• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Californians at Home
  • Home & Decor
    • Our California Remodel
    • Shop My Home
    • Lake Tahoe Cabin Style
    • Books I Adore
  • My California Closet

Northern California Style

Northern California Style

  • Home
  • About
  • Californians at Home
  • Home & Decor
    • Our California Remodel
    • Shop My Home
    • Lake Tahoe Cabin Style
    • Books I Adore
  • My California Closet
  • Shop My Home
    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Thanksgiving Menu and Planning

Thanksgiving Thankful

November 25, 2020 By kimwheeler 8 Comments

How is your Thanksgiving going today? I saw this pillow above and I had to get it for my entry as this is our year in a nutshell isn’t it? Making the best of it right? I didn’t know what to write about at the beginning of this pandemic. I never thought we could still be living with Covid at the end of the year, but November has finally brought us some happy news. The vaccines coming are hugely effective. There is a light at the end of the dark tunnel we’ve been living in all year! I am feeling especially thankful right now for that and the election and frankly 2020 being almost over.

We were so busy this week getting things ready for Thanksgiving and having Griffin home now for two months (yay) from University. I have just finished The Queen’s Gambit which was fantastic acting and of course I loved the clothes and the sets. I loved the vintage Kentucky home the main character lived in. I’m now into The Crown, also a good diversion, but being a hard core Diana fan, not sure how much I like some of the acting and Charles and Camilla are getting me angry all over again. I have come around to liking Charles again the last decade, but boy did he mess things up. I know the family (or the firm as they say in England), had some hand in that too.

One other show Americans may not have watched, but I am now recording on PBS is Escape to the Chateau. I man obsessed. An English couple sell their two bedroom flat in Essex and buy a 19th century French chateau that they renovate and fix with a limited budget, but a loads of talent and creativity. Dick the husband is a Lt. Col. and handy with everything and Angel is just the most creative designer whether it’s interiors or events that they host. I love their darling children and the last episode I watched Angel had created the most beautiful Christmas table I have ever seen. A fun an inspiring show with just lovely people!! Any other good recommendations for shows you all are watching?

Are you celebrating Thanksgiving with family? Are you doing small? A young guy who helped me at the store told me he ordered his own Safeway dinner because he didn’t want to endanger his mom, as he works with the public. I thought what a loving son. So many are doing the right thing this year and it seems easier now knowing this might be over sooner than we thought. Last year we had thirteen people for dinner, but this year just five, us plus my dad. This will be the year we did what we all had to. It’s not going to be much longer friends. WE CAN DO THIS!

I made a quick trip to Crate & Barrel on Monday to check things out and get some table ideas. I am always inspired by their beautiful store and how they have Thanksgiving and the holidays set out. I came home with this runner and this long wooden centerpiece bowl.

I foraged in the yard for olive branches and leaves and added my small pumpkins from Halloween. These vintage napkins rings from an estate sale, kind of work with this mod runner, the black plates and white napkins. I will add some votives to the table and blankets to everyone’s chair as we will be outdoors.It’s going to be a little chilly, but we will make it fun I hope!

Max and I did a lot of prep today…

We made ahead the sweet potato casserole, the cranberry sauce, the pies (one pumpkin and one pecan), a new recipe of California inspired Artichoke Parmesan Sourdough Stuffing from Sunset magazine, and Ina Garten’s version of Chez Panisse’s spiced nuts for the appetizer. Tomorrow we will do the mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts and the bird on the grill. The challenge is figuring how to get it all heated and cooked at the same time isn’t it??

I’m so glad Max like doing the pies and is a great help in the kitchen! I could not do this without his help.

I hope you all are hanging in there this year. It hasn’t been an easy one for so many. I am thankful to all of you for your kind and thoughtful comments all year…

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Kim

P.S. I’ll be back this weekend with some Black Friday deals and ideas to help with your holiday shopping.

Filed Under: thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Menu and Planning, Uncategorized Tagged With: #2020thanksgiving, #crateandbarrel, #cratestyle, #escapetothechateau, #thanksgiving, #thanksgivingrecipes, #thanksgivingtable

Thanksgiving Ideas & Fun Links

November 18, 2017 By kimwheeler 6 Comments

Happy Friday! I woke up at 5:30 this morning with thoughts of Thanksgiving dinner swirling in my head. I got my coffee and sat down with my trusty old recipe binder to brainstorm this year’s menu and table. I’m always surprised by what I have in there. Over the years I have collected variations on Thanksgiving recipes, some I have tried- and others well, I hope to try some year!

