Host a Fall Farm-to-Table Dinner Party

Courtesy of Liz Gray
Jason Kisner, HGTV/Scripps Networks, LLC.

Hi Friends,

Celebrate fall's bounty amidst the season's brightest foliage with our step-by-step instructions for throwing an autumn farm-to-table dinner party.

Fall is the ideal time of year for alfresco entertaining: It's cool enough to enjoy the outdoors comfortably, and changing leaves offer up a veritable kaleidoscope of color. This autumn, invite friends and family to an outdoor celebration of the season, complete with farm-to-table recipes, rustic DIY table decorations and step-by-step instructions to make your party shine.

Find the Right Location

An outdoor party designed to let guests take in the fall color needs a location where leaves are on full display. Selecting the location should be first on your list — even before the invitations — as fall-perfect destinations typically book up quickly as leaves reach their peak.

Even if you plan to host this party in your own backyard, you'll need to time the event when leaves will be at their peak. Refer to local weather websites (and your memory) for the best date.

Bon Appétit...

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Yvonne

Mighty Vinegar: 8 Tricks You've Never Tried

Courtesy of HGTV

Hi Friends,

It cleans, it tenderizes, it fights odor — what can't it do?

Vinegar is far more than something to be mixed with oil. Check out the following unconventional uses for this wonder-worker.

Inhibit mold on cheese. Just lightly dampen a piece of cheesecloth with white vinegar, loosely wrap the cheese in it and slip it into a plastic bag. Store in the refrigerator.

Extend the life of your ketchup. When the ketchup sticks in the bottom of a nearly empty bottle, pour in a touch of white vinegar and shake it up. It will loosen the ketchup and won't interfere with the flavor.

When cooking vegetables, add a teaspoon or two to the cooking water. Not only will it help clean the veggies, but it will also reduce the smell in the kitchen and preserve the color of the cooked vegetables. Another bonus is that vinegar can reduce the gassy quality of vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli.

Tenderize meat with a marinade of vinegar. It can help kill any bacteria in the meat and breaks down the fibers, making it more tender.

If your hands smell after handling fish, simply rinse them in a solution of vinegar and water.

Combat odors in the garbage disposal. Fill an ice-cube tray with vinegar and freeze it, and then throw a cube of it down the disposal for a fresh smell.

Use it to clean glass. This tip works especially well if you are using a spray bottle with a narrow neck. Fill the bottle at least halfway with vinegar and add some uncooked rice. Cap the bottle and shake. The rice acts as a gentle abrasive.

Make a pet-friendly bug spray. If ants are a problem around pet food, spray a mixture of vinegar and water around your pet's dish to discourage them.

Vinegar, our new best friend...

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Yvonne

1st Day of Autumn!

Courtesy of Anna Fletcher

Hi Friends,

Hope everyone enjoyed the hot days of Summer and ready to welcome Autumn with opened arms. We have a lot of great ideas in the coming weeks and look forward to sharing them with all our friends...

Now that the Fall season is almost upon us! The leaves are about to start changing, the days will get shorter, and mornings will grow chillier and crisp as summer fades away. And though we will miss long summer days and warm nights, we have a brand new, exciting season approaching! So why not start thinking about some fun outdoor activities you can do to celebrate the coming of autumn?? Here are a few…

10 Outdoor Activities to Kick Off the Autumn Season!

1. Attend a Barn Dance. Whether it's contra dancing or square dancing, hoedowns are a great way to spend fall evenings and nights. Have a blast and work up a sweat in the cold, autumn night air while you dance along to foot-tapping bluegrass and fiddle music!

2. Go Mountain Biking. Okay, so you can mountain bike at any time of the year (except maybe the dead of winter…ice and snow are no bueno for your tires). But there's something about the chilly air and bright orange, red, and yellow leaves all around you that makes biking during the fall so amazing.

3. Take a Scenic Drive. Early to mid-fall is one of the prettiest times of the year, as the trees still have most of their leaves which have turned vibrant with the coming cold. This is the one of the best times to take a drive through the woods, around town, or through the mountains.

4. Go Pumpkin Picking. Fall season means one thing - pumpkin season! Restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, and many other places around town start selling pumpkin foods, drinks, and products to welcome in the season. You will also be able to find whole pumpkins all over town, whether you want to go pick your own at a patch or get one from the store. If you do take a trip to your local pumpkin patch, you can do many fun, free activities that they offer, like hay rides, corn mazes, and petting zoos. Make a jack-o-lantern with your new prized pumpkin and be sure to keep the seeds so you can roast them! Yumm.

