Friends, Happy September! Fall is my favorite time of year. I mean, how can it not be with cooler days for hiking and nights for camping, the smell and warmth of a wood stove in the morning, fuzzy socks and boots. Sprucing up the house for fall (adding a few touches), getting a few comfort dishes cooking. It’s always a great treat when friends are visiting our area, and they stop by for a visit or a meal!

So today I’m sharing my Happy September Favorites!

Happy September Favorites

What’s your favorite fall doormat? I have not updated mine yet, but I love Melissa’s choices.

I fell in love with these Born booties. Born is my favorite brand because they fit my feet so well, and last for years. What’s your favorite color? I love the Peltro Distressed look!

Don’t forget for hiking, we love Shelta hats! Or, are you sticking to home and planning a tailgate party? (more…)

The post Happy September Favorites and Hurricane Harvey appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Colors.

Colors of Autumn.

The colors are so deep and rich — burnt umber orange, gold, russet, crimson, dark green, maroon, and even the color of hay.

I love seeing these different hues of color.

In a fresh new tablecloth.

Lingering scent of a dark pumpkin candle.

Beauty of Mums.

I’m reminded of Autumn as I sit and wait in the car during my daughter’s violin lesson.

In my own backyard.

Root vegetables.

Colors that fill a canning jar (smoked zucchini salsa).

So much beauty.

So much richness.

The colors of Autumn are only going to impress us more in October!

You can just feel their presence.

Penetrating your being.

Colors.

Since today is the last day of September, I’d love to hear what has inspired you about this Autumn season?

I want to also thank all of you who’ve followed along with me for 30 days! It’s been a delight for me to journey through this splendid month of inspiration with you!

Catch up on Days 1-30, HERE. :)

The post Day 30. Colors. Feeling Autumn. appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Canning.

Smells of autumn.

My sisters and I would dance around in Grandma’s mud room, from where we’d step down into the cold, dark pantry lined with canning jars. We’d play house, act, play and pretend, all in the midst of the wonderful scent of the jars. Have you ever noticed how absolutely yummy a pantry of canning jars smells? Sweet and savory both. And then there was a big bucket of fresh dill ready for Grandma’s canned dill pickles. I’ll never forget that scent.

The memories this time of year.

My sisters and I would tie on Grandma’s apron, while one would wear Grandpa’s knee-high rubber boots, and the other would put on a garden hat. (Win this beautiful apron, here.)

Learning how to can.
My mother taught me.

Teaching others.
Sharing the love.

Canning with my kids.
Finally, they’re appreciating the art.

Canning with my sister.
I wouldn’t trade our time for anything.

Canning with a friend.
The canning in her mother’s kitchen.

Canning to me is more than ‘putting up’ the harvest into beautiful glass canning jars. It’s the art of learning how, and community. The act of sharing in the workload with others, as you work busily with your hands, side by side, sometimes standing in the same space for hours, doing the same thing over and over.

You wash, cook, peel, blanch, chop, … stuff the jars.

You’re hot and sweaty, steamy, dirty, hands parched from water and heat.

You talk, reminisce, laugh, cry.

You clean up.

Canning to me is an aspect of the art of community living; of being together.

Autumn reminds me of this art, year after year.

Canning.

Do you have canning memories to share, and do they remind you of Autumn?

Want to take a peek at my cute little Grandma? And what’s on my list to can next? Pear Butter! This time I’m trying a new recipe!

Catch up on my first 28 Days, HERE. :)

The post Day 29. Canning. Smells of Autumn. appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Aprons.

Beautifully fitting aprons.

Autumn time means more time spent in the kitchen.

Cooking, baking, preserving, entertaining.

It’s the perfect season for a brand new apron made out of Onasburg Cotton. Throw in a few new cookbooks and you’re set for the holidays–baking and entertaining!

I’ve been wearing my new apron, made by The Hip Hostess, and I love so many things about it.

The length.

The elegance.

