It’s hard to believe this is how the table looked just a few hours ago…
I set the table with a teal and orange theme using my grandmother’s blue glass bottles and some leaves from the yard
Persimmons made good mock pumpkins!
I made place cards and put a clementine at each place for color – and joked that they had to eat it before dessert for the nutrition 🙂
If you don’t feel like ironing 8 napkins, just roll ’em!
The wrinkles came right out
Mom and Dad arrived!
After settling in Mom and I polished the silver. Nothing works better than Wright’s Silver Cream
It made a WORLD of a difference!!
I remembered to get some of my jewelry that had started to turn black. I couldn’t believe how shiny it became!
I put out a few Charleston benne wafers for appetizers that I got as a favor from my friend Mizzle’s wedding!
And sipped on a few random drinks of Matt’s throughout the day.
We had two mishaps – burnt almonds and Matt accidentally put the green bean blue cheese in the mashed potatoes! But they ended up delicious so it was a serendipitous mistake.
Matt got started on the turkey. He feels strongly about his meat-cooking techniques and cut the turkey into pieces for more even cooking. He brined it yesterday and then seared the outside in a pan today before he baked it.
Seasoned with rosemary and thyme from our garden and clementines – it turned out perfect!! So succulent and not a dry piece on the platter.
Slicing
While everyone else drank wine I used my technique of waiting a while before my first glass (or I get too tipsy before dinner even starts!)
When we had about 30 minutes to go I poured a little Red Truck Petit Syrah
Around 3PM, dinner was serrrrrved
Lurk.
Karen’s super buttery and famous Oyster Pie
My mom’s Cranberry Sauce and Corn Pudding
The best stuffing we’ve ever made!! Guess what the secret ingredient was? OATS!!! Recipe to come in the next few days after Matt digests.
Karen’s dessert-like Pineapple Sweet Potato Casserole
Blue Cheese + Rosemary Mashed Potatoes with Parsnips
Bacony Green Beans with Almonds
Tastes of everything! The food tasted SO GOOD! I wasn’t terribly hungry thanks to my big brunch breakfast, but as soon as I sat down and started eating it was like the clouds parted and the food angles gave me a visit. I proclaimed the cranberry sauce my favorite part of my plate because it is so refreshing after all the buttery foods!
Mid-way through dinner I had a second small glass of Granache
My dad labels all of his bottles of wine with where he purchased it (or who he received it from as a gift) and the price. I noticed a $75 on the bottle and was agast. My dad is not the type to spend money on wine!! I questioned him about it excited to be drinking such a special bottle and he informed me that it was actually $7.50. LOL.
And moved on to this!
Started to get full at this point…but managed to eat more of it (sharing a little with Matt). You know, I really don’t care for turkey ON Thanksgiving, but I love it as leftovers!
Dad was the only one to eat his FRUIT!
The bears were very well behaved
We went outside to digest and take some holiday photos for posterity
My wild Thanksgiving outfit
Then I burned off my dinner cleaning 🙂
So I could work up an appetite for piiiiiies!
Cheryl made the most delicious Snowflake Pie!!!!!!! Raspberry filling with a cream cheese almondy lemon filling. We found the recipe online (at least we think this is the same). Note to drain the pie filling so it’s not too liquidly.
Karen’s famous Southern Pecan Pie
And my mom’s Pumpkin Chiffon Pie
With the pies Matt served some homemade mead
Matt also whipped fresh cream
I had a full plate – you know it!!
However it took me a good 30 minutes to work through the pies and I took my sweet time. So, so good.
We played our traditional Thankful Game where we draw topics from a bowl and go around the table saying what we’re thankful for.
Annnnd a haap-py new year!
Gloria says
DELICIOUS-LOOKING FOOD!!!!
And I lurve the shiny yellow top!!! 😉
Priyanka says
Happy Thanksgiving Kath!
Love the family pictures!
Love the top ,very festive!
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans says
It looks like you and your family had a wonderful day together! Your table looks beautiful, as do the pictures of your fam!
Faye says
All looks so good! I burnt my almonds too! We picked through the really bad ones but didn’t fret too much!
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
That all looks beautiful. I am thankful for having a blog to document special times like this! Happy Thanksgiving
Jessie (Vegan-minded) says
Wow, it looks like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I love the teal and orange table setting. 🙂
Julie @savvyeats says
Such a sweet game–love it!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
What a gorgeous place setting Kath! And such an amazing dinner. Every last entre sounds delicious, and what a wonderful meal to share with your family! Sounds like a lovely thanksgiving! 🙂
Sandhiya says
Happy Holidays! Love your pictures.