5. Host a Bonfire. Shorter days and cooler weather make perfect ingredients for a bonfire. Grill out, have a tub of hot apple cider, and don't forget s'more fixings!

6. Go Climbing. One of the best times of the year to rock climb is during the fall. As leaves begin to drop and greenery wanes in anticipation for winter, rock faces become more exposed. Cooler weather also means fewer bugs zipping around your face as you make your way up the cliff!

7. Do Some Photography. Bright multi-colored leaves, teaming autumn wildlife, colorful pumpkins and gourds, and clear, sunny days make for great photo ops. See what amazing autumn things you can capture on your camera!

8. Go Camping. Cooler, dryer weather means fewer bugs and fewer people, so fall is one of the best times to go camping. Just remember your cold weather hammocking gear, and you'll be toasty and comfy in the chilly autumn air!

9. Visit an Orchard. 'Tis the season for apple picking! The prime months for ripe apples is September and October, and most local orchards open their doors to the public during this time to do some picking. Just think of all the pies, apple butter, cider, and applesauce you can make! And even if you're not a big apple-eater, just strolling through the trees in the cool fall weather is a great way to spend the day!

10. Play Some Pick-Up Football. Labor Day weekend officially kicked off football season, so what better way to celebrate that than to play some football yourself? Grab family and friends and head out to the park or backyard for some down-set-hike!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Back to School: 12 Decorating Ideas for Kids' Rooms...

Courtesy of Charity Curley Mathews
Activity Play Table and Carts, Pottery Barn Kids

Hi Friends,

Whether you're looking for a new accent or a completely new decorating theme for the kids' rooms, these ideas will help you get started in style.

Busy Hands Are Happy Hands. An activity table is the perfect playroom piece; its adjustable height, storage bins and paper roller mean the difference between a regular table and an activity station to enjoy for years to come.

Up, Up, Up

Pennant Growth Chart Decal, Pottery Barn Kids

Printed on peel-and-stick decals, this personalized growth chart is the perfect way to celebrate every inch.

Bonjour!

Handmade Luna Deco Kids Eiffel Tower Rug, Overstock.com

There's no need to go to Europe when you can bring a taste of France to you. This Eiffel Tower area rug is the perfect piece for kids' rooms because it will instantly conceal inevitable drink spills.

Beam Me Up

Rocket Floor Lamp, Pottery Barn Kids

Not all lamps are created equal. This rocket floor lamp is a 4-foot piece de resistance for any space-themed room.

In the Bank

Polka Dot Piggy Bank, Crate & Barrel

This piglet piggy bank makes saving money a stylish affair.

Surf's Up

Boys' Surf Plaques, Pottery Barn Kids

Do you have a beach-themed room? This set of surf plaques is the ultimate must-have accessory.

Sitting Pretty

Trend Lab Maya Dot Club Chair and Ottoman Set, Overstock.com

What little girl wouldn't flip for a miniature polka dot-covered chair and ottoman just like Mom's?

Super Speller

ABC Plaque, Pottery Barn Kids

The ABCs have never looked so good. This retro-style wooden plaque offers an oh-so-chic spelling lesson for kids every time they walk by.

Flower Power

Magnetic Board With Flower, Crate & Barrel

This adorable dry-erase board is an easy way to keep track of homework and after-school activities.

A Big Bear

Super-Soft Bear Hug Body Pillow, Plow and Hearth

Who couldn't use a bear hug at the end of a busy day? This oversize body pillow works like a charm every time.

Happy Days

Canvas Art Print, Initially Amy Fay

A little inspiration goes a long way. That's why we love this sunshine-filled artwork.

Beautiful Bug

Lady Bug Table Lamp, Lighting Direct

This whimsical ladybug lamp will make story time even sweeter for the little ones.

Believe it or not, another school year is on the way. Stay ahead of the excitement of a new school year by gathering school supplies now.

The kiddos will have a ball...

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Live well,
Yvonne

11 Kid-Friendly Snack Hacks That Make Healthy Eating Fun...

Courtesy of Holley Grainger, MS, RD
Photography by Jacob Blount
Styling By: Calle Blount

Hi Friends,

Our featured Frozen Fruit Sundae Cones are a gem for the kiddos. Spoon frozen mixed berries into small cones for a fun twist on the traditional ice cream cone. Top with whipped cream and a cherry for a hand-held sundae boasting healthy and colorful ingredients.