The class (just look at these adorable buttons)!

The fit.

The style.

And today this APRON CAN BE YOURS!

That’s right! Not only am I giving away this beautiful apron from The Hip Hostess, I’m giving away 8 napkin swags that match the fabric.

Remember my post, here, where I entertained my 11 blogging friends?

In my backyard (reluctantly)?

These beautiful swags + this gorgeous apron + 2 books = AUTUMN LOVE!

Now for book portion of the giveaway.

Since BAKING SEASON is HERE, our beautiful Bridget from the blog Bake at 350, has a brand new stinkin’ book out that she’s graciously giving away today!

Thank you, Bridget!

This book is going to be my new best friend this holiday season, because I plan to do some cookie-decorating (my daughter is really the best at it), and I also plan to give it away for gifts. 60+ designs … how cool is that? I’ve always admired Bridget’s skills and now she’s sharing her talents with the rest of the world. Such an exciting time for her! (I really adore this lady and am honored to have spent time with her here, and here, in the last 2 months.) Check out her blog for more cookie inspiration!

Oh, and I’m giving away a copy of my book, too … The Reluctant Entertainer.

ONE PERSON will WIN all of these gifts, a very FUN Autumn surprise:

-Apron by The Hip Hostess
-8 Napkin Swags by The Hip Hostess
–Decorating Cookies, by Bridget Edwards
–The Reluctant Entertainer, by Sandy Coughlin

ANSWER TO WIN:
What’s an autumn recipe that you’re looking forward to making that would require wearing a NEW apron?

For additional entries:

Follow Bake at 350 on Facebook and/or Twitter.
Follow The Hip Hostess on Facebook and/or Twitter.
Follow Reluctant Entertainer by: Email, RSS, Facebook, Pinterst and/or Twitter (@SandyCoughlinRE)
Pin on Pinterest
Share on your Facebook page (with a link)
Tweet This:

Win this lovely @TheHipHostess apron, swags & @Bakeat350Tweets NEW BOOK at @SandyCoughlinRE ‘s #giveaway https://su.pr/28qr3J #autumn

Leave a separate comment for each entry ~ 12 possible entries per person!

This giveaway will close on October 1, 2012 at midnight. Winner announced on October 2, 2012 on RE blog. The Hip Hostess is offering 15% Off any order on her Etsy Shop through Monday, October 1, 2012. And if you can’t wait to WIN Bridget’s new book, head over to Amazon and BUY IT TODAY!

The post Day 28. Aprons & Books. Autumn GIVEAWAY. appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Casual.

Creating a mood of comfort and relaxation.

Informal and gracious.

Autumn brings an un-intimidating, yet celebratory, kind of entertaining.

We can get over our fears of “entertaining” by exchanging that word for something that sounds more casual, like “having people over.”

Having people over.

It’s not about style, or being the perfect hostess.

Having people over.

Creating and sharing a happy occasion.

Having people over.

A reflection of who you are. Whatever your personal style may be.

Having people over during the Autumn season.

Use bargain entertaining items such as these Dollar Tree green wine glasses.

The simplicity of pears for ambience.

Or yard sale napkins and pretty glass plates.

Set out a pot of chili, yummy hearty bread, some chutney and dip, and bake up a simple Autumn dessert.

It doesn’t have to be intimidating.

Keep entertaining simple.

Casual.

Does the word “entertaining” scare you? Have you converted over to a more casual lifestyle of “having people over?”

Catch up on my first 26 Days, HERE. :)

The post Day 27. Casual. Having People Over. appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Warmth.

Enthusiastic, affectionate, kind.

A warm feeling, thought, person, or place.

Autumn among us; warm, warm days.

Embracing the one you love.

Warm embrace, the ones you don’t want to let go.

Warmness toward pets.

Music warms the soul.

Warm heart while daughter twists and pulls my hair.

Warm Autumn soon moves away from us.

In to hot chocolate, boots, a sweater, a fire, and a bowl of chili.

