Keeping the Castle » Thanksgiving

Preparing for Thanksgiving

Kathy Zengolewicz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:57 +0000

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I think its because I associate thanksgiving with family. It has always been a holiday where my family gathers to spend quality time together. It is not very hard to decorate for Thanksgiving. You can place gourds, pumpkins, pinecones and colorful leaves throughout the house and it makes everything festive.

Kathy Zengolewicz

If you are using pinecones, be sure to get the scented ones, or better yet visit my blog here in the Home & Living section this Sunday. I’ll be showing you exactly how to set your table.

I always take special care with my table at the holidays. As a rule we’re not very formal, but at Thanksgiving I pull out all of the stops. I will give you a couple of hints for creating a beautiful holiday table. Always start with a cloth table cover. You can find some buys, especially if you choose a white cover. I always use white at thanksgiving because it gives off just the right balance of color once I have everything put together. The contrast can be stunning.

I don’t have more than one set of dishes, so I use my everyday dishes and they look fine. I do, however, use hand made napkin rings and placecards in a variety of colors. I place candles strategically around the dinner table and light them when family and friends are ready to sit for the meal. I top the table with a fresh bunch of flowers, noting expensive, just simple blooms.

Setting your table is one way to make Thanksgiving day a special. I’m sure that you can think of a few others. Here is hoping that your Thanksgiving holiday is a memorable one.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon.

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner

Karen Weideman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:34:31 +0000

I know this is hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is only six weeks away! Eeek! How did that happen? Instead of pushing it out of our minds, it’s better to embrace it and make preparations for a less stressful and happier time. Planning is key to things running smoothly.

I remember the year we purchased our first home. I decided that I should host Christmas dinner. We had my parents and my husband’s parents over. I didn’t realize all the work that would go into hosting the meal, opening presents, and family time.

I learned a lot that day and now I certainly don’t take it for granted when I visit someone else’s house. When I go to someone else’s house for a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, I try to offer to make something such as sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, or whatever they request.

If you are hosting this year’s dinner, here are some tips to help you not to stress. Plan ahead so that you can enjoy being with your family.

Two weeks prior to Thanksgiving:

Plan your menu.
Decide if anything can be made ahead and frozen.
Get a final count of who’s coming.
Assign menu items to those who want to help. Never turn down help from anyone who offers. If you don’t know right then what they can do then say, “I would love for you to help. I don’t know right now exactly what I need help with. Can I call you back in a couple of days and left you know?”
Make your shopping list.
Make your to-do list. Prioritize your list, schedule, and delegate.

One week prior to Thanksgiving:

Gather any recipes that you need.
Go over your shopping list again and compare it with your recipes to insure that you don’t forget anything.
Shop early for groceries and avoid the rush.
Get your children to help with decorations. They can even make place mats with turkeys or turkeys from pinecones. You can insert place cards in the pine cones.
Cook and freeze any menu items that you can.
Clean bathrooms, living and dining rooms. Clean house of clutter.

A few days before Thanksgiving:

Put your turkey in the refrigerator to thaw. Most birds usually take a few days to thaw. Make sure you put a dish under it to catch any drippings.
Buy any last minute perishables you might need.

Day before Thanksgiving:

If possible, set the table.
Make whatever dishes you can. I like to make my sweet potato casserole the day before and refrigerate it. The day of the dinner I heat up the casserole and add the marshmallows during the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Straighten up the house.

Thanksgiving Day:

Finish any last minute cooking: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, etc.
Enjoy yourself.
Be thankful!

Do you have any tips to add to this list?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Keeping the Castle

10 Ways to Decorate with Gourds & Pumpkins

Karen Weideman — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:48:02 +0000

When decorating for fall, try using gourds and pumpkins. This will you allow you to have decorations that can last through the entire season.

Seasonal centerpiece – Turn a large pumpkin or squash into a bowl. Fill it with ornamental gourds and small pumpkins.

Autumn chandelier – Suspend burnished miniature pumpkins and gilded maple leaves from a chandelier with thread.

Curvaceous container – Turn a narrow-necked gourd into a vase by sawing off the gourd’s tip.

Floating Beauties – Fill an assortment of glasses with water and float mini pumpkin gourds inside.

Table centerpiece – Start with a fall wreath that has been decorated with leaves, pine cones, or flowers. Fill the center with small pumpkins, gourds, pine cones, etc. Fill in empty spaces with miniature corn, ribbon, and/or fall flowers.

Pumpkin votive candles – Carve out small pumpkins and insert votive candles.

Place cards – Tie a ribbon around the stem of the gourd and attach a name card. For a more decorative look, arrange the gourd on a napkin with acorns and sprigs of berries.

Make a stacked arrangement - Stack gourds into a clear glass cylinder vase. Use gourds of different sizes and shapes.

Leaf pattern – Use a linoleum cutter to cut out a leaf design on a pumpkin.

Glowing gourds – Decorate your pumpkins and gourds in gold and silver for a glittering display.

