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

How do you make a sweet potato casserole not runny? ›

Eggs and cream help stabilize the dish and prevent it from becoming too runny (a common complaint with many sweet potato casserole recipes). Make it as smooth or chunky as you like!

How do you thicken up sweet potato casserole? ›

The casserole needs at least 15-20 minutes to cool before serving. The casserole sets up as it cools. However, if you prefer a really thick sweet potato casserole, you can add about 2-3 tablespoons of flour to your sweet potato batter and this will help the mixture to thicken.

How do you know when a sweet potato casserole is done? ›

Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture, then pop it into the oven and let it bake for 40 to 45 minutes. You will know it's done when the topping is lightly browned and the center of your casserole is set and firm.

Why is my sweet potato casserole soupy? ›

Sweet potato casserole can get soupy for several reasons. For example, it's possible that your sweet potatoes have absorbed too much water while boiling. To prevent this from happening, don't overcook the sweet potatoes and drain them as soon as they are fork tender.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

One option is to par-cook watery vegetables such as onions, mushrooms, and squash before tossing them into your baking dish. Cook them just long enough to release excess moisture, drain, and continue assembling your casserole as you normally would. Another option is to sweat vegetables.

How many sweet potatoes for 3 cups? ›

Note: 3 cups sweet potatoes is about 3-4 large sweet potatoes.

Should I rinse canned sweet potatoes? ›

Leaving the syrup on the yams can hamper their taste. Rinsing sweet potatoes of any leftover sugary film will uphold their integrity, giving you the most authentic sweet potato taste and texture.

What makes a casserole thicker? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

Can you eat sweet potato casserole left out overnight? ›

Cooked sweet potato should be kept in the refrigerator and eaten within 5 to 7 days, says Richard. "Cooked food should not sit at room temperature more than two hours before putting it in the refrigerator or freezer (or one hour when the temperature is above 90°F)," she notes.

Can you leave sweet potato casserole out overnight? ›

How long can this sweet potato casserole sit out? Like most foods being served, this should not sit out for more than 2 hours according to the USDA.

What's the difference between yams and sweet potato casserole? ›

Yams and sweet potatoes differ in flavor and appearance, and they are not related. Sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family, while yams belong to the lily family. Yams aren't as sweet as sweet potatoes, and they are starchier and drier. Their texture and flavor are more similar to potatoes or yuca.

Is it better to bake or boil sweet potatoes? ›

Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

Can you overcook sweet potatoes? ›

Mushy Texture: Sweet potatoes contain a lot of moisture, and overcooking can cause them to become mushy and overly soft. Instead of a firm and slightly tender texture, they may turn into a puree-like consistency. Loss of Flavor: Overcooking can lead to a loss of flavor in sweet potatoes.

Is sweet potato casserole supposed to be jiggly? ›

A really good sweet potato casserole filling should be light and moist, not dense. If it's dense, then you may not have added an often overlooked ingredient—an egg.

Why is my potato casserole runny? ›

My sauce is watery

If you stored your potatoes in water to prevent discoloring, be sure to drain them well and pat them dry before adding to your casserole. Some of the waxier potatoes can release more water than starchier ones, so look for good baking potatoes like russet or Yukon golds.

What do I do if my potato bake is too runny? ›

Try letting the dish rest for 10 minutes or so to let the water get absorbed and let the sauce thicken. Try cooking your recipe longer.

Should sweet potato casserole be firm? ›

you should see it firm, but still paste like. Once it bulges and you start to see cracks, it will be overcooked. You don't need anything of those fancy gadgets for casserole! You can grab a potato masher or whisk and mash them up.

How do you remove excess water from sweet potatoes? ›

Freezing sweet potatoes drives excess water out of the potato, resulting in an interior with more concentrated flavor. Freezing also lowers the starting temperature of the potato, allowing more time for amylase enzymes to convert starch to sweet-tasting maltose.

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