Thanksgiving – And Then Home

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Macaroons

christine — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 11:30:26 +0000

When Victoria and I were kids we didn’t like pumpkin flavoured anything. I’m not sure if this is because we actually didn’t like it or just assumed it would taste bad because pumpkins weren’t things you ate, they were things to carve and put on your front porch. Fast forward to today and we both enjoy baking with pumpkins…and eating the results! This fall season I decided to give some Pumpkin Macaroons a try. If you’ve never baked with pumpkin before this recipe is a great place to start. Check out these yummy, easy to bake Pumpkin Macaroons.

On a little side note…every fall I look forward to baking and creating a fall atmosphere in our home. I have a list to complete before Halloween to take advantage of this festive season. I love to burn scented candles bake and of course decorate (see my new Fall Welcome Sign). As a family we love to go to our local pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin and go hiking to catch glimpses of the fall colours. I have a Fall Checklist for all the fall-ness that needs to happen before Halloween. Check it out…

Back to the macaroons…these little snacks are easy to make and the ingredient list is not scary. They are quick to whip up for work snacks, office parties or family get togethers…and for at home snacking ? . The pumpkin seed on the top are optional but look oh so cute. Considered putting some orange food colouring into the mix to make them even more pumpkin-y or placing some candy eyes on them to give the kids a giggle.

Let’s get to the recipe now!

Pumpkin Macaroons

Tasty, cute and easy to make. These Pumpkin Macaroons won't disappoint and are perfect for any occasion. Whip up a batch today and see for yourself!

Ingredients

1/3 cup sugar
1 egg white
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1/4 cup crushed praline peanuts
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp pumpkin spice
1/8 tsp cinnamon sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 F.
In a large bowl, whisk the egg white until fluffy adding the sugar in slowly.
Add the coconut, and the rest of the ingredients into the sugar/egg mixture and stir them until well blended.
Roll the mixture into balls (about 1 1/2 inch) and place them onto the cookie sheet
Place one pumpkin seed into the the top of each ball (to create a stem)
Bake them for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Make these bite size pumpkin macaroons for any occasion and they won’t disappoint.

Happy Baking!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. There may be a small commission made by our recommendations, and/or link to products or services mentioned on this website. Your purchase will help us continue to bring you amazing content, step-by-steps and product reviews.

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Top 10 DIY Creative Halloween Decor Ideas

christine — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 19:35:30 +0000

Hallowe’en is coming fast and furious so I thought I’d bring you a list of some pretty awesome DIY decor ideas made by some great people. There’s a little something for everyone on this list with varying skill levels. There are some that are perfect for the kids and some that are just for you! Let’s dive into the Top 10 DIY Creative Halloween Decor Ideas

1. These Floating Witch Hats via Polkadot Chair one looks amazing hanging from a covered porch or, if the weather allows, from some trees. These Floating Witch Hats are definitely unique and will have your neighbours talking!

Floating Witch Hat Luminaries – Polkadot Chair

2. All You has created an adorable Black Cat Decoration and has a list of the materials needed to recreate it. Try this one with the kids, it’s easy to make and they’ll love to pitch in.

Halloween Black Cat Decorations – All You

3. Check out this amazing step by step by One Little Project. Every step is carefully outlined making this DIY tutorial fun and easy. These cute Yarn Pumpkins are sure to impress the guests and would look oh so cute on your mantel!

How to Make Yarn Pumpkins Using Balloons – One Little Project

4. This one says it’s for fall but I have it on good authority that you can create it for halloween! If you want to make it a little more spooky consider painting the back board black and adding some skeleton letters.

Fun Fall Welcome Decor Sign – And Then Home

5. Smart Fun DIY has put together this DIY decor idea using glass vases and water beads. It’s a perfect Halloween project that can be displayed anywhere in the house. See her awesome step by step, there’s even a video!

DIY Candy Corn Halloween Water Beads Vases – Smart Fun DIY

6. With just 3 materials these Mummy Lights are super fun and cute! The kids will get a kick out of making these. Hi Sugarplum will let you know exactly how to get these googly eyed lights on your mantel asap.

Halloween Mummy Lights – hi sugarplum

We’re Just Getting Started! More DIY Halloween Decor to Go!

7. And Then Home brings us a pictured step by step this DIY decor project is easy and looks amazing. Use these Paper Bag Lanterns to guide your guests to your door, or have them placed around your house for some illuminating holiday beauty.

Easy DIY Halloween Paper Bag Lanterns – And Then Home

8. A kids craft at it’s best, this totally fun decor idea is great for hanging in the trees. Happy Clippings walks you through the steps with pictures and easy to follow instructions.

DIY: Halloween Egg Carton Bats and Leaf Ghosts – Happy Clippings

9. Looking for something a little more creepy?? Your friends are sure to get a kick (foot…hand?) out of this DIY Coat Rack. Designs Sponge shows you how to hang your coats halloween style with their step by step.

Natasha’s Babydoll Coat Rack – Designs Sponge

10. Not one but THREE different ideas to see here. Create a few Halloween Decor items and scatter them throughout the house!

