The Best Christmas Cutout Cookies

via Coastal Living

Cute coastal cutouts. Get the how-to here.

Everyone that really knows me, knows I have a terrible sweet tooth. I work really hard at trying to fend off cookies and cakes. I am swept in by the mere sight of a delicious cupcake. I am not a candy or soda gal, so I’ve got that going for me. Christmas is a time for baking. My favorites are the cutouts. I shop all year for great cookie cutters and look forward to showcasing my latest finds each holiday. Last year, I found a great lobster cookie cutter while we were in Maine. Who doesn’t love a Christmas lobster cookie? Get your own lobster here.

The sugar cookie receipie I follow is one of the best. It is dense, yet buttery and soft.  The cookies hold together for decorating and if you follow with my icing recipie, you won’t be disappointed!
This receipe originally appeared in the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, NY Cookbook.

Sugar Cookie Recipe:

2c. Salted Butter, softened  
1c. sugar
1 egg, beaten  
4c. Flour
1tsp. good vanilla

In a blender fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar. Add egg to butter and sugar mixture, slowly add flour until combined, then add the vanilla at the end. Refrigerate dough 2-3 hours or overnight. I like to refrigerate in small sections, that way when the dough gets soft again, I can return it to the refrigerator and pull out chilled dough.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Flour surface, roll out dough. Make cut-outs and place on baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes or just until the edges are slightly browned. Do not over bake!

Icing:

2c. Confectioners Sugar          
2tbs of softened butter ( unsalted)

1tsp. of good vanilla          

heavy cream

Mix sugar, butter and vanilla together. Slowly add heavy cream until combined. The mixture should be about the consistancy of maple syrup.

Prepare the icing and set aside. Gather 4-5 bowls that are wide enough that you could dip a cookie into. Spoon out the white icing into the bowls and add food coloring to make desired colors. I usually stick with red, green and white as my icing colors.  I typically dip the entire cookie in one color, then decorate with dragers and colored sugar crystals. I am a purist. I don’t love a lot of gloppy icing and sprinkles on my cookies. 

Set them on wax paper to allow the frosting to cure, about 30 mins. Once they are set, transfer them to a sealed container and stack cookies between sheets of parchment paper. They make great gifts. I love to give bags of cookies to neighbors and guests. Check out some of my favorite decorating ideas:

Ornaments and snowflakes.
via Google

Simple stars.
via Martha Stewart

You'd have to be a freaking pastry chef to pull
these off but it's super cute.
via Martha Stewart

My favorite. Simple, classic Christmas cutouts.
via Google

More costal cookie ideas.
via Coastal Living

Color the doughs if you're not an icing fan.
via Martha Stewart

For more cookie inspiration, follow me on Pinterest!

Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Menu

I am not the biggest fan of the Thanksgiving meal. While I love the holiday tradition of Thanksgiving and the inevitable “Turkey Bowl” football game that evolves with family and friends, I just really don’t care for the traditional Thanksgiving fare. The entire meal is brown, orange and white, with a touch of cranberry. No pun intended! There is never anything green on the plate! Call me crazy, but gobs of sticky mashed potatoes, dried turkey, and a handful of bland casseroles just doesn’t do it for me anymore.

I'm over it. 

 I have been thinking about what my ideal Thanksgiving Day meal might be. I would completely be satisfied ordering really good pizza (I know…uncultured swine that I am) but my husband wouldn’t go for it. As someone who enjoys cooking, I thought I could do better than pizza. I came up with the following for an alternative Thanksgiving meal. Click the links for our favorite delicious and fail-proof recipes.

Menu

Pimento cheese sandwiches and shrimp cocktail

Kale salad with dried cranberries, apples and toasted pepitas

Butternut squash risotto topped with crispy pancetta

Steamed haricot vert with brown butter and shaved toasted almonds

This year we are not travelling for the Thanksgiving holiday (thank goodness!!!!) and we are celebrating with just the four of us.  I think I will save myself the hassle and disdain for turkey and stuffing and hopefully head out on the slopes for some Thanksgiving Day skiing!

What will you serve for your Thanksgiving meal this year? Need more inspiration? Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest!

