Tag: thanksgiving

How to Have a Stress-Free Holiday Meal

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The holiday season is my favorite time of year, but it can be really stressful if you’re hosting dinner. Getting all the food ready to serve while it’s still hot and making sure all your guests are comfortable while doing it… that’s a daunting task! Over the past several years of hosting holiday meals, I’ve learned a few tricks to make the process go more smoothly. Not only does everything get done, but I actually enjoy myself at the same time.

Five tips for a stress-free holiday meal.

Delegate responsibilities

Just because you’re the hostess, that doesn’t mean you have to do everything. Ask local guests to bring side dishes that can be reheated before dinner. Desserts and appetizers are a great option if you really like to have control over the menu. Give your kids cleaning duties. Even younger ones can help unload the dishwasher or run a vacuum before guests arrive. I’m not super confident about making gravy so I put my dad in charge of that task. read more

7 Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Tablescapes

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The holiday season is coming up quickly! There are so many wonderful Christmas decor ideas cropping up everywhere that it’s tempting to skip over Thanksgiving, but I like to hang onto the fall decor just a little longer. A beautiful Thanksgiving table makes the meal feel so much more festive. Costs can add up quickly when you consider the food, drinks and decor so today I’m sharing some simple, budget-friendly Thanksgiving tablescape ideas.

Budget-friendly ideas for Thanksgiving tablescapes.

First up is a table from Jenn at Clean & Scentsible. The pumpkins in various sizes and shades of white accentuate the brighter pops of orange and red. The striped runner anchors the centerpiece and brings in all those lovely fall colors as well. Tip: hit your local grocery store or Trader Joes the day before Halloween for super cheap pumpkins! read more

Turkey Pie – The Ultimate Holiday Comfort Food Made Easy

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One of the best things about Thanksgiving is the leftovers, am I right?? My aunt taught me how to make this super easy version of a classic comfort food. A lot of people call it Turkey Pot Pie, but that name bothers me for some reason so we just call it Turkey Pie. You can also make this dish with leftover roasted chicken and it’s equally yummy.

Wondering what to do with all those yummy Thanksgiving leftovers? Turn them into a quick and easy turkey pie.

A little background… my husband and I started dating in October so it wasn’t long before the holiday season was approaching. To avoid an awkward conversation about whether we should spend Thanksgiving together, I simply made plans to visit a friend in San Francisco. The weekend before Thanksgiving, my then-boyfriend invited me to dinner at his house with a couple friends. When I arrived, I discovered that he had cooked an entire turkey dinner ON HIS OWN so that we could still celebrate Thanksgiving together. It’s one of my favorite memories! read more