How To Create a Wildflower Centerpiece and A Family Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe (2024)

Okay, I think that was the longest blog post title in the history of blogland!

Happy Monday friends! Did you guys have a happy Halloween?

We had a great one but I’m ready to pack up the spooky decor and move back into fall and Thanksgiving. Which is fitting because today is the opening day of the Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours: Thanksgiving Edition!!!

There are some amazing bloggers here to show you their Thanksgiving tables and a look into how they spend the holiday!

If you are visiting from Eclectically Vintage, welcome, I’m glad you’re here! Isn’t Kelly’s home awesome?!?!

And a BIGthanks to our lovely host, Lindsay ofThe White Buffalo Styling Co.Lindsaykills it in the style department so make sure to give her a shout!

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We are having some really great fall weather here in NC this year andwe’ve really been enjoying being outside. I went on a run a couple weeks ago (um, and I don’t think I’ve ran since) and saw so many pretty wildflowers growing along the path. I knew I didn’t want to spend much money decorating my table so I thought clipping some flowers and natural greenery would be perfect!

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How To Decorate With Wildflowers and Natural Greenery:

Grab a bag and somegarden shears or scissors and find an area with a varied amount of plants like a running trail. Don’t clip flowers in your neighborhood, highways or any environmentally protected plants, lol.

I knew we had lots of these yellow flowers growing so I decided they would be the focal point.

Once you’ve gathered your flowers lay them out so you can see what you have. Start filling your vase with the largest ones first and then add greenery and finally the smallest plants.

That’s it!

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My son and I picked them together so we got to take a long walk and talk about all the plants and animals we saw. We sure found unique ones that’s for sure!

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I love how they look in thewhite HomeGoodsvase? I also added a few pheasant feathers we had from our earlier fall tour.

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These are my favorite DIY candles and hostess gifts. They are tapered candles from the dollar store and I spray painted the gold stripes. You can see the tutorial here.

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Faux fur is my obsessionthis season and I used a piece of fabric that I had from another project for the table runner. I love the unique texture and coziness it adds to the setting.

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I painted the confetti wine glasses with a gold paint pen and after baking them in the oven they are completely dishwasher safe! These are also a great hostess gift especially since I picked up the stemless glasses from the dollar spot at Target!

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The gold pinecones are left over from last year. We found them in my mom’s neighborhood and spray painted them gold.

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There you have it! An easy and completely FREE table for your upcoming Thanksgiving celebrations! I’m pretty proud of myself because I didn’t buy anything specifically for this table setting. All the dishes, glasses, etc. I already had.

***

In the spirit of Thanksgiving I thought it would be appropriate to share one of our beloved family recipes with you too.

Let me just start by saying there is always some drama in our family surroundingthe turkey. I mean, burned turkey, forgetting to remove thebag insidebefore cooking, cooking a pre-cooked turkey all over again ~ you name it we’ve done it. BUT, we kill it with the sides so it’s not really a big deal (for me) if the bird isn’t the focus of the feast :)

I hope you enjoy this! Everywhere I go I try other sweet potato casseroles and I’ve never found one that compares. The key ingredient for me is the coconut but if you don’t dig it leave it out and it’s just as good!

HOGAN FAMILY SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE RECIPE

Filling:

3 cups cooked sweet potatoes, mashed (about 3 medium sized potatoes; I poke holes in mine and wrap them in plastic wrap and microwave for 10 minutes and they are perfect )

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 stick butter, melted

1/2 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs, beaten

Topping:

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. chopped pecans

1/2 c. butter

1/3 c. self-rising flour

1/2 c. coconut flakes

Instructions:

Mix all of the ingredients for the filling together in a large bowl and pour into a greased 1 1/2 qt. baking dish. Mix the topping ingredients together and spread on top of the filling. Bake on 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

I’m not really sure how you take pics of a casserole and make it look pretty but here goes nothing :)

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***

That’s a wrap for the tour today y’all butyou’ve got an exciting week filled with gorgeous tablesand family celebrations so make sure tostart with Emily of Jones Design Company tomorrow morning!

And here is the complete schedule. You’re not going to want to miss a stop!