Bell Pepper Rainbows With Sunshine Sauce


Brighten up even the cloudiest of days by serving your little ones bell pepper rainbow dippers and cauliflower clouds with honey-mustard sunshine sauce. This sweet skyline is sure to put a smile on their faces.

Chicken Salad Sushi


No special equipment or ingredients required to make these fun chicken salad sushi roll ups at home. Simply press out a piece of soft white bread (or let the kids smash it with their hands) on a large Swiss chard leaf, then top the bread with chicken salad, cucumber sticks and carrot sticks. Roll the “sushi” and slice into 1-inch pieces. These little sushi rolls are adorable for snack time, a picnic or packed in a lunchbox.

Hummus and Veggie Flowers


April showers bring May hummus and crudité flowers. Use individual containers of hummus or spoon hummus into a small prep bowl to serve as the center of the flower. Slice an English cucumber on the diagonal (these are seedless and have thin, edible skin) and top each piece with a bell pepper strip. Make the stem with a celery stalk and leaf and “plant” the flower into a bed of whole-wheat crackers.

Fruity Flowers and Butterflies


Let your kids play Mother Nature by creating flowers and butterflies using fresh fruits and vegetables. To make the flower, spoon plain Greek yogurt into a small bowl, then use fresh fruit like strawberries and blueberries to create petals. Make a colorful butterfly with cucumber slices, bell pepper pieces, raspberries and blueberries.

Individual Apple Pie Bites


“Baking” an apple pie just got much easier when you make these adorable graham cracker apple pie stackers. Smear plain or vanilla Greek yogurt on top of a graham cracker square, then add chopped Granny Smith apples, a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Tropical Sorbet Pops


Frozen pops made only of fruit are hard to pass up on a warm summer day. Blend together fresh mango and pineapple with a little water, pour into paper cups and freeze. When the pops are almost frozen, add brightly colored wide straws to the center. Once frozen, let your kids tear away the paper cups and dip or roll the pops in toasted coconut.

Cheesy Umbrellas


Slice a Mini Babybel cheese round in half (leave the wax coating on until you’re ready to eat) and insert part of a flexible straw into the cut side to create adorable edible umbrellas. Add cauliflower clouds and raindrops to your plate to create a rainy day scene. Want to really be singing in the rain? Vary your “umbrella” colors with green, turquoise and purple by choosing different flavors of cheese.

Mini Personal Bagel Pizzas


Skip the frozen bagel pizza bites and let your children customize their own mini pizzas using healthier ingredients. Set up a pizza bar with mini whole wheat bagel halves, marinara sauce and toppings like chopped vegetables, ground beef, diced ham, pepperoni, shredded mozzarella cheese and feta cheese crumbles. Once your child creates his own personal pizza snack, bake for around 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Banana Breakfast Split


For a fun and healthier spin on the traditional banana split, slice a banana in half lengthwise, spoon plain or vanilla Greek yogurt over the center, top with fresh berries and granola and drizzle with honey.

Veggie Parfaits


No more double dipping when each child has their own parfait glass of vegetables and dip. Simply prefill parfait glasses with ranch dressing, hummus, salsa or guacamole, then add sliced colorful veggies like carrots, peppers and cucumber.

Sometimes it’s okay to play with your food — especially if it encourages the kiddos to enjoy healthy treats. Use colorful fruits and vegetables to make flowers, butterflies and rainbows the little ones will love, or create healthier twists on classic favorites like pizza and popsicles.

Bon Appétit Kiddos...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Happy Labor Day!

Hi Friends,

Summer's behind us with Autumn just ahead, the perfect opportunity to thank you for visiting us during the hot days with our hopes it will continue through the chilly ones. You know, it doesn't matter if you are white collar, blue collar or no collar; working with your mind, hands or heart; taking the time, devoting the energy or making it happen, we appreciate all of you.

Have a restful and enjoyable Labor Day from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

5 Outdoor Products to Buy After Labor Day...

Courtesy of Maria Conti

Happy Labor Day Friends,

Summer is coming to an end. Now's the time to snag these smoking hot deals.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and yhey may make money from these links.

Soak up the last days of summer for all their worth by shopping the season-end sales for all things home and outdoor. Post-Labor Day weekend sales are our favorite time to snag and save on sought-after (and pricier!) pieces to prep for a killer summer next year. Bonus: You’ll still get tons of use out of our picks between now and then.