 

Among the torn out pages are inspirational table settings, cooking tips from newspaper clippings, years of William’s Sonoma handouts, holiday menus from restaurants and scribbled index cards cards from my grandma’s ancient recipe box. All of these are covered in plastic page protectors and and are a real help when I begin this planning stage of Thanksgiving.

 

Pages of the notebook -this with Max’s timeline for a Thanksgiving day a few years ago.

Most precious to me is my mom’s own handwritten instruction on how to cook a turkey that she gave me when I first got married. I read it again this morning and I am so glad to have kept it. Makes me feel a bit like she is still here with me.
With my mom at my home Thanksgiving 1999.
Besides my binder, I refer to my pile of cookbooks and I also have been furiously saving ideas from Instagram and other blogs. I am always looking for something new that grabs my fancy. This year I am going to give mashed potatoes in the slow cooker a go from the Half Baked Harvest blog. What a brilliant idea- one less thing on the stove and keeps them warm- always a challenge with mashed potatoes. I love Tieghan’s photo and recipes. Her Instagram has some of these recipes, including a little speed video clip  of these Crockpot Three Cheese Mashed Potatoes.
Smitten Kitchen is another great food blog and her Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions made in a iron skillet looks delicious and may take the place of my roasted brussels sprouts this year.
I also like Smitten’s Apple Herb Stuffing with the addition of tart apples and fresh torn bread -a mix of sourdough and country bread.
Deb Perelman who writes Smitten Kitchen, was on NPR the other day and what a great gal. It was one of those shows where people called in and told their favorite Thanksgiving dishes and tips. It reminded me of something my grandmother listened to when we were kids on her little a.m. radio in the kitchen. One caller recommended strapping blue ice packs to your turkey’s breast while it comes to room temp before cooking. By keeping the white meat extra cold it will cook slower and apparently dry out less. I think I’ll try that as well this year.
I always like a festive cocktail and this Cranberry Thyme Spritz, also from Half Baked Harvest, looks so pretty and has two of my favorites in it, elderflower and grapefruit.  Another new thing this year is I am going to order brioche rolls from the world famous Manresa Bakery in my town. Seems a shame not to when they are a five minute drive away. They also have a chocolate pistachio babka that I might have to indulge and get.
As far as the table, I still have this fabulous giant white pumpkin and I plan to work him in somehow with our precious wooden turkey carved from Max’s Kentucky great-grandfather that we love. I am thinking of using my linen tablecloths with black cloth napkins and add in some earthy accents- from the outside like leaves and branches with masses of tea lights. My son Griffin is always good helping me forage for such things and figure out the arrangement.
Last year I found these faux bois looking placemats at Crate & Barrel and kind of went from there with tan napkins and used my tortoise shell looking tumblers as vases for short arrangements I made from a supermarket bouquet and succulents and berries from the yard. You can probably tell I used the page from my binder above as my model.
A few years before that I used linen tablecloths and my parent’s china with my collection of old silver, glass and white votives. Pears and olive branches added the color.
I love the green of pears with silver and linen!
Besides dressing the table what are you wearing? Personally, I like a dress and thought this little number was cute. It’s just right for Thanksgiving with it’s colors and long sleeves and I’m digging the dropped waist too.
 I rarely go to The Loft, but also found this for a more casual California feel and like this number below with velvet accents.
I also still LOVE this Trina Turk dress for winter events and this velvet one looks comfy and flattering. I’ve been eyeing a pair of cream colored booties which would give the dresses a little edge. I like this pair from Trina, this pair from The Loft, and these by Sarah Jessica Parker.
So much to do, but I love this time of year! Jackson, my college son is coming home today for a week. I can’t wait to just hang out with the kids and cook together.
SO I’m throwing it out there..What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Do you have any great tips for cooking the meal, or cool traditions that are unique to your family?  Please, please share below. I’d love to hear more neat ideas.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Kim
P.S. I have a new dining table arriving the week after next that I bought on a trip to Ojai last weekend. I can’t wait to tell you all about beautiful Ojai- why it should be on your radar, and about the cute shop I bought the table and chairs from- all on another post.

Filed Under: Dresses for Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Dishes, Thanksgiving Menu and Planning, Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Thanksgiving Table Ideas and Menu Plans

November 24, 2014 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

 I’m excited about the holidays and I think I’m coming close to my final table vision this year.

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. 😀 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

Filed Under: Thanksgiving Menu and Planning, Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Primary Sidebar

Featured Posts

Fun Kitchen Styling Tips!

Asian Noodles & Other Main Dish Salads

Signature Style- Fall Edit & New Season Wishlist

Remodeling – The Social Front Patio

Loving Rattan and Serena & Lily

My Favorite Sheets, Duvets & More- Refreshing Your Bed

Get My Posts by Email!