Three Fun Halloween Ideas (With Prinables) – A Beautiful Mess

So that’s our list! What will you be making? Not ready for halloween yet? Try our String Art Leaf in Autumn Colours or follow our Five Helpful Tips for Fall Decor.

Happy Crafting!

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Fun Fall Welcome Decor Sign

christine — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:23:04 +0000

Fall signals the end of summer but the beginning of a great decor season! Here are And Then Home we love fall. With so many colours and materials to use during this season there doesn’t seem to be enough crafts to make, or time to make them Today we are bringing you a Fun Fall Welcome Decor Sign that allows for many colour options and materials. This craft is fun to do with the kids and doesn’t take long to finish.

You don’t have to use exactly what we used for this craft, just take a look around the house and see what you find. Some other options could be buttons, leaves, burlap and string. My girls really enjoyed making this craft with me. Of course, I operated the hot glue gun as my little’s aren’t big enough to use it yet, but they loved picking the materials and seeing the sign come together. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to make this fun welcome sign.

Fun Fall Welcome Decor Sign

What you’ll need:

Wood board
Fall coloured card stock
ribbon
styrofoam ball
hot glue gun
ruller
pencil
scissors

What you’ll need to do:

Measure and draw your letters onto the card stock. Cut them out. Use different colours and have fun with it! Glue the letters onto the wood board using the hot glue gun. Add your embellishments, we used ribbon on the ‘E’s’ giving them some depth and fun.

The ‘O’ in on the sign is made with half of a styrofoam ball. Once cut in half, hot glue some ribbon (I used a sequin ribbon) onto it. Then, place a good amount of glue onto the flat part of the ball and apply it to the board.

There you have it! A fun and easy DIY Fall Welcome Sign. What materials did you use? If you love this multimedia craft check out our Micheals Copycat Mixed Media Love Canvas or if you’re looking for more fall decor try our Fall Decor – Accessorize with Beer Bottles.

Need supplies? Here’s a place to start*

No time? Here’s some decorations that can be delivered to your door!

*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. There may be a small commission made by our recommendations, and/or link to products mentioned or services on this website. Any potential purchase you make will help us continue to bring you amazing content, step-by-steps and product reviews. Products are not exact to what we use, make sure these materials are right for you!

Happy Crafting!!

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Easy Pumpkin Soup Recipe – One Secret Ingredient

christine — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 12:30:44 +0000

This fall we took the girls to a pumpkin patch that is locally operated by using the ‘honour system’. It is a wonderfully stocked pumpkin paradise. We go every year for a couple of reasons, the first of course being that the girls love it, secondly it’s quiet with not a lot of people to push past, and third as mentioned – it’s locally owned, we are giving back to a family that puts so much effort into producing this experience for us every year.

After we picked out the ‘best carving pumpkin’ in the bunch (and some extra for decor of course!). We headed out for lunch to make the most of the afternoon. Since we live in a small town it’s not surprising that we chose to eat at a small diner. The girls had their usual grilled cheese and fries, my husband opted for the sandwich and soup special and I picked a light salad…with a hamburger (I’m pregnant remember…I can only resist so much!). I was certain my burger would beat any soup and salad combo…but the special happen to be a pumpkin soup. It never occurred to me to make or even taste a pumpkin soup before this day and now I can’t imagine why. Pumpkin soup is delicious!

So, my mission began, I wanted to recreate this soup that my husband so rudely enjoyed in front of me and while it doesn’t taste exactly the same, it is equally delicious! I was quite happy with how it turned out and I can’t wait to share it with you. It’s very creamy and lightly spiced, leaving the pumpkin flavour to do it’s thing. It is easy to make with ingredients that you likely have in your cupboards already. You can always roast your own pumpkins and add your own spices, I however used canned pumpkin and pumpkin spice. Oh, and I found the secret ingredient in pumpkin soup to be apple sauce! It changes the soup entirely, creating a sweet touch. This recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving and fall right through winter, so be sure to enjoy it more then once!

Take a look at the recipe below and Happy Holidays everyone!

Easy Pumpkin Soup Recipe – One Secret Ingredient

This creamy pumpkin soup is perfect from fall right through winter. It pairs nicely with sandwiches or just by itself. Applesauce is a key ingredient in this recipe adding a sweet taste, a must try!

INGREDIENTS

– 4 cups vegetable broth

– 1 can (796mls) pure pumpkin

– 1/2 cup apple sauce

– 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice

– 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking

– 1 cup diced onion

– 1 cup chopped celery

– 1 clove minced garlic

– 1 cup heavy cream

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the pumpkin and vegetable broth in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add applesauce and pumpkin spice, allow to simmer for 20min.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium heat add the olive oil, onion, celery and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until slightly browned and translucent. Add to the large saucepan.

3. OPTIONAL – If you want a smooth soup – Transfer the soup mixture to a blender to puree the soup, once finished return the soup to the saucepan and allow it to simmer for 5-10min.

4. Remove from heat and stir in the heavy cream.

Serve with or without sandwiches and salad, this recipe tastes amazing all on it’s own!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. There may be a small commission made by our recommendations, and/or link to products mentioned or services on this website. Your purchase will help us continue to bring you amazing content, step-by-steps and product reviews.

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