Places In The Home

Thanksgiving Day simple solutions and suggestions come in mighty handy, and in this calm-before-the-storm moment of planning I thought a Thanksgiving show and tell in order.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Happiness is not an overrated emotion, and it has proven more and more happiness comes to those who feel it’s never too early for Christmas decorating.

Photo by charlesdeluvio

Take the best of the season and get the most out of your decorative pieces.

What works best for me is to evaluate what decorative and tabletop items will transition beautifully from holiday to holiday.

Red stoneware vases filled with black roses for Halloween displays easily transition to appropriate accents for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Equally lovely is the option of including natural elements and fruits of the season.

Better Homes & Gardens – Photography by John Bessler

Cloudy Glass Soak Solution

Hard water is the top culprit for making a crystal clear pieces crystal cloudy.  In my antiques auction days when I purchased crystal pieces more times than not cloudy was part of the bargain.

Denture tablets dropped into pieces filled with lukewarm water left to do its thing overnight usually did the trick.  Do not use hot water- it can cause the vase to crack.

In my holiday recipe opinion, a make-ahead recipe for a simple yet impressive appetizer is an absolute appetizer must.

Good Housekeeping – Photography: Mike Garten

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 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 playlist turned to holiday volume whipping up a trio of cheese balls for Thanksgiving appetizers.

Everything Cheese Ball

¼ cup sesame seeds

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

2 tablespoons dried onion flakes

2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon 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 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill

2 teaspoons 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.

-Good Housekeeping

Louisiana pecans are stocked and ready for the holidays for everything from baking to appetizer making.

Creole sugar pecans are easy to prep and toast making this a super easy and delicious holiday appetizer.

Creole Brown Sugar Pecans

Instructions

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

8 cups pecan halves

1 Tablespoon Creole seasoning blend (recipe below)

1 teaspoon brown sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°.

Place pecans in large mixing type bowl and drizzle with melted butter. Toss pecans until well coated with melted butter.

Pour pecans onto large baking pan in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes

Carefully remove pan from oven and sprinkle evenly with half of the seasoning. Turn pecans over and sprinkle this side with the rest of seasoning

Return pan to oven; toast an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately spoon pecans onto cool pan to eliminate continued toasting/roasting.  Allow pecans to cool.

Creole-Cajun Seasoning

Ingredients

1/3  cup paprika

3 tablespoons dried oregano

3 tablespoons ground black pepper

2 tablespoons dried basil

1 tablespoon dried thyme

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1 tablespoons cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon granulated onion

4 teaspoons dried thyme

4 teaspoons granulated garlic

Directions

In a medium bowl combine paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, ground black pepper, dried basil, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, granulated onion, dried thyme and granulated garlic.  Stir to combine.

Can be stored in an airtight container for up to three months.

Deviled eggs are classic additions to our holiday table. There’s many a recipe for deviled eggs, and mine is a simple as it gets.

Add, mix, spoon, enjoy!

What I use:

6 eggs

3- 4 tablespoons  mayonnaise (I use Duke’s)

1½ tablespoon dill relish

salt to taste

fine black pepper to taste

paprika for garnish

Sugarboo & Co.

Give the cocktail crowd something to ponder with these Jane Howard cocktail napkins from Sugarboo & Co.

Make Ahead White Wine Gravy

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.

FYI:

Homemade Sweet Potato Pie Recipe with Walnut Topping

Last week I read an article from Food & Wine detailing findings from testing frozen pie crusts.

Great Value Frozen Traditional Pie Crusts from Walmart rated most buttery with Marie Callender’s Pastry Pie Shells Frozen Pie Crust ranking best classic frozen pie crust.

Five Scrumptious Pie Wedges Postcards

Select your favorite scent of the season scented candle for a holiday greet the guests scent treat.

Pumpkin and cinnamon notes traditionally associate with this time of year, and although yummy to most, heavy scented candles can be somewhat overpowering.

Mainstays Cozy Comfort Scented 3 Wick Candle

This candle scent is subtle and pleasing, and the price is right.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska

Dress it up on a platter with fresh pine clippings and cones for a nice accent.

Ice:

Ice cubes measure about ten (10) cubes per pound, and the rule of thumb is 1–2 lbs. of ice per person.

Presentation is key at the holidays, and a vintage bowl filled with ice and topped with miniature pine cones is holidays on ice- ha!

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.

Continuing the embellishment theme, pack take home treats for guests and place in from our house to yours theme gift bag tied with festive ribbon and a house ornament.

As they say, it’s the little things that mean the most.