Find Me on Facebook

Northern California Style

Archives

Categories

Footer

Don’t Forget to Follow!

Blogger, writer and explorer sharing about my native California, and parts farther afield. Join me here where I chat about things to love in the worlds of design, fashion, home, travel and culture.

Currently Pinning

  • See the looks that caught our attention, and stay tuned for more of Paris Fashion Week's top street style moments.
  • If you can wear jeans to work, these are the 7 shoe styles you need. Shop our picks here.
  • We'll be honest: We spend most of December preparing our holiday looks. You know, what we're wearing to the annual office bash, what we're wearing for casual family celebrations, what we're wearing to our BFF potluck-cum-gift-exchange, and, of course, what we're wearing when the ball drops at
  • COME HOME TO ME
  • The Brooch is Back! Styling Tips You Need Now - Susan Said... WHAT?!
Today, on the blog, some Valentine fun. 💗I’m Today, on the blog, some Valentine fun. 💗I’m joining a group of talented women and we all have some Valentine ideas for you. My blog is about an easy Valentine or Galentine‘s dinner you can recreate. I tried to make this super simple because the whole point is gathering with your people and having a good time. 

I did make ahead dishes and used pink items already in my home for the table. I added primroses from the hardware store for extra prettiness and for take home favors. 💕

Stop on by the blog to get all the details. 
@northerncalstyle link in my bio.
And don’t forget to go to these lovely blogs:

@most_lovely_things 
@cindyhattersley 
@classiccasualhome 
@makemineaspritzer 
@sherisilver

#valentines #valentinestablescape #valentinesdinner #galentinesparty
Styling idea of the week…February dressing inspi Styling idea of the week…February dressing inspiration from Princess Diana.. Try a puffer vest or jacket paired with ruffles or florals and a skirt. A pretty transitional look with a romantic February vibe. 💗 Maybe you already have these items in the closet? See what you can create!

This pic is from the fun account, @lostinvintagefashion which is a wonderful rabbit hole to drop into should you need some sartorial inspiration.

Happy first of February friends!

#winterdressing #stylingideas #princessdianastyle #puffervest
The weekend post is up with chat about the trendin The weekend post is up with chat about the trending colors for 2023 in home decor and fashion.. Did you love the 80’s? If so this is perhaps a more sophisticated version with sherbet tones and bits of magenta, greens and navy.  Here I added a bit of these Easter tones to the coffee table with a grass cloth box, one of my books and a candle. I think the best way to update things is to add touches to the home and closet that appeal to you and mix them in with neutrals.. 
What do you think of these colors? I think they’re fun. Some clothing pieces bring me back to my Esprit loving days. It could be fun to add a shirt, shoe or bag in these tones and I selected a handful to consider..

Also on the blog, a few good white jeans, skin cleansers you may need and more! 

Stop on by our blogs- links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns
 Happy Sunday!

#color2023 #springcolors #trending #serenaandlily #coffeetablestyling
A January PSA- get in your closet and get those wh A January PSA- get in your closet and get those white jeans out! I found mine at the bottom of my closet today in a basket and thought -yes! I love the look of a classic white jean, paired with a chunky sweater or turtleneck in black, beige, tan, creams-  neutral colors always look fantastic. Today it was warm enough that I could go sockless and wear my Madewell loafers with them and a little jacket I have from Anthro. Get your white jeans out. it will give your winter wardrobe have a little kick. White jeans can be worn all year and they even look great with winter boots and coats. 

This is also a great time to look at your white Jean inventory. 🤍If you don’t have a pair that’s comfortable and straight leg, in a thicker material…this might be a good time to look. I’ll share some on the weekend blog as well.

if you missed our LIVE this morning, you can watch it on Juliet’s @makemineaspritzer Instagram and I’ll link to it on my stories ! Thank you everyone for tuning in in for the fun questions and comments. We love doing this with you all weekly! Let us know in comments if there are any other topics you want to hear about. Today we talked trending colors, exercise classes .. finding art and pillows and more..

#whitejeanseason #januaryclosetremix #winterwardrobehacks
I love the sunshine in the morning streaming throu I love the sunshine in the morning streaming through the kitchen.. My baby daffodils are blooming to make it even happier. This is one of my favorite things about the new year, the bulbs and daffodils and California poppies that hint spring it on the way.💛 If you don’t have a few blooms in the kitchen, maybe you can add a few?

Hope your having a beautiful week!

