We are entering that season where we start thinking about filling our pantries, baking yummy things for our family and spending those cozy evenings together around the table. Family traditions involving the kitchen are probably some of the most powerful we have, since it is the room in our home where we spend so much of our time.
Kitchens are also the place where we can fully experience all of our senses, and because of that, we have the potential to create vivid and rich memories there for our families. Fortunately, with a tiny dose of creativity, we can do this simply, frugally if we so choose, and quite easily.
Simple Family Memories
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Williams Sonoma
Make memories through seasonal recipes and memorable baking pans. Special Fall cakes made in seasonal shapes will always be remembered. One pan can last through years of baking and cost far less than one dinner at a restaurant.
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Country Living
Use hollowed squash or mini pumpkins to serve dips or meals. Kids will think this is very fun and adults will be amazed at your Martha-ness.
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Keep regular weekend traditions but add a new twist in the fall, like pumpkin waffles with maple syrup on a Saturday morning.
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Have seasonal towels and table linens you bring out for the season. If you keep your main dishes white, punching up the color with a few accessories can give you the same visual pleasure as a whole set of seasonal dishes without the added expense or need for storage.
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Williams Sonoma
Add a seasonal flourish to your best recipes with special tools, cookie cutters or shapes you make by hand.
Sur la Table
Embrace traditions that are unique to the colder weather, like chocolate or cheese fondue. Repeat the tradition regularly so it becomes a vivid memory.
Make being in the kitchen creating the meals or baking together part of the experience of memory making. Put on some favorite music and bring your kids in to help prepare a traditional family night feast! Little things and special touches will be long remembered. Simple creativity will bring lasting memories to even the most ordinary of events.
What are your family traditions centered around the kitchen?
You are invited to continue adding your Fall Nesting Posts (as many as you want!) and your list of 20 Little Things for autumn …you guys are AMAZING me with your inspiration. I’m making my way around as fast as I can! THANK you for being so generous to share your ideas! And wow, I even saw at least one GIVEAWAY listed, so don’t miss any of those links!!
photo credits: Kitchens Country Living, Keith Scott Morton, Keller & Keller, Jon Wayne Kishimoto
I forgot to mention that I am drooling now after those pictures!!
I always want everything I see in that Williams-Sonoma catalog (I haven’t bought one thing though)!
We do lots of little things like my daughter and I watch Little Women and bake pumpkin bread every Christmas. My husband makes pancakes every Sunday (last week it was pumpkin for me and chocolate chip for our daughter). My daughter and I sit down with a snack and something to drink every day after school and she gives me her “daily re-cap”. We have family movie night every Friday. Our life is full of little rituals!
Manuela
I love that pantry and that sink! I have a cute recipe for acorn cookies that I never made last year, I should make them this year and share the pics and recipe.
I love the above pantry! Gave me some neat ideas for my open pantry!