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!
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| 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. 😀 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.
It looks lovely! It is funny, cooking a turkey is the easiest thing In my repertoire, whereas all of the sides can get me worn out! I have discovered the best thing is to cook it almost all in advance the day before and reheat! Then I can enjoy the bubbly, too! Happy thanksgiving!
This looks like the nicest Thanksgiving ever! Your downtime activities, those are just the things our family would do, but we'll have to wait until after Christmas, I so wish we had the same Thanksgiving dates here in Canada, ours is much too early.
Thanks for sharing all of your planning, very inspiring Kim!
Have a wonderful holiday.xox
So much work and then you do it all again weeks later. Your table will be beautiful, I love everything that you picked out.
Wendy, Great idea cooking all the sides the day before! I need to try that so I can stress less and enjoy too. I have had years where I felt I stood for 9 hours straight. Thanks so much for your tip and happy Thanksgiving!!
Dani, It's funny that Canada has their a month earlier. It would be good I agree at the same time. Then we could get ideas from each other. That said though, Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost too close. Spreading them out a bit might be nice. It's almost one holiday now just 3 weeks apart. I agree love the free time! Thank you so much Dani xo
Tabitha, So true! I was just thinking it. Also hard for families, getting together sometimes from far locations, in a 3 week period! My friends that have college kids pay to fly them out twice in a month. Nutty. Thanks so much. x
My dear … your opening photo is one of my new favorites of yours … just fabulous … and will be added to my Thanksgiving board for sure! I love you idea of using pears … because they transition to Christmas! I have been on the look out for natural transition decor ideas … so Thank You my dear!
Wishing you and yours a most wonderful Thanksgiving!
Xoxo
Tamera
Hello my darling friend,
I always enjoy stopping by your blog! I feel like I'm having a conversation with you….."Sorry to hear about the giblet thing.." LOL! I don't like handling the turkey either. I'm lucky that Scott takes over on that task. I like your hubby's attitude. Sweet! As for your photos and decor. Simply beautiful! You have such an eve for beauty, Kim. I'm on the same track with linens with a touch of shimmer, mercury glass and using natural elements. I love the idea of using pears. Your sides sound delish! Thanksgiving has grown into my favorite holiday too. I love the emphasis on family, food and thankfulness. I'm thankful that I met you this year Kim!
xx
Tamera, Thank you so much. I so often go to your blog for inspiration so it means a lot.It's so true about pears. Gotta love them! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.You made my day. x
I am cracking up here about the darn giblets. Just got to laugh now. Was mortifying at the time!! Lol. So nice Scott handles that for you. Isn't mercury glass and natural tones so pretty? Love the mix. I wish you a lovely holiday and break. Heather I feel the same. xo
Have a fabulous Thanksgiving, Dear!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com
Hi Kim, I came over just after seeing Tamera's post and love all of your ideas! The champagne flutes are gorgeous!
Happy Thanksgiving!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Your table is going to look fabulous with the linen tablecloths and the clippings from your olive tree. I love those pretty Champagne flutes which look so festive. Your sides sound so tasty and it makes all the difference if family bring along dishes (especially the turkey!) The pomegranate gin fizz is just my kind of drink which I shall have to make at Christmas. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving Day tomorrow and thank you for all your lovely comments throughout the year. I always enjoy hearing from you!
I've left that nasty package of stuff in the bird too! My mom use to boil it all and chop it to add to the gravy. I
I love your glasses with the stars on them. So pretty.
Wishing you a glorious Thanksgiving feast with lots of fun times.
xoJennifer
Hi Kim – I hope your Thanksgiving with family was warm and wonderful! Please share photos of your gathering – would love to see the table setting. So grateful we've connected via the blogs and Instagram. Cheers
I am always grateful for you Kim and your kindness and sweetness and fabulous posts and your table visions – can I knick the table vision from you – , love that rough woven look with the old cutlery and star glasses, its magical.
Thank you Dawn. xo
Karena, Thank you so very much. Tamera was kind to share! Happy Thanksgiving!
Miss b, Thank you I am loving my flutes too and they were very festive! Thank you so much for the friendship this year. I feel the same.x
Jennifer, Lol!! Guess that is a newbie maneuver. My mom does the same. Thank you and I am thankful for your friendship this year too! xo
Loi, I am working on that. Took a few days off to so the whole feast. I loved your Thanksgiving post! Thank you too Loi for the friendship! Wonderful being blog pals.xo
Jody, Thank you so nice of you. I am also grateful for the friendship and connecting this year! Hope you had a good holiday dear. x
IAM LATE………..was it WONDERFUL……….I do hope so…………….
Mine was a true success………new blog post this eve all about it!
Hope the week was special with the BOYS!!!XX
Contessa, Thank you popping over now to read all about it…!