Small-Space Sectional


Whether you live in an expansive home in the ‘burbs or a city loft, this handcrafted outdoor sectional set needs to be at the top of your shopping list. The set features an end table and two cozy chairs with neutral cushions and rich, wicker silhouettes. Just imagine how sweet your morning cup of (iced or hot!) coffee would taste from the comfort of these on your back porch or balcony.

BUY IT: Pier1, $259.94 (Originally $489)

Outdoor Dining Set


Alfresco entertaining, anyone? Enjoy wining and dining beneath the stars and twinkle lights from our last, ultra-essential after Labor Day weekend sale pick. We’re crushing on this five-piece wooden dining table and chair set featuring a sleek, slatted design and water-resistant fabrics.

BUY IT: Wayfair, $267.99 (Originally $435)

Slipcovered Outdoor Sofa


If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in your forever home, it's time to invest in some serious, forever outdoor furniture. Our pick? A classic, slipcovered sofa that features a timeless design, offered in five neutral hues and is proven to be UV-, mold- and mildew-resistant.

BUY IT: Crate & Barrel, $2,249 (Originally $2,499)

Grill


Every household should have the luxury of preparing a juicy steak or melty cheeseburger, just a few steps from their back door. Give yourself the gift of glorious grilled-food-goodness by capitalizing on Lowe’s’ LDW deal on this five-burner liquid propane gas grill. A discount of 46% off and a lifetime of cheeseburgers? Yes, please.

BUY IT: Lowe’s, $159 (Originally $299)

Family-Sized Inflatable Pool


Beat the heat and snag a roomy, inflatable pool for the backyard! We’re eyeing this model because it comes equipped with a filter pump for easy cleaning and is offered in four sizes.

BUY IT: Amazon, $149 (Originally $180)

Happy Shopping...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Labor Day Eat-Ins...

Courtesy of Angela Moore

Happy Labor Day Friends,

As a longtime member of Slow Food USA, I wanted to let FN Dish readers know about an important event that kicks off on Labor Day. Slow Food is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.

From the Slow Food folks:

Slow Food USA is organizing a National Day of Action on Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2009. On that day, people in communities across America will gather with their neighbors for Eat-Ins (part potluck, part sit-in) that send a clear message to Congress: It’s time to provide America’s children with real food at school.

When It Comes to Kids, Change Can’t Wait

By Gordon Jenkins

In June, Michelle Obama made these remarks to a group of fifth-graders who had just harvested 73 pounds of lettuce and 12 pounds of snap peas from the First Lady’s Garden on the White House Lawn:

“To make sure that we give all our kids a good start to their day and to their future, we need to improve the quality and nutrition of the food served in schools. We're approaching the first big opportunity to move this to the top of the agenda with the upcoming reauthorization of the child nutrition programs. In doing so, we can go a long way towards creating a healthier generation for our kids.”

It wasn’t Michael Pollan who said those words. It was the First Lady. Coming from her, the phrase “big opportunity to move this to the top of the agenda” is a call to action that food-conscious citizens cannot ignore.

The National School Lunch Program provides a meal to 30 million children every school day. Right now, school cafeterias are so underfunded that they are forced to serve the fast food and junk food that puts children at risk for diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes. There’s no excuse for federal policy that hurts our children. It’s time to give schools the ability to serve real food for lunch, and to begin building a strong foundation for our children’s health.

The latest numbers show that obesity costs our health care system $147 billion each year, half of which is paid for by taxpayers in the form of Medicare and Medicaid. Giving schools the ability to serve real food is a major down payment on health care reform, and will save taxpayers huge sums of money in the future. School lunch is also a major opportunity for linking local schools to local farms, which would be an economic engine for creating jobs in rural areas and would keep hard-earned dollars in local communities.

This year, the Child Nutrition Act, which is the bill that governs the National School Lunch Program, is up for reauthorization. Unless citizens everywhere speak up this summer, “business as usual” in Congress will pass a Child Nutrition Act that continues to fail our children. We can do better. Our leaders in Congress have to hear that everyday people in their districts refuse to accept the status quo. We have to tell them that when it comes to our children and the legacy we’re leaving them, change can’t wait.

That’s why Slow Food USA is organizing a National Day of Action on Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2009. On that day, people in communities across America will gather with their neighbors for Eat-Ins (part potluck, part sit-in) that send a clear message to Congress: It’s time to provide America’s children with real food at school.

