy putting her on  speaker phone or Skype while we are in the kitchen cooking. It helps us keep that bond across the miles. In the early years of her marriage we would talk her through some of the family favorites but now she knows exactly what she's doing and she is doing it quite well.

Jared, our oldest, is a great cook.

L-R..Steph, my sister; Gloria aka MeMe and or mother, and then me..Ronda.

Hand-written recipes are a special gift from past generations and a part of our family history. If we don't preserve them for the next generation these wonderful pieces of history will end with us. Depending on how much time and effort you are willing to spend dictates your method of preservation. You could have them all printed up into a spiral cookbook. You have seen these, every little church has one. You could use pictures of your grandmother or mother at the stove along with their recipes. I might do this someday, but for now I am just scanning recipes. Mr.P has been after me for YEARS to type them up on the computer. I think the need to preserve my  family's recipes is one of the reasons I started blogging. When I post recipes, sometimes there's a story that comes along with it, that's what I want my children and grandchildren to know. They didn't have the privilege of knowing all of their grandmothers, and this food, these recipes will connect generations of our family. I am SO thankful that the young ones in our family enjoy cooking and spending time in the kitchen. They are eager to learn and I'm equally eager to teach them. 

Most of my old recipes have been ripped out of magazines. This  is a scan of a meatloaf recipe I tore out of a magazine back in 1994. It is a staple here at Porter South. Nothing fancy and really easy to prepare. Who knows someday this may be a recipe Elizabeth cooks for her family!

If you have a meatloaf pan use it. It will keep your meatloaf from sitting in fat. If you don't have a meatloaf pan you can buy an aluminum loaf pan and poke holes in the bottom, then sit this down inside your loaf pan. When I take the meatloaf out of the oven to add the glaze I drain off as much fat as I can. It helps the meatloaf to brown on the sides. This is something I do but most definitely not a requirement.

ROASTED GREEN BEANS
These roasted green beans are heavenly. I like my green beans a little crunchy, like at the Chinese buffet! They pair well with this meatloaf. Round out your meal with homemade mashed potatoes. YUM! I think I'm in love!! I know Mr.P is! Hope your family enjoys as well.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound fresh whole green beans
• 6 cloves of garlic
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chopped tarragon
• 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard

WHAT TO DO

• Toss 1 pound green beans on a baking sheet with 6 smashed garlic cloves, 1/4 cup water and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Roast at 450 degrees F until the beans are tender and slightly charred, about 20 minutes. 
• Toss with a teaspoons of each: chopped tarragon and whole-grain mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove the garlic unless you like to eat them whole.

  MASHED POTATOES

INGREDIENTS

• 2 - 2 1/2 pounds Russet Potatoes
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 3/4 cups Butter
• 1/2 cup to 3/4 cups Half-and-Half

WHAT TO DO

• Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and the potatoes. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until a fork easily slides into the potatoes with no resistance, and the potatoes should almost fall apart.
• Drain the potatoes and add the butter. Mash, mash, mash! Slowly add the half and half, stir and taste for seasoning. You can add more salt and pepper if you like.
• Stir well and place in a medium-sized baking dish. Throw a few pats of butter over the top of the potatoes and place them in a 350-degree oven and heat until butter is melted and potatoes are warmed through.

Start writing down your families recipes and cooking traditions for your children and your children's children...

...you'll be glad ya  did!

ENJOY!

~THE DOMESTIC CURATOR~
RONDA

MR.P~ my sweetie pea!

RED VELVET BROWNIES

'Tis the season to satisfy your sweet tooth, right? From candy to cookies to cakes, everyone has their favorite Christmas sweet. It's no stretch to say that my family LOVES Red Velvet Cake. It's the most requested cake in our family. 

There's nothing more festive than ending your Christmas dinner with a beautiful and stately Red Velvet Cake. This year I have decided to shake things up a bit and make Red Velvet Brownies instead of cake. Sacrilege! I know. I will keep you posted on how this goes over with the family. Fingers crossed. Red velvet brownies are a bite-size version of the classic cake we all love so well. Top it with cream cheese frosting and you've got yourself the ultimate holiday dessert! This already sounds like the kind of thing that will be calling me at night!

Versatile Chocolate Chip Cookies, Baking Tips and Ideas

Last night Mr.P and I were ALONE! It was sheer heaven. What did we do? We baked cookies by candle and twinkle lights. With our favorite Christmas tunes playing on the stereo and just the right lighting we had an absolutely wonderful time in the kitchen. I would highly recommend this to anyone in need of a little Christmastime romance with your sweetie.

I keep this cookie dough in the freezer, most of the time.

Meet my trusty 'cookie' scoop. 

It makes perfectly-sized cookies, consistent every time!

COZY CHRISTMAS JAMMIE'S

Christmas pajamas, a holiday tradition I love, probably because they remind me of snuggly kiddos all clean and warm from their baths, cuddles by the fire and happy smiles as they open gifts.

However finding the perfect Christmas Eve Jammie's for your family can be a bit of a challenge especially if you are looking for a particular color, a style that works for boys and girls, in a range of sizes and reasonably priced. No one wants to spend a small fortune on PJ's, specifically during the Christmas season. Personally, I try to keep ours priced under $15-$20 a pair. Here's what I have found this year. ENJOY!

Christmas Eve Party-In-A-Box

This has to be one of the best ideas I have come across in quite some time. My kids and their sweeties will adore this little extra special gift on Christmas Eve. This all-in-one surprise in a box is easy to pull together at the last minute. If you happen to find yourself wandering your local Walmart, brain dead from the mad dash you have been on since Thanksgiving, look up and add these  items to your basket and start a new family tradition.