Wow, it is hard to believe that we are approaching the end of November and the Thanksgiving Holiday is only a week away! Before we know it we will be wishing everyone a Happy New Year. As the holiday approaches Team Longenecker is here with some recipes, decorating ideas and tips for a successful Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Recipes with a Twist
If your anything like me you are always looking for a way to mix new and updated recipes with the traditional dinner items as well. We all know how to do the holiday staples like turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, but here are some recipes for a Thanksgiving Twist.
- Whipped Cinnamon Pumpkin Butter – a great addition to serve with some warm (possibly homemade) rolls or bread and is an easy upgrade to the dinner. For the full recipe click here
- Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Bites – are you looking for a fun take on a Thanksgiving dish for an appetizer. These bacon wrapped stuffing bites are thanksgiving comfort food at its best in finger food style. To check out this recipe click here
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows & Pecan Streusel – We all love some sweet potato casserole but this version looks absolutely delicious and addictive! Here’s the recipe
- Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake Bars – If you are looking for something other than the regular go-to holiday desserts this bar has the same fall flavors in a little different version. Click here for the recipe
Is this your first-time hosting Thanksgiving? Or maybe you have more guests than usual. Check out this chart to help you to figure out how much to prepare.
Decorating your Thanksgiving Table
Thanksgiving dinner is all about the food, right? Well don’t forget to make your guests feel at home with a table decorated with some Thanksgiving Flair. You can go as low key with the decorating or over the top as you want. Here are some things to put together to make your table feel dressed for the occasion.
- Butcher’s Paper – great to use as a table cloth or table runner. Feel free to draw on it with markers, crayons or pencils. Decorate it for the Holiday or label everyone’s seat to make sitting an easy transition.
- Nature’s Gifts – use an assortment of leaves, nuts, acorns, branches, pumpkins and pine cones. Nothing says Thanksgiving more than the sights of fall in nature. Feel free to use either real or fake versions and arrange in the middle of the table. Use glass vessels to collect smaller items and help to create height.
- Plaids – mix in plaid fabrics or scarves to add a cozy feel to your table.
Help your Guests Give Thanks
Let’s not forget that we are celebrating Thanksgiving and it is a great opportunity to remember what we are grateful for. Find a way for guests to celebrate what they are thankful for. Here are a few ways that you can do this.
- Go around the table at dinner and have everyone say something they are grateful for.
- Have a “Grateful Jar” somewhere in your gathering area. With the jar include small slips of paper on which people can write down something they are grateful for. Then maybe after dinner pass the jar around and have each person read what someone wrote down.
- Make a “Thankful Tree” with a branch secured in a vase and have ribbons or pieces of paper beside it. Guests can write down things they are thankful for and hang them on the tree. Then everyone can look at the tree when they have a moment.
- Post a paper turkey body on a wall and give everyone a paper feather to write something they are thankful for. Have them tack the feather on the wall around the turkey.
- Take a large pumpkin and write on it “We are grateful for…” then leave the pumpkin and marker out for others to write something they are thankful for all around the outside of the pumpkin.
