Hearth & Home
In the cold dark days of deep winter our homes become our vital core of comfort and warmth. When you're in the mood to hibernate, whether you're just in from an afternoon of sledding, skiing, or skating, or in deep need of retreat after a demanding workweek, relax, refresh, and rejuvenate in your favorite place — home.

Put up your feet and curl up with these fun ideas. Bring the quiet beauty of winter to your cozy indoors!

Vanilla Chocolate Delight
Warm Winter Salad
Snow Rose Centerpiece
Blooming Winter Branches

Vanilla Chocolate Delight
Enjoy being inside on a cold winter night with this sweet winter warm-up. It's quick and simple to make. And you can put your own spin on it by adding ingredients to suit your personal taste!

Ingredients:
milk, soymilk, or eggnog (for a richer drink)
vanilla extract or vanilla beans (if you have the time)
semisweet or milk chocolate
espresso coffee, caffeinated or non
whipped cream

Instructions:
Start with a base of milk, soymilk, or eggnog. Steam on the stove; be careful not to scald it. Add a couple of drops of vanilla. Slowly add chocolate, cut up into small pieces. Stir gently until chocolate is melted and mixture is frothy. Brew four strong shots of espresso and stir in, and lastly add sugar to taste. (Add liqueur as desired.) Pour into your favorite over-size mugs or latte bowls and top with whipped cream. Garnish with cinnamon, a peppermint stick, chocolate shavings, or a rock-sugar stir stick. Enjoy!

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Warm Winter Salad
You can whip up this tasty, filling Warm Winter Salad as a side dish or a main meal. Choose your favorite winter vegetables and hearty greens — there are no rules, it's up to you!

Ingredients:
butternut, acorn, or spaghetti squash
baby potatoes, baby carrots
Brussels sprouts, asparagus, beets
variety of hearty greens like endive or kale
extra-virgin olive oil
salt, pepper, crushed garlic
aged Goat cheese, Parmesan, or Romano

Instructions:
Steam or roast winter vegetables, depending on how much preparation time you have. Layer winter greens on large serving platter and place roasted vegetables on top. Make a dressing of the olive oil, salt, pepper, and crushed garlic. Warm dressing and drizzle over salad. Sprinkle choice of cheese to garnish. Serve by candlelight.

Snow Rose Centerpiece
According to legend, the snow rose grew in the heavens; it was tended by angels who called it the rose of love. After the Fall of Eden, paradise was covered with snow and every flower was destroyed. Angels carried the white rose to earth. Nowadays it symbolizes love and forgiveness.

You can make your own beautiful Snow Rose Centerpiece to add something special to an intimate wintertime gathering. Start with a dozen exquisite snow roses and go from there. Your centerpiece can be as simple or as complex as you'd like it to be! First, think about the container — baskets, urns, glass bowls, ceramic planters, or boldly-colored vases (especially with interesting shapes) are all excellent choices.

Then add a winter touch with some seasonal foliage, maybe some spruce and cedar branches, or ivy and a couple of pine cones. Lastly, add some accessories like ribbons, bows, silver pipe-cleaners, or other stylish ornaments. As a finishing touch, place your Snow Rose Centerpiece on an intricate white doily; guests are sure to leave your place with visions of snowflakes dancing in their heads.

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Blooming Winter Branches
Bring the outside in with Blooming Winter Branches! It's as easy as cutting the right branches from outside, bringing them in, and sitting them in water. "Forced branches" are simply trees whose branches can be forced to bloom indoors. Forced branches typically bloom two to four weeks after cutting. It's as simple as this:

1. Collect branches on a mild winter's day.
2. Search for branches with lots of buds.
3. Cut the stems to medium thickness.
4. Snip on the diagonal at the base of stems.
5. Remove branches or buds from the bottom of stems.
6. Recut stems; change water every two days.
7. Place near sunlight for optimum growth.
8. Don't try to force branches more than once.

Source:
yougrowgirl.com

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