A Publication of Edmond Life & Leisure
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A PUBLICATION OF EDMOND LIFE & LEISURE
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At Home in Edmond Fall/Winter 2026
A Publication of Edmond Life & Leisure
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At Home in Edmond Fall/Winter 2026
Letter from the Publisher OKLAHOMA REAL ESTATE UPDATE For most of us our home represents our biggest investment. We thought it was time to feature an update for 2026 given so many changes in the economy. Keep in mind that Edmond has traditionally done better than other markets in the state. Oklahoma’s real estate sector entered 2026 on relatively stable footing, supported by broad economic contributions and localized market dynamics that differ notably from national trends.
The industry’s economic weight in the state is substantial. Real estate contributed $23.17 billion to Oklahoma’s economy in 2024, based on U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data, surpassing even the oil and gas sector. Real estate is as foundational to Oklahoma’s broader economic growth, stimulating construction, lending, legal services, home improvement, and insurance industries, all of which generate local tax revenues supporting schools, public safety, and infrastructure. On the residential side, Oklahoma City’s market heading into 2026 was characterized by cautious optimism. A January 2026 report in The Oklahoman noted that while national home values were projected to rise just 1.2% for the year, with some major markets expected to see price declines, OKC-area experts anticipated steadier conditions. Zillow projected approximately 4.26 million home sales nationally in 2026, a roughly 4% increase, and described the market as settling into a “healthier state” with more breathing room for buyers and greater price stability for sellers. Mortgage rates remain a central concern. Zillow forecast rates stayed above 6% throughout 2026, and local broker Barry Whittington of RE/MAX First in Oklahoma City identified inflation as the dominant variable shaping where rates ultimately land. Whittington noted that rising housing costs and persistent inflation represent the key uncertainty for the year’s market performance. On the construction front, the picture is mixed. Nationally, Zillow projected 2026 could be the slowest year for single-family home construction starts since 2019, attributing the slowdown to a large existing inventory of new and under-construction homes. Locally, however, Whittington predicted steady growth in OKC suburbs including Mustang, Yukon, and Moore, where new subdivisions continue to emerge and homes priced around $250,000 are expected to attract families seeking affordability and quality schools. Oklahoma’s affordability profile remains a competitive advantage. The state’s official economic promotion materials rank it third nationally for most affordable housing, a factor the Journal Record cited as drawing new residents and businesses to the state each year. Real estate professionals in the state have also been active in advocating for zoning reform and expanded housing affordability policies to sustain that growth trajectory. What all this boils down to for Edmond homeowners is that it is a great time to make an investment in your home. You can make improvements with confidence, and we encourage you to let the businesses in this At Home in Edmond help you do so. Best Regards,
Ray Hibbard
Publisher Edmond Life & Leisure At Home in Edmond Magazine
PUBLISHER
Ray Hibbard
EDITOR
Deanne Marcella
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Erika Williams Rose Drebes
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Deanne Marcella
ADVERTISING
Alexx Reger Advertising Director For information on advertising in At Home in Edmond, call 405-340-3311
READER SERVICES
107 South Broadway Edmond OK 73034 Phone 405-340-3311 Fax 405-340-3384
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
edmondlifeandleisure.com @edmondlifeandleisure
EdmondStartHere.com
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Contents
30
4 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
22 CREATING NEW HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
8 SPUNKIE’S SOUL FOOD IN EDMOND
24 WELCOME TO BEAR BAILEY’S
12 BRIGHTEN INTERIOR SPACES
28 CLASSIC TOUCHES TO TRANSFORM
14 GALLERY T IN DOWNTOWN EDMOND 18 KEEP GUESTS ENTERTAINED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
20 DECORATE LIKE A HOLIDAY PRO
MAKE THE SEASON MERRY AND BRIGHT
HOME INTERIORS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
30 BAKED BRIE IS A CHEESE-CENTRIC CROWD PLEASER
30 ADVERTISER’S INDEX
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Spunkie’s Soul Food in Edmond By Erika Williams As cold weather approaches, nothing sounds better than a freshly cooked, hearty meal. Spunkie’s Soul Food, located at 119 W 2nd St., suite. 150 in The Icehouse Project offers a mix of southern style comfort foods. While the brick-and-mortar location only opened at the end of July, Spunkie’s has been operating for nearly a decade. Spunkie’s Soul Food started as food truck in Maryland in 2017. DeNoya and Tony Crawford started the food truck to share their unique spin on the classic soul food recipes. “We started in 2017 in a food truck in Maryland. We have to really give shout outs to people in Maryland because they were very supportive. They still support us to this day. They always messaged us saying how much they miss us and, you know, all that good stuff,” said Tony. After a few years, DeNoya, an Oklahoma native, and Tony decided to move their family back to Oklahoma and brought the food truck
