RED, WHITE & GREEN SILK FLORAL CENTERPIECE

Although my favorite time of year is Christmastime, it has to be one of my least favorite seasons weather-wise.  I hate, hate, hate cold weather.  So for the past few years between Christmas and New Years my husband and I head for Hilton Head for a week right after Christmas.  He plays golf and I do what I do best, which is shop.  Hey, we all know that is a sport!  Then at night we reconvene and visit friends. I love driving into their driveways with their front yards filled with palm trees and Christmas lights.  Now I'm not quite sure why I love palm trees so much, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with warm weather and vacation, and it doesn't get any better then when they are decked out with lights for the holidays.

Upon returning home, the closest I could come to being reminded of my beloved subtropical holiday decor is by making a silk floral arrangement filled with some of my favorite reds, whites and greens that are indigenous to the tropics. So if you need a little warming up right now as I do, try making this simple but elegant centerpiece.

                                                             * MATERIALS

                                             Container/Vase (Pictured is 6" square)
                     Dry Foam (Sized to fit in bottom of container - Pictured is 4" square)

                                                     2 Vertical/Standing Orchids

                                                    3 Horizontal/Leaning Orchids

                                                                  5 Lilies
                        

                                                           3 Spiked Flowers
                                        

                                                            1 Bamboo Bush 

*I bought all the materials from Michael's.  If you are in no hurry to make this, Michael's has floral department sales about 3-4 times a year at 40-50% off.

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1:  Secure dry foam in bottom of container/vase.  Measuring and cutting it to fit snugly into the container/vase is one way to secure it.  Since I am mathematically challenged, I used a piece of duct tape to secure mine.  Other ways to to secure it is with floral tape.

STEP 2:  Cut one vertical/standing orchid so that the top part is 18" tall. Insert into the middle of the dry foam.

                                                                View Front

STEP 3:  Cutting lily stems...
               Cut two stems so they are 10" long each, not including flower.
               Cut one stem so it is 9" long, not including flower.
               Cut one stem so it is 8" long, not including flower.
               Cut one stem so it is 6" long, not including flower.
               Insert one 10" stem to right or east of orchid at 2 o'clock.
               Insert one 10" stem in back or north of orchid at 11 o'clock.
               Insert 9" stem to left or west of orchid at 9 o'clock.
               Insert 8" stem  to southwest of orchid at 7 o'clock.
               Insert 6" stem in front or south of orchid at 5 o'clock.

                                                              View Top Front

                                                View Top Front (slightly lower angle)

                                                       View Front (lower angle)

                                                                  View Back

                                                         View Back (lower angle)

STEP 4:  Cutting stems of spiked flowers...
               Cut one stem so it is 9" long, not including flower.
               Cut one stem so it is 8" long, not including flower.
               Cut one stem so it is 7" long, not including flower.
               Insert 9" spike slightly behind center orchid at 11 o'clock.
               Insert 8" spike in front of orchid at 6 o'clock.
               Insert 7" spike behind orchid at 2 o'clock.

                                                            View Top Front

                                                   View Top Front (lower angle)

                                                              View Back

STEP 5:   Cut bamboo bush stems apart, leaving 1" stems each.
                Insert in spaces in between orchid, lilies and spiked flowers.

                                                                 View Front

                                                                 View Back

STEP 6:   Cut 2nd orchid in half  approximately 10" each.  Insert one piece directly behind the center 18" orchid.  Insert second piece below the first 10" piece at 5 o'clock at more of a horizontal angle.

                                                                View Back

STEP 7:   Cut the top part of the three horizontal/leaning orchids approximately 10-12" long.  
                (You will not need the bottom part of each orchid stem. I discarded mine.)
                Insert one top part in the back near the bottom of the arrangement at about 11 o'clock.
                Insert one on the left side near the bottom of the arrangement at about 8 o'clock.
                Insert one on the right side near the bottom of the arrangement at about 4 o'clock.

               

                                          View Front (Look at bottom left & right)

Yay!  Your arrangement is now complete.  Please remember this is an art not a science.  You may still need to tweak it to get it exactly the way you want it.  

PLEASE NOTE:  I have also translated this centerpiece into other colorful variations.  I used peach tones in the arrangement pictured below.  

