Hostess Tips for Thanksgiving Dinner

Are you hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year?
Does the thought of getting all the food to the table feel overwhelming?

It can be a daunting task if you are unprepared...

Thinking about the family celebratory dinners that I have prepared over the years made me realize that I actually have a routine...perhaps my tips will help.

Set the date for your dinner and invite the guests.
Peruse cookbooks, magazines, and your recipe box and decide on the menu.
(keep the menu simple if you are new to cooking!)

You many ask your guests to bring a dish already prepared to share.

Decide on your table setting...linen tablecloth and napkins.
Purchase or gather things to decorate the table ~ candles, flowers, pine cones, pumpkins and gourds.

A couple of days ahead...buy the food and ingredients that you need to prepare the dishes.
One day ahead prepare as many dishes as you can...
I prepare most of the vegetables and place them in their oven proof serving dishes ~ then reheat them.
Write down the cooking and reheating times of all the dishes so that you leave nothing to chance.

While the roast or turkey (main dish) is in the oven.
Set the table...then sit for a bit and rest!

Enjoy the time with your guests and excuse yourself when you need to go to the kitchen.

When the roast is resting on the carving board make the gravy and cook any other veggies that you are serving.

Ask people to help carry the food to the table.
Serve and enjoy!

For our Thanksgiving dinner I used several recipes from Ina Garten's Foolproof cookbook.

I used her basic Brussels Sprouts recipe.

(I omitted the meat because we have a vegetarian in the family)

I cooked a small salmon filet and some mac n cheese for the grand children.

These Sophie Conran dishes are so handy...

they look nice and all go into the oven and microwave.

Ina's Parsnips and Carrots

colourful and tasty.

(Corning Ware oval roaster)

I served her English style potato recipe which was a huge hit.

Crunchy and delicious...

not one crumb left in the bowl!

Simple Sweet Peas and mashed yams rounded out the menu.

9 pound Prime Rib of Beef Roast...

cooked to perfection thanks to an online beef time chart.

I made gravy while this beast rested for 20 minutes on the board until Mr. HB expertly carved.

(he sharpened all the knives the day before we hosted the dinner)

After dinner ~ before dessert,

 a couple of guests helped clear the table while I put the food away.

We put the coffee on...

set the table with dessert and fresh plates.

The dinner plates were quickly loaded into the dishwasher and the silverware soaked in soapy water.

Pots and pans were stacked for cleaning until after the guests depart.

Retro Time Warp Chocolate Wafer Log for dessert.

(Christies Wafers have the recipe on the box)

I use freshly whipped cream instead of the whipped topping that they suggest.

Prepare at least 4 hours before serving, cover and refrigerate.

I served the log with fresh strawberries.

 Coffee.

Relax and enjoy your guests.

Clean up after they leave or postpone it until the next morning.

Launder the linens, iron and put them away.

If you are lucky there will be leftovers for dinner and you can take the rest of the day to put your feet up!

Thanksgiving...October Oranges.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and with that in mind,
 there are a few autumnal features in our Humble Bungalow.

Small simple additions are creeping in...
orange mini pumpkins.
Given that I prefer natural seasonal touches to those made in factories
it's relatively inexpensive and easy.

A dried allium bloom from the garden is housed under a glass dome

on top an arts and crafts copper tray

hand hammered copper arts and crafts Roycroft "Princess" candle sticks

Objibwa First Nations tamarack duck decoys

Canada's Thanksgiving is on Monday, a month before the US celebrates their Thanksgiving.

We are hosting dinner here in Our Humble Bungalow

So I'm looking through my cookbooks

and planning ahead.

Some dishes are prepared in advance so that I can enjoy visiting with our guests.

I like to set the table early

lay the tablecloth and linen napkins

arrange the silver

the glasses and plates.

I'll be wearing my linen apron and "fussing in the kitchen" for most of the day.

I'm looking forward to dinner with our family.

We all live in the same city, which makes it easy to gather together often and share a family meal.

Giving Thanks

being 

Grateful

honouring family

celebrating

in a humble and simple way

with a home cooked meal

served with love

remembering thanksgiving feasts from the past

carving out and creating future

memories 

for the elders 

and the wee ones.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

What a difference a day makes...OOTD

What a difference a day makes...24 little hours.

This was the view on my walk yesterday.

Dallas Road bathed in warm sunshine and not a breath of wind.

Calm seas ~ still reeds ~ Peace and Quiet

A lone sailboat on the horizon towards Port Angeles and Port Townsend in Washington State.

I passed only a handful of walkers.

There is evidence that Fall is here but with yesterday's spectacular weather one truly wonders...

The mums are about to burst forth and bloom.

~ But ~

I spoke too soon as 

there is a distinct chill in the morning air.

One that requires an extra layer of wool...

~ OOTD ~

Black Merino Tee ~ Cloudveil is topped with a black woolly sweater vest ~ Zara

Denim skinny jeans ~ g21 

I 'm loving this shawl collared style vest which allows me freedom to move about 

yet provides me with warmth to my core.

