Brining! Williams Sonoma has a great information on brining here.

Photo Credit: Williams Sonoma

Brining is just soaking your turkey in a solution of water, salt, sugar and spices for a period of time.  This allows the water to enter deep into the meat which gives you the end result of a turkey so moist it juices as you cut it!

You can buy brine or make your own.  I prefer to make my own!  The secret family recipe is below! Shared only with you our dear readers!

Voila!  A beautiful Thanksgiving to you and yours!

1. Consistent Routine – it is important that kids have a general pattern that they can expect.  I remember when I was growing up; as soon as I got home from school I had to do my homework.  After dinner, I had to finish up any remaining homework, or it that was complete, it was play time. This helped me understand that homework was important, which helped me prioritize my time to allow for it as I grew older.
2. Study Area Free of Distractions – an increase of the number of children having TVs, computers, various electronics in their rooms has also increased the number of distractions possible when studying. Have homework time at the kitchen table or in the living room, without the TV on, away from distractions.  This will help your child focus and enable them to finish their work more quickly.
3. Large Work Area – most desks made for children aren’t conducive to studying because they are too small.
   

   Photo Credit: A Girl, A Market, A Meal

   Being able to have a large area, like the kitchen table, to spread out helps children organize projects as they are working on them.

Following these three easy steps will ensure your child will have more productive study time and a fruitful school year!

Happy School Year!

Style Guide – Summer Picnic

Picnic Table Set

Picnic Invitations

Solar Lanterns

Green Plate Set

Tumblers

Patchwork Drink Cooler

Homemade Biscotti

Cooler days are coming soon and right behind them are oh-so-fun mornings of shoveling snow.  Here are three things you need to check off your list before the leaves start changing colors.

Get Prepared for the Cold

There is nothing worse than having heating issues in the middle of the cold season.  Not only are you going to be constantly wrapped in a blanket like a Russian baby, but you’re going to be on a long list for repair service.  Tackle these tasks now and save yourself the potential hassle and chilly nights.

• Have your heating unit checked out:  As much as it might pain you to do so, flip on that heater really quick to make sure it’s pumping out warm air.  If it’s not call a professional to have him take a look at it now.
• Change your air filters:  The last thing you want is nasty air blowing through your house.  You should be swapping out that air filter every month or so, but definitely do it before the cold hits and you’re relying on the heating unit to deliver warm air throughout the house.
• Check your barriers:  Make sure your weather stripping, storm doors and anything else that keeps the cold out made it through the spring and summer without damage.  Keeping cold air out is more than half that battle.
• Call a chimney sweep: Get your flue checked and cleaned out before you start any fires.  Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and deadly, so it’s worth the time and nominal fee to have your chimney cleaned out properly.

Make Room for the Mud

If you don’t have a designated “mud room” or area where people can take off their dirty shoes and wet clothing, then you need to clear some space or your carpets will suffer the consequences.  Get extra all weather mats on both sides of your doors to get rid of as much dirt and grime as you can.  This is also an excellent time to hang up those new coat hooks or put in some storage areas like this hallway storage bench for your family’s footwear and cold weather gear.

Open Air Projects

Make sure you have wrapped up any projects you have been procrastinating on and that require you to be outside or need ventilation.  Painting, sanding or staining furniture are all big ones.  These tasks need plenty of fresh air and at least the open space of a garage to be done properly.  The same goes for painting rooms and other fume producing projects.

Speaking of the outside, you can’t forget to prepare the exterior of your residence for the coming cold as well.  Winterize your sprinklers, check the gutters and down spouts and clear away dead or over growing bushes and trees.

Do all of these now while you have the weather and extended daylight on your side.  You don’t want to be hassling with all of this in the wind, rain or even snow.  This way you can hunker down for the winter and dream of Spring cleaning and starting a whole new good weather “To Do” list.

