Tag: Holidays

It’s that time of year once again. Crisp, white snowflakes delicately falling in the back yard – the thrill of placing your favorite ornament on the family tree – and let’s not forget the smell of mom’s homemade gingerbread cookies baking fresh in the oven. That’s right…Christmas is just around the corner, and Elmira has a few ideas that will make your kitchen the statement of the season.

Decorating for the holidays doesn’t have to be the same, dull routine of hanging up lights, putting out wreaths and setting up the porcelain nativity scene your in-laws gave you. Be creative with your decorating and make a bold statement this Christmas with one of Elmira’s many festive-colored, retro-styled appliances. With a multitude of “not so ordinary” options from which to choose – all you have to do is find the one(s) you’ve been dreaming of (design your own kitchen here), and you’re sure to be the talk of the town!

The most important space in the house – a.k.a. the kitchen

Think about it. Where does a family spend most of its time during the holidays? Whether you’re baking Santa-shaped sugar cookies, heating up gravy on the stove or storing the leftovers from the 20-pound turkey in the refrigerator, it’s safe to say that kitchen appliances are an essential part of the Christmas experience. Even when nothing is cooking, baking or being spilled on the floor, the kitchen is the focal point of every home – the gathering place for laughter, unforgettable moments – and lasting memories.

What says “Christmas” more than pops of red and green?

Looking to brighten up your kitchen with a little comfort and joy? Elmira’s popular Northstar line is available in dazzling hues of Candy Red and Mint Green – there’s even a frosted silver option – providing the perfect accompaniment to neutral toned cabinetry and accents. The colorful collection, inspired by appliances from the 1950s, includes refrigerators and ranges in a variety of styles and sizes along with hoods and splashbacks, microwaves and dishwasher panels. There’s even a keg fridge for those who prefer to enjoy their favorite brew during the holiday festivities. For those who lean toward a more rustic 1890s look, Elmira’s Antique line is also available in a stunning Cayenne Red hue, as well as in Liberty Blue, Bisque, White and black accented with nickel or antiqued copper.

So, this holiday season – and all year-round – celebrate the joy of friends, family and home-cooked meals by adorning your kitchen with a little extra pizazz. It’s a wonderful life!

From exotic meals to yummy comfort food, we have no doubt the chef in your life is constantly going above and beyond to keep you full and happy. The ability to cook up great dishes gives them the opportunity to share with the people they love most. To repay them for all that they do for you, the holiday season is the perfect time to show how much they you appreciate them. This year, we’ve put together a short list of gifts that are unique and sure to please.

Homemade and Full of Love

For a gift that tugs at the heart strings, look no further than framing handwritten recipes from mom or grandma. This DIY gift is easy to put together. Start by hand-writing a few of their best recipes on scrapbook paper, and then mount each one in a unique frame. This beautiful, sentimental gift is one that just keeps on giving; a quick glance at the recipes will bring a smile to any chef’s face, and adds a very personal touch to the kitchen. With a thoughtful gift like this, your holiday guests will be asking how they can implement this in their own kitchens.

Elmira Stove Works Appliances

A vintage-styled appliance with modern amenities is the dream gift for many great cooks. Give the chef in your life the ultimate holiday gift by helping them bring their dream kitchen to life with Elmira Stove Works appliances. With so many beautiful options to choose from, picking the perfect style and color will be the hardest part! If you want to try before you buy, design your dream kitchen here. From there, you’ll be able to have an idea of how the appliances and color options will fit in the space. You’ll even be able to change the cabinet colors to match your desired look. There are so many options, from the brand new 36-inch six-burner range, to keg fridges, and even antique ranges. Still having a hard time deciding on an appliance? Find a dealer near you and they’ll help to ensure that you find the perfect appliances for the ultimate kitchen.

Wine Club/Box Subscription

The picture is familiar: there’s music playing throughout the house, a fire burning, while the smell of something delicious fills the air, and a glass of wine sits on the counter. Great food and great wine go hand-in-hand. If the chef in your life enjoys a nice glass of wine, think no further than a subscription to a wine-of-the-month club. Masters of the kitchen will not only be able to taste different wines, but can also incorporate them into their recipes. Making a little shrimp scampi? Use a white wine to add flavor to the signature dish.  Each month when the wine arrives, the chef in your life will be sure to think of you, and if you’re lucky, they’ll share!

Your kitchen is the most-used room in the house during the holiday season; it’s a gathering space for friends and family while preparing delectable dishes. With this in mind, you should seriously consider decorating your kitchen with fun holiday décor for everyone to enjoy. To help you plan in advance, we have come up with a few ideas on how you can decorate your kitchen without it getting in the way.

1. Strategically hang garland on the tops of your kitchen cabinetry. Try a tight scalloped design and accent with bows. For a more traditional style, use red bows. However, if you are feeling creative this year, consider draping your cabinetry tops with bold, colorful tinsel. From shiny blues to vibrant pinks, you can find a hue that complements your kitchen’s design scheme.

