By Guest Contributor: Diana Sproveri - Dessert Chef and Caterer
Contributor's Website: LolliBakes
When thoughts of Thanksgiving roll around, I'm usually instilled with fear over many things... Is the turkey undercooked? Are the yams too sweet? Is the stuffing too dry? Will anyone eat the cranberry sauce or am I wasting my time making it from scratch?
The truth is, while we would all love to be master chefs in the kitchen, most of us are not. Not to worry, Thanksgiving isn't about the meal as much as it is a time to celebrate family and friendship.
However, there are a few little things you can do to make your Thanksgiving table special, even if you overcook the turkey.
1. Lighting
Think about your favorite restaurant. One thing you'll remember is how the lighting made you feel - warm, inviting, even cozy. Turn down those energy saving bulbs and replace with a 40 watt soft light bulb for the evening to give your home a cozy atmosphere.
I also love adding a holiday touch, such as filling candles with seasonal fruit.
2. Table Decor
Keep the colors simple and let the food be the star. This all-white table setting lets the colors of the cranberries and yams pop.
If your taste is more playful and whimsical, take this idea of hollowing out a pumpkin and using it as your vase. If you're using fresh flowers, make sure to pick varieties that aren't too fragrant, as you don't want them to overtake the wonderful aromas of Thanksgiving.
Another good bet is strolling down to your local Michael's store and creating a beautiful silk or artificial flower arrangement.
3. Place cards
Place cards are the perfect example of a little item that goes a long way to make your table an elegant one. Here is a beautiful DIY idea from Twig & Thistle.
If you don't have time to get crafty, here's a simple idea that will take no time at all. Simply write the names of your guests on a leaf with a paint pen.
4. H2O
You're going to think I'm crazy that this is one of the most important parts of a Thanksgiving table. Think about how many times you've had a guest ask for a glass of water at the dinner table, or seen a waiter refill a water glass at a restaurant. Be prepared ahead of time with a refreshing pitcher to take the edge off the heavy foods.
A refreshing twist is adding equal parts lemon and cucumber to the water.
5. Dessert
We always save the best for last and whether your choice is cherry or pecan pie, you can also add something fun to compliment the good old standards. Here is a recipe for a delicious pumpkin cheesecake:
INGREDIENTS
Crust:
1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/3 cup butter, melted
Filling:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup white sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, mix together the crushed gingersnap cookies, pecans, and butter. Press into the bottom, and about 1 inch up the sides of a 9 inch spring form pan. Bake crust 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Set aside to cool.
In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, and vanilla just until smooth. Mix in eggs one at a time, blending well after each. Set aside 1 cup of the mixture. Blend 1/4 cup sugar, pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the remaining mixture. Spread the pumpkin flavored batter into the crust, and drop the plain batter by spoonfuls onto the top. Swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect. (Or you can pipe the white mixture with a pastry bag to create a swirl affect as pictured.)
Bake 55 minutes in the preheated oven, or until filling is set. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and allow to cool before removing pan rim. Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
6. Gift
One of the things my son loves about attending a birthday party is the wonderful goodie bag he brings home. Something unexpected, that will leave your guest with a wonderful memory of your meal, is a parting gift. Whether it's a scratch mix of your favorite pumpkin bread, or perhaps a tiny package of holiday cookies to kick off the season, a small and inexpensive gift for your guests will make them feel special.
Contributor's Website: LolliBakes
Image Credits: pumpkin place card - twigandthistle.com; Leaves on plate - anothershadeofgrey.com;
Contributor's Website: LolliBakes
When thoughts of Thanksgiving roll around, I'm usually instilled with fear over many things... Is the turkey undercooked? Are the yams too sweet? Is the stuffing too dry? Will anyone eat the cranberry sauce or am I wasting my time making it from scratch?
The truth is, while we would all love to be master chefs in the kitchen, most of us are not. Not to worry, Thanksgiving isn't about the meal as much as it is a time to celebrate family and friendship.
However, there are a few little things you can do to make your Thanksgiving table special, even if you overcook the turkey.
1. Lighting
Think about your favorite restaurant. One thing you'll remember is how the lighting made you feel - warm, inviting, even cozy. Turn down those energy saving bulbs and replace with a 40 watt soft light bulb for the evening to give your home a cozy atmosphere.
I also love adding a holiday touch, such as filling candles with seasonal fruit.
2. Table Decor
Keep the colors simple and let the food be the star. This all-white table setting lets the colors of the cranberries and yams pop.
If your taste is more playful and whimsical, take this idea of hollowing out a pumpkin and using it as your vase. If you're using fresh flowers, make sure to pick varieties that aren't too fragrant, as you don't want them to overtake the wonderful aromas of Thanksgiving.
Another good bet is strolling down to your local Michael's store and creating a beautiful silk or artificial flower arrangement.
3. Place cards
Place cards are the perfect example of a little item that goes a long way to make your table an elegant one. Here is a beautiful DIY idea from Twig & Thistle.
If you don't have time to get crafty, here's a simple idea that will take no time at all. Simply write the names of your guests on a leaf with a paint pen.
4. H2O
You're going to think I'm crazy that this is one of the most important parts of a Thanksgiving table. Think about how many times you've had a guest ask for a glass of water at the dinner table, or seen a waiter refill a water glass at a restaurant. Be prepared ahead of time with a refreshing pitcher to take the edge off the heavy foods.
A refreshing twist is adding equal parts lemon and cucumber to the water.
5. Dessert
We always save the best for last and whether your choice is cherry or pecan pie, you can also add something fun to compliment the good old standards. Here is a recipe for a delicious pumpkin cheesecake:
INGREDIENTS
Crust:
1 1/2 cups crushed gingersnap cookies
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/3 cup butter, melted
Filling:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup white sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, mix together the crushed gingersnap cookies, pecans, and butter. Press into the bottom, and about 1 inch up the sides of a 9 inch spring form pan. Bake crust 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Set aside to cool.
In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, and vanilla just until smooth. Mix in eggs one at a time, blending well after each. Set aside 1 cup of the mixture. Blend 1/4 cup sugar, pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the remaining mixture. Spread the pumpkin flavored batter into the crust, and drop the plain batter by spoonfuls onto the top. Swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect. (Or you can pipe the white mixture with a pastry bag to create a swirl affect as pictured.)
Bake 55 minutes in the preheated oven, or until filling is set. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and allow to cool before removing pan rim. Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
6. Gift
One of the things my son loves about attending a birthday party is the wonderful goodie bag he brings home. Something unexpected, that will leave your guest with a wonderful memory of your meal, is a parting gift. Whether it's a scratch mix of your favorite pumpkin bread, or perhaps a tiny package of holiday cookies to kick off the season, a small and inexpensive gift for your guests will make them feel special.
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Contributor's Website: LolliBakes
Image Credits: pumpkin place card - twigandthistle.com; Leaves on plate - anothershadeofgrey.com;
white table - digsdigs.com; pumpkin vase - homedesigndecorating.com; cucumber lemon water - itsbestservedhot.blogspot.com; pumpkin cheesecake - deestroyer.blogspot.com; gift - erinlincoln.blogspot.com
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