And then, top it off.

Warm cake.

Hot from the oven.

An upside-down cake with lots of butter.

Makes you feel good inside.

A reminder of Autumn.

Warmth.

What is it about Autumn that warms you up?

Print

Raspberry Butter Cake

An upside down cake with berries.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

•  
• 1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter + 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 10″ round baking pan (a 9×12 pan works, too).
• Sprinkle the brown sugar in the bottom of the pan. Pour 6 Tbsp. of the melted butter evenly over the brown sugar, then lay the berries evenly on top.
• Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat together the 1/2 cup of butter and the granulated sugar until creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well.
• Fold in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into the butter mixture. Stir in the cream and vanilla until smooth.
• Spoon the batter evenly over the raspberries.
• Bake until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven; transfer the cake to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes.
• Run a knife blade around the edge of each cake to loosen it from the ramekin. Invert the cake onto a serving plate. Lightly tap the bottom of the pan to loosen the cake, then lift the pan.
• Serve the cake warm and top with whipped cream if desired.

Catch up on my first 25 Days, HERE. :)

I’m over at Simple Mom’s today … would you join me there? Dinner Happens … We all have to eat. And every day should be a celebration of life.

The post Day 26. Warmth. Raspberry Butter Cake. appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Gathering.

Coming together.

To me Autumn says “gather.”

Whether it be your immediate family, or extended, or neighbors and friends. Or strangers.

Autumn’s a different season for those who have college kids, so gathering during this time may vary from home to home.

It may be a Sunday, a week day, whatever you choose, but make this one day a week a special day for your family to come together to enjoy a hearty meal.

Start simple, creating one main dish that’s liked by everyone.

Use your slow cooker if it makes “the day” more slower paced and easy.

With the recipe I’m sharing today, I’ve prepared the meat the day before in the slow cooker, and then the day of “gathering,” I reached into my pantry to pair Bush’s Black Beans and Bush’s Cannellini Beans (or Bush’s Great Northern Beans work very well, too) together in to a chili.

A simple gathering of pantry items.

For a simple, robust, hearty Autumn meal.

Easy dinners.

Bringing people together.

Gathering.

Do you have one day a week where you prepare supper for everyone?

Print

Bush's Beans Chuck Roast Chili Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 7 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 7 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

Slow Cooker Chuck Roast with Savory Carrots

• 3-4 pounds beef chuck roast
• 1 large onion chopped
• 6 garlic cloves chopped
• 4 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 cup red wine
• 4 shots espresso 1/2 cup strong coffee
• 32 oz. beef broth
• 1 tablespoon chili pepper salt, and pepper to taste
• 8-10 carrots

Chili

• 4-6 cups Chuck Roast and Carrots cooked and shredded
• 1 large onion chopped
• 6 garlic cloves chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili pepper
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 cans 28 ounces peeled, whole tomatoes with juice, cut in small pieces
• 2-4 cups of your favorite salsa depending on how much spice you like
• 2 cans Bush’s Cannellini Beans or Bush’s Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cans Bush’s Black Beans drained and rinsed
• Salt and pepper for seasoning throughout

Instructions

Slow Cooker Chuck Roast with Savory Carrots

• Saute onions and garlic in 2 T. olive oil until caramelized. Place in the bottom of sprayed (PAM) slow cooker.
• Brown the chuck roast on both sides, seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Place in the slow cooker on top of the onion mixture.
• Add the wine, coffee, broth, and seasoning to the same saute pan (scrape the drippings from the roast). Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Place the whole carrots on top of the roast.
• Pour the broth mixture over the roast.
• Cook on HI 6-8 hours, turning the roast over several times during the day.

Chili

• Shred the pre-cooked chuck roast. Add all ingredients together and heat to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.
• This recipe tastes great made a day ahead. The extra day allows for the all the flavors to settle in.
• Serve the chili on top of rice or quinoa. Top with shredded cheddar and colby jack cheese and sour cream and chopped cilantro.
• For a bit of contrast, squeeze fresh lime and top with pickled jalapeños.

