Thanksgiving Decorating And Menu Ideas?!
Thanksgiving Decorating And Menu Ideas?
This is the first time we are having the entire family over for Thanksgiving. I'm can cook a turkey, mashed potatoes, all the normal stuff and I know what I'm making for dinner, but does anyone have any good ideas for desserts or maybe other simple side dishes? We're thinking of making a few different items for side dishes, a few different desserts, and just having alot of options so that there is plenty to choose from incase someone doesn't like something they have other options to choose from. Any ideas?
Also, any ideas for an easy home-made table centerpiece?
Answers:
Go to www.marthatstewart.com
She has great ideas and how to's for Thanksgiving planning. Excellent resource!
This is my first year and I'm taking alot of cues from Kraftfood.com. They have alot of good ideas and I just found another one on food/yahoo.com. Good Luck!
go to this link
http://www.recipesource.com/holiday/than...
for recipes
consider using fresh fruit and vegetables arranged in a 'horn of plenty' as a centerpiece and wash and use them in cooking after the party.
Use as a dipping sauce for Turkey:
SUE's CRANBERRY GLAZE SAUCE:
1 (16 oz.) can jellied cranberry sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Mix all ingredients together. Cook in a saucepan on medium heat until smooth and heated thoroughly.
MICHIE's SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE:
3 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into cubes
2 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar - divided
1/2 cup butter - melted - divided
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
up to 1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup chopped walnuts
large marshmallows
In a large saucepan over high heat, bring potatoes to boil, reduce heat; cover and simmer 15-20 minutes and drain. Beat potatoes until slightly smooth, beat in eggs, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, salt and cinnamon. Starting with 1/4 cup orange juice, make mixture moist and fluffy. Spread in a 2-3 quart pan. Top with nuts. Sprinkle 1/4 cup brown sugar, then 1/4 cup melted butter. Place Marshmallows on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Don't let marshmallows get to browned.
WENDY's PUMPKIN CAKE ROLL:
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
Filling:
1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
4 Tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
In large bowl, beat eggs for 5 minutes. Add sugar gradually, beating well. Add pumpkin and lemon juice, mixing until blended. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, spices and salt. Fold dry ingredients into egg mixture. Spread batter into greased and floured 15 x 10 x 1" cookie sheet. Top with finely chopped nuts. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool for 15 minutes. Place cake (nut side down) on a clean kitchen towel sprinkled with powdered sugar. Start at narrow end (corner) roll cake up in towel. Set aside.
While cake is cooling in towel, prepare filling. Beat together cream cheese and butter; stir in powdered sugar and vanilla and blend until smooth. Unroll cake, and spread on filling. Roll up cake,(without the towel) lengthwise this time end to end and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Chill at least 1 hour. Slice and serve. Keep refrigerated.
OLGA's PUMPKIN PIE:
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree, canned or fresh
1 (12oz.) can evaporated milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 unbaked pastry shell (9-inch)
Combine sugar, salt, and spices in a large mixing bowl. Add pumpkin, evaporated milk, and eggs; mix well. Pour into pastry-lined pie pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Shield the crust edge with a pie shield ring or fashion one with aluminum foil and place over edge. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 40 minutes or until center is set.
Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/showrec...
Centerpieces (additional ones @ HGTV)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_recipes_vege...
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_entertaining...
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_entertaining...
Outside I have big hay bayles (depends on where you live). Sticking out of them I have a cool thanksgiving signs and those scarecrows I am sure you have seen. All came from biglots for cheap (try walmart as well).
As far as centerpieces sorry I am more of Christmas decorating person.
Menu Ideas: well here is our complete menu that My mom and I are making for our entire family....our recipes are usually from scratch so I will not go into too much detail but when we have a recipe question we go to www.allrecipes.com. they have the best sumbitted recipes I have found...And we are some retty good cooks so trust us!
Turkey
Dressing (with canned apples added)
Gravy
potato salad
Yams with marshmallow topping (my all time favorite!)
Crosants from costco
Mexican sweet corn (recipe came from allrecipes!)
ALmond basmati rice (recipe is usually on back of bag of certain popular brand)
Smoked briscuit (outside. we live in cali but when we lived in chicago we sill did this!!!)
a corn dish or greens
Pecan Pie
Chocolate chip cookie pie or magic bars (also called 7 layer bars I think..they ae the coconut things)
DrinK: Gingerale mixed with minute maid fruit punch to taste about half and half I think-sorry..Taste it then vut down the sides of rainbow sherbert or orange and float it in the punch mix right as your guests arrive! At first it wil be semi sweet and awesome.thise who come back after dinner or during dessert will get the real treat!! It is awesome!!!!!!!
SOmetimes we make macaronni, put it in a big dish and a little chilie powder, stir and then top it with a layer of shredded cheese
Then sprinkle parsely flakes if you have them on top. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes at 350. or until cheese forms a light crust.
FOr appetizers we are making
deviled eggs
fruit and veggie tray
I hope this helps a little..now I am hungry!!!!Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!
My thanksgiving theme is the mayflower so were decorating the dining room like a boat. Are menu is the same thing as are theme.
a little twist on the candied yams w/ marshmallows: add spiced apple!* and a couple of slices of orange on top for decoration. Then sprinkle w/ cinnamon. sooooo dee-lish!!
A good (and easy) side dish is the French's Dried Onion-Green Bean Casserole. soooo simple!
just mix green beans, cream of mushroom soup, mushrooms and decorate the top w/ the dried onions. (recipe is on the can.) :)
you can even add spinach and mozzarella cheese for something different. mmmmmmmm...
a good dessert is: bought at the bakery!!! giggle...*
Happy Thanksgiving!! :)
pecan pie sweet potatoe dressing ham
Here are some more Thanksgiving decoration ideas.
You will find some excellent recipe ideas here:
http://www.gourmet-food-revolution.com/t...
or here:
http://www.gourmet-food-revolution.com/t...
Enjoy!
The Centre Piece
Nothing could be simpler and more satisfying than using the natural elements of the outdoors to set your seasonal table. Use these tips to incorporate crab apples, rose hips and natural lighting for beautiful holiday decorating.
Crab apples and rose hips arranged on a tiered candy server provide the centerpiece. Bouquets of fresh herbs perfume the table. A crackling fire in the background provides warmth, extra light, and a comforting sound that sings of autumn and the failing light.
The dessert
Hummingbird Cake Recipe
3 C. all-purpose flour
2 C. sugar
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
3 eggs, well beaten
1 1/2 C. vegetable oil
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple, undrained
2 C. well-mashed bananas
1 C. chopped pecans
Sift dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Do not beat. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, pecans and bananas.
Spoon batter into three 8- or 9-inch pans, which have been greased and floured well. Bake at 350°F. for 25 to 30 minutes, let cool.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 C. butter
1 box powdered sugar, sifted
1 t. vanilla
pecan halves
Mix cream cheese and butter or margarine until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla. Mix well.
Chill the frosting before spreading between layers and on top and sides of cake. Arrange pecan halves on top and chill in refrigerator until time to serve.
The side dish
Parsnip Puff
INGREDIENTS:
4 cups cooked, mashed parsnips
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
dash pepper
dash paprika
4 eggs, separated
PREPARATION:
Combine mashed parsnips, butter, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and paprika. Blend in egg yolks. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into the parsnip mixture. Lightly pile into a greased 1 1/2-quart casserole.
Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until set and top is golden brown.
Serves 4 to 6.
I would make a corn cassarole as a side.That way people will have a food that was served at the first meal.To decorate,use clean leaves up and down the table, let your serving dishes serve as the centerpiece.The turkey will do too.