Now that Halloween is over, all people can think about is the holiday season. If you are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, you may feel a lot of pressure and still be in the planning stages of pulling off a perfect meal.
No sooner did last Thanksgiving end, and then here we are again, deciding what to serve, how to cook it and what to drink. It worked out pretty well in 2015, didn’t it? And the year before that, and past years. At the time you probably felt like things didn’t go exactly as planned. Am I, right!? Well Girlfriend guess what? It did, and in fact maybe even so without a hitch!
Here we are again my friends another Thanksgiving holiday. So, we all know the history of Thanksgiving, right? Well if not here’s a reminder, in 1621 the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states.
Now, lets skip ahead to present day, lets face it we definitely know people will stuff their faces, just as they always do. Family and friends will abound, and though we may occasionally complain about grudges and petty differences, the gathering will be pretty fine in the end. Always is, isn’t it!? It may seem a bit daunting if guests are all coming over to your place, but as I’ve said, “Be not afraid.” It worked out great last year, and it will again this year. Trust me on that!
Thanksgiving might be nicknamed Turkey Day but for plenty of folks the bird is simply the means to an end, and that end is dessert. And that dessert is almost always pie. Pumpkin is the holiday’s undisputed champ, but challengers abound, from apple caramel to chocolate pecan.
The countdown to Thanksgiving is on! This is one of those special meals that takes a lot of preparation. So why not start now? To make this holiday as stress-free as possible, do not wait until the last minute to make a to-do list, instead consider planning in advance. Get the kids involved too! This way when the big day arrives you’ll only have to think about getting your food ready and having a semi-relaxing day with family and friends. Here’s five of my favorite simple ideas you can have in mind now to get your turkey day game plan together.
1. Apple Spice Cake with Caramel Drizzle
(For recipe please refer to Mensajes de Blogger pg.)
Out with one season and in with the other, so it’s time for a fall cake! This one is complete with classic fall flavors like apple, spice, and caramel. It’s perfectly moist and delicious and with our baking tips, you’ll be able to make this apple spice cake in your kitchen!
The apple spice cake recipe we’re sharing makes one 6 inch cake which I think can be great if you only want to make a 1 or 2 layer cake, instead of a mongo 3 layer cake! You could also make this cake in an 8 inch cake pan by doing 1 & 1/2 of the original recipe. So you have options!
2. Apple Pie Punch
(For recipe please refer to Mensajes de Blogger pg.)
Apple Pie Punch is the perfect cocktail for Autumn and Thanksgiving! Easily made non-alcoholic…delicious either way!
This would be the perfect drink for Thanksgiving! Make two pitchers, one for the kids and one for the adults (clearly marked of course 😉 Its easy, refreshing, and delicious. Just like one of my favorite desserts, but in cocktail form! It doesn’t get better than that!
If you’re looking to liven up your holiday this year, just splash a little Apple Pie Vodka (sure you can buy some, or you cane make your own (SUPER EASY) with this recipe) in your glass. You guys…this vodka. I am NOT a shot girl…but that vodka is AMAZING. It’s the perfect compliment to the juices in the drink, and you’ll feel like you’re sipping a dessert for sure.
Even without the Apple Pie Vodka, this drink tastes like the pie. You can serve it hot or cold…so many options! The perfect drink for Autumn! Heck, I’ll probably be making this year round.
3. Apple Cranberry Pecan Salad
(For recipe please refer to Mensajes de Blogger pg.)
The best fall flavors have come together in this light and refreshing spinach salad tossed in the most amazing lemon vinaigrette!
With all the heavy holiday consumption from the sweet potato casserole to the homemade toffee, I really needed a salad. But not just any kind of salad. I wanted the perfect salad to keep me in the holiday mood without adding any extra pounds this Christmas season.
And that’s where this salad comes in. A fresh spinach salad tossed with crisp apple slices, sweet dried cranberries, juicy pomegranate seeds, and of course, pecan halves for that added crunch. Not to mention the most amazing lemon vinaigrette to give it that perfect hit of tanginess. Best of all, it has the perfect amount of red and green for the holidays!
4. Roast Turkey with Chestnut-Apple Stuffing
(For recipe please refer to Mensajes de Blogger pg.)
This classic turkey is rubbed with an aromatic shallot-sage butter, then stuffed with a nutty chestnut-apple stuffing.
This is definitely sure to be a crowd pleaser!
5. Kentucky Bourbon Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Salted Caramel Sauce
Thanksgiving could always use a little more bourbon.
The Kentucky Derby is right around the corner. I’ve never been but I really think it would be my thing….if I could ever get myself there. It’s the most excited I get for a sporting event all year and I can’t even tell you why. Maybe it’s the gorgeous horses or the brightly clad spectators…there’s just something special about Derby Day to me.
The best news about this Kentucky Bourbon Butter Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Salted Caramel Sauce is that it tastes ridiculous. Like something you would purchase from a bakery….
I hope that maybe you will try something new this Thanksgiving. Be sure to let your guests know you’re hosting and what time. Many people have a few stops and a little pre-planning goes a long way. Also they may want to start thinking about what they’ll bring.
If you are doing all the cooking assign your guests to bring things like wine, punch or a light snack for munching before the big feast. If you don’t like baking delegate the desserts! Your guests will appreciate the heads up so they can plan their day and their food too.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and may you and your famalies have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
BeautifulBoricuaStyle 