P. Allen Smith's Garden Home Style Winter 2014

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GARDEN HOME

Special Holiday Issue

P. Allen Smith’s

VOLUME 4 2014VOLUME 4 2014

SHOP P. ALLENBEAUTY. DESIGN. P. ALLEN STYLE.

A collection of beautiful and nature-inspired products for the home and garden.

shop.pallensmith.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

GARDENHOME

6ALLEN’S LETTER

8 cookPRIME RIB

11 cookHERITAGE TURKEY

12 cookTHREE WAYS TO REINVENT LEFTOVER STUFFING

24 MARKETPLACE – HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

272015 GRATITUDE JAR

13 cookMAKE A PERFECT (AND EASY!) PIE CRUST

15 cookTHREE HOLIDAY BEVERAGES TO ENJOY

18 celebrateMY FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, NEW AND OLD

A collection of beautiful and nature-inspired products for the home and garden.

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WE MADE THIS!

Second Head Cheese

JOHN OWENS

Guard of the Coffers

PAM HOLDEN

Master Marketer and Organizer of All

MIMI SAN PEDRO

Keeper of the Head Cheese

LAURA LEECH

Emissary to Our Partners

BRANDI MORAN

Task Master

MARY ELLEN PYLE

The Creative Mind

KELLY MCLARTY

Social Butterfly

MYRA GREEN

Technical Wizard

KATIE LUNSFORD

The Man Who Makes The Internet Work

TODD ORR

Photography Hoarder

SUZANNE SELBY

Stylists Extraordinaire

CINDY ALPE

Scribes

P. ALLEN SMITH • TIFFANY ADAMS

Makers of Video Magic

BRENT WALKER • DAVID CRAFT • PATRICK GREENHEAVEN MERCER • JEFF CERINO • CHIP SIMONS

Shutterbugs

MARK FONVILLE • JANE COLCLASURE • KELLY QUINN

Farm Sentinels

JOYCE SMITH • CHRIS SMITH

Head Cheese

P. ALLEN SMITH

GARDENSTYLEgrow . cook . design

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ALLEN’S LETTER

The holidays have arrived! For me, this means turning my efforts indoors to decorate, cook, and prepare for guests. I know many of you will agree there’s something magical about this time of year. For me, these gatherings are a big part of that magic, and I look forward to fixing my family’s favorite dishes, honoring old traditions, and starting a few new ones as we celebrate theHolidays and welcome 2015. Forthat reason, I divided this holiday issue into two main categories that focus on cooking and traditions.

What is a holiday without a meal? Whether it’s your great aunt’s pecan pie, the traditional turkey or a new dish that has been recently introduced into the mix, there’s always plenty for everyone to indulge in at a holiday

feast. The following pages have recipes that are easy to prepare, but taste so delicious your guests might think you’ve spent the whole day in the kitchen.

Aside from the food, there are a whole range of traditions that have been handed down from year to year in our families and that continue to be special to us today. Whether it’s displaying treasured heirloom pieces (see our tablescape on page 20), or simple, low-cost ways to let others know you care this season, I hope the traditions included in this issue will inspire you to slow down, enjoy the moment, and look forward to the new year that is upon us.

Happy Holidays,

BUY

LOCAL SUPPORT YOURLOCAL FARMER

WINTER Be merry all, be merry all, With holly dress the festive hall; Prepare the song, the feast, the ball, To welcome merry Christmas. ~William Robert Spencer

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REMEMBER TOCLEAN UP BEFOREYOUR GUESTS ARRIVE.

Troy-Bilt® offers a full line of snow throwers to clear any kind of snow Mother Nature throws at you. With an average star rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, you can be sure your Troy-Bilt will get the job done every time it snows. See the full line at troybilt.com.

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Prime RibI don’t know about you, but I like to keep my recipes simple, yet delicious. This version of prime rib is one that is easy to create, yet tastes as though you’ve spent hours in the kitchen. The blend of herbs used here infuses the meat with a savory and full flavor. Plus, it serves a crowd, making it a great choice for a dinner party or holiday meal.

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PRIME RIB

INGREDIENTSServes 8-10

1 (3-pound) prime rib

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons garlic cloves,

pressed through a garlic press

1 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Fresh rosemary

Fresh thyme

Fresh sage

Watch allenPREPARE THIS DISH

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Prime RibDIRECTIONS1. Coat the prime rib in olive oil and rub with the pressed garlic. Evenly distribute the salt and sprinkle with a generous amount of black pepper.

2. Place a bed of rosemary, thyme, and sage on top of the rack in your roasting pan. I use three or four stems of rosemary, a bundle of thyme and a large handful of sage. Place the prime rib on top of the herbs. Cover the prime rib with more herbs.