with them. They believed their food would stand out among other soul food restaurants in the area. Said Tony, “DeNoya was kind of worried at first. I said we could take the food truck, but she said, ‘There’s lot of soul food restaurants in Oklahoma’ and I said, ‘But they’re not Spunkie’s.’ And that’s one thing we try to really hang our hat on. There are a lot of places but we’re just different from everybody.” After moving to Oklahoma, the Spunkie’s food truck bounced around to a few different places including Edmond where they gained several regular customers. After operating the food truck for several years, the Crawfords decided to open a location in the Penn Square Mall food court. They missed being a part of the Edmond community, but they believe being at the mall helped them build a larger customer base and gain restaurant management experience. “It was a very great experience because it got our feet wet with having our own place. I think being at
the mall kind of prepared us for this right here,” said DeNoya.
Spunkie’s owners DeNoya and Tony Crawford Tony added, “Don’t get me wrong we missed our Edmond people, but we got to see more people. It made continues through Page 10
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‘There’s lot of soul food restaurants in Oklahoma. But they’re not Spunkie’s.’ -DeNoya Crawford
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continued from Page 8 us establish a bigger customer base and a bigger name for ourselves,” said Tony. When the time came to leave the food court and open a restaurant, DeNoya and Tony said choosing Edmond was an easy decision. “We found ourselves back in Edmond because, I mean we live in Edmond, we’re residents of Edmond. Our kids went to Edmond schools before we moved to Maryland. When we came back here, Edmond just felt like the right place to establish where our business was going to be,” said DeNoya. Many people ask DeNoya and Tony who Spunkie’s is named after, but “Spunkie” doesn’t represent one specific person, but more of a feeling. “If you look it up, the adjectives for spunky is like full of soul, full of life,” said Tony. “I thought, well, we’re selling soul food let’s do that. We just come from big families, and we like to have a good time. So, that’s what Spunkie’s really does.” DeNoya, Tony, and their two sons all agreed on the name and decided to give it a unique look by changing the “y” in spunky to an “ie.” The family representation doesn’t stop at the name as DeNoya and Tony’s sons run the restaurants’ social media and work as managers.“ People love Diven and Ahmir. They are our social media gurus, so they are the faces of Spunkie’s. People just come in here and see what they’re on that day or what they’re clowning about,” said DeNoya. As a family-owned business, DeNoya and Tony want their customers to come in and feel like part of the family too. “That’s one thing that we really would like that to have a feel where people can come and sit and enjoy themselves,” said Tony. “It’s a family vibe for me with Spunkie’s because no matter where you’re from or how you’re living, you can always come to Spunkie’s and get a good meal,” added DeNoya. “We just want to love on you. We want to make
sure that you have a great experience with us.” In the future, DeNoya and Tony plan to host Sunday Fundays, karaoke nights, and Friday game nights. While the atmosphere at Spunkie’s is inviting, people don’t just visit the restaurant to enjoy the company. Spunkie’s offers several authentic and tasty soul food items. The menu changes weekly, but DeNoya and Tony say some crowd favorites are the turkey chops, macaroni and cheese, chicken wings, catfish, and cornbread bowls. “It’s been a big hit for us. It’s just basically a bed of cornbread, then you get to pick any three sides, and a piece of meat on top. It is really good,” said DeNoya. Tony also noted that meals are cooked fresh so that quality is guaranteed. “We pride ourselves on that. We also make all of our recipes from scratch,” said Tony. “We like to tell people we’re cooking soul food, not fast food.” No matter what you order, DeNoya and Tony are sure that you’ll leave the restaurant feeling happy and full. “We tell people you need to lay down after this meal, like you’re going to need a whole nap,” said DeNoya. With the holidays approaching, Spunkie’s will be offering holiday-inspired meals with turkey, dressing, chitlins, and sweet potato pie. The Crawfords have a clear passion for serving fresh, tasty meals to their customers, but they prioritize giving back to the community as well. They take their food truck to the Homeless Alliance and offer meals to the homeless population, they donate shoes and backpacks to kids in need, cater charitable events, and try to help anyone they can on an individual level. “Honestly, we want people to know you don’t need to have any money to come in here. We’re going to feed you, and you can take care of us later. We’ll figure it out together because we want to be a part of the community,” said DeNoya. “We didn’t grow up with a lot of things, and so like now for us to be able to get back and help it’s just kind of a blessing. To learn more about Spunkie’s Soul Food and to see the weekly menu offerings, visit their Facebook page or getspunkiessoulfood.com.
