Hosting Thanksgiving this year? No need to stress! With a little planning and these three simple steps, your guests will be so thankful you offered to entertain this holiday season.
1. Greet Guests with a Big Batch Cocktail
Every get together is a little more fun with a festive cocktail and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to show off this beautiful and delicious drink. Crisp, tart, fresh-pressed apple cider pairs perfectly with warm and sweet honey simple syrup, sour citrus juice, woodsy cinnamon, and a top-shelf gin. By making a large batch ahead of time (This recipe makes twelve 8-ounce drinks), guests can serve themselves at their leisure while you put the finishing touches on dinner.
Set a Simple but Super Chic Table
Who says Thanksgiving table settings have to be fancy or formal? Everyone will feel more relaxed pulling a chair up to a table that’s adorned simply with organic elements like mini white pumpkins and fall foliage. Make life easy by picking up a few bunches of grocery store flowers and pumpkins while shopping for food. Cut individual stems and arrange casually down the center of the table as a "natural" runner or place in small bud vessels.
Mix and match your everyday dinnerware with heirloom-quality tidbits plates adorned with the sentiments of the season. Upgrade from the paper napkin with linens in beautifully subtle autumn colors that will get use year-round.
Be a Holiday Hero with Make Ahead Dishes
Even the best cooks don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen all day long. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, the more prep and cook work you can get done before guests arrive the better. Here are a few dishes that can be made several days ahead of time or on Thanksgiving morning and warmed just prior to serving.
Cranberry Sauce
Cornbread, Red Quinoa, and Sausage Stuffing (Dressing)
No Thanksgiving table is complete without the quintessential turkey side - stuffing...I mean, dressing, as Our State Magazine so lovingly points out to us transplants. We may not be Carolina natives, but we think we've come up with a good regional recipe and something reminiscent of the foods served at the first Thanksgiving. Using our beloved No.12 Smithey Cast Iron Skillet, we've combined a homemade cornbread, hearty and textural red quinoa, and a delicious chicken sausage from local NC grocer, Lowes Foods.
Interested in customized menus or prep help for your Turkey Day festivities? Feel free to contact me! And don't forget to stop in the shop for all of your holidaying entertaining needs!
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