It's the perfect day for a comforting bowl of hot soup

and a chance to plan the menu for the Thanksgiving Feast!

Walking today I'm going to need to wear my Barbour quilted jacket.

Hope that you are all Keeping  cozy!

Sunny daze...OOTD

We've been enjoying a sunny Saturday.

It started out quietly with the sun streaming in the windows.
I sat and leisurely sipped a mug of tea while I perused Sharon Santoni's newest book. I keep it on the coffee table in the Humble Bungalow living room so it's easy to pick up. If you haven't had an opportunity to browse through the book which features elegant homes and chateaus of Sharon's wonderful friends you might want to add it to your reading list.

We scurried off to Oak Bay Avenue for a coffee with our family...
our mission was shopping for Hunter boots for Isla...in pink.(of course!)
Afterwards we went off to the park for some fun and games.

~ OOTD ~

Banana Republic skinny jeans

Cloudveil wool tee from Costco

Barbour vest

scarf in a Burberry style pattern

(Xmas gift from lovely daughter)

comfy leather loafers

new from Winners

I have never bought anything by Coach.

(My son and his lovely wife gave me a Coach silk scarf one Xmas)

They also gave me this J Crew Venus Flytrap necklace.

After our park play time we got into our gardening clothes...

that particular OOTD will not be seen on the blog!

We've been outside for hours prepping the site for our new greenhouse which is due sometime in the next week or so...very exciting to think that we will be able to extend our growing season and that we will be able to grow heirloom tomatoes!

I'm going to freshen up and rustle up some super quick (and easy) chicken burritos.

~ Chicken Burritos ~

Saute sliced onions, red and green pepper strips until soft, 

add 1 pound of ground or thinly sliced chicken to the pan and cook until soft and chicken is no longer pink.

Add a Tablespoon of chili powder and 2 teaspoons of cumin and stir

(Red chili flakes or a glug of Frank's Red Hot Sauce are optional)

stir in some regular ketchup, enough to make a sauce.

Grate some cheese, cube some tomatoes and shred some lettuce.

Arrange on a platter and the burritos are almost ready to assemble.

Heat burrito shells in microwave one at a time for about 60 seconds.

top with a small amount of the chicken mixture

garnish with veggies and top with cheese.

Roll up and eat!

Now how much easier could dinner be?

Simple

Quick and easy

clean up is a snap

~ then ~

it's time to hit the couch for some relaxation and Netflix .

Wishing you a Happy Weekend.

Seeing Red ~ could this be the fortune cookie prediction?

Red has been popping up on my radar lately...

It's been a star performer in the Humble Bungalow Garden for years...

I plant red geraniums every Spring and place them in a zinc container on the front porch.

They are planted in black pottery planters in the back yard and on the sun deck.

My fortune cookie suggested something new is on the horizon.

While I don't put a lot of stock into fortune messages I did consider what it might mean...

I perused Home Sense and this shiny red Chantal kettle caught my eye.

Could the fortune be "Project Red?"

I like the pop of red.

It goes with the Le Coq towel I purchased in the south of France.

We don't have many red things here in the bungalow.

Except

The guest room's red theme is because I fell in love with this Toile de Jouy bed linen.

It was quite expensive at the time but I didn't care...I was still working and earning good money.

Hence the red pop of colour with the pillow and red hand knitted shawl on the wicker table.

I'm not a "decorator" so I am cautious with home decor items...

I subscribe to restraint over clutter.

Bedside table in the guest room.

Clock, Kleenex, a book and two antique vessels ready for fresh flowers and chocolates.

I place several bottles of Perrier on the table as well.

I want our guests to feel comfortable and welcome.

There's an extra wool throw on the luggage stand at the foot of the bed.

Look at the adorable feet on the Herend piece!

The crude staple repair on this antique bowl persuaded me to buy it.

Pink Roses or peonies are pretty pairing with this cute vase.

Oops this turned out a wee bit blurry...it's hand painted 

made by Herend,  a Hungarian Company.

"The Art of Being a Woman

a simple guide to everyday love and laughter."

by Veronique Vienne

Original watercolour painting found at a community fund raiser on Thetis Island several years ago...

I wonder what that new "fortune predicted project" might be.

 ~ I am waiting ~

I must close for now as

my sister and I are going to take Mother out for a walk and a browse in the shops.

Perhaps there's a pair of red shoes in my future!

“Book your life choices in advance the same way you would book flights, car rentals, hotels, and excursions. Figure out early on in your career whether you intend to be financially independent or marry a rich man, join the ranks of the professional elite or be the stay-at- home type, postpone having children or find part-time employment. Then fasten your seat belt and sit tight as you watch your trajectory veer off course.” 

~ Veronique Vienne ~

The Art of Being a Woman: A Simple Guide to Everyday Love and Laughter

Hope your week is off to a great start.