#kitchensun #californialife #januaryincalifornia
I love this of Liz Taylor at her first wedding to I love this of Liz Taylor at her first wedding to Richard Burton in 1965. She’s wearing a empire, knee length dress and orange blossoms in her hair, which must have smelled heavenly. I want yellow in my closet this spring!

This is the center of my spring vision board! 💛 Link to all Elizabeth’s wedding dresses on the weekend post -and a few yellow things I added to the house if you missed it! 

#yellow #yellowaesthetic #liztaylor #thebrideworeyellow #springfashion #spring2023 #vogue
Sunday beach trip… We made it to Santa Cruz to c Sunday beach trip… We made it to Santa Cruz to check out the coast after these rough last weeks. Aptos looks pretty good and poor Seacliff is terribly battered. So sad to see what people have lost. My heart goes out to them.

We had the beach to ourselves and the weather was winter perfect. ☀️Cold and sunny. We had a picnic of sandwiches from Zoccolis deli and took in the sun and sea air while watching surfers and birds.

This song just seemed to fit -and relatable as I could not sleep last night! No idea why. Isn’t it maddening? 

Hope you get a chance to take a winter beach walk.. They are the best. 

#santacruz #aptos #california #northerncalifornia #winterbeachwalks #seacliff #norcal #seascapebeach
Happy Sunday! The weekend post is up and I’m sha Happy Sunday! The weekend post is up and I’m sharing a few good ideas for a dining room refresh, pops of yellow, my favorite winter skin care essentials right now, a beautiful and unique San Francisco house in @archdigest, online yoga, and the story behind a historic San Francisco home I came upon last week.. Head to the blog for all the deets! 

I hope its a wonderful weekend.☀️

Don’t forget to visit Juliet and Elizabeth blogs ..links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns

#northerncalifornia #weekendpost #yellow #diningroomdecor #bernardmaybeck #sanfranciscohomes #architecturaldigest #potterybarn #serenaandlily #californiastyle
Our dear friend Contessa @contessa_and_her_pig has Our dear friend Contessa @contessa_and_her_pig has been seriously sick and fortunately is back home now, but still struggling with pneumonia. If anyone wants to send her a snail mail note please dm me and I will share her address. She loves unique cards and pretty postcards you’ve saved from travel, so she would be thrilled to get a little note!

It seems like just yesterday we were in her gorgeous yard taking photos for my Californians at Home series. It’s still one of my favorite photo shoots and if you want to read it again -or missed it I will link to it in my bio today. She’s one of a kind, so let’s get her well soon and bolster her spirits!!💛💛

#californiacontessa #californiansathome
I have to share a snippet of just some of the wisd I have to share a snippet of just some of the wisdom that was Martin Luther King. He will always be one of my biggest heroes and ten years ago I wrote a small post highlighting some of his very meaningful words and quotes that we could all use as a life guide. Link to the post in my bio and more on my stories. 

Do you know he is the only American to have a holiday for him that hasn’t been a president? He also had a low approval rating when he died. That has changed. Now people around the world use his teachings of living in peace and the fight for justice as a model we can strive for. I find his words so very needed in a world that is polarized more than ever. ❤️

#mlkday #mlkquotes #whatareyoudoingforothers
It’s still raining here! In an effort to use som It’s still raining here! In an effort to use some beautiful citrus and boost morale, I made these chocolate chips with a California twist. They have orange and walnuts -and for fun I added macadamias from my Hawaii trip and coconut flakes. I also switched out brown sugar for moscavado which is less refined and had more depth and flavor. So far response has been thumbs up from the home crew! 
The recipe and all the weekend fun- along with some cozy coats for this weather, and a recap of our SF meander are on the weekend blog. Juliet and Elizabeth also have great ideas this weekend.. links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns 
Have a great weekend !

#californiacookie #californialiving #californiachocolatechipcookie #weekendpost #chocolateandorange
Just a little peek at some of the homes in San Fra Just a little peek at some of the homes in San Francisco’s Laurel Heights and a little walk through the Presidio to the Lyon Street Steps. We had an unbelievably beautiful day after so much rain and darkness. I highly recommend walking through this neighborhood, through The Presidio and grabbing lunch and checking out the lovely shops like the new Emily Joubert! The views are amazing all the way to the Golden Gate, and I am in love with all the beautiful homes of San Francisco. ❤️

#sanfranciscolove #presidioheights #lyonstreetsteps #sanfranciscowalks #housesofsf #visitcalifornia #ourgoldenstate #sanfranciscomansions #citybythebay #prettycity

Copyright © 2023 · Northern California Style· Blog Design by Little Blue Deer