Autumn Home Tour

This year I went for a more earthy look for my fall decor. My obsession with pink sunflowers took over. And I used a combo of whites, pinks, peaches and dark teal. Although I use fake flowers and plastic pumpkins from Michael's, I balanced it out with ceramic and glass decor. Keeping the overall look a modern traditional boho theme. 

(This is NOT sponsored or an ad.)

I hope you enjoy looking at my home as much as I loved decorating it!

Pink sunflower centerpiece how-to here: 

https://lilacfarms.blogspot.com/2019/08/two-fall-diy-decor-projects.html

The wooden fall ornaments and the ceramic dark teal pumpkins were Target finds!

I kept it simple and pretty on the buffet table. The white pumpkin branch is from Magnolia, found in Target. As well as the wooden leaf ornament.

My entrance, I also keep simple only adding the white pumpkin branch and wooden acorn ornament.

I absolutely love my pink sunflowers and ombre pumpkins in the living room!

Pumpkin ombre how-to here:

https://lilacfarms.blogspot.com/2019/08/two-fall-diy-decor-projects.html

I kept the other side of the living room simple, adding only a peach knit blanket 

(a consignment store find), and a wooden acorn ornament on the coffee table.

I added Autumn to my kitchen by putting a pink sunflower in my dark blue glass jar and a wooden pumpkin ornament hanging with the copper mugs.

I love how the colors balance each other out and it feels very earthy in here!

Last, but not least... I added a vase of pink sunflowers to the top of my faux fireplace.

This beautiful cream clay plate and vase was another Magnolia find in Target.

 Thanks for visiting! Happy Autumn!

xoxo, Arianne

Rainy Days + Baking = A Happy Heart

Such a cozy day!

I think we all can agree that it's harder to be cozy in the summer. The fall brings along the sweaters, the chilly evenings, the warm cider. Winter with it's cold invites you to curl up with a book and a blanket. Spring has it's breeze, picnics and tea parties. However, Summer to me does not scream 'COZY'. So when the forecast says 'RAIN'... I get excited!

In the morning I took the kids to the playground. They had fun and got their energy out. I knew I wanted to make soft pretzels for lunch, so we headed home around 9:30. (I have a FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE BELOW FOR YOU!) Just as we were pulling in, the sky got dark. As soon as I made my way to the kitchen... the sky opened up and the thunder rumbled.

When I realized our day would most likely be spent indoors I was encouraged to bake more. I decided to make banana bread as well as soft pretzels! For me, the rain and the baking was very relaxing. I felt more down to earth and homey. 

I love my little vases filled with cuts from the garden!

HERE IS YOUR FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE...ENJOY!

(Right-click, save as & print. By saving you agree to use for personal use only!)

Happy baking, Arianne

Homemade Glazed Strawberry Tart With Free Recipe Printable!

HOMEMADE GLAZED STRAWBERRY TART

WITH FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE!

By Arianne Plehandzic

Every June we leave our house early in the morning to go strawberry picking.

We arrive in our hats and grab a basket to fill with strawberries. Everyone can't help eating a few as we go. Strawberry juice falling down our faces and a special strawberry induced smile appears. We head to the farm stand to pay for our strawberries and grab a couple goodies on the way...a fresh baked cookie, flowers for the porch, a handmade item. We head home and our van is filled with the sweet smell of strawberries. I can't help but think of all the delicious strawberry recipes I can make.

On the top of my list is this amazing recipe for glazed strawberry tart!

It melts in your mouth and gives you a strawberry induced coma. Not only does it smell good while it's baking, but I actually love the way the bowl smells while I'm making the tart. The sweet smell of flour, walnuts, lemon and vanilla altogether smells heavenly!!

(This recipe contains walnuts: nut allergy warning.)

***FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!***

(My adorable helper!)

INGREDIENTS:

1-1/3 cups of flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup finely ground walnuts

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 egg

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold butter, cut into pieces

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup seedless strawberry jam

1 teaspoon lemon juice 

2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced

DIRECTIONS:

1. Stir together flour, walnuts, sugar, lemon rind and salt in a large bowl. Cut butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 knives, until coarse crumbs form. Whisk together egg and vanilla in a small bowl; stir into flour mixture until a dough forms. Shape into a disk. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. 

2. Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Grease and flour a baking sheet. Place dough on baking sheet; pat dough into a 10 inch circle; forming a high edge. Pierce the dough all over with a fork. Bake until slightly brown, about 25 minutes. Place baking sheet on wire rack and cool for about 10 minutes; transfer shell to rack to cool completely.

3. Melt the jam with lemon juice in a small saucepan over low heat until spreadable. Spread 1/2 cup jam mixture on top of the shell. Arrange the berries on the top; brush remaining jam mixture on top. Serve with whip cream if desired.

**NOW FOR YOUR FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE!**

**RIGHT-CLICK AND SAVE AS, THEN PRINT!**

(Please remember that this is for PERSONAL USE ONLY!)

Learn more about my shop: 

LILAC FARMS STUDIO ETSY SHOP

Homemade Strawberry Lemonade Recipe With Free Printable!

HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY LEMONADE

WITH FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE!

By Arianne Plehandzic

Nothing sounds more refreshing than these three words...

HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY LEMONADE!!

