Good Things by David

We all want to entertain with ease this Thanksgiving so that we can actually enjoy the company of our family and friends.  In order to accomplish this and avoid any mishaps or a day full of stress, having a to-do list mapped out a week in advance is a must for every host.  The easiest part is making up the guest list and trying to figure out who will actually show up.  The most challenging aspect for anyone hosting this dinner is the menu itself, with the numerous side dishes and the perfectly roasted, plump turkey as the main attraction.  Perhaps the most fun thing to do, at least for me, is the table setting and the decorations that go into making this day memorable.  Now is the time to take out the best of the best and all of the season's finery to impress our guests, but whether one sets the table it in a modest way or in an over-the-top lavish way, it's best to establish a tone and mood based on who we're inviting.  No guest s...

If you know of someone who deserves a high five in some special way, then look no further.  I recently created a set of High Five Cookies for my darling niece as a way to tell her that she had done a good job.  Since I couldn’t be there to actually give her a High Five in person, uncle David set out to make her some of the best cookies which conveyed my sentiments.    I know that she raves about the cookies I send her throughout the year, so recently, when she requested some cookies from me, I knew just what I was going to do to mark the occasion. Something tells me that she’s going to love what I created out of the best Heirloom Sugar Cookie Recipe  and the tastiest Royal Icing ! Making the cookies was quite special, because the dough was cut out by 3 separate cookie cutters that were given to me by 3 different friends scattered throughout the country.  These three individuals have expressed their sentiments regarding my niece and I can assur...

Collecting yellowware has been a passion of mine for a number of years now.  I can still remember purchasing my first bowl at an antique fair in Haddonfield, New Jersey over a decade ago.  It happened by chance, really.  As I was making my way through the stalls, looking over mismatched sets of jadeite, piles of old linens and whatnot, I noticed a vendor with a gigantic yellowware bowl.  The bowl beckoned me to give it a second look and that’s exactly what I did after making my rounds.  While negotiating the final price of this gem and thinking how I would integrate it into my home, I placed it in one of my canvas totes and walked home with it in tow.   What you must understand is that I have a penchant for bowls, mixing bowls that is.  When it comes to yellowware bowls, however, nothing brings the colors, tones and atmosphere of autumn into my kitchen like they do.  Over the years I have photographed a part of my collection here on Good Thin...

So much happened this past month for me, my family and here on the blog.  As a blogger it's rather interesting to look back at what was covered & written about for any given time span, because it helps one focus on the future.  A couple of things that I'm very proud of occurred during the month and it's nice knowing there is a large amount of support from well wishers throughout the world.  I thank all of you! I began October with the M&M cookies that I had been meaning to get to for a couple of years after someone requested them.  Thinking about the different ways to make those particular cookies like the ones found at local bakeries, I finally came up with a foolproof method for keeping the candy-coated chocolates from becoming broken bits.  It's not that difficult to produce scrumptious cookies that kids of all ages adore.  Look at the post for the complete how-to.  Oh, don't forget, there is also a nice Rice Krispie pop treat that...