Here are the winners of our very first Eddie Awards! A special thank you to everyone who sent in submissions! I wish I could give everyone an Eddie. You deserve it! To listen to show in full, click below.
1. FLOWERS
For her son's birthday, just a few days from Chinese New Year, reader Kathysue decided to do a fun, festive Asian theme. With ceramic Chinese containers from Big Lots ($5 each), mums from Costco ($8.99 a bunch), and a dozen chopsticks ($10), here's what she created!
I especially love the clever use of the containers! I've always been a big believer that flowers aren't just for vases. In fact, there are so many unusual containers from the flea market, like teapots, tureens, and pitchers, that make beautiful flower arrangements. Nice job, Kathysue!
2. DECORATING
This beachy guestroom redo from our friend and fellow-blogger Rhoda Montgomery with Southern Hospitality packs quite a punch for coming in under $500. With smart shopping at yard sales and antique shops, including a fun, graphic damask comforter for $15, Rhoda's redo takes the Eddie! Congratulations, Rhoda!
3. SHOPPING
Furniture
This was such a popular category that we decided to give out a few awards! First, for the best secondhand find in the furniture cateogry, the Eddie goes to (may I have the envelop please?) Katie from katiedid! With a 1950s Cannell and Chaffin faux bamboo side table from the Sacramento Antiques Fair she found for a mere $25, check out what Katie did!
Talk about a Before & After! Love the robin's egg blue top. Very fresh and modern! And I love the way it's propped with the graphic pillow, the Chinoiserie lamp, and the sweet arrangement of flowers. Great job, Katie!
Tabletop
I've always thought that objects carry a tremendous amount of meaning. It's those personal items that you love and want to live with everyday that really make a house a home. For outstanding tabletop in the Shopping category, the Eddie goes to...ah, the suspense...Kay Fruge for her beautiful silver candelabra!
Purchased at Larry McCool Company in Natchez, Mississippi for $35, this candelabra is not only beautiful but truly meaningful to its owner. In fact, before his passing in November, Kay's father and Larry McCool were close friends. This piece was a gift from her father Kay holds very dear to her. Thank you for sharing your story with us!
Special Mention
There was one more entry in the Shopping category, a particularly unusual find, that I thought deserved special mention. It comes from Leah Hopkins, whose family lost their home in Ocean Spring, Mississippi in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. So many family heirlooms from as far back as the 1600s were lost, but four years later, after recovering and rebuilding, Leah has once again begun to acquire objects for her home that carry new meaning, creating for herself and her family, new and beautiful memories. This unusual piece, purchased for $35 at Scott's in Atlanta, I love because Leah loves it, and that's what personal collections are all about! Well done, Leah!
4. ENTERTAINING
In this category, we asked for your worst entertaining disaster, and this one takes the cake. I'll let our winner, Lori Stewart, tell the story...
Years ago, my Great-Uncle Delma wanted his three sisters, Alice, Blanche and Beulah, to meet his new girlfriend. He really liked her and everyone thought that it was turning serious. She invited his sisters and me to a tea one evening at her home.
When we arrived, it was very obvious that this woman was EXTREMELY nervous about making a good impression on her "critics." Her voice and hands shook with nervousness. Everything looked lovely. The fine china and sterling silver tea set were impressive.
Unfortunately, she totally forgot to clean out her sterling tea pot. When she poured our tea, dozens and dozens of tiny baby roaches came out and were floating in our cups. Uncle Delma broke up with her shortly thereafter because she was too embarrassed to ever look at us again.
Lori, I'm cringing! This isn't just a disaster, it's an Entertaining Nightmare! Congratulations!
5. FOOD
Four our fifth and final category, the Eddie for most tantalizing appetizer recipe goes to...may I have the envelope please?...Sasha! Here's her recipe for Mushrooms with Goat Cheese and Nuts. Simple, fast (5 minutes, she says) and delicious...well, at least from the sound of it! This one I'm definitely going to make!
Mushrooms with Goat Cheese & Nuts
Ingredients:
1. Crimini Mushrooms 1 box ( the most common ones)
2. Goat Cheese 10.5oz
3. Butter 1 stick (room temperature)
4. Nuts (chopped very very small) 1 cup.
5. Salt and pepper to taste
Clean the mushrooms with a damp paper towel, gently wiping them (never wash!)
Remove the stem so that you have a nice round dish-like cup.
Start by mixing half of the goat cheese with half of the butter and half of the nuts. Let your mushroom size determine how much you will use. Medium size seems to be the right balance of everything.
Once all ingredients are mixed, spoon into each inverted mushroom. Do not put in too much, because it will be very messy in the oven.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes, until stops start turning golden brown.
And voila! you can either put them on a platter or serve them as an entree course with a nice crispy green salad!
Once again, everyone, thank you so much for your submissions.
I truly appreciate it! Until next year...
Cockroaches definitely trump using Ladyfinger cookies instead of ladyfingers in my first try at making a Chocolate Rum Charlotte. I was a newlywed, trying to make an impressive dessert for my new inlaws. Of course, the cookies weren't soft enough, being a hard cookie, so I kept dousing them with rum to soften them enough to use. I kept this up until they were soft, using about half of a fifth of rum on the outside layer alone. Needless to say, one bite of the dessert announced its potency. But, after a few more bites, nobody really cared!
Posted by: Paula | March 08, 2009 at 06:17 PM
Congrats to all you ladies, job well done! Luv those flowers, Kathsue!
Posted by: Kindle | February 23, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Eddie and Olivia! Thank you so much for my EDDIE Award! I am so sorry to have missed the show! (Guests were saying their goodbyes after an impromptu Oscar Night Party!) I would have loved to hear it. What fun and I hope you do this again next year. I was very honored!
Cheers!
Katie
Posted by: katiedid | February 23, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Eddie and Olivia. It was so much fun being a part of the show and the awards. I am practically famous with my family and friends. Had a great time. Kay.
Posted by: Kay Fruge' | February 23, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Eddie, the award winners are inspiring! What a great idea. Have to say, I was especially impressed with Kathysue's arrangement!
And thanks for featuring a Katrina survivor! You rock!
Can't wait to have you and Jaithan here in New Orleans!!
Posted by: Ann Barks | February 23, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Hi Eddie! I was thrilled to win an award! Thank you so much!! I loved listening to the show last night. Olivia and you are so comical together. I nearly died laughing when Julia Child came on the air. . .especially her cracks about Liberace. Priceless!! I look forward to next Sunday's program. It's addictive!!
Posted by: Lori Stewart | February 23, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Thanks for the Eddie Awards. What a fun & great idea!
You go Eddie!
Leslie
lamaison fou blog
Posted by: Leslie Rowlands | February 23, 2009 at 10:10 AM
How exciting!!! I missed the show, but I'm so happy that you picked my beachy room. Thank you SO much Eddie! This is great. I'm listening to the podcast now!
My friend, Kathysue won too, I'm so happy for her also!
Posted by: Rhoda@Southern Hospitality | February 23, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Eddie, thankyou for the award it was so fun to listen to you and Olivia tonight.I love being able to talk to you and again you are so kind and gracious.I am especially delighted that you liked my floral arrangement.You are the Best.xoxoKathysue
Posted by: Kathysue | February 22, 2009 at 11:06 PM