Thanksgiving Decorating And Menu Ideas?

Question

This is the first time we are having the entire family over for Thanksgiving. I'm can cook a turkey, mashed potatoes, all the normal stuff and I know what I'm making for dinner, but does anyone have any good ideas for desserts or maybe other simple side dishes? We're thinking of making a few different items for side dishes, a few different desserts, and just having alot of options so that there is plenty to choose from incase someone doesn't like something they have other options to choose from. Any ideas?

Also, any ideas for an easy home-made table centerpiece?

Answer 1

Go to www.marthatstewart.com
She has great ideas and how to's for Thanksgiving planning. Excellent resource!

Answer 2

The Centre Piece

Nothing could be simpler and more satisfying than using the natural elements of the outdoors to set your seasonal table. Use these tips to incorporate crab apples, rose hips and natural lighting for beautiful holiday decorating.
Crab apples and rose hips arranged on a tiered candy server provide the centerpiece. Bouquets of fresh herbs perfume the table. A crackling fire in the background provides warmth, extra light, and a comforting sound that sings of autumn and the failing light.

The dessert

Hummingbird Cake Recipe

3 C. all-purpose flour
2 C. sugar
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
3 eggs, well beaten
1 1/2 C. vegetable oil
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple, undrained
2 C. well-mashed bananas
1 C. chopped pecans

Sift dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Do not beat. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, pecans and bananas.

Spoon batter into three 8- or 9-inch pans, which have been greased and floured well. Bake at 350°F. for 25 to 30 minutes, let cool.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 C. butter
1 box powdered sugar, sifted
1 t. vanilla
pecan halves

Mix cream cheese and butter or margarine until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla. Mix well.

Chill the frosting before spreading between layers and on top and sides of cake. Arrange pecan halves on top and chill in refrigerator until time to serve.


The side dish

Parsnip Puff

INGREDIENTS:
4 cups cooked, mashed parsnips
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
dash pepper
dash paprika
4 eggs, separated
PREPARATION:
Combine mashed parsnips, butter, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and paprika. Blend in egg yolks. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into the parsnip mixture. Lightly pile into a greased 1 1/2-quart casserole.
Bake in a preheated 375° oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until set and top is golden brown.
Serves 4 to 6.

Answer 3

Outside I have big hay bayles (depends on where you live). Sticking out of them I have a cool thanksgiving signs and those scarecrows I am sure you have seen. All came from biglots for cheap (try walmart as well).

As far as centerpieces sorry I am more of Christmas decorating person.

Menu Ideas: well here is our complete menu that My mom and I are making for our entire family....our recipes are usually from scratch so I will not go into too much detail but when we have a recipe question we go to www.allrecipes.com. they have the best sumbitted recipes I have found...And we are some retty good cooks so trust us!

Turkey
Dressing (with canned apples added)
Gravy
potato salad
Yams with marshmallow topping (my all time favorite!)
Crosants from costco
Mexican sweet corn (recipe came from allrecipes!)
ALmond basmati rice (recipe is usually on back of bag of certain popular brand)
Smoked briscuit (outside. we live in cali but when we lived in chicago we sill did this!!!)
a corn dish or greens
Pecan Pie
Chocolate chip cookie pie or magic bars (also called 7 layer bars I think..they ae the coconut things)
DrinK: Gingerale mixed with minute maid fruit punch to taste about half and half I think-sorry..Taste it then vut down the sides of rainbow sherbert or orange and float it in the punch mix right as your guests arrive! At first it wil be semi sweet and awesome.thise who come back after dinner or during dessert will get the real treat!! It is awesome!!!!!!!
SOmetimes we make macaronni, put it in a big dish and a little chilie powder, stir and then top it with a layer of shredded cheese
Then sprinkle parsely flakes if you have them on top. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes at 350. or until cheese forms a light crust.

FOr appetizers we are making
deviled eggs
fruit and veggie tray

I hope this helps a little..now I am hungry!!!!Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

I would make a corn cassarole as a side.That way people will have a food that was served at the first meal.To decorate,use clean leaves up and down the table, let your serving dishes serve as the centerpiece.The turkey will do too.

Answer 5

a little twist on the candied yams w/ marshmallows: add spiced apple!* and a couple of slices of orange on top for decoration. Then sprinkle w/ cinnamon. sooooo dee-lish!!

A good (and easy) side dish is the French's Dried Onion-Green Bean Casserole. soooo simple!
just mix green beans, cream of mushroom soup, mushrooms and decorate the top w/ the dried onions. (recipe is on the can.) :)
you can even add spinach and mozzarella cheese for something different. mmmmmmmm...

a good dessert is: bought at the bakery!!! giggle...*

Happy Thanksgiving!! :)

Answer 6

My thanksgiving theme is the mayflower so were decorating the dining room like a boat. Are menu is the same thing as are theme.

Answer 7

Here are some more Thanksgiving decoration ideas.

Answer 8

This is my first year and I'm taking alot of cues from Kraftfood.com. They have alot of good ideas and I just found another one on food/yahoo.com. Good Luck!

Answer 9

go to this link
http://www.recipesource.com/holiday/thanksgiving/
for recipes

consider using fresh fruit and vegetables arranged in a 'horn of plenty' as a centerpiece and wash and use them in cooking after the party.

Answer 10

You will find some excellent recipe ideas here:

http://www.gourmet-food-revolution.com/thanksgiving-dinner-menu.html

or here:

http://www.gourmet-food-revolution.com/thanksgiving-dinner-recipes.html

Enjoy!