August Signature Cookie - S'mores Bars

What’s an adventure without scrumptious, gooey s’mores. These delicious s’mores bars are the perfect glamping sweet treat to enjoy on these beautiful summer evenings.

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons butter

• 21 ounces mini marshmallows (divided)

• 8 1/4 cups Golden Grahams cereal (divided)

• 3/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (divided)

Instructions

• Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Set aside.

• In a large saucepan over low heat, melt butter most of the way.

• Add 16 ounces marshmallows, and stir until completely melted.

• Remove from heat.

• Stir in 8 cups cereal until combined.

• Add remaining 5 ounces marshmallows and 1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips, and stir to combine.

• Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cereal and 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips.

• Press cereal into baking dish.1

• Let cool to room temperature before cutting and serving.

Recipe and picture courtesy of www.ihearteating.com.

Natural Light Makes This Home at Catherine Court

The property market is thriving and if you're trying to sell your home, you want it to stand out. Here's a tried-and-true tip to help you sell your home fast.

>>> Staging Tip: Let in as much natural light as possible. Natural lighting helps your home look bigger, cleaner and more appealing. If you have curtains or shades, open them and pin them back. Plus, natural lighting is essential for taking clear, inviting photographs.

We loved staging this beautiful home in Carson Valley. The large panoramic windows were the perfect accessory so we kept the decor minimal and let the natural light and gorgeous views shine. And, it sold in record time!

For the full listing, click HERE.

#DesignTipTuesday – Charcuterie Boards

One of the staples in our house outside of home décor is cheese… you’re probably thinking “Cheese Louise, this is a random post” but in all honesty, part of making a house a home is spending time with people you care about all under one roof. When we all get together, one thing that is a must is having something for friends and family to snack on.

Soooo…Today’s Design Tip Tuesday is a little different – today we are talking all about charcuterie boards. Charcuterie boards are perfect to bring to a small gathering, or can be made into an entire meal for your family. I love them because they are not only delicious but are so diverse.

You can keep it simple with meats and chesses or get fancy with it and include fresh fruits, breads and crackers, olives plus spreads like honey and jams.

Step 1: To begin designing your charcuterie board, first, choose a board, tray, or platter to be your foundation – I picked up this gorgeous long wood board with leather handles form Fresh Ideas. I recommend going with either a wood or marble because they are sturdy and make a beautiful display. Then, choose your shape. It could be round, square or a long rectangle – whatever you prefer and what will fit all of your delicious elements.

Step 2: Choose small dishes or bowls to anchor the arrangement and help contain loose items like dips, nuts, and olives. Plus, the small dishes add a depth element to your design.

Step 3: Choose the cheese. This is always my favorite part – because yummmm. Depending on your budget, I recommend going to a local cheese shop for unique, high-quality cheeses (try Minden Meat and Deli for a wide variety). Or, your local supermarket (such as Raley’s) will have a couple of good options . I always include three to five cheeses in these basic categories: a hard cheese, a soft cheese, and a blue cheese. My favorites include: BellaVitano Gold or Peppered, Pecorino Romano, and Manchego… just to name a few.  

Step 4: After choosing the cheeses, include a few varieties of thinly sliced cured meats. Lay them flat or arrange them in loose rolls so they're easy for guests to pick up and nibble on. Also, I recommend including harder meats like pepperoni and salami. Columbus Hot Soppresatta is one of my all-time favorites.

Step 5: Add crackers, breadsticks and breads – who doesn’t love a good bread! Include a few starchy sidekicks, especially if your board includes soft, spreadable cheeses and jams. We love to include sourdough bread bites and Raincoast Crisps which come in a variety of flavors – we also get these at Raley’s.

Step 6: Fruits and veggies will add color and freshness to your charcuterie board. Grapes are my go-to because they are easy and come in a couple different colors. Tiny champagne grapes are also perfect to fill small holes.

Step 7: Once you have all of your tasty design elements, start by adding structure with little dishes, then place your ingredients on the board starting with the largest elements like the cheeses and meats, followed by smaller items like crackers and fill the remaining holes with fresh produce.

Step 8: Enjoy!

July Signature Cookie - Lemon-Thyme Cookies

These beautiful cookies are not only delicious but they’re also a snap to make. The hint of tang from the lemon and savory from the thyme enhances the buttery richness of these cookies and is the perfect cookie for this month’s Summer at the Chateau Sale.

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter, softened

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh thyme

• 2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• Coarse sugar or granulated sugar (optional)

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 350F. Beat the butter in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar until combined. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in thyme, lemon peel, lemon juice, and cardamom. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Knead until smooth; form mixture into a ball.

