The "S" Word

Yep.  I'm just going to say it.  The "S" word, that is.  Stuffing.  Oh, you didn't know that's what I was talking about?  For those of you who live in the north, this may not be such a bad word, but down south, we make dressing.  Any other description is an insult.  Stuffing is that stuff that comes in a box at the grocery story.  No good Southern cook would dare...

This morning on the Today Show (which I still think was hands down better with Meredith), they did a segment on "stuffing" with Giada De Laurentiis.  She described her first recipe as "traditional."  It's main ingredients were Ciabatta bread and pancetta.  *I about died.*  Fortunately, she later clarified that it was a traditional Italian stuffing...who knew Italy celebrated Thanksgiving? Anyway...

So, what's on your menu this year?  It's just the two of us for Thanksgiving, so we're having exactly what we both like best: a homemade honey baked ham (using this recipe), chicken and dressing, creamed potatoes (I can debate creamed v. mashed with you, too), Kraft deluxe macaroni and cheese, Southern green beans and rolls.  And for dessert, a caramel and sea salt cheesecake I found through Pinterest.  Hopefully, it will turn out well enough to be worth it's own post next week.  And, yep, you probably noticed the absence of turkey.  I'm just not a big fan. 

I'm not sure how I'll decorate the table this year.  Makes it more complicated with just two place settings.  Here are a few shots from last year, though.  Oh, well.  Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

More Fall Decor - Pumpkins!

Just wanted to share a few more shots of the touches of fall I added last weekend~

Pumpkin Planters

My goal for the weekend was to add a bit of fall to our house.  I generally am not one to over decorate for holidays--Christmas excluded--but this year with the hot summer we had (and still seem to be having) I thought that a little fall decor might make me feel like the seasons were actually changing.  After a trip to our local garden center and a stop at Michael's, I headed back home to start on my pumpkin planters. 

Here's how you can make your own pumpkin planters!

Start with faux pumpkins.  (I hate the work "fake"; "faux" sounds so much better!)  I picked mine up at Michael's.  You can probably also get them at Garden Ridge.  I bought a large and a medium size.  First step is to cut the top off.  We tried a few different methods, but in the end, the large kitchen knife worked the best.  Of course, you could use real pumpkins (and, they're cheaper than the faux kind), but I'm not sure how long they'll stay fresh enough to support your plants. 

Next step is to drill holes in the bottom.  You're going to fill them with dirt, so you'll need the water to drain out when you water your plants.  

Next, place a few rocks in the bottom.  I do this with all of my planters.  It helps the water drain easily.

Add enough dirt to support your plants.

I used one 6" Croton in each pot plus enough pansies to fill out the rest of the space.

And, viola~

Have you decorated for fall yet?  Please share your ideas in the comments section below!