Skip to Content

Here at the Gardening Cook , we love to celebrate with holiday decor and food! Each of the holidays is special here on the blog.

Our site has loads of decor ideas, recipes and gardening tips for each season and holiday of the year.

From special cocktails for New Year’s Eve, through to patriotic recipes, spooky Halloween projects and pretty Christmas decor projects, every holiday is so much fun.

These easy projects will dress up your home for the holidays and give your friends some special food treats in no time flat!

Check out these holiday ideas

If you are looking for some ideas for food and decorations for the holidays, one of these ideas may interest you.

These Halloween cross-stitch patterns are a great way for those who love to embroider to celebrate the holidays with their craft. Halloween will soon be here, and that means it’s time to decorate for the holiday. One of the most creative ways to decorate is by making a cross-stitch design.  If this is something you …

Read More about Halloween Cross-Stitch patterns – Crafting Spooky Embroidery Designs

It’s time for Halloween, which means that we get to enjoy all of the Halloween plants this season has to offer. The list includes black plants, creepy flowers, and even smelly and carnivorous plants! The plants associated with Halloween don’t have pretty flowers or foliage. Instead, these evil plants are dark and dreary. They have …

Read More about Halloween Plants – 21 Scary Plants to Set A Spooky Mood

Are you looking for fun ways to decorate for fall? These pumpkin craft ideas are easy to make with basic supplies and deliver impressive results. Many of the projects repurpose household items or call for inexpensive materials, so you can craft without spending a lot. The focus is on decorations you can display quickly for …

Read More about 18 Fun & Easy Pumpkin Craft Ideas for Fall Decorations

This crockpot pumpkin chili is an easy, slow-cooker meal that combines turkey, beans, and pumpkin for a hearty, fall dinner. Start by sautéing onions, garlic, and bell peppers, and then brown the turkey. Add these to the crockpot, stir in beans, pumpkin puree, broth, and spices, and let it cook on low. The slow cooker does the …

Read More about Crockpot Pumpkin Chili – A Must-Try Autumn Recipe

Cranberry stuffed pork loin recipe is an easy way to turn a simple cut of meat into a holiday-worthy main dish. Tender pork, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans create a sweet and savory flavor that makes the dish feel special. To make the recipe, you will butterfly a pork loin, fill it with a quick …

Read More about Cranberry Stuffed Pork Loin with Pecans – A Sweet and Savory Holiday Recipe

Creating a fall door swag is a simple way to update your front door for autumn, especially for doors with oval glass centers. This project uses basic craft supplies and minimal tools, making it easy to put together. The DIY tutorial breaks the process into clear steps, from selecting materials to assembling the swag. You …

Read More about DIY Fall Door Swag Tutorial: A Beautiful Twist on the Classic Autumn Wreath

Create a DIY hurricane candle holder centerpiece that will add a rustic touch to your fall table. This simple project uses easy-to-find materials and quick steps, making it perfect for beginners or budget-friendly decorating. Layer beans, popcorn, and moss, then position a candle safely inside the glass for a polished look. The steps are straightforward, …

Read More about DIY Hurricane Candle Holder Centerpiece – Rustic Fall Table Decor Idea

This adorable  Halloween candy jar DIY is easy to make and adds a festive touch to your home. With just a few materials, you can transform a plain terracotta pot and saucer into a candy corn decoration that is perfect for parties or table displays. This tutorial walks you through each step, from painting the …

Read More about Halloween Candy Jar DIY – Easy Terracotta Candy Corn Craft

From weird and wonderful Halloween cocktail garnishes to fall-inspired layers, to the use of special effects and color changes, learn how to create show-stopping drinks that will both charm and frighten your guests. The best cocktails for Halloween are those that are made by invoking an eerie mood with special effects. There are lots of …

Read More about 20+ Halloween Cocktail Garnishes – Special Effects for Halloween Drinks

This terra cotta pumpkin looks great as a home decor item and also does double duty as a candy dish.  Using household items to recycle them into crafts is a great idea. Not only does it save money, but helps our environment. Today, we’ll be using an old clay pot to make a fun fall …

Read More about Terra Cotta Pumpkin – Recycled Clay Pot Pumpkin Candy Dish

These scrap wood pumpkins are a great way to dress up your front steps for Halloween and fall. This pumpkin DIY project is made from an old mailbox post that was left over when I gave our front mailbox a makeover this summer. Making home decor projects using items that have been recycled is both …