Sam (Merit to the Carrot) says
What a beautiful occasion! It all looks delicious and enjoyable 🙂
Each pie sounds INCREDIBLE
Have a lovely evening of digestion! I know I will.
<3
VeggieGirl says
Fabulous family feast and gathering!
maria says
Looks like a fantastic Thanksgiving to me! 😀
Love the outfit you were rockin’ by the way.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
What a great Thanksgiving!! Thanks for sharing!
Jessica says
I made your cranberry sauce today and can i say that I am super excited that there are leftovers.
candice says
Can I join you guys for Thanksgiving next year?! Holy moly that is a YUMMY spread! Blue cheese mashed potatoes… bacony green beans (!!!)… THREE types of delicious pies! The snowflake design is just beautiful. 😀 I love your table-setting design, too. So cute!
Meg says
You and your family are beautiful! I’m happy to hear you had such a great Thanksgiving, and such amazing food – looks awesome!
Enjoy your evening Kath!!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Your table decor is gorgeous and blue cheese in mashed potatoes sound divine 🙂
polly says
LOVED this post!! Happy Thanksgiving day sweet KATH! Those pies look amaaaazing. All your photos could be in a magazine, indeed. Cute outfit and loved the family pics. I am a weird, but the photo of your banana with nut butter was especially lovely. (this girl loves nanas and nut butter, can’t help it!) and PIE. 😀
Happy weekend, sweetie. XOXO
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Happy Thanksgiving! Your dinner and company look fabulous. 🙂 So festive!! I should have gone the bacon route with the green beans — next time!!
Jenn
Susan says
What a feast!!! I actually think blue cheese potatoes sound delicious 🙂 And I can’t wait for the oat stuffing recipe.
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Looks like you had a great Thanksgiving! I love that table setting– so simple but lovely! It reminds me of something you’d see in Martha Stewart Living. Classic!
Erin says
Everything looks delicious — food, setting, family. What a lovely day. There’s so much to be thankful for! 😀
[email protected] RunningAroundNormal says
What a wonderful Thanksgiving. Nice job, Kath! That table settings look beautiful! All of the food looks delicious. Your Thanksgiving outfit is too cute:)
caronae says
Sounds like an awesome day! So thankful for friends and family. And that raspberry/almond pie looks sweet!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
Beautiful meal!!
Justy2003 says
Happy Thanksgiving! Looks like a wonderful meal…and I’m sure it all tasted great!
Alison says
what a delicious spread you had. kudos for hosting such a fabulous thanksgiving. you make it look so effortless!
Emily Eats and Exercises says
You’re such a grownup to host your own Thanksgiving! My family has more that 20 people – I’m not sure I’ll every own a place big enough to host… Looks like you had a great time with the family.
Hillary - Nutrition Nut on the Run says
Love love love the simple & elegant table setting, especially the cheery colors. Great job! We use satsumas to decorate our table too : )
linda says
do you remember by chance where you bought the long silver earrrings with the swirl? they are so pretty…
thanks,
linda
Kath says
Linda,
I think they are from a jewelry shop on Churton St. in Hillsborough. Hand-made by Catherine Callaway.
Kath
Foxy says
The food looks absolutely delicious!!!
christie @ honoring health says
The table you set was beautiful! I love those glass bottles, I collect them and put them in my windows.
I’m glad you had a great Thanksgiving!
Cara (Cara Craves...) says
SCRUMPTIOUS!
Jac says
that’s really early dinner, no?
Kath says
Well it was Thanksgiving . Lots of families eat a lunch/dinner hybrid.
K
Anne [email protected] Weigh of Life says
I loved the recap and the family pictures!
lainb says
What a beautiful Thanksgiving!
Light Delight with TouTou says
such a great day !! I love your families picture:-) all of them are very sweet!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) says
I knew I was in for a mind-blowing Thanksgiving post when I clicked on your blog. Oy, was I right. I don’t know where to begin. The snowflake pie looks beautiful. The pumpkin chiffon pie looks delish. The Turkey prep sounds like a savory, fail-proof method resulting in nothing less than succulence.
Beautiful family photos, love your outfit!
Jenna says
looks like a great thanksgiving!!
jenna
amber says
LOVE the outfit! wow you table setting looked a lot like ours!
Carolyn says
Looks like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Janet says
That is a gorgeous table! The food looks fantastic – I’m jealous! I think I’m doing a Thanksgiving do-over tonight. 🙂
Danielle says
What a beautiful table setting! I love those blue glass bottles!