It always seems like a rush to get the food on the table Thanksgiving Day. How great it would be if you could prepare dishes ahead of time. WAIT YOU CAN! Woman’s Day offers a selection of recipes you can prepare ahead of time. Reduce your stress when you work smarter not harder with these incredible ideas!
I like to set a beautiful table when I entertain. Corny as it may sound, I see my table as a lovely accessory that adorns my meal. The table & the food compliment one another.
I know many of you may panic at the thought of having to set a table for Thanksgiving, or any occasion this Holiday season. Table settings don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. You simply build them up, one item at a time, step back after each layer & look to see where you need more. Like accessories to an outfit, your table setting should compliment your menu, not overwhelm it! If you turkey gets lost in the setting, you have done too much.
Also, guests must be able to talk to one another across the table. If you have stacked your centerpiece so high that no one can see across it, again, you have done too much. Remember, bit by bit.
Still confused? Country Living to the rescue! They have put together 23 elegant & EASY table settings for you. I LOVE the rustic look to the setting in the photo above. Use these ideas to create your table or as a starting point for a creation of your own.
And when you are done, remember Coco Chanel’s advice concerning accessories, “Remove the last piece you put on!” Even Coco knew, we always go one step too far!
While your turkey takes center stage on Thanksgiving, the sides play an important co-starring role. Offer your guests a selection of traditional dishes along with something new with this incredible selection of recipes from Southern Living.
I can be very expensive trying to decorate your table or home for Thanksgiving. Rather than spending a fortune buying what you want, simply make what you need. These do-it-yourself crafts will be the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving tablescape.
Source: Simple Thanksgiving Crafts
Thanksgiving Day has arrived. The adults are having a great time visiting with one another. Meanwhile, the kids are bored out of their minds & driving you crazy by telling you, “There’s nothing to do!” every 5 minutes. OR, they keep their noses buried in a device without ever exchanging a word with anyone in the family. This year, give the kids something to do that is fun & allows them to interact with their relatives. Woman’s Day has put together a selection of 10 games the kids can play this Thanksgiving. Have fun before the big event by practicing with your family! You might find it’s as much fun for the adults as the kids!
This question is often at the front of our mind anytime we prepare for Thanksgiving. We never want to run out of food but we also want to avoid spending a fortune on food that doesn’t get eaten. So how do you know how much food you need? Good Housekeeping helps you successfully determine just how much food you need for your Thanksgiving celebration. What a win-win! Enjoy!
There’s no doubt Thanksgiving can be stressful. Preparing for an event that is food focused leaves us little time for prep. Therefore, we need all the shortcuts we can get! Country Living has put together a list of shortcuts to help you take some of the stress out of your Thanksgiving preparations. Make a commitment this year to reduce Holiday stress so you are able to celebrate with family & friends! You work hard! You deserve it!
Thanksgiving decorations needn’t be expensive or hard to make. Autumn is a beautiful time of the year & there are many pieces you can use in your decorations right outside your door. You can also find great items to use to decorate in the grocery store produce aisle. You must simply open your imagination & see all the possibilities around you! Still feeling stuck? Lucky for you BHG has put together a selection of Thanksgiving decorations using Autumn items. Thanksgiving is when we celebrate the harvest, we give thanks for all the beauty & bounty nature has to offer us. It seems just right to use nature to decorate for the Holiday!
I enjoy creating centerpieces & tablescapes. We have 2 piece in our living room that are perfect for a tablescape. What’s the difference between a centerpiece & tablescape? Well IMHO, a centerpiece is a single arrangement of flowers or other floral decoration. It may have 2-3 other pieces to go with it but the placement of this arrangement is the center of the table. A tablescape has multiple elements that can spread along the entire table. While this may seem more difficult to create, I find it’s actually easier. Instead of all the emphasis being on the one piece, bits of colors & decor spread out across your table. It can be very expensive to purchase a pre-made centerpiece for you Thanksgiving (or any other) table. A tablescape should use small pieces that simple add a splash of color to your table. In the photo above, the pears & small pumpkins can be used all along the table. I would call the table decoration in the photo a tablescape.
Whatever you call it, it can be easy & fun. Simple add bits & pieces to the bare spots in your table, step back & fill in where you see the need. To help you get started, Midwest Living offers a selection of easy centerpieces for your Thanksgiving table. Now, relax & have fun with it!
When I prepare a large dinner or food for a special event, I use as many shortcuts as possible while still offering my guests a fabulous meal. However, there are certain small things I do to impress my guests. And they are all very simple. People are impressed because it just isn’t the way most people would do it. For example, making dressing from scratch. All it takes is dried bread & seasoning plus the things you always add to dressing. Very easy but the fact I made it from scratch seems to impress people. I’m really not out to impress them but I like to make things special for all my guests.
Good Housekeeping has a way YOU can impress your guests this Thanksgiving: homemade cranberry sauce! It is easy to make, allows you to personalize it & will impress your guests! Plus, homemade sauce has a fresher flavor than the canned stuff. Browse through these recipes & try one! Or, use one as a starting point for your own recipe. You never know what you might discover!
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