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At Home in Edmond Fall/Winter 2026
Brighten interior spaces If spring and summer are seasons when homeowners focus their renovation energy on outdoor living spaces, that attention shifts back inside upon the arrival of fall. People tend to spend much more time indoors than outside come late fall and throughout the winter. The ambiance inside in fall and winter is notably different, as fewer hours of daylight can darken interior spaces. Finding ways to brighten home interiors can make spaces more inviting in late fall and throughout the winter. • Layer with sheer and blackout curtains. The simplest way to brighten interior spaces is to allow natural light to illuminate them, but that can be difficult in homes with blackout curtains. Blackout curtains are highly effective at keeping light out, but they won’t do much to brighten interior spaces in the winter. Layer blackout curtains with sheer curtains so you can still get some privacy but brighten interior spaces with natural light at the same time. • Add lighting wherever possible. The days when interior lighting was limited to floor lamps and overhead fixtures are long gone. Various types of lighting can now be used to brighten interior spaces throughout winter. Recessed lighting is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that can brighten any room in a home at any point in a day. Unlike a traditional overhead
fixture where the light emanates from a single source, recessed lighting can be installed in various points in
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the ceiling so each corner of a room can be lit up. In addition to recessed lighting, under cabinet lighting in kitchens and on bookshelves can brighten spots that traditional fixtures typically fail to illuminate. Layering the lighting so light comes from various sources can create a brighter feel. • Use color to your advantage. Color is another tool that can be used to brighten interior spaces in the winter. If homeowners are reluctant to paint walls with new and brighter colors, then accents can lend rooms a lighter feel. Vibrantly colored throw pillows, blankets and fixtures can create a lighter feel when residents and guests enter a room. Artwork with light colors also can help to brighten interior spaces. • Wash the windows. They are easily overlooked, but dirty windows can block natural light and greatly reduce the amount of light entering a home through the windows. Clean the interior and exterior of your windows prior to winter so any grime that has built up in recent months and years is not preventing light from entering your home. It can be a challenge to keep interior spaces bright over the winter. But there are many ways homeowners can illuminate interior spaces.
