We'd like to wish a happy and safe Thanksgiving to everyone out there! Enjoy the food, drink, and company. Here's a festive picture of cats for the occasion.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Holiday Recipe: Eggnog Breakfast Bread Pudding
Posted by Larimer Associates on 12:27 PM
It seems like all the good holiday food is for dinner and desert, but it doesn't have to be that way. This holiday turn your breakfast into a delicious meal with "Holiday Recipe: Eggnog Breakfast Bread Pudding"!
Eggnog Breakfast Bread Pudding
Adapted from Marion Cunningham’s The Breakfast Book
Serves 8 to 10
1 (12 ounces) loaf French bread, sliced
4 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups eggnog
2 cups whole or 2% milk
5 large eggs
4 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
Pinch salt
2 tablespoons bourbon (or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
Confectioners’ sugar and warm maple syrup, for serving
Generously butter the bread slices. Cut the buttered slices into 1-inch cubes and pile into a 2-quart baking dish.
Serves 8 to 10
1 (12 ounces) loaf French bread, sliced
4 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups eggnog
2 cups whole or 2% milk
5 large eggs
4 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
Pinch salt
2 tablespoons bourbon (or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract)
Confectioners’ sugar and warm maple syrup, for serving
Generously butter the bread slices. Cut the buttered slices into 1-inch cubes and pile into a 2-quart baking dish.
Heat the eggnog and milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until bubbling gently but not boiling.
Meanwhile, combine the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk vigorously until light and frothy. Whisk one cup of the eggnog mixture into the eggs to warm them. Gradually whisk in the remaining eggnog mixture and the bourbon.
Pour the custard over the bread cubes, and gently mash down with your hands to make sure all of the bread gets saturated. Set aside for a minimum of one hour or chill overnight in the refrigerator.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil (or alternately heat in the microwave in a microwave-safe measuring cup). Place the casserole dish inside of a large roasting pan and transfer to the oven. Carefully pour the boiling water into the roasting pan, so that it comes halfway up the sides of the baking dish.
Bake for approximately 45 to 50 minutes, until the custard is set and the top is light golden brown. Remove the roasting pan from the oven, then carefully lift the casserole dish out of the water (I use a very large metal spatula to lift it out of the water.) Allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving (although it is equally good at room temperature).
Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and serve with warm maple syrup.
(Image credits: Nealey Dozier)
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Bob Vila’s November ‘Must Do’ Projects
Posted by Larimer Associates on 11:27 AM
Every home needs a little upkeep, especially for seasonal changes. As fall begins to fade away and the weather gets colder, check out these "Bob Vila’s November ‘Must Do’ Projects" to keep your place cozy and calm!
Original Article Here: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2013-11-08/bob-vilas-november-must-do-projects/
Embrace the season
It doesn’t take much to bring the natural beauty of the season indoors. Fill a bowl with acorns and pinecones to admire, cut leaf-covered branches to decorate a table or create an autumnal wreath to hang above the mantel — or outside on the front door. You’ll find plenty of clever ideas in “Budget Decor: 10 Ways to Dress Up Your House for Fall.”
Seal those drafts
A small crack or one leaky window might not seem like a big problem, but taken together, your home’s small drafts can add up to a lot of wasted energy dollars. Seal any gaps around electrical outlets, ducts, windows and doors with foam sealants, caulking or weather stripping.
On the outside of your house, use caulking to seal anywhere different materials meet such as between the siding and the chimney, window and door frames and at the foundation. Even small gaps around cables, lighting fixtures, spigots, electrical outlets, dryer vents and air-conditioning pipes can add up to big air-infiltration problems and compromise your home’s thermal efficiency.
To fill large gaps, expandable polyurethane foam works best, but use it sparingly since it can over-expand (and it’s a greenhouse gas producer as well). Water-based expandable foam works well in small cracks and won’t over-expand.
Winterize your yard
If you haven’t done so already, this is the time to winterize your seasonal equipment. Drain fuel from lawn mowers, leaf blowers and chain saws. Cover and store outdoor furniture and barbecues in a protected area. And, be sure to empty out pots, containers and planters, as soil left in clay pots outside can freeze and cause the pots to crack.
Disconnect and store your garden hoses. If your home has a separate shutoff for external spigots, turn it off and drain the water from those spigots. If you have a sprinkler system, you may want to call in a professional company to blow out any leftover water in the underground lines.
If it snows where you live, check to see that all of your snow equipment is close at hand, fueled up and ready for use. That includes snow blowers as well as shovels and roof rakes.
Stress less on Thanksgiving day
Did somebody mention turkey? If you are the one preparing the big meal, make your life easier by planning ahead. Clear countertops and empty the fridge so that you have ample space for food prep and storage. If you are worried about getting everyone around the table, look for ways to maximize your dining room.
Original Article Here: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2013-11-08/bob-vilas-november-must-do-projects/
Friday, November 8, 2013
Cheap, Easy DIY Project: Stylish, Modern Bar Cart Hack for Under $40
Posted by Larimer Associates on 10:47 AM
Forget going out to the bar, instead bring the bar to you! Check out this wonderful bar cart for your digs in "Cheap, Easy DIY Project: Stylish, Modern Bar Cart Hack for Under $40" and mix up a little something for yourself at the end of this long week!
Original Article Here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/cheap-easy-diy-project-stylish-modern-bar-cart-hack-for-under-40-primer-magazine-196941
When it comes to bar carts, there aren't too many budget-friendly options that also happen to be fashionable. A bar cart at Target runs $100+, and you can't even find (an attractive) one at IKEA for less than $50. But this one above? It was built for under $40 (and to say "built" is really stretching it). The secret?
Harbor Freight, the discount tool and equipment chain! This two-shelf steel service cart doesn't look like much at first, but for $37.99 (plus the inevitable sales and coupons that are always going on in the stores), it's really a steal.
The guys at Primer classed it up a bit by adding wooden shelves (made from super thin and super cheap plywood from Home Depot), sanding and staining them, and hanging hooks for bar towels and bar tools.
The result is a stylish, modern, industrial bar cart that only took an afternoon to make (and that includes picking it up from the store). You can customize it even further by painting the steel itself. Check out the tutorial on Primer!
(Image credits: Andrew Snaveley for Primer)
Original Article Here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/cheap-easy-diy-project-stylish-modern-bar-cart-hack-for-under-40-primer-magazine-196941