Catch up on my first 24 Days, HERE. :)

I’ve partnered with Bush’s Beans and was compensated for this post today. As always, all opinions are my own.

The post Day 25. Gathering. Bush’s Beans Chuck Roast Chili with Savory Carrots. appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Appreciation.

Appreciating what you’ve been given.

Approaching each day with an attitude of gratitude.

Especially this time of year when we’re harvesting our garden, getting back into the swing of a busy schedule. I’m appreciating the cooler mornings and nights. The natural light that’s taking on a golden glow.

Inside, my heart says thank you for so much.

I’m thankful for gifts and cards that come in the mail.

Hostess gifts given when we’ve entertaining.

A small gift goes a long way.

A simple {heirloom} tomato brings joy to my heart.

Home-raised honey is devoured by my children.

A loaf of bread says nourishment and love.

A home-canned jar says “special.” (My favorite gift to give along with a package of IKEA dinner napkins.)

Trying new foods, breads, jellies.

A fresh new towel brightens the kitchen.

A thank you card signed by 14 guests!

I appreciate the effort of my friend who gathered the teenagers who enjoyed a meal in our home, then had them all write a note of thanks afterward. May their lives be changed and cued to appreciating and thanking others for what they’ve been given.

It’s nice to say “thank you.”

It’s nice to be thanked.

It does something inside of us when we learn to appreciate.

Less about us. More about others.

Appreciate.

What’s a simple “thank you” that you really appreciate receiving, or giving?

Catch up on my first 23 Days, HERE. :)

The post Day 24. Appreciation. Hostess Gifts. appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Intentional.

Intentional autumn-time hospitality.

To be intentional with your planning and inviting.

Bringing people together. Having a plan.

Consider inviting people you want to introduce to one another, or who you want to get to know better yourself.

Autumn is a beautiful season for making a simple invite and a simple meal, like an easy entree, bread, and a simple dessert. (Have you thought about serving a salmon patty cooked to perfection drizzled with olive oil, seasonings, and fresh garden tomatoes?)

There might be new people in town, new neighbors, new friends on your kid’s sports team.

You don’t always have to be intentional, but sometimes when you are, great things can happen.

In fact, it’s good to expect great things.

Intentional.

Do you prefer intentional hospitality or impromptu hospitality?

Catch up on my first 22 Days, HERE. :)

The post Day 23. Intentional. Autumn-time Hospitality. appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Imperfect.

Imperfect hospitality.

This Autumn season, learn to stop doing things that might make you feel like a failure (like over-inviting, over-planning, not being prepared, being too hard on yourself with your cooking).

Every element of entertaining will never be perfect.

As we’re still enjoying eating outside, I’ve decided the simplest plan is the best.

Table set — imperfectly. Chargers, water goblets, paper napkins. (Silverware? my kids set the table).

Late autumn blooms, including Pineapple Sage and Black Eyed Susans.

2 small table torches for early sunset ambience.

The dishes used may not have matched perfectly; in fact, there probably was a chip or two.

Instead of focusing on what I think should look “perfect,” I’m thinking about the things that really matter.

Good food. Good people. Good conversation.

Just being together.

It’s not about comparisons or looks.

People really don’t want to be impressed.

Realistically, I think they like “imperfect.”

It makes us all feel that we are normal.

Imperfect.

Do you think your guests are bothered or encouraged by imperfection?

My mother taught my sisters and I a lot about perfectionism. She was the best role model for us girls, and lived a life of true authenticity and love. It radiated over into many around her, that impressing is for the “now” and has nothing to do with the eternal. (Thank you, Mama!) Today’s my middle sister’s birthday, and here’s a pic of us celebrating and having a good time together last weekend. Happy Birthday, sis!

Catch up on my first 21 Days, HERE. :)

The post Day 22. Imperfect. Not Impressing. appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.