Date: November 13, 2013 | Story: Jennifer Bonds |
Inspired by time-honored traditions and the nostalgia of their own childhood, the owners of Park Hill Home welcome the season with a neighborhood cookie swap
Todd Smith and Charlie Groppetti’s home is just the kind of place you want to be invited to for the holidays. Warm, welcoming and filled with nostalgic reminders of the season, including homemade gingerbread cookies, their North Little Rock residence emanates all the charm of a vintage Christmas card. This simple, down-to-earth style comes naturally to the pair, who own the Park Hill Collection home décor line as well as the Park Hill Home store in Conway. So naturally, in fact, it has become a way of life, which is why they decided to host a neighborhood holiday cookie swap.
“We like to take the party onto our home’s front porch,” explains Groppetti. “We love the idea of hosting it on a weekend when everyone is outdoors decorating, and each neighbor offers a different cookie or treat throughout the day.” As the parents of a young son, a desire to create fond memories of the holidays was a key force behind the friendly, come-and-go-style gathering which celebrates the meaningful traditions of the season and encourages togetherness.
As well-wishers drop by, the couple serves hot apple cider and whimsical gingerbread cookies. Inspired by his two grandmothers—one, a by-the-book cook and the other, more prone to throw it together—Smith created his own gingerbread recipe. To carry the theme throughout, he sprayed some of the cookies with clear acrylic and used them as décor, while the majority are decorated and offered as treats.
For an additional twist, the pair combined store-bought white icing (“Hey, we’ve got diapers to change!” says Groppetti.) with crushed peppermint and spread the mixture between two cookies to create a sandwich. The icing is a sweet complement to the tangy cookie. They also gave the little ones free rein to decorate their own cookies with plain white icing and candy embellishments.
When it comes to seasonal décor, the pair’s approach is no different than their laid-back entertaining style. While they love to use natural elements, they recognize their limitations. “Most natural greens won’t stay fresh when decorating is done early, so we use a combination of fresh and faux,” says Groppetti. “The trick is to use components that look natural together, whether they are real or imitation.” Their home’s front door is a prime example, boasting a blue spruce wreath from the Park Hill Collection that has been embellished with faux magnolia leaves, pinecones, red berries and fresh apples. The mixture results in a seasonal, fresh-from-the-garden look.
This same perspective also carries over to the way they handle their busy retail season and family time, especially with the addition of their son, Leland. “We take more time for our family now. It has given us a fresh and more efficient approach to everything we do. We laugh a lot more, too. Our ultimate goal is to make him feel as we both do when we recall past holidays. You know, that warm, nostalgic feeling of a home filled with love that makes you get a little teary eyed, “ says Groppetti.
Gingerbread Cookies
Yields: Two dozen cookies
INGREDIENTS:
2 eggs
1 cup butter
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup molasses
½ cup water
4 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
Note: For sandwich cookies, you will also need crushed peppermints, white icing and any cookie decorating items you wish to use.
DIRECTIONS:
Using a hand or stand mixer, mix together the first six ingredients until well-blended. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and gradually add this to the existing egg, sugar and butter mixture. Continue to mix until the color is consistent and texture is smooth. Refrigerate the dough for at least one hour, or allow it to chill overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle flour on a flat surface and roll out the dough until it is approximately ¼-inch thick. Use a gingerbread-man cookie cutter to cut out the figures, and then place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 5-7 minutes.
To create sandwich cookies, mix crushed peppermint with white icing. Allow the cookies to cool completely, and then spread the mixture on both sides of the gingerbread man. Decorate as desired.
Note: For sandwich cookies, you will also need crushed peppermints, white icing and any cookie decorating items you wish to use.