3. Place the roasting pan in an oven that has been preheated to 425°F, and cook for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325°F and continue to cook for an hour. I like my beef medium rare so it will be ready when the internal temperature is 140°F. At that point take the prime rib out of the oven and remove the herbal topping. Let it rest for about 10 minutes. Then you’ll have a beautiful piece of meat to slice and enjoy.

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Just as quality tools make gardening easier, using quality cookware in the kitchen makes recipes virtually foolproof. My cookware of choice is Le Creuset®. For this recipe, I used their Stainless Steel Roasting Set.

RECIPE DOWNLOAD

HERE

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Heritage TurkeyIt’s no secret I’m a huge fan of heritage poultry. Through the years, I’ve found that these breeds—which mature at a slow rate of growth allowing them to build strong bones and organs before putting on muscle—are the tastiest fowl. If you’re planning to have a Heritage turkey at your holiday gathering, here is a simple recipe plan to make it a success.

Prep the bird. Rinse the bird with cold water and pat dry. Brine the turkey with your favorite brining mixture in the refrigerator for a full 24 hours. When you pull it out of the brine, rather than stuffing the bird, fold its wings behind its back and tie the drumsticks together to make it as compact and manageable as possible.

Season lightly. Take a few tablespoons of butter and rub them generously on the turkey. Mix ½ tsp salt with a ½ tsp pepper and sprinkle on top of the butter.

Start with a quick bake. Put your turkey on the rack of a roasting pan with 1 ½ cups of water in the pan. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 400°F.

Cook low and slow. After the initial browning of the turkey, remove it from the oven and baste with natural juices. Cover the turkey and return it to the oven, this time cooking at 300°F for 25-30 minutes per pound. This is one of the major differences in cooking Heritage vs. commercial poultry; you’ll want to cook it at a low temperature for more time per pound in order for the best result.

Add juices and spices. About an hour and a half into the cooking process you can pull the turkey out of the oven and use an injector to draw up some of those delicious cooked juices, and then insert them into the breasts, thighs, and drumsticks. Now is a good time to add any spices—maybe a little sage or rosemary—to the cavity. Re-cover the turkey and place it back in the oven until the cooking time is complete.

Make a flavorful finish. Use a meat thermometer to check the bird until it reaches 180°F. When it reaches this temp, baste the bird once more with natural juices and a little more butter, and then return it to the oven without the cover. Remove when brown.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HERITAGE POULTRY BREEDS

Watch allenPREPARE THIS DISH

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Where there’s stuffing, there are inevitably leftovers. Try these three ways to transform this beloved holiday dish for use after the family gathering.

Rather than adding chicken to your stuffing, as some recipes suggest, add the stuffing to your chicken. Use a meat hammer to flatten and thin a boneless, skinless chicken breast. Place 2-3 tablespoons of stuffing on one side of the breast, and then roll the chicken to wrap the stuffing inside it. Use butcher’s twine to secure it. Bake at 325°F until chicken is done.

Use the stuffing to create a crust for a tomato pie. Beat an egg in a mixing bowl. Add 2 cups of stuffing and work the egg through mixture. Pour into a pie pan and distribute evenly. Add desired toppings—we suggest sliced tomatoes and mozzarella cheese for a savory pie—and bake at 325° for 15-20 minutes or cheese is melted and the pie is warm throughout.

Ways to Reinvent Leftover Stuffing3

2

1Mix ½ cup of stuffing with ¼ cup of mashed potatoes (these can be leftovers as well or freshly made). Flatten the mixture into a patty and cover each side with breadcrumbs. Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in a skillet and lightly brown on each side.

StuffedChicken

StuffedCrust

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Stuffed Patties

JUST FREEZE I TWhen all else fails, place your leftover stuffing in a freezable container and freeze for up to six months.

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(and Easy!) Pie CrustThe holidays seem to beckon us to indulge in a bit more of everything—more time to reflect and spend with friends and family, more gifts to give and receive, and, of course, more dessert! Being a Southerner, I’ve never met a pie I didn’t like, which is why I love to serve them to holiday guests. Turn the page for my simple—and delicious—pie crust recipe. It’s a per-fect base for every pie from chocolate to cherry. Plus, the recipe makes two crusts, which can come in handy for holiday baking.

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PERFECTLY EASY PIE CRUST

INGREDIENTS2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup vegetable or canola oil

1/3 cup cold milk

DIRECTIONS1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

2. In a bowl, mix the flour and salt together. Measure the oil and milk in the same liquid mea-suring cup, and add the mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Stir with a spoon until the liquid has been absorbed and the dough forms a ball.