                                                              MATERIALS

                                                    3 Vertical/Standing Orchids
                                                                 10 Lilies
                                                              1 Berry Bush
                                                            1 Bamboo Bush

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1-3:  Same as above.
STEP 4:  Instead of using spiked flowers I used the additional 5 lilies.
STEP 5:  Same as Step 5 above but cut apart the berry bush also and insert as well.
STEP 6:  Cut the remaining two vertical/standing orchids into 3 even parts each.
               Insert the 6 pieces in the bottom section.

                                        ~ Have fun creating your own customized centerpiece ~
                                                                    ~ Debbie ~

Want more Christmas ideas?  Please click below...
Christmas by Debbie
                                                 

KNEELING SANTA - A SWEET SWEET GIFT

I am unapologetic about my love for all things Christmas whether it be religious or secular.  But, like many people I find it very easy to get caught up in the commercial aspect of the season.  This precious little figurine of Santa humbly bowing before Baby Jesus is a gentle reminder for me of the true meaning of Christmas when it starts getting too hectic. 

This precious 4" figurine makes a sweet gift for yourself and/or someone on your list.  If you are interested in reading more about it or purchasing it, please click below...

Fontanini Santa Kneeling with Christ Child Figurine

                                                              ~ Debbie ~

Want more gift ideas?  Please click below...
Pineapples & Palm Trees

CHRISTMAS BRUSCHETTA

Bruschetta is the perfect holiday appetizer with its festive mix of red tomatoes and green basil.  From a purist point of view this simple and original Italian recipe is what bruschetta is all about.  It comes straight from Italy by way of my daughter's friend, Lauren, who studied abroad.  She says the key to its delicious taste is in its fresh ingredients.  Served over a sliced and toasted baguette (whole wheat or multigrain even better),  it is a lick the platter clean holiday hors d'oeuvre!  Thank you Lauren :-) !

                                                            INGREDIENTS

 1 French Bread Baguette

6 Tomatoes

2 Cloves Garlic

10 Leaves Fresh Basil

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

STEP 1:  Chop tomatoes.

STEP 2:  Chop basil.

STEP 3:  Chop garlic.

STEP 4:  Mix tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, salt & pepper together.

STEP 5:  Slice baguette on a diagonal angle and toast.

STEP 6:  Once toasted generously spoon bruschettta on top of baguette slices and serve.

NOTE:  This is an appetizer that cannot be made too far in advance of your guests arrival.  I usually like to have most of my menu prepared the day ahead of time.  But, bruschetta has to be made the day of and then hold off on placing it on the baguette until right before the guests arrive.  

                                                             Buon Appetito!
                                                                ~Debbie~

Want more recipe ideas?  Please click below...
Pineapples & Palm Trees 

POPPY SEED BREAD

This delicious loaf bread recipe comes straight from my mother's kitchen.  She has made it for years for her Christmas Church Bazaar, and it sells out as as fast as it hits the shelves.  And rightly so, my daughter and her husband call it "Sugar Cookie" bread because they say it tastes very much like a sugar cookie.  This sweet loaf gets its tanginess from the citrusy orange glaze that is drizzled over its top while still hot from the oven.  Once cooled, the glaze seals the bread keeping it moist for days.  It makes for a scrumptious homemade gift or the perfect guilty pleasure when you wake up to a cold winter morning! 

                                                              INGREDIENTS 

                                                                     Bread

                                                        3 cups all-purpose flour
                                                                 2 cups sugar
                                                                     3 eggs
                                                        1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
                                                                1 1/2 tsp. salt
                                                         1 1/2 tbsp. poppy seeds
                                                               1 1/2 cups milk
                                                          3/4 cup vegetable oil
                                                        1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
                                                        1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
                                                        1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring

                                                               Orange Glaze

                                                                3/4 cup sugar
                                                          1/4 cup orange juice
                                                         1/2 tsp vanilla extract
                                                         1/2 tsp almond extract

Makes 5 mini loaves or 1 - 5"x9" loaf

NOTE:  For gift giving you can buy aluminum mini loaf pans at most grocery stores.  The mini loaf pans that I used were ceramic from Michaels.

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1:  Preheat oven at 350 degrees.  Then combine all 11 ingredients for bread in large bowl and hand mix until thoroughly blended.