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Gallery T in downtown Edmond By Rose Drebes The owners of Gallery T, which opened on May 15, have deep roots in the City of Edmond. The gallery is operated by Michele and Chris Koopman and located at 10 E. 1 downtown. Michele was born and raised in Edmond. “I come from a family with long ties to Edmond dating back to its original founding,” Michelle said. “The gallery is dedicated to part of that history in the Thomas name (the T in Gallery T is for Thomas). “Bob and Kathy Thomas (my grandparents) were art supporters here in Edmond and beyond. My great grandfather John Thomas was a dedicated Edmond businessman, as was my great great grandfather.” The gallery was launched with 18 artists. Now, 20 local artists are on exhibit, as well as one based in Dallas and another from New York City. At Gallery T, once can expect original works from regional artists alongside handmade goods, quality art materials and thoughtfully chosen gifts. “Each item is selected for its craftsmanship and the story it carries: paintings and prints that reflect local life, ceram-
ics shaped by hand, textiles dyed and stitched with care and tools that invite creativity,” Michell said. The space blends exhibition and retail — inviting visitors to view, learn about and take home pieces that resonate, she said. In addition to promoting the artists carried at the gallery, Michele is an artist as well. “My art is under the name Rat Hill Co. and I hand-make matchboxes and build beautiful objects to flourish the home,” she said. “I use a mix of hand-painted and hand-gilded intaglios, along with hand marbled papers from other artists all over the world. “It has really become such a joy for me to create in a way I always dreamed. I sell online on my website along with private commissions year round. I also sell locally at Abide Interiors in downtown Edmond and at Gallery T.” Another great aspect of the gallery is the selection of curated gifts. “I would come across different, cool and beautiful items when traveling and when I decided to open the gallery, it was important to me to bring those items to Oklahoma,” Michele said. “We have handmade paper weights from England, realistic food candles handmade by artisans in Italy,
A Publication of Edmond Life & Leisure marbled taper candles from Norway and beautiful papers and notebooks from an artist in Michigan. “We also have gorgeous printed marbled papers from England as well. To me, these curated items and gifts are just another extension of art! You can find and use art in daily life, not just hang it on your walls.” Gallery T also offers small workshops. In October, Michele said they are bringing in a local fiber artist and a local basket weaver to present sessions. Even more events are planned around the holidays. “We also will reveal a mural on the side of the building end of October (artist will be announced beginning of October) and its very exciting,” Michele said. “We are so honored to also partner with Fine Arts Institute of Edmond and Melton Gallery at UCO to offer first Thursdays in Edmond. “The main purpose of the gallery was to contribute to our already wonderful art community here in Edmond. Bob and Kathy would be so very pleased with how the gallery has turned out and how it has become another extension of our already amazing community of artists in this great city!” For more information, visit galleryt.art. continues through Page 16
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Keep guests entertained this holiday season Gatherings with loved ones are a big part of what makes the holiday season such a special time of year. As families grow and spread out across the map, they may not get too many chances to spend quality time with one another. But the holiday season is a time each year when families make a concerted effort to get together. As families get together under the same roof during the holiday season, individuals tasked with hosting gatherings tend to have a lot on their plates. Memories tend to be made around the holiday dinner table, but the season also presents ample opportunities to create nights to remember outside the house as well. Hosts can keep the following ideas in mind as they look for ways to entertain guests this holiday season. • Take a turn as a tour guide. Locals may not make the rounds of nearby tourist destinations too frequently, but the holiday season is a great opportunity for hosts to show guests what makes their towns so unique. Serve as a tour guide for guests on a sightseeing day with visits to local monuments or museums. Wrap the day up at a holiday bazaar where local small business owners have set up shop. This affords guests a chance to tour a new community or a hometown they haven’t visited in awhile, and also makes for a great chance for all to squeeze in a little last-minute holiday shopping. • Plan an ugly sweater bar crawl. If hosts and their guests are all of age, an ugly sweater bar crawl can make
for a fun night out on the town. Encourage guests to wear an ugly holiday sweater and map out a route and schedule of visits to local bars and restaurants. Hosts must prioritize safety on these types of excursions, so arrange for a bus
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to take guests from one spot to the next if establishments are far away from one another. If Main Street has a local bar district, arrange for transportation downtown at the start of the crawl and home when the night ends. • Take in some local entertainment. Whether it’s a holiday lighting display show or a local theater performance of a classic holiday tale like Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” a night of local live entertainment is a great way for hosts and their guests to get out of the house. Hosts can even book a reservation for a pre-show meal at a local restaurant so they can be free of cooking and give guests their undivided attention. • Host a holiday movie night. Weary travelers who want to stay in may appreciate a holiday movie double feature. Hosts can let guests pick a pair of holiday films and then host a double feature, complete with traditional movie fare like popcorn and candy. Hosts can even offer adult guests a glass of homemade eggnog during the films to up the holiday ante even further. • Go hiking. Time spent in the outdoors and crisp air can offer a great way to recharge. America’s State Parks to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors. • Host a firepit brunch. Spending time around the firepit may seem like an activity tailor-made for autumn evenings, but dusk need not have fallen to enjoy an outdoor fire. Dress warmly and gather friends around a firepit or outdoor fireplace. Swap s’mores for cheese cubes on sticks that can be made warm and slightly melted over the open flames. • Float or paddle. Take in nature from the water. Although these types of events may be better in warmer climates, those who are courageous enough to brave the elements can spend some time kayaking or floating on waterways that have not frozen over. • Head to a skating rink. Winter and ice skating are a perfect match. Spend the day practicing double axels, and then sipping hot cocoa a local coffee shop. • Visit a theme park. Some theme parks are still open and celebrating with holiday-centric special events. Crowds may be small around holidays, ensuring ride enthusiasts they can ride their favorite coasters multiple times. Holiday hosts can embrace various ways to entertain guests during a time of year when there’s no shortage of fun ways to spend a night.
