Chocolate Panna Cotta

Chocolate Panna Cotta Top off the day with something chic and sweet, such as this creamy Italian custard. Your visitors will enjoy digging in to each of the three yummy layers -- dark chocolate, praline and vanilla. Get the recipe.



Lemon Meringue Tartlets Topped with a toasty meringue, these tangy citrus treats are the ideal not-too-sweet ending to any meal. Get the recipe.



Pomegranate Blood Orange Tiramisu Take advantage of in-season blood sugars to create this irresistible dessert that's sure to impress your dinner guests. Sweet-tart oranges and pomegranates pair perfectly with creamy mascarpone cheese. Get the recipe.



Chocolate Brownie Pudding This chocolate brownie pudding is your greatest sinful treat. One part brownie and a single part molten lava cake, it is 100% delicious. Get the recipe.



Champagne-Glazed Fruit Tarts These bite-size nibbles would be an ideal light ending to a hefty meal. Glaze the miniature tarts with leftover Champagne or sparkling wine for a sweet finishing touch. Get the recipe.



S'mores Spiked Pie Kids may be tempted to dive right into this take on the fire-side favored but a hefty dose of bourbon causes this boozy, chocolate dessert adults only. Get the recipe.



Easy Tiramisu This Italian trifle layers coffee-soaked ladyfingers using a rich mascarpone custard. Marsala wine, Grand Marnier and Kahlua give this classic confection a complex twist. Get the recipe.



Chocolate-Dipped Kettle Chips We guarantee: You can not eat just one. Super-crunchy, salty, kettle-fried potato chips are the perfect canvas to get a thick coating of chocolate. A thin layer of caramel and chopped nuts ensures this treat will satisfy your cravings simultaneously. Get the recipe.



Cashew Dulce de Leche Cookies Dress up basic sugar cookies with chopped cashews, cinnamon and creamy dulce de leche to get a new spin on a classic. Get the recipe.



Pumpkin Tiramisu Layer Cake Top moist pumpkin-and-spice cake layers together with rich mascarpone cream and crispy amaretti biscuits for a seasonal dessert that your guests won't soon forget. Get the recipe.



Pineapple Tartlettes Savory traces of ginger and rosemary include an unexpected flavor to this refreshing and fruity dessert while the homemade nut crust would be your just-right crunchy contrast to the smooth pastry cream. Get the recipe.



Cranberry Orange Linzer Cookies Sweet and tart, these sandwich cookies combine two favorite seasonal tastes and taste just like they seem. Get the recipe.



Limoncello Cupcakes Send your guests off on a citrus-sweet notice by topping light and fluffy cream cheese cupcakes with a homemade limoncello buttercream. Get the recipe.



Chocolate-Dipped Pumpkin Madeleines These traditional French cookies are the just-right treat to serve at any fall get-together. They're also the not-too-sweet complement to your cup of tea and celebration of one. Get the recipe.



Lemon Curd Tart Tangy lemon curd combined with fresh whipped cream, a homemade pie crust and gorgeous berries make this tart one for the record books. The pie crust is super easy to create, so don't worry. Along with the lemon curd filling will have you licking the bowl. Get the recipe.



Baklava With Nutella Glaze This flaky, nutty, layered dessert is a lot easier to create than you may think. Add a homemade Nutella glaze to get a chocolatey twist. Get the recipe.



Cranberry Bliss Dacquoise Recipe This impressive, towering dessert combines the tastes of cranberries and almonds with a decadent white chocolate mousse layered between homemade meringues. Make the components beforehand and assemble just before serving to really wow your visitors. Get the recipe.



Maple Nut Toffee Take the conventional taste of toffee up a notch with the addition of genuine maple syrup. Topped with a layer of semisweet chocolate, it is hard to resist snacking on only one additional slice. Get the recipe.



Tasty Pecan Tassies Maple syrup provides a flavor that is warm to this nutty, bite-size dinner celebration classic. Get the recipe.



Pumpkin Mousse and Ginger Parfaits Length of creamy pumpkin mousse, crunchy graham cracker streusel and dense maple-ginger cake unite to make this yummy after-dinner treat. Get the recipe.



Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Brownies Recipe Treat your guests to wealthy cheesecake with the indulgent flavors of chocolate brownies and two types of chocolate chips. Get the recipe.



Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe This iced cookie recipe is a refreshing twist on the traditional cake. On top of that, you are able to disperse the homemade cream cheese icing on top of each cookie cutter or layer them to create a sandwich cookie. Get the recipe.



Pecan Pie Tartlets Pecan pie is a can not-. Our twist turns them into mini hand-held tartlets, perfect for treating your visitors to a dessert buffet or serving after a large meal when only a couple snacks are all you need. Get the recipe.



Salted Caramel-Topped Chocolate Brownies Recipe Top dense, moist chocolate brownies with a gooey salted caramel coating for a decadent dessert worthy of a special occasion. Get the recipe.



The Fantastic Pumpkin Pie Recipe The pilgrims were on something -- dense, hot pumpkin pie is a tried-and-true crowd pleaser. Our recipe adds a dash of sea salt to pull out the pumpkin's mild sweetness. Get the recipe.

Transitional Neutral Living Room With Adjacent Patio

Transitional Neutral Living Room With Adjacent Patio To promote a sense of unity between the courtyard and the living space, interior designer Linda Woodrum picked a neutral, controlled palette. Furnishings do not distract from the view.



Glowing And Unique Living Room To distinguish living from dining room, walls are clad in poplar timber -- a significant yet subtle detail. "It is the most important room in the home, but we have to do it at a very understated way," says Linda.



GH2012_Living-Room-03-Metal-Sculpture-EPP0277_s4x3 A glistening chrome starburst sculpture in the C. Jer studio pops against a weathered wood tabletop. "I enjoy the way that it pulls the eye to the table -- it is powerful, glistening, unusual, bold, big and interesting," says Linda.



Eclectic Living Room with Unique Art Refined furnishings pair with both industrial and rustic fixtures.



GH2012_Living-Room-05-Coffee-Table-Rug-EPP2616_s4x3 The sculptural quality of a vintage spool-style table brings interest as well as an additional layer of feel.



GH2012_Living-Room-07-Fern-EPP0291_s4x3 An oversize fern rests atop a 60-inch square tapered column, reclaimed in the porch of a Craftsman-style bungalow. "We had something intriguing and wonderful at those corners to make an impression," says Linda. "Additionally they emphasise our 'theater' because you seem outside."



Contemporary Living Room in Citron and Gray Yellow A trio of extension arm lamps shines a spotlight on the living area's contemporary couch, upholstered in a neutral, ecofriendly cloth.



GH2012_Living-Room-09-Pillows-Wall-Art-EPP0281_s3x4 Art discovered during a shopping trip with house planner Jack Thomasson provides the area's needed pop and play. The portrait makes reference to Serenbe as a premier bikers' destination.



GH2012_Living-Room-10-Sofa-Lamp-EPP0251_s4x3 Side chairs lend architectural interest and offer an intriguing view in the kitchen. "Those seats are stunning from the back," says Linda. "The grey wood treatment is ideal -- it's that tiny bit of dark that helped pop that area."



GH2012_Living-Room-11-Table-Decor-EPP2202_s3x4 Lime-green designer cushions provide a envelope. "Sometimes when you've got a really great intense pop of color you don't need to go too much," says Linda.



Wood Coffee Table With a New Fruit Centerpiece The room's centerpiece, a half peck of Bartlett pears, continues the room's subtle color story.



GH2012_Living-Room-13-Basket-Coffee-Table-EPP2565_s4x3 The dark, musky colour of a paper that is recycled knapsack stands in contrast to the tabletop's starburst sculpture.



HGTV Green Home 2012 Living Room A wall of glass connects the living room to the courtyard. Custom-crafted curtains frame the stunning view. "There is something wonderfully dramatic about drapes which are just two stories high," says Linda.



Exotic Living Room With Oversized Wood-Framed Mirror The area's 8-foot mirror, framed in rough-sawn heart pine, looks like an image book cover.