3. Divide the dough in half. Dampen your countertop with a clean wet cloth, and place a sheet of wax paper over the damp spot. Place one portion of the dough on the wax paper. Place another sheet of wax paper over the dough, and roll it out to the desired thickness for 1 crust.

4. Remove the top sheet of wax paper. Pick up the bottom sheet, and invert it over a pie plate. Remove the wax paper carefully, working from the edge toward the center. Ease the dough into the pie plate. (Repeat this process for the second crust, or freeze the dough for a later use.)

5. Fold under the edges of the dough to be even with the pie plate and crimp or press with a fork. Prick the bottom and sides of the dough with a fork to prevent bubbles. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the crust is slightly browned.

Make a Perfect (and Easy!) Pie Crust

VARIATION:For a pudding-filled pie or just to give your crust a slightly sweet taste, add 1 tablespoon sugar to the dry ingredients and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to the liquids, and then prepare the dough as described above.

RECIPE DOWNLOAD

HERE

Make it now. Bake it later.You can freeze pie crust dough for up to three months. Wrap the dough in aluminum foil and place it in a freezer bag. When you are ready to use it, thaw the dough in the refrigerator before rolling it out for your crust.

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to EnjoyRaise your glass to these three sip-sational holiday beverages

#1 HOT CITRUS TEAThis tea can be made ahead of time and reheated quickly or served in an urn when holiday guests arrive.

DIRECTIONSFirst make the spice mixture by combining the first five ingredients in a large saucepan. Simmer this mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. It should take about 5 minutes.

In a separate, larger pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Add 2 tea bags and simmer. Next pour in the sugar and spice mixture. Then add concentrated orange juice, pineapple juice and lemon juice to the tea. Continue to cook until heated through. Serve warm and enjoy the sweet citrus flavor! For an alcoholic version, add 1 ounce of bourbon or rum to each serving.

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INGREDIENTS2 cups water

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

12 whole cloves

3 - 4 whole allspice

1 small can orange juice, frozen

1 medium lemon

1 cup pineapple juice

2 tea bags

3Holiday Beverages to Enjoy

INGREDIENTS1 quart vanilla soymilk7 oz. extra-firm silken tofu7 tablespoons maple syrup2 teaspoons vanilla extract1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon1/4 teaspoon nutmeg1/4 teaspoon cloves, ground1/4 teaspoon allspice, ground2/3 cup amaretto

CLICK HERE TO FIND A FULL LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS RECIPE ALONG WITH A VIDEO OF ALLEN PREPARING THE DRINK.

RECIPE DOWNLOAD

HERE

#2 SOYNOGIf you love eggnog, but can’t have dairy, you’re in luck. There’s no need to skip this traditional holiday beverage if you substitute soy milk for traditional milk in the recipe.

DIRECTIONSCombine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes before serving in mugs.

#3 HOT CHOCOLATE WITH CAYENNE PEPPER

RECIPE DOWNLOAD

HERE

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Click here to find a full list of ingre-dients and step-by-step instructions for this recipe along with a video of Allen preparing the drink.

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My Favorite Holiday Traditions, New and OldTraditions are a huge part of what separate Christmas and New Year’s from every other day on the calendar. On the following pages, learn how to add a few of my favorite holiday customs—some time-honored and others brand new—to your celebration this year.

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Idea #1: Heritage TablescapeGive your holiday table added meaning—and beauty—by setting and decorating it using only pieces that have been handed down or given to you by family members and loved ones. For example, you might use your mother-in-law’s tureen to create a low, sculptural floral display or set the table with your grandmother’s china. Ask other family members for ancestral linens, silver, flatware, and serving pieces in order to round out the tablescape. For an additional touch of nostalgia, add a few framed pictures of your family members alongside your centerpiece.

Idea #2: Hidden Advent CalendarEvery child counts down the days until Christmas, and advent calendars—which typically start on December 1 and offer a treat for each day until December 25—have long been a popular way to track the month’s progress. Rather than a traditional stationary calendar, I love the idea of adding the element of mystery to this tradition by hiding the numbers and a few attached treats around your home. My guess is that the kids will wake up ready to hunt every day of the month.

Idea #3: Christmas Eve KitPut together a kit for children to use on Christmas Eve as they wait for Santa to arrive. Include new pajamas, a favorite Christmas book—such as The Night Before Christmas—a mug for cocoa, a few cookies for Santa, food for his reindeer, or even a special “key” for him to get into the house—whatever the little one loves and will help to make their holiday memorable. I’m especially fond of this idea for nieces, nephews, and other special kids in our lives that may live away from us or that we may not be able to see on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

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Idea #4: Pay-It-Forward GiftsEveryday our lives are touched by the people around us—whether we see them or not. The holiday season is a perfect time to reach out to others and show you care through a random act of kindness. I suggest leaving cookies for your mailman, passing out candy canes in a grocery checkout line, leaving a care package for your UPS man, or even taping a dollar to a vending machine along with a note to tell the next person in line that their treat is pre-paid. The thought is that these single acts could ignite a wave of kindness or pay-it-forward style gifts.