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Decorate like a holiday pro
make the season merry and bright
The sights and sounds of the holiday season help to make this a special time of year that people look forward to. With its magical moments and opportunities to gather with family and friends, the holiday season is a period to celebrate and, of course, decorate. According to an informal poll from the decorating, culture and travel experts at Veranda, 65 percent of respondents said that the time to decorate for Christmas is right after Thanksgiving or the first week of December. Many stores now display holiday decorations and other wares concurrently with Halloween and fall items, so people can plan their decorating early if they expect to be adding to their holiday collections. These tips can help with decorating and make anyone deck the halls like a professional. • Choose your theme and color palette. Consider a specific style of decorating, whether it’s traditional, minimalist, country, or even winter wonderland. Then select a few coordinating colors to complement the theme and existing items in your home. Pick up these items as they become available in stores, as holiday merchandise often goes quickly. • Focus on a few key areas. While it’s tempting to decorate an entire home, pros know to focus on key areas like tables, doorways and mantles to create the most visual interest. This also makes decorating more manageable. • Rely on the rule of thirds. Create balanced and visually pleasing arrangements by dividing the space visually into nine equal parts, symbolically drawing two equally spaced horizontal and two equally spaced vertical lines. Designers often place important elements along these lines or at their
intersections to create a more visually balanced and appealing composition. When grouping decorative items together on shelves and tables, threes often look best. • Remove clutter. It’s important to declutter a space prior to introducing holiday elements in order to create a clean
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and organized look. Store additional decorations and knickknacks until after the holiday season. • Start with lights. It’s often easier to decorate by beginning with lights first, and then weaving additional decorations into the mix. Build on lights with garlands and accent items. • Less is often more. Keep the decorating simple. A few elements here and there can have a much more effective impact than several things that draw attention away from one another. When taking out holiday decorations this year, use it as an opportunity to assess and cull the collection, which will make things easier next year. Homeowners can decorate their spaces for the holidays effectively with some guidelines professional designers use.
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Creating new holiday traditions Traditions are hallmarks of most holidays, but they’re particularly prominent during celebrations that fall at the end of the year. The customs people hold dear are among the many factors that set the holiday season apart. It’s why we eat turkey when giving thanks or kiss under the mistletoe. Just because a holiday is associated with various established traditions doesn’t mean individuals and families cannot come up with new customs. Here are some pointers for people seeking to establish new holiday traditions. Identify what you value Values establish the foundation for holiday traditions. Maybe you aspire to give back to your community? Perhaps the goal is to spend more quality time with family? Once you’ve identified the values driving your motivation to start a new holiday tradition, you can then establish one that aligns with those values. For example, if you aspire to give back, then a day of service at a nearby soup kitchen can become a holiday tradition. Expand on an existing tradition New traditions do not have to be entirely unique; they could expand on things that families already do. If family baking sessions are an existing tradition, perhaps the efforts can be expanded to include more family members? Extra items can be packaged up and shared with elderly neighbors who may no longer have a lot of family visiting or can’t bake on their own.