How do you decorate with pumpkins and gourds?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Keeping the Castle

What Cranberry Sauce Should Look Like

SP Bragg — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:30:38 +0000

I’ve tasted a lot of cranberry sauce in my time and while I wouldn’t turn down ANY cranberry sauce served, I do like this texture. I like the solid berries and believe it or not, you can actually order the stuff for thanksgiving from Saks! Unfortunately, it wouldn’t really work in our household because no one will eat it except me and now my son’s girlfriend. She loves it too and actually gave me a tub of her homemade cranberry sauce that I plan to use on a turkey sandwich with stuffing for lunch today.

*I think she’s a keeper lol…

Photo Credit: Saks

So here’s today’s question… what is your favorite cranberry sauce??

*your own recipe

*jellied

*whole berries

*as long as someone else makes it.

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It’s Not Too Late to Decorate (nov)

SP Bragg — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:42:17 +0000

You have been running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off… where do I get these sayings?? It just popped into my head, but I guess it’s fitting (sort of). Anyway, Thanksgiving is fast approaching and you still have to spruce up the house for the big day. Again, off the top of my head, I came up with some really easy ways to make your home warm and cozy!

-garland of colored leaves draped over the fireplace

-small figurines of “all things fall” I’m thinking little pumpkins, little farmers etc to decorate window sills etc.

-candles in warm colors. You can get amazing some amazing baby candles that nestle in little glass cups that can be used to decorate where ever there is an empty spot.

-place a display of season magazines on the coffee table. I think that I mentioned it before… I have magazines dating back to the 40s and no I wasn’t around back then.

-change the pillows on your sofa to something fitting for the season. I even remember reading once about buying silky scarves in the colors you need and simply tying them around the pillows you already have.

I’m sure that there are about a zillion little ideas and if you feel like sharing… we are all ears!

Photo Credit: Shop.com

Post from: Keeping the Castle

What’s Your Plans for Thanksgiving?

SP Bragg — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:18:53 +0000

I’m kind of torn with this one, so I’m throwing it out to you. If you had the chance to eat Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant, would you do it, or do you love everything connected with making your own dinner? Or perhaps you visit family for Thanksgiving Dinner each year. It certainly makes it a lot easier if everyone brings a dish. We have already had our Thanksgiving up here in Canada… actually, we had two of them and it just doesn’t get any better than that. We had a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving and then we had a British/Polish/Canadian Thanksgiving. But seeing that we are being transferred to Chicago, we just might give yours a try. I can handle three Thanksgivings!

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In Love With Potatoes

SP Bragg — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:22:28 +0000

Don’t ask me what started me thinking about potatoes today… haven’t a clue but just had to go in search of all I could find on the topic. This is just scratching the surface on the topic!

Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions

Gnocchi Board

Hot Potato Chips

The Potato Theme Park

Roasted Blue Potatoes

**And it looks as if I’m not the only one who has this thing about potatoes. Michelle over at VeggieChic had the most interesting recipe using nutmeg, cloves, allspice and ginger! Definitely got my attention!! Can’t wait for winter to be over so I can try them out. They are done on the barbecue!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

What Am I Thankful For??

SP Bragg — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:16:39 +0000

This would not only be fun to do, it would give everyone something to do while dinner is cooking. And, you don’t really have to do very much at all, which would be a switch now wouldn’t it lol… Okay, you have one thing to do… provide a basket, some slips of paper and some pens. Now instruct everyone to write down what they are grateful for, after informing everyone that these will be read around the table during dinner. Each piece of paper can be signed or not, but definitely dated so some of the special ones can be brought out and re-read years later. The idea of doing this before sitting down to dinner prevents anyone from being put on the spot. And don’t forget the kids. Ask them what they are thankful for too.

Photo Credit: Williams-Sonoma

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Decorating the Kid’s Table for Thanksgiving

SP Bragg — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:20:13 +0000

Presently, we don’t have a kid’s table anymore, but I do remember the day when there was a lot of laughter coming from that table! And that’s how it should be. I came up with five ideas to make it as cool a table as possible.

1. Place a white tablecloth on the table and leave markers so that the kid’s can all autograph the table. Be sure to tell them to add the date as well.

2. If the children are of an age where they love all things crafty, let them create their own placemats. Construction paper, markers, a few stickers and some glue might be all they need.

3. When the time comes, let them set their own table and feel free to use disposable dinnerwear so that they don’t have to worry about breaking anything. You can set a pretty fancy table using disposable everything, so take advantage!

4. Kids love presents so leave a little something on their plate that has their name on it. They get something to play with and a “place card”. Ps… the dollar store has great little items that won’t cost you a bundle.

5. If the grown-up table has a centerpiece, try to place one on the children’s table as well. It will help make them feel special too! Ps… Yes, the centerpiece is really cute, but for obvious reasons, forgo the cookies and the candy or the kids will skip dinner all together lol…

**Sitting at the kid’s table should be somewhere they want to be!

Photo Credit: FTD.com

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More Holiday Tables to Copy

SP Bragg — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:42:30 +0000

The minute you start looking the more you find. So, here’s some of my favorites. Borrow any idea that appeals to you! Your family will never know that you didn’t come up with the ideas for your table… all by yourself!

Holiday Table 1 (the hostess had 11 people, but seated them at three small tables)

Holiday Table 2 (this hostess was really busy)

Holiday Table 3 (she mentioned the dollar store… impressive!)

Holiday Table 4 (decorating a table for the kids)

Holiday Table 5 (just look what you can do if you sew!)

Post from: Keeping the Castle