I love spending time with family and friends, so holiday gatherings make me giddy! I love a full house and the challenge of planning the perfect table setting and menu. When it comes to Thanksgiving day at our house, the planning also includes games or activities that involve all of our guests, and also always includes lots of laughter! Involving your guests is the key to success! I’m a firm believer that if your great aunt makes the best chocolate cream pie, then let her bring it! It will help ease in your planning and make others happy to share in the day of family, food & fun!
I like to start my planning several weeks before and I focus on:
- Tablescape
- Menu
- Appetizers and cocktails
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Games
- Gifts for guests
THANKSGIVING TABLE IDEAS
- Clean out a pumpkin and put your flower arrangement inside.
- Use small pumpkins with tags tied to stem as place cards on each persons plate.
- Put a long Charcuterie board down the center of the table as a center piece so you don’t need as many sides. Cover it with salamis, olives, nuts, etc.
- Copper chargers
- Use butcher block as table cloth and write “I’m thankful for…” at each seat to engage everyone in discussion.
I like to pick up new things to make my table interesting each year! I picked up these paper placemats in the dollar section at target the other day to use instead of doilies on my trays. They can be used on rectangular trays and the center can be cut out to fit round ones.
Menu
My Thanksgiving menu rarely deviates since I always try to make everyone’s favorite dishes. My son has always loved to cook and often still helps me assemble the sweet potato casserole that he found many years ago in an Emeril kids’ cookbook. I love his help and the casserole is absolutely delicious!
Appetizers:
- Sweet and sour meatballs
- Baked salami
- Stuffed mushrooms
- Sams jalepeno poppers
- Marinated shrimp
Baked Salami
- Small whole kosher salami
- 1 small jar Dijon mustard
- 1 small jar apricot preserves
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Score the salami by cutting into it lengthwise. Do not cut all the way through the salami. Then make slices 1/4 inch apart all the way down opposite way. Do not cut all the way through.
- Mix preserves and mustard together.
- Place salami in baking dish, then pour mustard and preserves mixture over top and inside slices on salami.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Serve with pumpernickel bread.
Marinated Shrimp
- 12 oz bag of fully cooked extra large shrimp
- Can of hearts of palm
- 12 small white mushrooms
- Large yellow onion
- Bottle of Martinique french vinaigrette
- Take tails off of shrimp and cut each shrimp into 2 pieces.
- Slice each hearts of palm into 4 pieces.
- Cut onion into large pieces.
- Leave mushrooms whole and place everything in a large mason jar or Tupperware, then add vinaigrette.
- Seal and marinate in fridge overnight. Serve with toothpicks and, ideally, have guests skewer shrimp and veggies together and eat!
This year’s main menu:
Turkey
Smoked candied carrots
Sweet potato soufflé
Stuffing
Creamed spinach
Green bean casserole
Brandied cranberry apple sauce
Cornbread with herbed butter
Turkey
The turkey is my favorite part of thanksgiving dinner. I have always cooked my turkey in a bag and it always ends up so juicy and delicious!
- 20 lb turkey
- Turkey oven bag
- 1 Tbsp flour
- 1 stick butter
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 Tbsp ground sage
- 2 Tbsp garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Place turkey bag in roasting pan and place flour at the bottom of the turkey bag.
- Insert turkey in bag.
- Melt stick of butter in small bowl. Add thyme, rosemary, garlic, sage, salt and pepper & mix up.
- Pour butter mixture all over the top of the turkey and massage all over.
- Tie up the bag and place in the oven. Bake for 4 1/2-5 hours.
- Let cook for a little bit before slicing it down.
Thanksgiving isn’t just about the turkey. The sides are important team members in making your meal a success!
Candied Carrots
- 1 1/2 lb baby carrots
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp butter room temp
- 2 tbsp thyme
- 1 cup Italian parsley
- 1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
- 1 tsp grated zest of lemon
- For the carrots, place them in a large sauté pan with 1 1/2 cups water and the brown sugar and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
- Cook for 12 minutes until carrots are tender.
- Put nuts, herbs, salt and pepper & lemon zest in a small bowl and mix together.
- Coat carrots well, place on a plate and drizzle with syrup.
- Top with the nut mixture.
Sweet potato casserole
- 5-6 large sweet potatoes
- 4 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tbsp butter at room temp
- 3 cups mini marshmallows
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Bake potatoes for 45 minutes to an hour. Potatoes need to be easily pierced with a fork.
- Once cooled, peel off skin and place in a large bowl. Mash until smooth.
- Add sugar, butter, orange juice, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix well together.
- Spread evenly on a baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick spray.
- Sprinkle nuts on potato mixture. Arrange marshmallows evenly on top.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until marshmallows are golden brown.
*This can be made the day before and cooked before serving.
Brandied Cranberry Apple sauce
This is a bit different from the traditional cranberry jelly many of us grew up with every Thanksgiving. It’s really tasty because it’s not too sweet and is a bit tart and citrusy!
- 8 large red delicious apples peeled and cut into small cubes
- 1 bag cranberries
- 1/2 cup apple cider
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- Juice and zest of 1 small orange
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup brandy
- Place all ingredients in a medium sized pot.
- Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
- Turn down to low and cook uncovered for 20 minutes until mixture has thickened, apples are tender and cranberries have burst. Stir mixture occasionally while cooking.
Dessert table
- Derby Pie
- Apple Pie (my brother-in-law’s specialty)
- Apple berry crisp
Several years ago, I started the tradition of having some type of activity after cocktails and appetizers to get our group engaged. We have played Minute-To-Win-It games for many years with everyone participating, including grandparents! Last year was family feud and we always end with a fun Thanksgiving White Elephant game with silly items mixed in, including very desirable gift cards! These traditions fill our house with laughter and memories, which fill my heart!
My hope is that these special holiday recipes will become new family favorites and holiday traditions at your house!