Reflect on childhood traditions Perhaps there is something adults did during their own childhoods that can be incorporated into modern traditions? An adult who has fond memories of playing a game in between courses of the holiday dinner can engage in that same game to pass it on to another generation.
Get inspired Although scouring social media can create feelings of inequality or even competition as everyone posts their holiday activities, such searching also can provide inspiration for innovative traditions. If something a friend is doing looks like it can be fun and rewarding, families can borrow the tradition and make it their own.
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Involve others Part of the magic of the holidays is the chance to connect with others. Expand holiday traditions to include more people. If a home is not large enough to handle a crowd, think about renting a room at a VFW center or firehouse, where a greater number of people can get together to create wreaths or even watch holiday movies. The more, the merrier this time of year. Holiday traditions can make the season enjoyable, but they are not set in stone. Families can modify existing customs and create new traditions to make the season even more meaningful.
Communicate with others Engage the entire family in discussions about traditions they may want to include in holiday celebrations as well as what ones they may not enjoy. For example, traditions that foster over-consumption or create unnecessary stress can be eliminated and replaced with customs that make everyone feel better.
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Welcome to Bear Bailey’s By Rose Drebes The loss of a beloved Great Pyrenes and a grandmother led Keri Salas to write a series of books, It’s a Wonderful Dog, which eventually led to Bear Bailey’s Co-op and Grocery in downtown Edmond. “I entered the holiday season with no desire to celebrate,” Keri said. “The house felt quieter than it should have for a long period afterward. “The only thing that helped was writing. And in doing so, I found myself returning to a simple truth: life is richer because of the dogs who walk beside us.” The books are based on the fictional town of Merivelle, Kan. Keri grew up in Kansas and moved to Edmond almost two decades ago. “Bear Bailey’s actually became a retail store somewhat by accident,” Keri said. “We were looking for warehouse space to house merchandise for readers of the books when we found this beautiful space in downtown Edmond. It was simply too beautiful to use as a warehouse and not welcome people inside. “Suddenly, we had the opportunity to bring a bit of the world from the books to life. Downtown Edmond felt like exactly the right place to do it.” In the It’s a Wonderful Dog series, the town of Merivelle has a wonderful old-fashioned co-op filled with goods made and shared by people in the community. “We like to say Bear Bailey’s has gifts for dogs and the people who love them,” Keri said. Bear Bailey’s offers beautiful collars and leashes, toys,
treats and other things for dogs, as well as books, candles, jewelry, stationery, home goods and gifts for people. There is even a charm bar where people can create matching jewelry for themselves and their dogs. Honey, jams and handmade soaps are tucked among the other treasures in the store. continues through Page 26
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continued from Page 24 “I wanted the store to feel less like a traditional pet store and more like stepping into a wonderful old shop where there is always something unexpected to discover,” Keri said. “We look for things that are beautiful, unusual, funny, sentimental or simply make you happy. “It’s another small way we’re bringing the world of the books into the real world.” The thing, Keri said, she hopes people understand about Bear Bailey’s is that the store is ultimately about the relationship people have with their dogs. “Dogs accompany us through so many seasons of our lives,” she said. “There are puppies and birthdays and
Christmas mornings and ordinary Tuesday afternoons. And eventually there are older dogs, goodbyes and memories. “We wanted to create a place that celebrates all of it,” she continued. “That’s why you’ll find something silly sitting near something beautiful, and a dog toy near a remembrance candle. It’s all part of loving a dog.” If someone walks out with a wonderful gift, that’s terrific. “But if they walk out smiling because they brought their dog downtown, met somebody, heard a story or simply spent 20 minutes somewhere that made the world feel a little kinder, then Bear Bailey’s has done exactly what I hoped it would do.” Bear Bailey’s is located at 205 North Broadway in downtown Edmond. For more information, visit bearbaileys.com.