Idea #5: Wish Balloon ReleaseNew Year’s Eve is for both reflecting and for looking forward by making new resolutions and wishes. Have everyone at your December 31st gathering write a wish for 2015 onto a helium-filled balloon. At the stroke of midnight, ask everyone to release these balloons into the night in hopes of seeing the wish come true in the new year. Note: Be kind to Mother Nature by using biodegradable latex balloons that are hand-tied and have no attached strings or ribbon. Never release balloons with strings, which could pose a risk by becoming entangled in power lines. If you live in an area where balloon release may be inhibited, consider asking each person to light a candle as an alternative.

Idea #6: Eat Your Greens and PeasWhile the holidays are all about thinking of others and giving of ourselves, there are some traditions that—while they may be shared—serve to benefit us. I’m talking about the New Year’s Day feast of collared greens and black-eyed peas that many people refuse to miss based on Southern folklore. Tradition says that eating the peas on January 1 will ensure a year of good luck and health, while the greens are meant to bring financial success. I serve mine with a side of cornbread (which some say symbolizes gold!) for an added treat.

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Jobe’s Organics Compost Starter • Fast Results Biozome Formula Enhances Soil

Available at Home Depot stores and HomeDepot.com

Jobe’s® Organics® Compost Starter INCREASES MICROBIAL ACTIVITY • HELPS BREAK DOWN ORGANIC MATTER

CONTAINS 100% ORGANIC COMPOST NUTRIENTS

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FOR THOSE WHO LONG TO VISIT THE NATURAL STATE:Any treat lover will enjoy these goodies from my home state of Arkansas.WICKED SNACK MIX www.wickedmixes.comMY BROTHER’S SALSA www.mybrotherssalsa.com/shopMAY CHANG AND FRENCH YELLOW CLAY SEA SALT SOAPwww.soapguildstores.com/southerngirlsoaperyLAMBRECHT GOURMETwww.shop.pallensmith.com

Holiday Gift GuideGreat finds for everyone on your list

Market Place

FOR THE GREEN THUMB:A paperwhite bulb kit will bring beauty for months to come.www.whiteflowerfarm.com

To sweeten your honey-do list get your special someone this gas trimmer with attachments like a leaf blower, hedge trimmer and cultivator. www.troybilt.com

FOR THE CHRISTMAS LOVER:Back in print after more than 20 years, this illustrated book shares the magic of NYC during the holiday season.www.rizzoliusa.com

Serve up some holiday cheer on a retro Santa wooden tray.www.shop.pallensmith.com

FOR THE FAMILY CHEFS:Coordinating seasonal aprons are a fun present for the cook and little helpers alike. (Santa) www.williams-sonoma.com

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FOR THE CHRISTMAS LOVER:Back in print after more than 20 years, this illustrated book shares the magic of NYC during the holiday season.www.rizzoliusa.com

Serve up some holiday cheer on a retro Santa wooden tray.www.shop.pallensmith.com

FOR THE FAMILY CHEFS:Coordinating seasonal aprons are a fun present for the cook and little helpers alike. (Santa) www.williams-sonoma.com

FOR THE SPORTSMAN:Made to withstand any environment, the Luminox Series 3000 Original Navy SEAL Dive watch is crafted for reliability. www.mackspw.com

Let this hunting hound hold open your door or add some life to your porch.www.shop.pallensmith.com

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WINTER BLUES?Banish them with blooms.

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1.2.3DONE!Gratitude JarTake time to share stories and appreciate the good around you with this monthly family practice

MATERIALS NEEDED:Pencils / PensPaperContainer (such as a large canister with a lid)

DIRECTIONS:1. Set aside a time each month for your family to gather for lunch, dinner, or even a yummy dessert or treat. Mark this day on your calendar and make it a regular meeting time (e.g. the fourth Tuesday of every month).

2. Ask each family member to share at least one moment or experience they were grateful for within the past month. Write these on individual slips of paper and place in the jar.

3. At the end of 2015, open the jar or container and recount the many things you’ve had to be grateful for over the past year.

Bonus: Use slips of paper in a different color for each family member to create a bright and cheerful assortment and to help you remember who wrote each thought.

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visit us at PAllenSmith.com to find more of your favorite

recipes and creative tips.

“I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.”- Mr. Rogers