Treat your Father to a Custom Plasma TV Unit

Dad has been there through the best and the worst, supportive and caring, ready to help and offer a hand; why not thank Dad with a Custom Plasma TV Unit?  We have a wide variety of styles that are sure to compliment any living room space.  Like all of our furniture, plasma TV units are built to order.  You can choose the wood type, stain and even special finishing techniques.  Place your Father’s day order by July 1 and he will have it in time for that Kickoff game this Fall!   See all the different options available here.

Dad not a TV guy? What about these ideas?

Of course if a plasma TV unit or entertainment unit is not what you are looking for, we have over 2000 products to choose from on our website.  Maybe a new coffee table like the Kenwood pictured to the right, or a pub table and bar stools.  The choices are endless!

Valuable Savings for you, Perfect Gifts for Dad

Looking for a great deal for Dad?  We have a variety of additional items available in our clearance area which will make Dad’s day and yours!  Visit our showroom to see the items in person or view our clearance section on our website at: www.amish-furniture-home.com

Long before the drink was popular in England and then in the New World it was highly regarded by the Ethiopians and the Muslims. Brought to Europe via Italy and then the East India Company, coffee initially was frowned upon by the church. Although the church prohibited it and in some countries women were banned from coffeehouses eventually coffee became a worldwide recognized beverage of choice for socializing. Along with the need for furniture other items came in to the marketplace for the making and serving of coffee, such as coffee sets, coffee makers and coffee tins.

Coffee tins are one of the prized possessions of collectors of coffee memorabilia, kitchen collectibles and advertising collectibles. There are over 1300 known designs; most chromolithographed. With the phenomenon of coffee houses and coffee shops the collectibility of coffee tins has also risen for businesses as well as home owners.

 Packaged tins of already roasted coffees became more popular as the the process became better in the late 1800’s. Still, coffee in tins could not be guaranteed to be fresh because they were not airtight. With the invention of vacuum packaging in 1903 by Hills Brothers. Coffee tins could now be trusted to be air tight and fresh for weeks. By 1920 even Folgers was using vacuum packing and the world was brewing a more convenient cup of coffee.

If you would like to stock your Amish built bookcases, shelves or hutches with your favorite coffee collectible here are a few tips:

Like any collectible, condition is key. Avoid rust, dents, scratches that are more than wear and tear.

• Paper labels that are not written on and intact are desired.
• Unopened cans are more desirable than opened ones but if it is opened be sure you have a matching lid.
• If you can choose then choose the cans with the best graphics. Chromolithographed, graphics with many colors, are more desired than tins with only one or two colors.
• With so many tins to choose from many collectors prefer to focus on one region to fill their custom shelves and cabinets with.

The Slow Food movement goes to the root of the love food, quite literally. They feel that in order to preserve the cultural cuisine we must preserve the food plants as well as seeds. They also believe that the domesticated food animals are included in that preservation. Slow Food lovers have formed and are sustaining seed banks that are storing heirloom seeds that may otherwise be lost. The idea of farming within an ecoregion is a big part of the belief system. Like the great orator William Morris speaking out for artisan and craftsmanship in furniture during the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Slow Food movement has local leaders who are responsible for promoting local artisans, local farmers, and local flavors through regional events like wine tastings, and farmers’ markets.

Besides preserving the seeds and the animals used in preparing a Slow Food meal the philosophy of the members is that we should be preserving and promoting local and traditional food products, along with their stories or lore and their preparation. They even host celebrations of local cuisine within each region. They also promote the art of eating quality food and educate consumers on the high risk involved in consuming fast foods. They also help educate consumers on the facts about commercial agriculture and “factory farming” with the high rate of hormones and the environmental impacts.

An heirloom quality solid Native hardwood table created by Amish craftsmen is the perfect place to host a Convivium a Casa. These events bring small groups of the movement’s local membership together to enjoy the pleasure of each others company in the intimacy of a host home. Here they share in the preparation and joys of a fine meal at a fine table. Each host a Convivium a Casa decides on how many people they would like to invite. Small groups of perhaps 6 to 10 people do allow for a more comfortable evening of conversation and fellowship. As a host, you get the honor of setting the menu and plans for the evening, although you can enlist the help of those who will be attending. Attendees and the host do provide the food for potlucks or do absorb or split all costs if not. By determining the format and the costs in advance it will allow members to know how much the event will cost.