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Classic touches to transform home interiors this holiday season Painter Norman Rockwell was famous for his narrative paintings depicting the essence of American life in the mid-twentieth century. His works of art blended sentimentality with humor and realism and were featured on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post for decades. Some of his paintings portray the classic tableaus that evoke traditional feelings of the holiday season. Rockwell’s classic paintings may inspire individuals to recreate that mid-century feel when decorating this holiday season. When transforming home interiors for the holidays, these classic touches can make moments more magical. • Embrace classic color palettes. Christmas colors include, red, green, white, and gold. Utilizing these colors throughout a home will set a classic tone. • Utilize timeless ornaments. Cherished ornaments collected through the years will add a classic touch to the Christmas tree. Family heirlooms and ornaments made from quality materials lend a touch of nostalgia. • Use cozy textiles. Wrap the home in cozy touches, like plaid blankets and velvet ribbons. Plush throws and seasonal pillows also can add a traditional touch to interior spaces. • Decorate with classic figurines. Nutcrackers and religious figurines lend a traditional touch to holiday decor. • Display a live tree. Artificial trees can look realistic, but a fragrant live evergreen in front of the living room picture window calls to mind a classic Christmas setting. • Hang knit stockings. Celebrants lucky enough to have a fireplace can hang knit stockings in classic holiday colors from the mantel.
• Play classic tunes. Holiday music crosses various genres, but the old standards from Bing Crosby or Andy Williams can set a classic feel when entertaining. Evoking a classic feel at home for the holidays can make celebrations traditional and sentimental.
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Baked brie is a cheese-centric crowd pleaser Cheese is beloved all over the world. While cheese features more prominently in some cultures than others, its popularity still knows no bounds. That popularity is something hosts can keep in mind as they plan to welcome loved ones into their homes during Baked Brie With Blackberry Compote and Spicy Candied Pecans Makes 4 to 6 servings
the holiday season. Couple the popularity of cheese with a little spice, as this recipe for “Baked Brie With Blackberry Compote and Spicy Candied Pecans” from Lines+Angles does, and hosts are sure to have a crowd pleaser on their hands.
For the compote: 3 cups blackberries 1⁄2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons water 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract For the pecans: 1⁄2 cup sugar 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger 1 pinch chilli powder 1 small egg white 1 tablespoon water 2 cups pecans For the cheese: 2 Brie wheels 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pomegranate, seeded Fresh thyme sprigs Multigrain crackers 1. For the compote: Combine blackberries, sugar, water, and vanilla extract in a heavy-based saucepan. 2. Cover and cook over a medium heat, stirring from time to time, until the blackberries are soft and jammy, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to one side.
3. For the spicy candied pecans: Preheat the oven to 250 F. Stir together sugar and spices in a large mixing bowl. 4. Whisk egg white with water in a separate bowl until frothy. Toss pecans in egg white mixture before removing and tossing in the spiced sugar to coat. 5. Spread out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1 hour, turning over every 15 minutes, until dry and crisp. 6. Remove from the oven and let cool to one side. Increase oven to 350 F. 7. For the cheese: Remove the tops of the rinds from the Brie wheels. Place the Brie on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 8. Drizzle with olive oil before baking for 25 to 30 minutes until melted and bubbling. 9. Remove from the oven and let cool briefly before topping with the blackberry compote, spiced pecans, pomegranate seeds, and thyme sprigs. 10. Serve with the multigrain crackers and any remaining compote and pecans on the side.
Advertiser’s Index
Brent Gibson Classic Home Design.................................7 Citizens Bank of Edmond..............................................27 City of Edmond...............................................................5 Don’s Floor Gallery........................................................32 Downtown Edmond Business Association....................11 Edmond Electric.............................................................31 Edmond Optical Shop...................................................29 Edmond Water Resources.............................................17 Fillmore & Chambers Design Group.............................21
Framin’ Gallery..............................................................11 Gary Baccus State Farm Insurance ...............................11 Reid Printing..................................................................21 Matthews Funeral Home..............................................29 Sleepworld.....................................................................11 Touchmark at Coffee Creek............................................2 Visit Edmond...................................................................3
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