Thanksgiving Tablescapes and Helping Tips Cheat Sheets

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Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I wanted to bring you some Thanksgiving inspiration for your table this year. Along with a couple of Cheat Sheets that I created.

First up is the tablescape.  I'm all about a well dressed table.  I just love decorating and changing up the table to create a theme or just enhance a mood.  MGG can attest to that as I have a spare closet full of various, dishes, tablecloths, napkins, and serving pieces!  It's a problem.  Along with cookbooks.  But that's a story for another day!

Each year I change the mood of my Thanksgiving table.  Last year I went with a frosty winter theme filled with the colors of silver, greys, and mercury glass with touches of orange pumpkins. 

The focal point was a beautiful mercury glass apothecary jar I used as a vase to hold off white hydrangeas, surrounded by silver candlesticks which held white tapers.  Orange pumpkins that hold side dishes are displayed.  I also found a wonderful glass pumpkin that I picked up which added more sparkle.  Add in some smoky grey wine glasses and the table is ready for the food.

The place settings started with silver chargers, followed by white dinner plates, and then a favorite salad plate that have deep oranges and rusts with a pumpkin motif.  Add in some southern styled silverware and a fluffy white napkin and you are set for a simple yet elegant dinner.

This year I changed the mood by going will deep fall colors such as copper, rust, deep oranges, creams, and silver/mercury glass. I also added a pop of green to bring in the outdoor feeling inside.  The textures are different as well, with silk, glass, wood, and ceramics.

I used the same mercury glass apothecary jar as a vase.  This time I found some muted green hydrangeas which gave the table a pop of color.  Surrounded by silver candlesticks with cream tapers and cream mini pumpkins.  The runner is copper silk with a nice sequin accent. 

For the place setting I used wood chargers to give the table an earthy feel.  Cream dinner plates topped with a salad plate that displays fall leaves in deep reds and rusts.  Top that with a lidded cream colored pumpkin bowl.  Gold crinkle glasses frame each plate along with clear wine glass goblets to give a more substantial feeling.

Dinner is served!

I hope you enjoyed the tablescapes and found some inspiration for your own table.  Now I've would like to share with you 2 cheat sheets that I created for Thanksgiving, and beyond.

TURKEY ROASTING TIMES

PUMPKIN PIE SPICE

Have a wonderful, peaceful Thanksgiving!

Jack Daniel's Whiskey Marinated Flank Steak

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It's almost Turkey time and I've just finished planning my menu. 

I know, I'm a little slow.  I'm not usually this way (honest!) but with our recent tropical vacation, time just got away from me and before you new it Thanksgiving was 2 weeks away.

I always plan a new tablescape for the big day.  It was so much fun shopping for new pieces to change up my table this year.  I'll share that with you in my next post.  With the table all set then came the food planning.  Oh boy, for whatever reason this was a tough one this year.  I always make our traditional family favorites but try to add 1 or 2 new side dishes.  I was looking at the menu and saw that everything is starchy or carbs.  Time for something green.  Well, I finally settled on 2 new dishes that I think will be outstanding.  I'm glad that part is done!  Phew...I was getting anxious there for a minute (which is something that we should NOT be doing!).  But, with some needed research this morning I knocked out the menu, made my grocery list, and even planned some new "after" Thanksgiving recipes to make this year.

Today, however, I thought I'd mix it up.  When all of us are thinking turkey, turkey, turkey, how about some beef?  Maybe an easy Jack Daniels Whiskey Marinated Flank Steak?  Oh yes, it sounds good, tastes wonderful, and is easy to make.  We need that now before the marathon cooking starts!

Jack Daniels Whiskey Marinated Flank Steak

You have to try this marinade.  Like now. 

It gives your beef the best flavor!  Dare I say it makes it beefier?  Well it sure seems that way.  There's nothing better than a grilled steak with a side of potatoes.  I cooked a wonderful flank steak, but this marinade will work on whatever your favorite cut of beef is.  The hardest part is waiting for the meat to finish marinating, (about 2 hours) then it's a quick grill, slice and your done!  Boy, my mouth is watering just re-living the flavors of this steak.  With added whiskey, apple juice, Worcestershire sauce for that added umph...and a little hot sauce, WOW!

This is great for dinner with potatoes and a salad.  It's also great turned into sandwiches the next day.  Any way you slice it this Jack Daniels Whiskey Marinated Flank Steak is worth making.

Enjoy!

Jack Daniel's Whiskey Marinated Flank Steak

Servings 4-6                                  

3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
2 cups apple juice
1/4 cup whiskey (optional)
1 T whole grain mustard
1 T olive oil
2 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons hot sauce (I used Tabasco)
1flank steak (about 1 1/2 pounds)

In a ziploc bag add all the ingredients except the steak.  Stir until mixed thoroughly.  Add the steak, seal and marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator.

Remove the steak from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Preheat an outdoor grill to medium high heat, or an indoor grill pan. If using the outdoor grill oil the grates with olive oil.

Remove steak from the marinade. Discard the marinade. Add the steak to the grill and cook about 4 minutes on each side until desired doneness. Remove steak to a cutting board and allow to stand for 5 minutes before cutting. Slice steak diagonally across the grain into thin strips.  Serve.

6 Irresistible Pumpkin Recipes

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We're celebrating the wonderful pumpkin today! 

I love pumpkins and can hardly wait for October to roll around each year so I can bake (and cook) with pumpkin. 

If you love pumpkin too then this post is for you!  I'm sharing with you 6 of my favorite pumpkin dishes today.  These are the ones I gravitate to each year.  I hope you enjoy them and find one that becomes a favorite of yours as well.

Enjoy your pumpkins!

Pumpkin Citrus Crescent Rolls

Pumpkin Cobbler

Pumpkin Pie with Orange Marmalade

Layered Pumpkin Bread

Spicy Pumpkin Fool

Low Carb Pumpkin Pancakes