MY TRIED AND TRUE THANKSGIVING RECIPES

 There is a special beauty in a traditional Thanksgiving,
 when the day is not rushed or overly complicated.
 The emphasis is on togetherness, meaningful conversation,
familiar traditions, and the warmth of home.



I have been preparing Thanksgiving dinner for many, many years...
over 50 years in fact.
Although I love reviewing new recipes, I have my favorites
that are featured at our family gathering year after year...
I have found them to be the best and my family agrees....

The first one is homemade CRANBERRY SAUCE...
I make this the day prior to Thanksgiving and serve
it in a pretty cut glass bowl with a sterling silver ladle...
the recipe I use can be found on the back of the
Ocean Spray fresh Cranberries package....

The Cornbread Dressing....
to make a good dressing...the white bread must be stale...
placed in a big mixing bowl and left on the counter for days before you need it...
the cornbread is to be homemade a few days before....
the stock must be homemade, with onions, celery and carrots added
to the chicken for a hearty stock.
The dressing should be very wet when preparing for the oven...
it will go in looking like a mistake..but will come out of the oven
with a good reputation!

Rhodes yeast rolls....the perfect dinner roll
for this magnificent meal....
served with real butter.....

Make enough for the following day too..
people will want 2-3 rolls each with dinner.....

Tea Time Tessies....sometimes called Pecan Tassies....
I grew up with this recipe as my Mother made them
for every holiday, now ,my Granddaughter makes them..

They all look forward to these on the appetizer table...

The GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE...
Robbie's favorite....
yes, the one and only casserole with canned green beans,
cream of mushroom soup and french onions....
As I said, it's tradition!

Food always tastes better on fine china 

There is no other recipe for Pumpkin Pie, 
the one and only Libby's recipe which is
published on the back of the pumpkin can....
prepare it the day before....serve with real whipped cream!
It's to die for...a taste of Thanksgiving in every bite!

So for any novice cooks out there, you can count on
these traditional favorites....

The mashed potatoes are homemade, I make my
Mother's Sweet Potato Casserole, topped with marshmallows
and the pies are homemade....the only item that changes
will be the jello salad...it's a southern thing and this year,
I chose Ambrosia Fluff....



I know you certainly must have your own family recipes for
this special holiday that have been passed down through
the years...I would love to hear about them if you would
consider sharing with all of us...

AUTUMN ACCESSORIES FOR YOUR THANKSGIVING

There is something special about decorating the Thanksgiving table
with the little details that make autumn feel warm, welcoming, and memorable.

Natural textures, rich seasonal colors, glowing candlelight, and simple touches from nature
can turn an ordinary dining table into a beautiful celebration of the season.

The secret to a memorable Thanksgiving table is layering small, beautiful accessories
 that feel collected over time.
Think vintage treasures, natural autumn elements, warm metals,
and colors inspired by the changing leaves.

Invest in seasonal serving platters....

the appetizers will bring the drama to your guests
and make the tasting so enjoyable....
it's festive and shows your creative side....
this appetizer is a cream cheese log baked in crescent rolls
and sprinkled with dill seed....

I collect Pilgrim figurines
and decided to display this couple
in tiny bowls that are actually little fruit bowls....

A rustic fall wreath will grace the table around
a wicker lantern...the centerpiece for the farhouse table!

This Rae Dunn little plate is reserved for the darling's cheese ball.....

Seasonal spreaders also add a nice touch...

Oh the apples...I love them during this time of year...

find the perfect bowl in which to display them
as we celebrate and honor the harvest....

I think this is such a vintage look....

We always enjoy hot apple cider or spiced tea in the afternoon
as we visit on the patio and I thought these would be perfect
for the occasion...no need to worry that someone might drop
one of my good tea cups....make it pretty when it comes to
using paper products....

Put little creamers in a fall mug which will make it 
convenient for your coffee drinkers

How about placing unique napkin rings in a pumpkin dish...
I LOVE THIS IDEA.....

Embrace your creativity and make it a wonderful holiday!

APPLE CRANBERRY CRISP

 
Well Kindred Spirits....
our most beautiful season of Autumn is passing so very quickly...
there have been a few cool, crisp days however, most of
us have experienced unseasonably warm weather....
the yards are filled with pumpkins and mums which
is so heartwarming to see....

The Texas State Fair has come and gone....
Halloween was a delightful evening for those
precious Trick Or Treaters..
and now our thoughts must turn toward the
Thanksgiving gathering........

I will always remember the times when my parents would travel over to Dothan
for Thanksgiving...they made it so very special and festive...
after our late afternoon feast, we walked through the neighborhood
and felt so grateful for such a delightful day....it became tradition.....

My focus is on the food I will be serving for the holidays
and today features the stars of Autumn...APPLES AND CRANBERRIES!
Their colors are warm, cheerful and naturally beautiful....
As October gives way to November,
apples bring their sweetness, while the cranberries add
the perfect touch of tartness and ruby red colors
They make a beautiful combination in our Autumn kitchens.....

The aroma of a fresh Apple Cranberry Crisp, hot and bubbly from the oven,
brought everyone into the kitchen...it proved to be absolutely scrumptious!