See...what did I tell you? Now you want some, don't you?! I made this recipe for our Easter brunch and everyone loved it! I made it in my pretty 'Pioneer Woman' pitcher. It looked very pretty on the table...adding some pink! I also love to make this in the summer too. Always seems to do the trick after a long, hot day.

**This recipe is well worth the 15 minute prep time...so delish!!**

I'm sharing my homemade strawberry lemonade recipe with you. Along with two free printables!!

1. STRAWBERRY LEMONADE RECIPE PRINTABLE

2. OUR SPRING TRADITIONS PRINTABLE

WHAT YOU NEED:

*8 large strawberries, halved

*2 tablespoons white sugar

*7 cups of water, divided

*1 cup of white sugar

*2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice

1. PLACE STRAWBERRIES INTO A BLENDER; TOP WITH 2 TABLESPOONS OF SUGAR.

POUR 1 CUP OF WATER OVER THE SUGARED STRAWBERRIES. BLEND UNTIL STRAWBERRY CHUNKS TRANSFORM INTO JUICE.

2. COMBINE STRAWBERRY JUICE, 6 CUPS OF WATER, 1 CUP OF SUGAR, AND LEMON JUICE IN A LARGE PITCHER; STIR UNTIL BLENDED. CHILL BEFORE SERVING.

Now for your free printables:

***BY SAVING THESE PRINTABLES- YOU AGREE TO USE FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY! NO SELLING OR REDISTRIBUTING! PLEASE SEE MY DISCLOSURE PAGE FOR DETAILS.***

*RIGHT-CLICK, SAVE AS AND PRINT!*

*RIGHT-CLICK, SAVE AS AND PRINT!*

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Coffee Cake With Free Recipe Printable!

CHOCOLATE CHIP CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE 

WITH FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE!

By Arianne Plehandzic

This is the BEST coffee cake you will ever taste!

It is made with a secret ingredient that makes the cake mix extra fluffy...sour cream! When you combine the fluffy cake mix with the chocolate chips, walnuts, cinnamon and sugar topping...you are in coffee cake heaven!!

I just finished making some for my oldest...she requested it. She's a little under the weather and this is her favorite. (Although I think this is everyone's favorite in this house.) Plus we are expecting 10 inches of snow between tonight and tomorrow. Snow in Spring is no fun. However, there's something about baking while there's a snow storm outside. Makes the house seem a little cozier. 

***FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!***

(There's no light brown sugar in the recipe...not sure why it's in the picture...lol.)

PREP TIME: 30 MINS.  BAKE TIME: 40-45 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

*12 ounces chocolate chips or m&m's (1 package)

*3/4 cup chopped walnuts

*2 cups sugar, divided

*1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

*2 2/3 cups all purpose flour

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

*3/4 teaspoon baking powder

*3/4 cup butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)

*1 teaspoon vanilla

*3 eggs

*1 1/2 cups sour cream

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9 inch baking pan.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the chocolate chips, walnuts, 2/3 cup of the sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

3. In another medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.

4. In a large bowl, beat the butter, remaining 1 1/3 cups of sugar and vanilla with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

6. Add some flour mixture alternately with sour cream, beating after each addition until smooth.

(Some flour, mix, some sour cream, mix.)

7. Spoon half the batter into the pan, top with half the chocolate-nut mix; repeat.

8. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

***FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE!***

**RIGHT CLICK, SAVE AND PRINT!**

How To Make Buchteln With Free Recipe Printable!

HOW TO MAKE BUCHTELN! (BOSNIAN SWEET ROLLS)

By Arianne Plehandzic

So what do you do when there is a blizzard outside?! You bake, of course!

Yesterday we got hit with 18 inches of snow! Daddy was home from work, sleeping on the couch.

The kids and I headed into the kitchen to bake some sweets. We made Snowball Cookies (next blog post) and we made these delicious Bosnian Sweet Rolls called 'Buchteln'. My husband is from Bosnia and these rolls seemed to be perfect for a cold, snowy day!

**FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!**

INGREDIENTS:

*4 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

*1 TBSP ACTIVE DRY YEAST

*1/2 CUP SUGAR

*ZEST OF ONE SMALL LEMON

*7 TBSP BUTTER, SOFTENED

*1 EGG

*1 EGG YOLK

*1 CUP WARM MILK

*1 TBSP BUTTER, MELTED

*POWDER SUGAR FOR DUSTING

*FILLING: JAM, NUTELLA, CREAM CHEESE, BERRIES, ETC.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine flour, yeast, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and mix well for a few minutes.

2. Add half of the warm milk and mix together.

3. Add egg, egg yolk, butter and remaining milk; mix for 2-3 minutes or until dough stops sticking to the bowl.

4. Knead the dough by hand for a few minutes, form it into a ball, cover with a towel and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled.

5. Roll the dough into 1/3 inch think rectangle and using a pizza cutter, cut into smaller squares (approx. 3 x3 in.)

6. Place tbsp of jam on each 3 x 3 inch square and close the by holding the 

the corners together and twist into a ball. 

7. Place the balls upside down onto a greased round cake pan. Brush the melted butter over the buchteln, cover and let it rise intil doubled.

8. Bake at 380 degrees for 30 minutes or until dark golden brown. Cool slightly and dust with powder sugar and serve!

FREE PRINTABLE RECIPE:

***RIGHT CLICK & SAVE AS, THEN PRINT!***