Thanksgiving Table Ideas and Menu Plans
I start out by going through my recipe binder, my cookbooks and magazines. After shopping around a bit, I decided on tablecloths from Homegoods. I am having 13 for dinner so I'll need 2 tables and matching tablecloths are nice.
Tahari had these lovely linen tablecloths with a slight silver thread in one, gold in the other. My plan is to go with lots of glass, crystal and mercury glass votives, clippings from my olive tree and pears for color. I have a mix of white plates and plan to use the old silver flatware and white cloth napkins.
Pears look so good with everything and you can transition them right into Christmas decor too. I find olive branches or clippings from trees or scattered leaves can add a natural more rustic look I like as well.
I think it will be fun to greet guests with a glass of champagne on this tray. I found the flutes at a tag sale in town. They are so delicate and I love the etched stars in them. Lovely to sip from!
Lucky for me, my mom and dad will cook and bring the turkey, gravy and stuffing. My husband and I just have to do all the sides. Pies are brought from my aunt and uncle and my grandmother will bring her cranberry jello.
This year I'll be doing just one appetizer of a good brie with rainforest crackers and scatter around tiny bowls of Trader Joe's marcona rosemary almonds.
My side dishes this year are :
frisée and fennel salad with apples, walnuts, dried cranberries and citrus dressing
roasted brussels sprouts with parmesan topping
yukon gold sour cream mashed potatoes
sweet potato casserole (so cliche, but gotta have it!)
cranberry sauce with orange segments and pecans
rolls
It's enough to make us all overeat and still have plenty of leftovers.
It's nice to send others home with some of the food, especially my grandmother. For this reason I save any nice take-out containers for a few months before just for this. I also like utilizing mason jars with small amounts of gravy, soup or veggies. Places like our local Ace Hardware sells a box of 12 for around $7. They make super storage and drinking glasses for older kids too. I also like not storing food in plastic whenever possible!
Sitting by the fire brainstorming my Thanksgiving plans with some of my favorite sources.
Many of my friends are taking the smart route of ordering the turkey or the entire feast from places like Whole Foods or other local spots. Purple Onion, a local cafe and a favorite of mine, has a fantastic Thanksgiving catering menu. If I wasn't cooking with all these helpers, I would surely do that. The turkey prep thing is not my favorite. I dislike handling it and sadly once even left the packet of giblets in!! That of course was one of my first Thanksgivings...Many years ago. :D I have help now. I'm fortunate to have a husband who gets right in the kitchen and starts dicing, chopping or whatever. He just waits and says okay what next? LOVE that.
I also trek to my local Williams-Sonoma to pick up each years' free Thanksgiving guide. I have saved them and they always have inspired ideas and practical advice. Get one if you need some fresh recipes and help with turkey cooking times and more. You can also access all this year's great recipe's here. This Pomegranate Gin Fizz from their list looks pretty and I might have to try it!
If you need more help also check out Ina Garten's 10 Tips for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving.
I love this holiday. It's about being together and being thankful and sharing. That's all that matters really right?
Anyone have any great traditions or recipes please share below. One of our traditions is to play a lot of board games and take a lot of family walks and fit in some movies. The downtime is my favorite part.
I am also thankful for you readers, your kind notes and just being here.
I wish you all the happiest Thanksgiving!
Kim
photos northerncalstyle.com
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