Attend an Eat-In on Labor Day, and bring your friends, too. With the President calling for health care reform and the First Lady planting a garden on the White House Lawn, we’ve got an opening to pass legislation that grants 30 million children the freedom to grow up healthy. But it’ll only happen if we take action.

We start on Labor Day, with Eat-Ins across America. It’s time for lunch...

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Live well,
Yvonne

10 Easy Labor Day Recipes...

Courtesy of Sarah De Heer

Happy Labor Day Friends,

Let's face it: The last thing you should be doing this Labor Day weekend is cooking up a storm in your kitchen. You should utilize recipes that produce a lot of flavor in a small amount of time. These 10 recipes are quick and easy and include options for appetizers, sides, mains and sweet desserts.

Drink:
The Perfect Lemonade

Appetizers:
Food Network Magazine's Pineapple Salsa
Rachael's Macho Gazpacho

Sides:
Poppy-Seed Potato Salad
Pasta Caprese

Mains:
Grilled Turkey Sliders With Tomato Jam
Paula's Southern Fried Chicken
Portobello Burgers

Desserts:
Paula's Strawberry Shortcake
Red, White and Blue Fruit Cups

There may be several more weekends of beautiful weather, but we'll take any excuse to throw a small party with friends and family.

Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Kansas City Style Pork Ribs Recipe

Courtesy of Maria Russo

Happy Labor Day Friends,

This summer, Food Network’s Grilling Central is packed with recipes for the entire family’s taste buds, boasting the best in burgers, dogs, chicken and more all season long. But with so many recipes, where do you start? Each Saturday, FN Dish is giving you a complete menu that is stress-free, and this weekend’s spread is guaranteed to feed a crowd.

If this Labor Day weekend suddenly finds you cooking for a houseful of guests, fear not. We have everything you need to pull off an effortless, enjoyable backyard bash that’s brimming with top-notch dishes. Best of all, our no-fail recipes are a cinch to make, so you can be sure that you, the host, will have as much fun at your party as your guests.

Perhaps the most important part of any summertime soiree is the cocktails, and when it comes to entertaining a crowd, simplicity is key. Now isn’t the time to show off your mixology skills with made-to-order specialty drinks. Instead reach for big-batch cocktails that lend themselves to easy pouring, like Food Network Magazine's Red Sangria or Bobby’s White Peach Cocktail. If your guest list includes kids, prepare a pitcher of alcohol-free Mint Limeade, so that they can enjoy frosty glasses, too. Check out Food Network’s roundup of Pitcher-Friendly Drinks for more simple drink ideas.


Tara Donne, Tara Donne

Next to casual summertime sippers, easy-to-eat appetizers are a must, since they’ll hold over your guests until the main dish is ready. Similar to cocktails, pre-dinner munchies should welcome family-style eating, so look for recipes to which everyone can help themselves, like Rachael’s 7-Layer Dip (pictured left). Her 15-minute appetizer is a simple meatless dish that’s piled high with classic Mexican ingredients just waiting to be scooped up with crispy chips.


Tara Donne

When it comes to selecting which main dish to serve, take into account how much other food there will be. If you’re offering just a few items, look to a single feature recipe that will feed plenty, like this Texas Oven-Roasted Beef Brisket that serves 10 people. If you’re planning on preparing a larger spread, however, it’s okay to serve a smaller main dish, since you’ll have other plates to support it. The Neelys, for example, note that their Kansas City Style Pork Ribs (pictured above) will feed eight small portions, which should be enough if you’re also enjoying potato salads, vegetables and casseroles. Use Food Network’s Barbecue Party Calculator to help you determine how much food to cook.

Appetizer: 7-Layer Dip
Main Dish: Kansas City Style Pork Ribs
Side Dish: Corn Casserole
Dessert: Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Cocktail: Red Sangria

Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Red-White-and-Blue Cocktail Recipe...

Courtesy of Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen
Photography by Levi Brown

Happy Labor Day Friends,

Celebrate Labor Day with the people that mean to most in your life; family and good friends.

Level: Easy
Prep: 10 min
Total: 10 min

Directions
Turn summer drinks into firecrackers by coating the glass rims with Pop Rocks. Just dampen with lemon juice, then dip the rims in the candies on a plate. To get the red-white-and-blue effect, use Tropical Punch (blue) Pop Rocks, then fill the glasses with any red drink or cocktail; we mixed pomegranate and cranberry juice with seltzer.

Cheers!

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Live well,
Yvonne