Everyday Living

Now Serving Brunch!

~ Decorating, Food & Entertaining, Recipes

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:8‬ ‭ 

Don’t we ladies love a good brunch?  It’s not too early in the morning, and brunch foods are always so good! Not to mention, it is a great way to entertain family and friends, especially during the beauty of spring!  Go back with me to the the first brunch I attended in the 1970’s…it was given by a friend.  It was just a few ladies and we sat at her beautiful table for several hours enjoying the food and conversation!  The menu had several “Southern Living” recipes,  one being crepes, which I loved!  I had never eaten a crepe as a young newlywed and I was so impressed!  She shared her recipes with all of us, and I still pull them out from time to time!

With Mother’s Day, graduations, and wedding season fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to check out brunch menus and tablescape ideas!  But brunch doesn’t have to be fancy or time consuming…it could be as simple as muffins, fresh fruit, and coffee!  After all, it is all about the hospitality!  Maybe you will be inspired to give it a try!

Follow my Pinterest board Apples Of Gold In Settings Of Silver.
Click the individual photos for the source and recipes!


A beautiful sunlit setting for a brunch (or breakfast)…love the apple-green linen settee and the stunning chandelier!


Amazing attention to detail – purple chargers blend with the flowers, shimmering glass dinner plates topped with toile salad plates!READ MORE

Just Like Mama Made • Lemon Cheesecake

~ Food & Entertaining, Recipes

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:26-27‬ ‭ 

My Mother was the best cook.  Ok, ok, I know everyone says that about their mother…but I would put mine up against anyone, anywhere.  Her food topped any I have ever eaten…and folks, I have been fortunate to eat at some great restaurants!  She was constantly in the kitchen, day in and day out. To sit at her table and eat her Southern food was to be honored!  We gathered every Sunday after church for the very best traditional Southern fare anywhere…and we still continue our Sunday tradition even nine years after my mother’s passing!  Her recipes live on, and continue to be everyone’s favorite! (You can see another one of her recipes here). On Easter, I treated my family to her fabulous Lemon Cheesecake…and trust me when I say it was fabulous!  (Think Spring!)  It has several steps, but it is well worth the effort for all the compliments!  If you like cheesecake, print this one out….you will definitely want to add this heavenly goodness to your repertoire!


We will start from the bottom, which of course is the crust.  You can buy graham cracker crumbs, but not me…I love the leftover crackers to snack on, so going to the extra trouble to make it myself is well worth it to me! I use my mini food processor to crush the crackers.  Always butter, never margarine….it’s just not the same!   You can also use vanilla wafers or shortbread cookies…but just like Mama, I use graham crackers.


Next, the lemon filling…using fresh lemons only.  This is not a low calorie dessert, so go all out and use real cream cheese!READ MORE

Southern Living In My Everyday Living

~ Bookends, Decorating, Food & Entertaining, Outdoors, Recipes

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭

beige
When you think of the South, you probably think fried chicken, sweet tea, and Southern Living magazine.  You can find the fried chicken and sweet tea on our dinner tables, and Southern Living on our coffee tables. But one of those things is not exclusive to the South. No matter where you live, you have probably heard of, or maybe you’re even a subscriber to the popular magazine. And chances are, you have heard that they recently released their 50th anniversary edition.  I have been a subscriber for more years than I am willing to admit, and it truly is a picture of what living in the South is like.  With the release of their golden anniversary edition, it really hit close to home, and today I want to share with you how my life and Southern Living have had a beautiful intertwining through the years…


There were four covers for their February edition…and you cannot imagine our excitement when they chose a local venue for their anniversary celebration!  All 4 covers were taken at J & D Farms in Southside, Alabama owned by our friends Danny and Jana McEachern…but why is that important to us?!READ MORE