I woke up to frigid temperatures this morning. I am not ready for winter, however, I am thinking and planning for Thanksgiving. Do you like to create a beautiful and memorable Thanksgiving for your guests? Each year I host and have designed a checklist that keeps me organzied without feeling overwhelmed.
1. Choose a theme. This can be anything from French, Italian, rustic, etc. I like to change things up from year to year.
2. The turkey or ham always take center stage ~ When trying a new recipe, I give it a test run a couple of months prior. I choose 5 star recipes so I’m pretty certain it will be a winner, however, there are also old favourites to choose from as well.
3. Sides ~ I like to have something for everyone – vegetarian, kids favourites, classics, and new recipes. If I plan to have several sides, I sometimes order from Williams-Sonoma or Whole Foods. I always get most of my ingredients from Williams-Sonoma, such as their chesnuts (which are phenominal!), stuffing, dessert starters, etc.
4. The centerpiece ~ Simplicity rules here. As with most things, a little goes a long way.. especially with scents. You don’t want to smell flowers instead of the wonderful dinner you’ve prepared. I also prefer to keep the decor low, you want to be able to see the person sitting across from you.
5. The place settings ~ this depends on your theme. I may use florals, cute tags, photos, etc. Get the kids involved! They love to help out and guests appreciate their effort and the keepsake they’ve created.
6. The kids table ~ I love this idea for the little ones. It keeps them entertained while they patiently wait for dinner to be served.
7. The dessert table ~ Many guests can’t wait to get to the desserts. I make the effort to make this presentation beautiful. I set up a drink station here also.. champagne, coffee, etc {PS: this recipe is gluten and dairy free}
How do you celebrate?
xoxo,
B
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