Thanksgiving Décor and Entertaining Ideas

Most people dread the holidays. The amount of work that goes into making a "magical moment" for family and friends turns into a total stressed out disaster that is so scarring you remain gun shy for the next 365 days until it rolls around again. We used to take a turn or two on the crazy holiday merry-go-round until we realized how to jump off. We've rounded up our must-know tips for a semi stress-free holiday entertaining and easy decorating ideas.

Centerpiece: We love a gorgeous arrangement of grand blooms. However, if you don't have enough time to create an arrangement yourself, arrange a collection of potted herbs, boxwoods, and plants in decorative ceramic planters on the table for a nice touch without spending tons of time. 

If you're more traditional and can't live without a classic centerpiece, grab a few bundles of pre-cut flowers at the grocery store (we especially love chocolate lilies) and arrange with seed pods, fruits and veggies you can get in the produce section while knocking off the rest of your Thanksgiving grocery shopping trip. Asparagus, squash, figs, artichokes, pomegranates, and kumquats work great in a fall-themed floral arrangement.

It's not necessary to set the table with a water, champagne, red wine, white wine, and tea glass. Instead, keep your setting minimal. You can always add more as the night progresses. 

GDS Tip: Don't be afraid to play with patterns and prints. Mix your formal china with a traditional napkin, whimsical table cloth, and rustic candlesticks for a layered look with personality.

Give kids a spot of their own. Have a few snacks ready-to-go on the table so they're not starving and you're not running around the house looking for a little bite for them before the meal starts.

Get crafty: a few makers, glue sticks, embellishments and blank cards will do the trick. Let them make the place cards so they stay busy while you're putting the finishing touches on your sweet potato soufflé.

People love to congregate in the kitchen and that's the last place you need bystanders. Instead, set up a seating group away from the action so you can finish cooking without dodging a traffic jam while your guests relax. A fire pit with a few throws is a great spot to unwind.

Keep a bar cart nearby for a mobile wet bar. Stock it with spirits, champagne, mixers, garnishes, non-alcoholic options, ice, and glassware. 

Want more fabulous inspiration? Check out our Turkey Day Pinterest board!

Antique Shows: The Curator's Playground

One of the biggest questions we get asked at Griffin Design Source is where we find our one-of-a-kind, vintage, and antique pieces. We're about to let you in on one of our best-kept shopping secrets: antique fairs. Shopping for items outside of showrooms and traditional retail spaces will immediately give your rooms a layered look with personality and character that you can't replicate. The start of October means that antique fair season is officially in full swing. See which shows made our must-shop list below.

Rhinebeck Antique Fair

Rhinebeck, NY

October 13-14

Check out that console. Loving those Ming lamps with black shades too.

Graphic art with bold pops of color.

Lots of great crusty wooden pieces and accessories. Perfect for a beach house.

So many knick-knacks- it's easy to miss something. Love the owls.

Don't you just want to scour through those amazing fabric remnants? Folk art is also amazing.

Round Top Antiques Fair

Smithville, TX

October 3-6

Antique basket and oyster serving dishes.

Booth at the fair.

Vintage numbers and letters.

Texas-meets-Elvis. The possibilities are endless with that baroque headboard.

An ombré array of ribbons.

Antique taxidermy mounts and intaglios.

Booth at Round Top.

A collection of Swedish clocks.

Washington Antiques Show

Washington, CT

October 5-7

Antique chaise, tapestry, and drum table.

Ceramic vessels and an eagle.

Period pieces.

Love the mirror with gilded edges.

Booth overview.

Great quilts.

Notice the real horse hair tail and mane.

When you're in Washington, CT, stay here:

The Mayflower Inn and Spa

 

The focal point of this idyllic property, sitting on Litchfield Hills, is a New England country home-inspired resort, near the Steep Rock Preserve. The spa is the crown jewel of this Relais & Chateaux inn, offering an extensive treatment list that is well worth the visit, especially after a day of browsing hundreds of stalls at the antiques fair.

If you can't make it to any of the antique fairs this year, your next best-bet is to browse online auctions and auction houses in your area. We have our eye on:

 The Stair Galleries: Properties of a Lady

October 5th, 6pm EST

Faience Asparagus-Formed Tureens

French Faience Dinner Plates

Faux Bamboo Telephone Tables

Glass and Chrome Lucite Coffee Table

Neoclassical Garden Armchairs

Gilt Metal Bird Leg Floor Lamp