GH2012_Living-Room-16-Candle-Mirror-EPP2631_s4x3 Modified sconces finish the space design. "I would have loved to find something enormous and amazing and kind of cluttered, but we didn't," says Linda. "So we discovered those and carpenter David Brown cut down an 11x1 board, painted it mounted on the sconces on the plank. It gave them the weight and the scale we had for the space."



Traditional Living Room With Rustic Oversized Mirror So as not to block views from the kitchen, the dining area's server and hostess chairs have been moved into the living area where they carve out a seating area.



GH2012_Living-Room-18-Mirror-Frame-EPP2601_s3x4 Outdated fencing material, reclaimed from a property along the May River at Bluffton, S.C., finds new life as a mirror framework. The precious heart pine showcases a natural patina, the result of more than 40 decades of exposure to salt air, moisture and sun.



Wingback Chairs in Neutral, Contemporary Living Room Linda gilded the area with elegant appointments, including a super-soft acrylic toss, down-filled designer pillows plus a potted Dendrobium orchid.



GH2012_Living-Room-20-Chair-Retreat-EPP0412_s3x4 Linen upholstery and nailhead trim lend rusticity to antique wingback chairs.



GH2012_Living-Room-21-Rugs-Detail-EPP4841_s4x3 Eco-friendly place rugs anchor spaces on the main floor and create transitions from 1 room to the next. Buttery colors pop against engineered hickory hardwood floors.



GH2012_Living-Room-22-To-Dining-Kitchen-EPP5415_s4x3 With simple access to 2 courtyards, the living area stands, alongside the gourmet kitchen, as the property's heart and social center.

La Fonda on the Plaza

La Fonda on the Plaza Santa Fe, New MexicoThis Santa Fe landmark was built in 1922 and has been among the first Harvey House Hotels along the legendary Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Its adobe-walled, Pueblo-revival architecture is timeless New Mexico, designed to fire the imagination of travellers that came West to see Indians and wild frontier. It sits at the conclusion of the original Santa Fe Trail and there's been a hotel of some type on the site for more than 400 decades. The La Fonda's rooms and public spaces have kiva fireplaces, handcrafted Spanish colonial furnishings, hammered tin lighting fixtures, brightly colored walls and tiles, Navajo rugs and hand-carved vigas. The hotel is filled with art by Native American artists from the region's pueblos.



Enchantment Resort Sedona, ArizonaThe Native American civilization of northern Arizona is at the architecture at Enchantment Resort. The adobe construction is only 30 years old but its own low-slung casitas mix into the iconic red walls of Boynton Canyon, reminiscent of the ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi who lived in the Southwest a millennia ago. Though the place is not Native-owned, you will find Native American flute players at the lobby, Native ceremonies at the equinoxes, and the onsite restaurant, Che-Ah-Chi, takes its title from the Apache name for the region. The decoration is a sleek contemporary take on Southwestern rustic, with more pricey rooms athletic viga-and-latilla ceilings and kiva fireplaces.



Hermosa Inn Paradise Valley, ArizonaThis adobe inn began its life from the 1930s as the home and studio of cowboy artist Lon Megargee. He built the place himself using adobe bricks made onsite. The construction features traditional Southwestern architecture with hand-carved hardwood doors, kiva fireplaces and Spanish colonial corbels. Its gardens feature hundreds of cacti and other desert natives, as well as several drought-hardy, non-native plants which were coaxed to life through the magic of irrigation. The hotel also has a large assortment of Megargee's work on display, in addition to an artist-in-residence who makes artwork while you watch.



Taos Inn Taos, New MexicoThis amazing hotel in downtown Taos is hippie fabulous New Mexico at its finest. Once a block of 200-year old adobe homes, the inn's original owners bought them all in the 1930s and turned them into a rambling resort. The inn's 44 rooms have kiva fireplaces, two-foot-thick adobe walls and Spanish colonial furnishings, pristine northern New Mexico. The neon thunderbird sign out front advertises cocktails, curios and vacancies, pure roadside Americana. Its restaurant, Doc Martins, named for the town physician who was the inn's original proprietor serves local favorites such as chile rellenos, green chile stew and blue corn enchiladas.