   

2. To accent your garland displays, place holiday-themed figurines on the tops of your kitchen cabinets for extra pizazz.
3. You can ask your family members or guests to draw pictures to hang as décor as well. This is a fun idea that will not only bring everyone together, but adds a touch of personality.
4. Give your windows some extra twinkle this year by framing them in holiday lights. Whether you prefer classic white or colorful ones, lights can add extra charm to your kitchen. Just be sure to keep the plugs away from sinks to ensure safety.
5. Place candles with small, stylish wreaths on your kitchen counter tops and dining tables. Try a spruce-scented candle, or vanilla fragrance, to create a scintillating effect. The combination of freshly baked goods and aromatic candles will have your guests waiting in anticipation.
6. Hang mistletoes from your kitchen entryways. This small decorative accent will help spread affection between loved ones during the holiday season. We get so busy entertaining guests and preparing meals that we oftentimes forget to express our gratitude and appreciation to our partners.
7. If you’re going with a vintage / retro theme, how about pulling out some old Christmas records or CD’s, or downloading classic tunes to create ambience?” Some of the old greats can be found at these two links: http://bit.ly/1ew6CQR and http://bit.ly/1rMsmir.

   

8. Poinsettias make wonderful decorative accents in kitchen spaces. Just be sure you place them in areas with lots of sunlight, but don’t let the leaves touch cold windows or window panes. This will damage them, shortening the length of enjoyment time.
9. If you really want to get into the holiday season, and are in the market for new kitchen appliances, consider putting a gift card towards some Northstar appliances under the tree. When the holidays are over, you can transform your kitchen into an entirely new space!
10. Lastly, don’t forget to display some holiday treats on ornamental platters to tie your decorations together. Fresh brownies or peppermint bark are great options, but if you enjoy baking, an assortment of delicious cookies will do the trick.

From the Elmira Stove Works family to yours, we wish all our friends and fans a very happy holiday season. We are looking forward to 2015 and some exciting new happenings!

Its no doubt that the home is the focal point for the holiday season. Many families gather around rooms like the kitchen, or the living room to spend time celebrating the season. From our woodburning cookstoves to the mid-century modern retro refrigerator, both appliances represent a centralized gathering space in the home, and are sure to bring everyone together for the holidays.

Do you or your family remember the figurine houses that are often displayed as part of holiday decoration? Now you can make your own neighborhood decoration for the holidays that melds with the vintage-lover in you! Here is a unique retro-inspired holiday decoration that you can make from your home this season:

DIY Putz house #3 — midcentury modest ranch house — download the pattern

We think these adorable houses would go great with our Northstar line of retro-modern appliances, and would compliment any mid-century modern designed home. Our tip: have a holiday figurine making craft party, invite some friends, sip on an atomic cocktail, and craft away! Sleek lines, fun colors, the company of friends and family, lots of sparkle and decorations makes for a retro-fun holiday season don’t you think?!

Cheers!

 

It’s that time of year again… time to turn the house into a festive winter wonderland, shop for the perfect gifts, and prepare the holiday sweets and treats! This year, we at Elmira, are sharing with you some of our favorite Christmas cookie recipes to spread the holiday cheer!

#1- Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 packages devil’s food cake mix (regular size)
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3 to 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Red and/or green food coloring, optional

Directions

• In a bowl, beat cake mixes, eggs and oil (batter will be very stiff). Roll into 1-in. balls; place on ungreased baking sheets and flatten slightly. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until a slight indentation remains when lightly touched. Cool.
• In another bowl, beat cream cheese and butter. Add sugar and vanilla; mix until smooth. If desired, tint with food coloring. Spread on bottom of half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies. Yield: 4 dozen.

For more information, check out this great recipe from Taste of Home!

#2- Peanut Butter Bark

Ingredients

• 2 packages (4 ounces each) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Bats, broken into pieces
• 1 ½ cups (10-ounce package) Peanut Butter Chips
• 1 tablespoon shortening (do not use butter, margarine or oil)
• ½ cup roasted peanut or toasted almonds, coarsely chopped

Directions

• Cover tray with wax paper.
• Place chocolate in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at medium for 1 minute, stir. Heat until chocolate is melted and smooth when stirred.
• Immediately place peanut butter chips and shortening in second microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at medium 1 minute, stir. Heat until chips are melted and smooth when stirred; stir in peanuts.
• Alternately spoon above mixtures onto prepared tray; swirl with knife for marbled effect. Cover, refrigerate until firm. Break into pieces.

#3- Classic Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon milk
• Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough

Directions

• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
•  Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. If dough has warmed during rolling, place cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill.
• Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat, and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time.
• Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack. Serve as is or ice as desired. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.

For more information, check out this great recipe from Food Network!

#4- Maple Snow Taffy

Ingredients

• 1 cup maple syrup (ours is B-grade amber-cheaper and darker-and we love it)
• 1/4 cup salted butter
• Clean snow (or, need be, ice cream)

Directions

• In a medium-sized pot over medium heat, heat the syrup and butter together until the mixture reaches 220ºF-235ºF on a candy thermometer. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, time it for about 5 minutes after it comes to a boil, and then pour a little onto a plate that’s been waiting in the fridge: when the syrup is ready, it should thicken up into a soft taffy on the plate; if it doesn’t, then cook it a minute or two longer.
• Let the mixture cool for a couple of minutes, then pour it by the spoonful over bowls of clean snow (or ice cream) where it will harden into a sweet lump of maple insanity.

For more information on this recipe, visit http://family.go.com/food/recipe-780690-maple-snow-taffy-t/.