3 cups of apples, sliced, peels left on

1 bag of fresh cranberries

1/2 cup plus 2 T. flour, divided

1 cup sugar

3 packages of Cinnamon Spice instant oatmeal

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 stick of melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mic apples and cranberries with 2 T, FLOUR until coated.
Tip-use of zip lock bag for best results.
Add sugar, and combine until evenly coated.
Pour fruit into a greased baking dish, 9 x 11 inch.
In a mixing bowl, mix oatmeal, remaining flour, pecans, brown sugar
and butter until you have crumbles. Spoon evenly over the fruit.
Bake for 45 minutes.

Lovely served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

This reminds us that some of the loveliest pleasures of fall

can be found in the simplest of things.....

HALLOWEEN FUN AND THANK YOU OCTOBER

Hello Kindred Spirits....
we are back from our fabulous visit to Atlanta
and boy did we pack days of fun into our visit....
dinners, dining out, cocktails, a visit to
Greenville, SC and a delightful stay
at the Grand Bohemian Lodge and attending
the Leanne Morgan event....

There is nothing better than a mother-daughter getaway

Lucy celebrated NATION CAT DAY!

We cast our votes in the early election  time and are looking
forward to celebrating HALLOWEEN.....

They are predicting a bit of a rainy day for Saturday

We have enjoyed the lighted Jack O' Lantern this month

Wishing you all a fun and safe HALLOWEEN evening.....

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS WITH ORDER

In the month of October, we marvel at the porches decorated
with pumpkins, colorful mums and scarecrows in the gardens....



The lawns are filling with fallen leaves and it is nature
in all it's glory of colors....
there are football games on Friday nights, cozy throws
draped over the sofa and soup simmering away on the stove...



The sun in the afternoons is still warm enough to enjoy,
yet we welcome the crispness of the air as it reminds
us that the seasons are changing...

we are dreaming of Turkey and Dressing
and family gathering at home for the November holiday....

It is the kind of day that makes you grateful for the little things:

 a warm home, a favorite meal, a beautiful view through the window,

and the simple pleasure of watching October unfold.

Which brings me to the question of the day..
when do you begin the festivities of the Christmas season?
Some skip right into putting up the tree and stringing the lights
overlooking both HALLOWEEN AND THANKSGIVING.....
No, not me...I was raised to revel in the joy of each special holiday...
Why rush through this special time of the year....

Perhaps, you may relate to the reasons why
Christmas appears beginning after we turn the calendar to December....

 You love the seasons in their proper order. October has its own beauty:
 autumn leaves, pumpkins, warm colors, harvest decorations,
and the anticipation of Thanksgiving.
You may want to enjoy those things before moving on to Christmas.

 You value tradition.

Christmas may feel more meaningful when it arrives at the appropriate time,

rather than becoming a two- or three-month-long event.

 You dislike feeling pressured.
When Christmas decorations, music, and shopping appear in October,
 it can feel as though you're being hurried into a holiday you aren't ready for.

You enjoy the atmosphere of autumn.

If you appreciate the coziness of fall,

seeing Christmas take over can feel as

though autumn is being cut short.

You prefer moderation.

 When a celebration seems to start earlier every year,
it can feel excessive rather than joyful.
What is the tradition in your home?

AUTUMN TABLESCAPE...MY ALL TIME FAVORITE

It is a fact....I started out with no idea what
I envisioned for the farmhouse table....
I could not come up with the colorstory,
the dinnerware I wanted to use or the linens....
I went from hither to yon on thinking about this.... 
I know,,,it's the kind of thing I think about
when I want to challenge my design creativity.....

Here's the thing...
creating a fall tablescape is a wonderful way to
bring the warmth and beauty of autumn into our homes...
I did know that this was the final piece I wanted
to complete for the season...and I
wanted to wait until the first day of October to work on it....
So, when I think of October, which is my all time favorite month
of the year, I think of the woods in fall....the smells, 
the rich colors, the smells of woodsmoke in the wind...
and it captured my image right then and there....

I had my colorstory......
I added a few new pieces to ones I already owned....
I wanted wam colors, a blend of textures and an organic theme....

Here is a design tip~begin with a beautiful tablecloth or runner in warm, earthy tones,
then layer in natural textures—wood, woven baskets, linen napkins, and ceramic dishes.
 Add the colors of the season with deep blues, warm browns, rust, amber, and muted gold.

For the centerpiece, I wanted natural elements with
beautiful pumpkins, dried leaves, pinecones and seasonal branches...

I like to tuck in a few candles for a seasonal glow and scent...
one being vintage brass

Rather than making everything perfectly symmetrical,
 let the arrangement feel natural and collected
—as though you brought little treasures from an autumn walk to the indoors.


Finish each place setting with a folded linen napkin, a sprig of greenery or dried foliage, and

As always, I add an heirloom piece from my grandmother....
For this vignette, I chose to add a vintage bud vase
from Roseville Pottery....
this is called the Snowberry Blue Budvase, created in 1947.
Roseville Pottery was established in Roseville, Ohio
and operated from 1890 until 1954.

I also wanted to incorporate Toile and my few pieces of 
black and white transferware....

I came across some lovely toile plates to serve as a charger plate
which coordinated with this pattern beautifully.....

And, added a stunning cake stand by Janine Graff....

 The result should feel warm, welcoming, and a little bit nostalgic—
a table that invites everyone to linger over a delicious fall meal and
enjoy the simple pleasures of the season.