MONDAY:

o The White Buffalo Styling Co.

o Burlap & Lace

o Run to Radiance

o Eclectically Vintage

o Simple Stylings

TUESDAY:

o Jones Design Company

obrittanyMakes

o Primitive & Proper

o Charming in Charlotte

WEDNESDAY:

o Southern Hospitality

o My Fabuless Life

o Dwellings by Devore

o Rain on a Tin Roof

o Dimples & Tangles

THURSDAY:

o Number Fifty-three

o DIY Playbook

o Sand & Sisal

o This, That, & Life

FRIDAY:

o Tatertots & Jello

o Julie Blanner

o Fieldstone Hill

o The Chronicles of Home

o Finding Home

LINKING UP:

Avery Street Design Blog // Dimples & Tangles //

***

Check out my Fall Home Tour

How To Create a Wildflower Centerpiece and A Family Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe (19)

and last years Christmas Tour

How To Create a Wildflower Centerpiece and A Family Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe (20)

How To Create a Wildflower Centerpiece and A Family Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my sweet potato casserole so runny? ›

If your sweet potato casserole turned out “watery”, its usually because you forgot to add eggs; you didn't let your casserole have enough time to set up after baking or you used fresh sweet potatoes and didn't boil them long enough before mashing.

Why add eggs to sweet potato casserole? ›

Yes, sweet potato casseroles are best with eggs. Eggs add structure to the dish so that it's more than just a sweet potato mash. It's important to make sure the sweet potatoes have cooled enough before you mix in the eggs, otherwise they'll just scramble in the bowl.

Can sweet potato casserole be frozen? ›

Here are some other great Make-Ahead Thanksgiving recipes. To Store: Store sweet potato casserole covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. To Freeze: Prepare the sweet potato casserole completely, but don't bake it. Cover with a double layer of aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months.

How to make sweet potato casserole not watery? ›

Add more potato and no liquid also you could use potato flakes to thicken them to the texture you like. You should always bake sweet potatoes. Baking intensifies the flavors. Boiling drains out flavor and also makes the sweet potatoes wet.

How do you keep casserole topping from getting soggy? ›

Nuts. Naturally crunchy and unlikely to get soggy like the other foods on this list, nuts make a delicious choice for casserole topping. Good, neutral options include chopped walnuts or almond slivers. For bolder flavor and color, opt for pistachios, or make it an extra rich dish with a sprinkling of toasted cashews.

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Add fresh chilli and coriander to a simple casserole to spice it up. Always add hardy, fresh herbs such as bay leaves and rosemary at the beginning of cooking, and throw in lighter herbs, such as parsley and tarragon, at the end so they keep their flavour.

What is the purpose of adding a topping to a casserole? ›

Casserole toppings are used for color, variety in texture; protects protein ingredients and identify common toppings.

How to thicken up sweet potato casserole? ›

All-purpose flour will help thicken the sauce and give some structure. Maple syrup balances the sweetness and adds flavor. All granulated sugar can be too sweet.

What are the best toppings for sweet potatoes? ›

For a topping, stick to butter, Greek yogurt, or sour cream, or try adding a dollop of cilantro lime dressing, tzatziki, chipotle sauce, pesto, guacamole, or a drizzle of tahini sauce. If you have leftover baked sweet potatoes, save the soft flesh for another recipe.

Can you leave sweet potato casserole out overnight? ›

Once they've been cooked, however, they should go in a shallow airtight container or zip-top bag in the fridge. They'll stay good there for about five days. Tip: You shouldn't leave cooked sweet potatoes at room temperature for more than two hours, as this can promote bacteria growth and cause foodborne illness.

How do you thicken up sweet potato casserole? ›

If you are not adding eggs, you can thicken your sweet potato casserole by adding a bit of flour or cornstarch. You will need about 2-3 tablespoons of flour and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

What to do if casserole is too runny? ›

Make sure you mix a solution of cornstarch and water cold, and then add it to your hot dish. Same can be said for flour. A flour and water paste (desk or wasteland spoon of flour then upload cold water until it is a liquid paste) delivered to the casserole will thicken it.

Is sweet potato casserole supposed to be runny before baking? ›

I prefer to roast my potatoes, but feel free to boil them or cook them in a slow cooker if that is easiest for you. The filling will sometimes look runny before it it baked, but will firm up some after cooking in the oven.

How to thicken potato casserole? ›

Whisk together equal parts cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness.

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