• Step 2

  Divide dough into three equal portions. Roll each portion into a 6x4 1/2-inch rectangle (about 1/4 inch thick) on a lightly floured surface. Cut dough into 1 1/2-inch squares with a scalloped-edge pastry wheel or use your favorite cookie cutter. Sprinkle cutouts with coarse sugar if you have it on hand. Place cutouts on ungreased cookie sheets.

• Step 3

  Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are just lightly brown. Transfer to wire racks and let cool. Makes 36 cookies.

Tips

Place cookies in layers separated by pieces of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw cookies, if frozen, before serving.

Recipe courtesy of BHG.

How to Host the Perfect Backyard Party

Today, we are going to share some tips and tricks on how to get any space entertaining ready. We’ll also show you some perfect additions to make your summer decor POP! Whether you are entertaining for four or a few more, here are a couple of our summer must-haves!

**To purchase an item, click on the bold word and it will take you directly to the item page in our online shop..

Flag Table Runner & Placemats:

Our table setting starts with a festive flag runner and easy-to-clean placemats. First, we draped the flag runner across the table. We love this flag runner because it has multiple uses: you can hang it as a banner (it’s original purpose), or use it as a table runner like we did. It’s extra long so it works on even the largest of tables. Next, we used hand-woven placemats to help protect the table from any spills that might occur. Plus, they give you extra layering style points.

Navy Ticking Stripe Napkins:

I don’t know about you but I am a huge fan of ticking stripe so when I saw these napkins, I naturally had to bring them in. They are great for everyday use but pair them with a Handmade Glass Star from Memories in Glass and BOOM! - you’ve instantly added patriotic flair to your table. If you are feeling especially generous, let the star be a sweet gift to your guests to go home with.

Flag Holder Centerpieces:

In lieu of flowers for a centerpiece, we used handmade flag holders crafted from old fence posts. They are a colorful and fun centerpiece option. They also add good height to the tablescape.

Condiment Server:

This it a set with three bowls and a stand. You don’t just have to use it for condiments, you could also use it for bar snacks like pub mix, mixed nuts and/or M&M’s.

Glassware:

Our recycled beverage glasses are great for everyday use and for special occasions. Add in a fun paper straw or depending on the beverage, cut the ends off of Red Vines Licorice and use that as a straw (the kids at the party will love it and probably some adults too!) If you are looking for the perfect beverage to serve at your BBQ, head on over to see Troy at Battle Born Wine in Gardnerville. Let him know what you are serving and he’ll make sure you get the perfect pairing.

Galvanized Silverware Caddy:

This caddy works well for so many things. Put silverware in it on your buffet line, carry some ice cold beverages in it or make a faux flower arrangement in it for a centerpiece.

Stacking Star Dishes:

Another stylish dish set to use for your BBQ. Great for snacks on the table and a variety of other uses.

Ceramic Berry Basket with delicious fresh strawberries from the Main Street Farmer’s Market:

Did you know that there is now a Farmer’s Market in Main Street Gardnerville?? Head on over to Heritage Park on Wednesdays from 8am-1pm now through September 2nd to enjoy fresh produce and more from your favorite Farmers, Ranchers and Specialty Food Providers.

Beverage Station:

Turn your beverage bar into a style statement. Grab a small table, a beverage canister and some decor and turn it into a style statement. We used a log slice as a riser for our beverage canister so guests can easily get their glasses under the spigot. Visit our Shop Furniture page for tables, chairs and consoles available.

Party Tip:

Instead of using black tea for your ice tea, head on over to Fresh Ideas and pick up one of their flavored teas. Jody has a number of delicious options but Ginger Peach is a crowd favorite among the Eddy Street crew.

Buntings:

These buntings are my go-to every summer. It doesn’t even feel like summer until we hang the buntings on the house and shop. They are a larger bunting so they make a big statement when you hang them. What I like best about them is the quality. The coloring is great too because they lean towards the vintage style since the white isn’t bright.

Ice Cold Drink Tubs:

When function meets fashion - just because you want to keep your drinks cold, doesn’t mean you have to use a traditional cooler. This provides a style opportunity. Option One: get a cute drinking tub from Eddy Street. Option Two: Pull out that old wheel barrow and spray it off, fill it up with your favorite beverages and ice it down. Don’t fret if you don’t have a cute wheel barrow at home, our sweet friends Jessa and Julie currently have a great one in their upstairs booth at Cheshire Antiques.

Decor is great but the true key to a successful party is having something that entertains your guests. Put out yard games as an ice breaker to get conversations started or have everyone play a card game. One of our favorites is Left Center Right... It’s a simple game that’s sure to get everyone laughing.

Head on over to www.eddystreetvintagemarket.com to see these items and more. Use code “LOCAL20” for our curbside pickup option. Or, check out the video below for a walk through of some fun featured items and why we love them for a backyard BBQ.

We hope you use these tips to create the perfect backyard BBQ. Have a wonderful 4th of July! Summer has officially begun!