THEMES- Some themed rooms do attempt to draft all the Disney characters in the attempt to get the flavor of the theme park all in one room. While this can work beautifully if thought out and not too cluttered with over a half a century of characters, more impact can be created by narrowing it to one character or movie.  There are inspirational themes for even the pickiest pre-teens, such as Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers.

WALL COLORS -Wall colors create a canvas to build your world on. For instance, the Disney princess world is in pastels such as  pale blue, yellow or pink. Most of the male oriented Disney themes are in bright primary colors such as the reds and oranges for pirates, Toy Story, CARS, etc. Painting each wall a different color can add interest or create a bold statement with one wall differing as a focal point.  

FURNITURE – The largest piece of furniture in a room is usually the bed and the Amish have crafted beds from twin to king, along with the amazing flexibility of the convertible cribs that will last a childhood or more. Themed bedding with pirate ships or race cars are available in every major store and will tie together any theme. Creating a mysterious tent by suspending gauze or fabric above the bed for a canopy is an inexpensive way to create the mood.  Solid wood cedar chests can be treasure chests while bookcases and shelving, custom stained to match your Amish heirloom furnishings, will hold all of your Disney collectibles.

FLOOR COVERS – Use oriental rugs as magic carpets from Aladdin or a canvas rug, painted with a race track for CARS and including Matchbox or Hot Wheels for interactive play. Princess Pocohantas loves faux animal skin rugs and a Mulan themed room is easily enhanced by choosing Bamboo rugs.

WINDOWS – Window treatments should be playful but functional. Think theatrical when cutting foam board to create portals on a pirate ship or placing shutters inside the windows to recreate the Old World styling of Beauty and the Beast. Alladdin themes are beautified by hanging an Indian inspired candle lantern, with its intricate cut-outs that silhouette in the dark in a window. This same simple candle lantern can just as easily become Tinkerbell’s home. A painted on Arabic arch or a deep sea theme surrounding the window frame is simple enough for even those artistically challenged parents.

Along with your child develop and an idea of what you want the room to be. Use that vision to trigger your inner child’s imagination. Use resources to inspire you and include your child in the creative process. Before you know it you will transport your child’s room into their own happiest place on earth.

You just have to believe!

 Renting furniture seems like a viable option in a bad economy that is suffering from a credit crisis. In fact renting home furnishings is usually a losing investment in most circumstances and not an answer to no or bad credit. Investing in high end, solidly built heirloom quality furniture, if only a piece at a time, is a more stable financial decision. In some short term cases renting furniture instead of investing in permanent goods may make sense. Keep in mind this is renting with the intention of it being short term and not rent-to-own. For instance, your company has moved you to a job for a year. Even renting for home staging to sell or events can be financially sound. Instead of buying furniture that expensive movers will haul away in a few months, it very well might make more sense to rent. Mass produced furniture depreciates, while moving, packing and storage expenses keep going up. These situations are not common but do exist so here are a few tips to help educate you on renting vs. owning.

QUALITY VS. AFFORDABLE –

Even in temporary situations you don’t want to buy anything that falls apart. Rental centers are not apt to carry a handcrafted heavy duty finely built maple dining room set but are sure to have press board with photo-finish. Test out the furniture before you rent it. If it feels weak or uncomfortable in the store it will in your home.

BE A SMART CONSUMER -

When renting furniture you are entering in to a contract that is binding. Quite simply, you need to read it and understand it BEFORE you sign it. The details can haunt you and your check book for many months. How much do they require down? What is the agreed upon conditions of returning the furniture? Is there a hidden delivery fee? What is normal wear and tear? Are the items you are receiving pre-rented or new?