Four Seasons at Troon Scottsdale, ArizonaThis swanky resort sits atop Pinnacle Peak outside Scottsdale, Ariz., Santa Fe's matronly Republican sister. It has Pueblo-revival style going on but its walls are practical stucco, not exotic adobe. Casitas and suites have kiva fireplaces, together with the suites going all-out Santa Fe viga-and-latilla ceilings, wood floors and Spanish colonial iron lighting fixtures. The grounds are landscaped with indigenous desert plants, embracing the arid surroundings instead of covering them with turf grass and boxwoods. There's a spa, golf, restaurants and a pub. Four Seasons also has hikes into the desert to gaze at stars and tequila tastings. Try pairing both for maximum effect.



Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm Albuquerque, New MexicoThis 1930s farm turned into bed and breakfast from the Rio Grande Valley was created by John Gaw Meem, the legendary architect that made Santa Fe style. The main house is adobe and constructed in New Mexico territorial style, a design that came into vogue in the 19th century and integrated materials from the bricks, bigger doors and windows, and much more ornate trim. The expansive portal site (above) features murals above the windows painted by WPA artist Harry Garrison Miller. The property's formal Spanish-style gardens, using a cottonwood allee, rose gardens and Spanish tile fountains were designed by Rose Greely, a pioneer female landscape architect. The farm grows organic vegetables used to produce entrees at its onsite restaurant and lavender that's used in a line of spa products.



Inn and Spa at Loretto Santa Fe, New MexicoConstructed on the Website of a Catholic school that closed in the late 1960s after more than a century, the Inn and Spa at Loretto is four tales of Pueblo-style perfection. It had been built in the early 1970s when adobe, among the most ancient construction materials on Earth, came back into vogue and is an icon of Santa Fe style. You can remain in rooms decorated with cow skulls and kivas, get a Zero Gravity Manicure or head next door to the Loretto Chapel, constructed in the 1870s and the sole structure from the college staying, to work out how that the spiral Miraculous Staircase handles to stand with no center support. Legend says St. Joseph the Carpenter, aka Jesus' dad, constructed it, which locals say is the reason it doesn't stick to local building codes or the laws of physics.



Inn of the Five Graces Santa Fe, New MexicoArabian Nights meet the Southwest at this lavishly decorated bed and breakfast tucked into downtown Santa Fe off the Old Santa Fe Trail. Originally a bunch of standard adobe houses, its classic dealer-owners turned the area into a fantasy of dazzling mosaics, doors rescued from older world destroys, Tibetan artifacts, Kilim rugs, beehive fireplaces and Chihuly light fixtures. It is a rush of colour and imaginative energy, the ultimate luxe hippie destination. The city's famed Canyon Road art district is in the neighborhood, combined with San Miguel Chapel, a 400-year-old Spanish mission church.

Root, Root, Root for the Home Tree

Root, Root, Root for the Home Tree Who says Christmas tree skirts need to be dull? Make a statement this year with a pennant tree skirt featuring assorted vintage team and souvenir pennants stitched using a needle and thread.



Minty-Fresh Tray Place a new spin on classic holiday candy using a starlight mint serving tray. To make, just lay peppermints side-by-side onto a cookie sheet then stick into a warm oven before the mints have evenly melted. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside to allow the candy to fully cool. Once dry, the shiny, slick surface is perfect for laying out cheese and crackers or for holding cocktails.



Cozy Up By the (Artificial) Fire No mantel? No worries -- Santa will be sure to stuff your stockings when they are hanging out of this smart faux-mantel wall hanging made from a drop cloth, drapery hardware and chalkboard paint.



Take It From the Top Add midcentury-modern flair into your tree using a Sputnik-inspired tree topper. All you will need are our complete instructions (below), wooden dowels, a foam floral sphere and spray paint.



