Thanksgiving Day simple solutions and suggestions is exactly what we’ve got going for in today’s one week until Thanksgiving post.
Are you ready?
Good Housekeeping – Photography: Mike Garten
Simple makes a tasty appetizer plate, and a make ahead recipe for a simple yet impressive appetizer is an absolute appetizer must.
Thanksgiving day is a culinary marathon.
I don’t want to gloss over a step or course, nor do I want to give up one precious minute to the tedious or the trying.
Enter the recipes for a trio of cheese balls that can be refrigerated up to 2 days.
Guess what I’ll be doing the Tuesday afternoon before Thanksgiving Thursday?
I’ll be in the kitchen with my Now We’re Cooking Thanksgiving playlist turned to holiday volume whipping up a trio of cheese balls for Thanksgiving appetizers.
Everything Cheese Ball
¼ cup sesame seeds
2 tbsp. poppy seeds
2 tbsp. dried onion flakes
2 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
¼ tsp. salt
2 8-oz. bricks reduced-fat cream cheese
Savory Dill Cheese Ball
1 8-oz. brick reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh dill
2 tsp. lemon juice
Spiced Cranberry Cheese Ball
1 8-oz. brick reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
8 oz. goat cheese, softened
¼ cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
Directions
“Everything” Cheese Ball:
Combine sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion flakes, black pepper, and salt.
With mixer, beat cream cheese with 2 tablespoons seasoning mixture . By 2-tablespoon portions, scoop and roll into balls. Roll in remaining seasoning mixture, pressing to coat.
Savory Dill Cheese Ball:
Beat cream cheese, feta cheese, dill, and lemon juice using a mixer. By 2-tablespoon portions, scoop and roll into balls. Roll in 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill.
Spiced Cranberry Cheese Ball:
Using a mixer, beat cream cheese, goat cheese, dried cranberries, and nutmeg. By 2-tablespoon portions, scoop and roll into balls. Roll in 3/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped, pressing to coat.
Refrigerate cheese balls at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Let stand 15 minutes at room temperature before serving. Serve with crackers or bread.
Tree Branch Coasters- Country Living
Give the cocktail crowd something to ponder with these Jane Howard cocktail napkins from Sugarboo & Co.
Use an insulated coffee carafe to keep the gravy hot and a burner ready to go for the next dish.
Pre-warm the carafe by filling it with hot tap water allowing to sit for a couple of minutes.
Empty out the hot water and add the gravy.
The closest my iPad gets to the kitchen is the accent table in the dining room as I am still recovering from the great spill debacle of two years ago when Dave the Builder “cooked” my tablet with a spilled Dr. Pepper.
Thanksgiving day is stressful enough without the extra worry of liquid vs. tablet.
Place your tablet into a Ziploc slider bag to protect it and worry no more.
Select your favorite scent of the season scented candle for a holiday greet the guests scent treat.
Presentation is key at the holidays.
Great look- a vintage bowl filled with ice and topped with miniature pine cones.
Tie a loose knot around the neck of a wine bottle with the ribbon material and color of your choice.
Tuck the stem of a pinecone into the knot and- voilà!- a befitting embellishment.
Grab a marker and personalize take home boxes.
Another suggestion is to ask guests to bring their own containers to tote their take home Thanksgiving leftovers in.
Continuing the embellishment theme, tie a ribbon around the take home box and adorn with a house or cabin Christmas ornament with a from our house to yours card.
As they say, it’s the little things that mean the most.
