Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. It’s a day filled with family and friends and, of course, delicious, hearty food. In fact, it is the one day of the year when it’s all about the food. But, paying close attention to other details, such as the table setting and centerpieces, will go a long way toward making your Thanksgiving get together a truly elegant and successful affair.
A Place for All
Place cards add a touch of formality and elegance to the Thanksgiving meal. Start with a small pear, a crab apple or a jack-be-little pumpkin. Write the name of your guest on a small piece of card stock and punch a hole in one end. Thread ribbon or twine through the hole and tie the tag to the fruit stem. For a more rustic feel, opt for sweet-gum-tree spurs to bring a more outdoorsy feel to the table.
For the napkins, create a beautiful envelope-style design to house the place setting by performing the following trick: Fold the napkin in half diagonally, forming a triangle. Iron the formation flat and fold in two corners along the fold, pressing one at a time. This design is great for hemstitched napkins or napkins with contrasting borders.
Another beautiful design for napkins is the cornucopia style. Start on a diagonal and roll the napkin to the desired shape. Then, attach store-bought acorns to satin ribbon. Tie the acorns around the napkin for a simple and tasteful ring.
Dressed for Elegance
Dress the table with autumn leaves shed from large maple trees. Dry the leaves by placing them waxed paper or a paper towel. Add a layer of paper to the top of the leaves and press them inside of a large book for a week. Once you’re ready to set the table, use double-sided tape to affix the leaves in a pattern of your choice to a white or cream tablecloth. Place a sheer fabric, such as organza, on top for a dazzling look.
The table will be filled with sumptuous food and drink, but if you have the room, it’s a nice touch to add different sizes of gourds, all painted in rich, vibrant colors like deep purple, gold, and burnt orange. Arrange the gourds in a large bowl. Then, add textured, natural accents, such as nuts or leaves, and some gold seed-pods, which are available at most craft stores for a pop of contrast. This arrangement may also double as your centerpiece if you choose.
Another lovely option for the centerpiece is an arrangement of wheat and dried grasses. Wheat is the symbol of a fruitful life, so it’s a wonderful way to highlight the bountiful harvest on which you and your guests are about to feast. Start with about 100 stalks of wheat and dried grass, about six bunches. Take 15 stems in your hand and secure the bunch with floral tape, about four inches down from the grain pods. Add additional bundles in a spiral formation, securing them with floral tape. Trim the ends with a floral pruner—by trimming the center tips more you’ll create a more stable base. Then, select a wide ribbon to tie around the whole arrangement, and voilà, you’re done.
Show Your Light-Hearted Side
Create a truly serene and pleasant mood with soft light for the table. Wrap votive candleholders in dried cornhusks. Secure each cornhusk with a piece of ribbon or twine. Place the votives around the table so the light provides an elegant glow for your feast.
Don’t forget the music, either—a must for any elegant affair. Make a couple of different playlists—one for the cocktail hour, and another for dinner. For the cocktail hour, think crooners, like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. For dinner, consider baroque, classical and romantic works by adding compositions by Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven and others to the mix.
By Laura Starczewski
Praline Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
4 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 pint heavy cream
1/4 pound butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups chopped pecans
Directions
Butter a two-quart casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, sugar, vanilla extract, eggs and cream. Blend well, and spread evenly in casserole dish.
Prepare the topping by combining the butter, brown sugar, flour and pecans. Mix until crumbly, and sprinkle over sweet potato mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
Nutritional Information (amount per serving): Calories: 373 • Total Fat: 16.9g • Cholesterol: 118mg
Turkey Sausage, Apple & Cranberry Stuffing
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups cubed whole wheat bread
3 3/4 cups cubed white bread
1 pound ground turkey sausage
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery
2 1/2 teaspoons dried sage
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 Golden Delicious apple, cored and chopped
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
1 cooked turkey liver, finely chopped
3/4 cup turkey stock
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Spread the white and whole wheat bread cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for five to seven minutes in the preheated oven, or until evenly toasted. Transfer toasted bread cubes to a large bowl.
In a large skillet, cook the sausage and onions over medium heat, stirring and breaking up the lumps until evenly browned. Add the celery, sage, rosemary, and thyme; cook, stirring, for two minutes to blend flavors.
Pour sausage mixture over bread in bowl. Mix in chopped apples, dried cranberries, parsley, and liver. Drizzle with turkey stock and melted butter, and mix lightly. Spoon into turkey to loosely fill.
Nutritional Information (amount per serving): Calories: 208 • Total Fat: 11.6g • Cholesterol: 80mg
Recipes courtesy of allrecipes.com.
