blog.homeonharrington.com

Category: Homecraft

  • Date Snowdrops: A Timeless Holiday Treat

    Date Snowdrops: A Timeless Holiday Treat

    Do you have a favorite treat that you enjoy each year at the holidays? This simple confection brings together dates and Brazil nuts in the form of small snowballs or “snowdrops” for a timeless holiday treat to enjoy with family and friends. This recipe is for baking beginners and can easily be whipped up in fifteen minutes from start to finish once you familiarize yourself with the process. The Brazil nuts in this recipe can be substituted with macadamia nuts, almonds, cashews, or walnuts, depending on what you have on hand. To begin, follow these steps:

    • Wash and dry fresh dates and remove the pits.
    • Blanch Brazil nuts for 5 minutes in boiling water.
    • Remove the skins of the Brazil nuts and stuff each date with nuts.
    • Top each date with powdered sugar glaze, also known as confectioner’s sugar glaze.
    • When partially set, roll each date in shredded coconut and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
    • Allow the dates to cool before serving or storing in cookie tins lined with parchment paper.

    A quick and easy powdered sugar glaze can be found below:

    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2-4 tablespoons of milk

    Add milk to the powdered sugar and whisk together in a bowl until a glaze consistency is reached and the mixture can be drizzled. Extracts, spices, and other liquids can be used to create unique glaze flavors. Strong, black coffee can be substituted for the milk, and vanilla extract is another great addition. Experiment with different combinations until you find the perfect glaze to suit your needs. Include these snowdrops in your seasonal cookie tins, and enjoy them any time you need a heartfelt, homemade treat to remind you of home.

  • How to Prevent Holiday Overspending

    How to Prevent Holiday Overspending

    In years past, we have struggled with overspending for gift-giving holidays. We have a large list of family and friends that we give gifts to each year, and we always want the gifts to be personalized for each recipient. Some family members may have long wish lists of items. However much we want to buy every item on every list, we have slowly learned over the years that rushing out to purchase popular, expensive items at big-box stores leaves us with little room in our holiday budget. To combat this annual overspending, we have implemented a simple strategy: buy less.

    Instead, we spend much of the year crafting and thrifting. For birthdays, we cook special meals or bake favorite treats. One of our favorite traditions that we have recently adopted includes a thrifted Swedish candle ring that we also light on special occasions. Rather than accumulating a large amount of items, we focus instead on creating lasting memories and gifting memory-making moments. Follow some of these easy tips to check overspending in your own holiday budget:

    • Crafting: Share skills like knitting and crocheting with loved ones, especially during gift-giving holidays. One of the best presents I have ever received is a crocheted sweater made with all of my favorite colors. I know how much care and thought went into the making of the sweater and always feel loved when wearing it because of that great effort.
    • Thrifting: Check out your local thrift and consignment stores for any items that you do intend to buy before purchasing them at full price. You will be surprised at how many gift components can be thrifted and combined to create a truly unique present for loved ones. Our local thrift store often sells beautiful baskets for less than $1.00. Depending on the interests of the recipient, other items can be added to a thrifted basket to make a personalized gift. Baking baskets filled with cook books, aprons, tea towels, and cookie cutters are always a big hit, but a gardening basket or hobby basket would be just as easy to pull together from thrifted items.
    • Cooking and Baking: Find out what each friend or family member loves. Everyone has a favorite meal or baked good, and they love to receive these gifts on special occasions and holidays. The best part? Consumable gifts leave less clutter behind after the occasion or holiday. We love the “giving plate” tradition and fill one up every year.
    • Memory-Making: This is a big one for us. We love to gift passes to places that we know a friend or family member will love. Annual passes often end up being more cost-effective for large families, especially if visiting frequently.
    • “Coupons”: This is an easy one. Make and print out “coupons” on card stock that align with the needs or wants of the recipient of the gift. If you play the guitar and a family member wants to learn, gift them a guitar lesson coupon. We have gifted coupons for music lessons, knitting lessons, and a homemade movie night or pizza party. Children especially love receiving these coupons and love spending quality time together even more.

    Gifting is so personal, but we hope these ideas give you a starting point when planning your holiday budgets and bring you closer to your spending goals. Although some spending is unavoidable, these practices have helped us drastically curb our holiday overspending. For us, making memories now takes precedence over endless lists of material possessions.

  • Simple Homemade Stain Remover

    Simple Homemade Stain Remover

    Are you tired of struggling with stubborn stains on your clothes? With just a few common ingredients, you will be able to tackle tough stains and restore your favorite garments to their former glory with this budget-friendly, stain-fighting recipe. This simple recipe went viral for a reason: it works wonders.

    To make this powerful stain remover, you will need:

    • 1 tablespoon of baking soda
    • 1 tablespoon of dish soap
    • 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide

    Combine these ingredients in a small bowl or container, and mix them well to create a paste. The baking soda helps to lift the stain, while the dish soap and hydrogen peroxide work together to break down and remove the stain.

    Once you have your stain remover mixture ready, apply it directly to the stain. Make sure to fully saturate the affected area, allowing the solution to penetrate the fabric. Let it soak to allow the stain remover to work its magic.

    After the stain has had time to soak, rinse the clothing item under cold water. Cold water reduces wear on fabric and keeps clothing looking its best for longer, while being more energy-efficient. Rinsing under cold water will help to remove any excess stain remover and loosen the stain further. Using a stain brush also helps lift stains during this step of the process. I have had the same stain brush from The Laundress for several years and use it on a weekly basis. Finally, wash the garment as you normally would by hand or in the washing machine in cold water.

    With this homemade stain remover, you can say goodbye to those pesky stains that have been ruining your clothes. Give it a try and see the difference it makes in removing even the toughest stains. You will be amazed at how effective and budget-friendly this DIY solution is. Have you tried this simple stain-fighting solution yet?