I visited my friends over at Better CT yesterday with some Thanksgiving Hosting tips.
Here’s the segment!
WFSB 3 Connecticut
1. SEND DIGITAL INVITATIONS — IF YOU’VE DECIDED TO HOST, THERE’S NO TIME TO START SENDING PAPER INVITATIONS! DIGITAL INVITATIONS ARE THE WAY TO GO! I KNOW, USUALLY THEY’RE A LITTLE “KID-PARTY” CENTRIC, BUT YOU CAN SEND REALLY ELEGANT DIGITAL INVITATIONS AT MINTED.COM.
ELEGANT ONLINE INVITATIONS, MINTED.COM, FREE
2. TABLESCAPE – ONE WAY TO EASE YOUR ANXIETY IS TO SET THE TABLE A DAY OR TWO BEFORE. AND WHILE I NORMALLY LOVE REAL FLOWERS, GET A BEAUTIFUL “FAUX” CENTERPIECE. YOU CAN ALSO JUST SCATTER SOME GOLD PUMPKINS, ETC — DON’T GO TOO CRAZY. A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY!
FAUX CENTERPIECE, $14.99 BURLINGTON
3. GET “HELP!” ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WHEN HOSTING, IS YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH OVEN SPACE, AND WHILE WE MIGHT DREAM OF KITCHENS THAT HAVE DUAL OVENS, THE REALITY IS, MOST OF US DON’T. MY SOLUTION? GET A MULTI COOKER CROCK POT, WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A FEW DISHES AT ONE TIME. HONESTLY, LIFE CHANGING.
CROCK-POT® 5-IN-1 MULTI-COOKER, $149.99, CROCK-POT.COM
4. SET UP A BOURBON BAR – SURE, WINE IS GREAT FOR THANKSGIVING, BUT IF YOU WANT SOMETHING FOR THE MEN IN YOUR LIFE (AND THE BOURBON LOVING WOMEN!) SET UP A BOURBON BAR. PUT OUT A FEW BOTTLES OF WOODFORD RESERVE BOURBON, BITTERS, APPLE CIDER, AND GUESTS CAN MAKE THEIR OWN BOURBON DRINKS!
WOODFORD RESERVE BOURBON, LIQUOR STORES
5. SET UP A CHEESE PLATE – PERFECT FOR GUESTS TO NIBBLE ON WHEN THEY WALK IN THE DOOR!
SOUNDVIEW OVAL DIP BOARD, LANDSEND.COM, $80
6. SPRUCE UP SIDE DISHES: WHAT’S THANKSGIVING WITHOUT SOME CRANBERRY SAUCE? BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THE SAME RECIPE YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, ONE OF MY FAVORITE CRANBERRY SAUCE RECIPES THAT I USE EVERY YEAR!
WHAT YOU NEED:
1 CUP WATER
1 CUP LIGHT BROWN SUGAR
1 PACKAGE FRESH CRANBERRIES
1 CAN OF CRANBERRY SAUCE (OR ANOTHER BATCH OF HOME-MADE CRAN SAUCE)
1 TEASPOON GROUND CINNAMON
1/2 TEASPOON GROUND NUTMEG
1 MANGO CUT UP
1 8 OZ. CONTAINER OF POM WONDERFUL FRESH POMEGRANATE ARILS (OR ARILS OF ONE POMEGRANATE)
DIRECTIONS
IN A MEDIUM SAUCEPAN, BOIL CRANBERRIES AND SUGAR UNTIL THE SUGAR DISSOLVES.
REDUCE THE HEAT TO SIMMER, AND STIR IN CAN OF CRANBERRY SAUCE CINNAMON, AND NUTMEG.
COVER, AND SIMMER FOR 30 MINUTES, STIRRING OCCASIONALLY, UNTIL THE CRANBERRIES BURST.
REMOVE FROM HEAT & LET COOL.
ADD POM POMS FRESH POMEGRANATE ARILS AND FRESH CUT UP MANGO
7. KID TABLE FUN! MAKE SOME “PUMPKINS” WITH HALO MANDARINS, THEY’RE PERFECT FOR LITTLE HANDS AND WOULD LOOK PERFECT ON ANY KIDS TABLE!
Comments
Limor is an on-air lifestyle and entertaining expert. She loves to share her favorite finds and recipes.