Read More about DIY Scrap Wood Pumpkins – Cute Fall Curb Appeal

Halloween is right around the corner. Are you looking for some boozy cocktails for Halloween to make for your next Halloween party? These cocktails named after witches are just what you need! After all, who can resist a drink with a name like “witches blood cocktail,” “melted witch martini,” or “white witch cocktail” on Halloween night? For …

Read More about Cocktails for Halloween – Halloween Punch – Witches Brew Drinks & More

Carving a pumpkin is one of the most fun ways to celebrate the fall season, but keeping it fresh can be a challenge. Knowing how to preserve a pumpkin carving ensures your jack-o’-lantern stays free from mold or decay for as long as possible. With the right techniques, you can enjoy a carved pumpkin on …

Read More about How to Preserve a Pumpkin Carving (and Whole Pumpkins Too)

This candy corn martini recipe takes the flavors of a favorite Halloween candy and infuses them into a Halloween cocktail. By infusing vodka with candy corn, you create a sweet base that is used to make a layered drink. Pineapple juice and cream add the contrasting layers to give you a cocktail that balances sweetness …

Read More about Candy Corn Martini Recipe – Halloween Drink with Three Layers

Knucklehead pumpkins stand out because of their unusual, bumpy skin. This makes them a favorite for fall displays and Halloween decorating. Many people wonder why some pumpkins grow with warts while others stay smooth. The answer depends on both genetics and growing conditions. Some pumpkins, like the knucklehead variety, are bred to develop those wart-like …

Read More about Knucklehead Pumpkins – Why do Pumpkins Have Warts?

This Crow’s Blood drink is a spooky Halloween cocktail made with champagne, cranberry juice, and a chilling lychee eyeball cocktail garnish. This creepy party drink is simple to make and delivers both great flavor and frightful presentation. With its deep red color and eerie garnish, it’s the perfect addition to a Halloween party table or …

Read More about Crow’s Blood Halloween Cocktail with Lychee Eyeball Garnish

These Halloween pumpkin face cookies are the perfect Halloween recipe for your family or neighborhood friends. They have a cute Jack O Lantern pumpkin face and are filled with rich chocolate frosting. Imagine the delight at your Halloween party or when you surprise your trick-or-treaters with some pumpkin Halloween cookies. Just wait for the squeals! …

Read More about Spooky Halloween Pumpkin Face Cookies – Double the Fun!

Halloween is right around the corner, and that means that it is time for some spooky cocktail recipes. This Halloween witches’ brew cocktail is the perfect way to get your holiday party started. The drink is made from pineapple juice, cranberry juice, Sprite, and coconut rum. It’s fruity and sweet and can be garnished for …

Read More about Halloween Witches Brew Cocktail – Fruity and Tart Halloween Drink

Natural foliage is perfect to use when decorating with greenery for fall.  It’s bold in color, rustic in texture, and gives a calming look to any home decor project. It may appear that there is nothing of interest out there in the garden right now, but to someone looking for items to use for decorating, …

Read More about Decorating with Greenery for Fall- Natural Autumn Decorating Ideas

This patriotic small porch decor will greet your guests for the 4th of July in a cheery red white and blue way. It’s easy to put together, cost just $20 and is very cheerful and natural looking. Decorating a small front porch for the 4th of July can be a challenge.  If you add too …

Read More about Colorful Patriotic Small Porch Decor Idea for the 4th of July

I have put together a group of patriotic table decor ideas that can be done on a budget and in no time at all. They are perfect for both Memorial Day and the upcoming Fourth of July! We’ve all had that moment when our friends or parents decide to visit with no notice for an important …

Read More about Patriotic Table Decor – Red White Blue Party Decorations

Want an easy weeknight meal you can make in one pot? If so, you will love this pollo a la crema recipe. This dish features chunks of white meat chicken with mushrooms, onions, and green peppers in a Mexican cream sauce. The recipe is also known as “pollo con crema” and “pollo en crema”. There …

Read More about Pollo a la Crema Recipe – Mexican Inspired Creamy Chicken

Mother’s Day is right around the corner.  This easy DIY kitchen gift basket makes the perfect personalized gift for anyone’s mother who loves to cook. It is filled with fun, whimsical, and useful kitchen items made even more special because it includes items geared to your mother’s tastes. This easy cooking gift basket makes the …

Read More about DIY Gift Basket for Mother’s Day – 10 Tips for Kitchen Themed Basket ideas