Even at a rental store you should be asking what the country of origin the furniture maker is located. Also ask for guarantees and return policies.

WHAT IS THE ACTUAL COSTS? –

Doe sit make more sense to buy used furniture for your short term use than to invest in renting? How many months are you staying in this situation? How much to buy a couch or dining room set? Divide it by the months you are staying and if renting is more then buy. This of course is under the condition that you can pay cash and not have to finance furniture, adding on interest. Consider even buying one good investment piece and supplementing with rental items. You will have something that is yours that makes you feel like your home.

Whatever you decide, whether it is to go all rental, all used or to supplement with one or two pieces of quality furnishings like the Amish create, stay away from rent-to-own centers. The interest rates are exorbitant but are hidden in months of payments that cause the final price to be triple its value. By the time you are done paying these mass produced items are no longer in existence. Also, if you are an apartment or house renter remember that you will be spending a great deal of income on a home and its furnishings that will not be yours. Renting may not be the answer to credit when it comes to furniture

 Sadly, the passing of Mike Tyson’s young daughter has brought to the forefront home safety issues.  Home can be one of the most dangerous places for a small child or infant and it is of major concern to safety and health officials. By following a few simple steps you can help to eliminate commonly overlooked areas in your home and increase your comfort and your family’s safety.

USED BABY FURNITURE - It is not just a sales gimmick crafted by the baby furniture industry to part you with your money. Used baby furniture may save you money but cost you injuries or even a baby’s life. A good rule is no furniture later than 1978.

1. The first step in insuring the safety of your infant is to check with the manufacturer or online to be certain that the item has not been recalled.

2. Obtain current guidelines for measurement such as distance between side rail bars. Currently they are 2 3/8 inches apart, with no large cut-outs on head and foot boards.

3. Is the paint loose or chipping and most of all child safe and lead free?

4. Cedar chests or toy chests should have hinge support to prevent the lid from slamming down on little fingers or heads.

Choosing solid wood handcrafted furniture protects your investment and your child. Solid hardwoods withstand generations of children and their teething episodes.

KITCHEN -

1. Kitchen chairs and stools should be positioned far enough away from stoves that if a toddler mounted them they could not reach hot burners or pots.

2. Have you put child locks on your pantries and custom made cupboards or cabinets?

3. Move all knives and sharp objects farther back in the drawers and cabinets.

LIVINGROOM -

1. Move all glass objects to the back of your Amish built tables. A heavy vase, object d’art or picture frame can be a deadly weapon when it’s pulled down on to a curious child’s head.

2. Cable all window shades cords and electrical cords up and away.

3. Be sure your big plasma or HDTV television is securely mounted to your custom built television stand or entertainment center. Home injuries to children have increased by a record 41% because of oversized televisions.

4. Are your bookcases secured? Solid wood bookcases are well built and steady but on carpet or uneven flooring an accident can happen. Simple wall brackets can secure any cabinet or book case.

5. Have you applied protective padding or rubber corners to your solid wood living room tables? The corners are sharp and can cause injury to a small child.

6. Have you protected your child from entering your fireplace area? Whether electric, wood or gas it is an obvious area that should never given easy access to.

BATHROOMS -

1. Amish crafted corner cabinets and bookcases make beautiful and functional bathroom furnishings to store prescriptions and toiletries in. Be sure to secure these items to prevent ingestion by a child. This includes prescriptions, mouthwashes, hair sprays, perfumes, etc.

HOME OFFICE -

1. Check for cords, whether from electrical or telephones. It is wise to unplug when not in use and wind up those cords. Dangling cords attract and easily go from playful toy to noose.

OUTDOOR FURNITURE-

1. Check for splinters that may have occurred with use and changes in the wood. While Amish outdoor furniture is finished by hand regular care and maintenance will prevent accidents.

GUN CABINETS -

1. Amish craftsmen build handsome gun cabinets complete with locking features. Remember -KEEP THE KEY HIDDEN AND AMMUNITION STORED SEPERATELY