Merry, Merry Menswear Menswear stockings are a great way to add a tailored touch to your decor. To get the look, try a no-sew approach utilizing iron-on adhesive tape, scissors and old sleeves or dress shirts. Those less inclined to handle this as a job can fall old shirts and sweaters off at their regional dry cleaner or seamstress and get it done for a low price.



Joy to the Map of Earth Go the extra mile this holiday season with your gift wrapping. Instead of grabbing a roll of seasonal newspaper, use a classic road or traveling map. For a personal touch, centre the most significant city, country or continent in addition to the box for a nod to a loved one's favorite vacation destination or hometown.



Tannenbaum With a Twist Add midcentury-modern flair to your house with a geometric tree portable that's affordable and easy to create. To make, catch some green poster board, twine and scissors. Concentric triangles out of this poster board then string them together. This is a good alternative for small space- or apartment-dwellers who do not have sufficient space for a genuine tree; they can just hang the mobile at a corner or over a desk, then pile gifts below.



Seasonal Stencils Instead of typical ball-shaped decorations, provide your tree compact, graphic effect by stringing metal stencils in the hardware store on twine. Produce a similar look with cardboard stencils by hitting a hole through the top, then hanging with twine.



Hit the Jackpot With a Kitschy Wreath Get creative to craft an out-of-the-ordinary wreath that's sure to be the talk of the area. Cover a foam wreath form with layers of playing cards, adding mounting tape between each coating for a three-dimensional impact. For extra color, attach red and green poker chips in one corner to resemble a sprig of holly.



Move Streamlined and Sculptural Create a contemporary, minimal interpretation of a Christmas tree with all-purpose cable from the hardware store. Simply wrap the cable around a foam floral cone tightly or loosely as desired. Slide the cone out and -- kazam! -- instant tree sculptures. Group several together for a fast and easy centerpiece for your dining table, mantel or foyer.



Ombre Gift Tags Turn leftover paint chips into colorful gift tags by cutting them into tree silhouettes using scissors. Finish the look by adding each recipients' name with stamps or a permanent markers.



All Puzzled Out Conversation-starters would be the ideal method to get a holiday meal moving. Re-invent puzzle bits as snowflake napkin holders by gluing several pieces together, then attaching to fundamental rings with twine or hot glue.



Try a New Hue Forgo the traditional red-and-green holiday palette and opt for bold, sophisticated colours this year. For a dramatic look, spray-paint old ornaments in fashion-forward colours like bronze, purple and brown then show your handiwork within an multi-colored tree.



The Name Game Who says present tags should not be just as much pleasure as the gift they're attached to? Hot-glue wooden game tiles or kids' wood cubes to twine to create gift tags that may double as decorations.



Ring Around the Cocktail Place a year's holiday cards to good use because this year's cocktail mark. Use scissors to trim circular shapes from cards, focusing on regions with lots of color or an attractive design element, then cut a small hole in the centre for the glass stem and a slit so guests can quickly slide the markers off and on. Vary the markers' colors and patterns so that guests can quickly tell which glass is theirs.



Go Retro Fans of midcentury-modern design will adore this table setting that proves you can not go wrong with classic colour combos. Robin's-egg blue, cherry red and white was a favorite palette in the '50s and, paired with a lively, vintage tablecloth, it looks just as fresh today.



Clothespins Paint = Beautiful Snowflakes In just a few steps, turn wooden clothespins into oversized snowflake tree decorations. This is a great project for older children to undertake on their own or for small kids with a little help from a crafty adult.



Moose on the Loose A sculptural resin or ceramic mount provides a playful twist to any area. For the holidays, select a creature we typically associate with snowy weather, such as reindeer, caribou or moose.



Old Bulbs for the New Year Reinvent old light bulbs as tree decorations by spray-painting them with metallic paint, then group together in clusters with ribbon. Smaller light bulbs work best grouped in odd numbers, while bigger lightbulbs are greatest as solitary decorations.



Souvenir Tree Garland Do not toss old Christmas cards. Rather, cut them into circles and then glue onto twine to put in a sentimental touch to your Christmas tree. Best of all, you can begin your garland little and put in onto it each year.