STEP 2:  Spoon batter into greased loaf pan/pans filling to 1/2" from top of pan.

STEP 3:  Bake for 1 hour if using a 5"x9" loaf pan, 45 minutes for ceramic mini loaf pans or 35-40 minutes for  aluminum mini loaf pans.  Test for "doneness" using a toothpick.  Insert toothpick in the middle of the mini loaf.  When pulling toothpick out it should be clean or with moist crumbs, if loaf is done.    If the toothpick comes back out with wet batter on it put back in oven for another 3-5 minutes to finish baking.  Repeat process until toothpick comes out clean.

STEP 4:  While bread is baking, make orange glaze by combining all 4 ingredients for orange glaze into a small bowl and stir well until blended.  You will need to continue stirring occasionally for sugar to blend into orange juice thoroughly.

 
STEP 5:  Once bread is out of oven, cool for 10 minutes.  Then drizzle orange glaze over top of each loaf allowing the glaze to permeate through the loaf while still warm and creating a sugared orange crust once cool.

If you are gift wrapping bread, make sure it feels cool/cold to the touch before packaging.  Otherwise condensation will form inside the wrapped mini loaf. 

                                                              ~ Debbie ~

Want more recipe ideas?  Please click below...
Pineapples & Palm Trees                                                           

CHRISTMAS SHRIMP WREATH

This shrimp appetizer is one of my all time favorites.  Not only is it a crowd pleaser, but it dresses up the table as the perfect holiday centerpiece.  The best part?  It is really simple to make.  All you need is a styrofoam donut to make the shape of a wreath, kale and toothpicks to cover it, and finally shrimp and maraschino cherries to decorate it.  The secret to holding the kale in place is actually the toothpicks that are attached to the cherries.  Pretty fancy, huh?!?

                                                             INGREDIENTS

 
                                                           25 Large Shrimp
                                                   1 Jar Maraschino Cherries
                                                        1 Jar Cocktail Sauce
                                                             2 Bundles Kale
                                                    Styrofoam Donut (14"x2")
                                                           Fancy Toothpicks

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1:  Start by covering the top of the styrofoam donut with the kale.  Some of the sides of the styrofoam will still show.  You will fill in the sides of the donut once you have finished covering the top.  Insert each piece of kale all in the same direction using toothpicks.  It will take a couple of toothpicks to hold each piece in place.  At this point you will not be adding the cherries to the toothpicks at this time.  Adding the cherries will be one of the last steps.  

After covering the top of the styrofoam inspect the sides (inside and outside) for any styrofoam that is still visible and fill in those spaces with additional kale.

STEP 2:  Leaving existing toothpicks in place that are holding the kale, add shrimp to top of styrofoam base using new toothpicks. 

  
STEP 3:  Now is the time to add cherries to the toothpicks that are holding the kale in place.  Look throughout the kale for toothpicks that are not attached to shrimp.  Then holding the kale in place with one hand, carefully pull out each toothpick one at a time adding a cherry and then replace the toothpick with the cherry attached back into the styrofoam. 

STEP 4:  Fill a small circular dish with cocktail sauce for dipping and place inside the donut hole.

 
         You now have a gorgeously delicious centerpiece all your guests will rave about!!!


                                                                ~ Debbie ~

Want more recipe ideas?  Please click below...
Pineapples & Palm Trees

DRESS UP HOME FURNISHINGS AT CHRISTMAS

Incorporating Christmas decor within existing home furnishings adds an element of surprise to any room,  creating flair and interest to what is sometimes an otherwise hidden or overlooked space.  Placing glittery ornaments inside a sofa end table draws the eye to what is usually a humbly functional piece of furniture. 

Instead of using a tabletop to display festive ornaments, why not partially pull out one of its drawers and fill it to overflowing for a festive impact. 

Many homes have at least one decorator chest tucked into a corner of a room.  If you happen to have one of these popular accessories, open the lid and drape jeweled garland along its top and fill the bottom with colorful ornaments. 

There are so many unique and clever ways to dress up a room using its furnishings.  All you have to do to start is walk from room to room in your home with freshly opened eyes.  You'll surprise yourself with all you have to work with that is just waiting to be dressed up! 

                                                                   ~ Debbie ~

Want more decorating ideas?  Please click below...
Pineapples & Palm Trees