Autumn is my favourite time of year! The weather is finally cooling down after our long hot summer and we start to spend more time indoors appreciating the comforts of home. We have been spending time in the kitchen creating lots of family meals to share, including heart warming roast dinners and baked desserts. I like to refresh our home for the cooler months – new serving ware, comfy scatter cushions, a warm throw rug, scented candles, and a few decorating accents can make a big difference to your living areas.
To add some cosiness and warmth into my living room, whilst still keeping a simple and timeless look, I added some cable knit cushions, timber accents, and homewares in the classic palette of white and neutral. The Ski Lodge look is on trend at the moment, and Target has a great selection of home decorator items to update our living area for autumn/winter. Perfect for cosying up on the couch with a good book and some hot chocolate!
I created a vignette on our mantle piece, including a cute wooden squirrel which reminded us of the squirrels we saw in Central Park on our recent trip to New York. I collected some small pine cones from our garden (scented them with essential oils) and displayed them in a small oil dish. A new wooden frame and a soy candle in the most delicious vanilla caramel scent, completed the arrangement.
A wooden tray was my favourite purchase. Timber tones are in vogue and it will be perfect for informal entertaining this winter.
I love the new Share range of homewares – they are modern and fresh, and the white porcelain blends perfectly with our existing dinnerware. We used the Share Serving ware when we baked a delicious Apricot Clafouti – a perfect autumn family dessert.
- 11/2 cups of low fat custard
- ¼ cup self raising flour
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 egg whites
- 825 g can of apricot halves in natural juice
- 2 teaspoons of icing (confectioners sugar)
- Preheat oven to moderate.
- Combine custard, flour and egg yolk in a medium bowl. Beat egg whites until soft peak form. Fold into the custard mixture. Pour into a 24 cm (8 inch) round ovenproof dish.
- Drain apricots and pat dry with paper towel. Arrange over the custard.
- Bake in the oven for approx 40 minutes or until firm.
- Dust with icing sugar before serving.
(Adapted from Great Casual Food, Australian Women’s Weekly)
Make your home comfortable and inviting for Autumn. Create the perfect look by selecting some new timeless homewares from the affordable range at Target.
Sigi G says
This pie looks delicious. Just wondering though – is the custard mentioned like instant Vanilla Pudding? Does it get mixed with milk first or used dry in the recipe?
You’re entering your beautiful Fall weather and we are entering our Spring weather. This pie sounds great for either season. Thank you for sharing!
A Spoonful of Sugar says
Hi Sigi – In Australia custard can be bought ready made in a carton or you can make it yourself by mixing custard powder with milk over heat until it thickens. It is a dairy product but is more flowing that instant pudding which is set. When I lived in the USA I found Custard powder at World Market (it is commonly used in British and Australian desserts). It is also similar to creme anglais which is used in French desserts. Hope that helps. Enjoy your spring weather 🙂 Lisa
Sigi G says
Thank You so much for your reply to my question, Lisa. I will check it out.
Christy says
Lovely autumn vignettes! So very cozy.
Mrs Patch says
Hi Lisa!
The squirell is so cute! It is so funny reading your blog on the other side of the world. In Germany we hope that summer´s coming soon and you are decorating for autumn *haha*.
Love. Mrs Patch
A Spoonful of Sugar says
Thanks Mrs Patch! That is one of the reasons I love reading blogs from all over the world 🙂 Have a great week! Lisa
SonjaKuvikLoyd says
Hello,
I am from Pennsylvania in the USA,I almost fainted when I seen your Autumn post,We just got over a horrendous winter and Spring is finally here, then I forgot your from Australia(giggling) ,how lucky I have watched a lot of shows where you live and its beautiful,and the weather is perfect. .
I love the Apricot Clafouti .I have made custard,its amazingly delicious ,I will bookmark your yummy post for the fall.Thank you for sharing.But the apricot Clafouti I am making for guests on Saturday.Thank you for a lovely post!
A Spoonful of Sugar says
Emjoy your spring weather! We were in New York in January during the blizzard and it must be tough have a long cold winter. Hope you enjoy the Clafouti as much as we did.
liz n. says
For just a moment, when I began reading this post, I thought, “Autumn!? Has she lost her mind? We’re over a month into spring!” And THEN I remembered that you are in Perth, not here in Dallas.
Carry on.
😉
A Spoonful of Sugar says
Thanks Liz 🙂
Maureen says
I particularly like the dinner serving ware used for your apricot clafouti dessert, I am taking a dessert to share at a friends dinner evening next week-end and will try your recipe and see if I can purchase the serving ware to compliment it.
A Spoonful of Sugar says
Hope you and your friends enjoy the dessert as much as we did! You will be able to find the serving ware at your local Target store. Happy cooking!
katie says
Beautiful blog! May I ask, was the squirrel purchased from Target? Recently? He’s gorgeous – my Mum would adore one for Mothers’ Day!
A Spoonful of Sugar says
Katie the Squirrel came from Target about 2 weeks ago. It is part of their Ski Lodge range of home decorator items. It was $10.