My Thanksgiving Meal Plan

Is anyone else feverishly curating, planning and sorting all of the recipes you'll be using on Thanksgiving? My mom is hosting this year, but I'm taking on a bulk of the cooking. Over the past week, I've gotten into several chit-chats about what recipes I'd be using. I think we all look forward to hearing about what other people are doing because we all want some inspiration. It's fun to come across new recipes - and there is no better way to try them out than on a holiday!

I decided to collect them all in one place (which will make it all the more easier to see them on Thanksgiving Day while I am whipping stuff up), and share them in case anyone else is looking for something new and exciting to make.

Apart from the mashed potato recipe and the classic stuffing recipe (see below), all the of the recipes are new to me. I am a big fan of magazines, and most of this year's Thanksgiving recipe inspiration has come from them: Every Day with Rachael Ray and Food Network Magazine . 

The rest of the dishes are coming from my amazing mother and mother-in-law (and therefore without recipe here in this post). While I'm not posting those recipes (although I do need to add them to my blog!), I'm posting the all of our intended dishes, in case you are looking for overall menu ideas.

Now I just need Tablescape inspiration...

Turkey: Dry-Brined Turkey

 Rachael Ray Magazine

Gravy: Turkey Gravy with Onions and Sage 

Food Network Magazine

Stuffing: Classic Stuffing

Food Network Magazine

Mashed Potatoes: Steph's Recipe

Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Mom

Bread: Homemade Dinner Rolls

The Kitchn

Signature Drink: Cranberry Negronis

Food Network Magazine

Also on the menu:

Broccoli Casserole, courtesy of my mother-in-law
Pineapple Stuffing, courtesy of my mother-in-law
Green Bean Casserole, courtesy of my mom
Sweet Potatoes, courtesy of my mom
Pumpkin Roll, courtesy of my mom
Pumpkin Pie, courtesy of my mother-in-law
Chocolate Cheesecake, courtesy of my mother-in-law



Share the love and share YOUR favorite Thanksgiving recipes! 

Leave a comment with your recipes or links to the recipes you'll be using for the holiday. 

Don't forget to bookmark or pin this post as an "all in one place" resource!

Holiday Party Menu #DiscoverIssuu

I was selected for this opportunity as part of the Girls' Lunch Out network. All views expressed are entirely my own, and were not influenced or directed by either Girls' Lunch Out or Issuu.


Can we all agree that one of the best things about the holidays is food?

Right?

Sure, yeah: family, friends, christmas movies, peaceloveharmony, blah blah blah. But get me to a holiday party with a beautiful spread of appetizers and desserts? 

Consider me filled with Holiday Joy.

I love that this time of year affords me the opportunity to scout out and try new recipes, as well as cherish tried and true dishes that have graced my holidays for ages. I often turn to my food magazine collection for inspiration. 

What, you don't have a food magazine collection?

Or, rather, addiction?

This problem started a few years ago when Amazon had this fantabulous $5 magazine sale. And I kind of subscribed to several publications. And by "several" I mean 12.  Everything from vegetarian and gourmet food to fitness and backpacking. I couldn't help myself.

The only problem with having subscriptions of so many magazines is, like, what do you do with them once you are done? I can't part with food magazines. The idea of chucking any number of scrumptious recipes that I've never had a chance to try pains me. I've taken to cutting out recipes, which has become a messy and disorganized way to keep recipes I find in my magazine collection.

So imagine my joy of learning about Issuu.

::cue angels singing and trumpets trumpeting::

Issuu is the digital way to organize all of the great things you find in magazines all online. No hoards of paper sitting in corners or cutting out recipes you find. Instead, you create stacks (think of them as categories or "playlists" of content), and add content that fits the theme. Follow other user's stacks and over time you'll find magazines and articles recommended for you.  Think Pinterest but for magazines.

I'm pretty sure they created it just for me. 

But I'll let you use it too.

So back to holiday menu planning.

I utilized some of my old traditional recipes as well as recipes I found on Issuu after searching for food.  HOLY INSPIRATION.  I need to throw at least 3 parties just to make all these recipes and serve it to friends.  

(Want to come? You are totes invited0

Like, hello, Kennett Square Mushroom Bruschetta from Aimee Olexy of Talula's Table on page 6 of Fig Kennett Holiday 2013 (I know. I'm biased):

Or this recipe for Mulled Cider in Home for the Holidays:

Yum, right?


So here is a quick menu I put together, whether you need one recipe to take to a party or you need all the recipes because you are hosting the party yourself!

Appetizers

Kennett Square Mushroom Bruschetta

Asparagus Roll-Ups

Cheese and Vegetable Spread with Dips and Crackers

Main Meal

Slow Cooker Dilled Shredded Beef Sandwiches

Chicken Satay Skewers

Side Dishes

Spinach Salad with Gorgonzola, Pistachios and Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

Mashed Potatoes

Dessert

Cannoli Dip

Fruit Pizza

Pistachio Tart Cherry Chocolate Bark

Oatmeal Caramelitas

Beverages

Mulled Cider

Jingle Juice

Pomegranate Martinis

All of these recipes would stand out great alone if you need something to show up to a party with, but together make a bang-up holiday party menu!

Thank you to Issuu for new inspiration and much online magazine browsing to come!

What recipes are on YOUR Holiday Party Menu?

To #DiscoverIssuu to find your own holiday menu inspiration, you can connect with them:


Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Web

Grill it Up on Memorial Day {Motivation Monday Link Up}

I've created several Cookout Menu's over the past few years. Since it is Memorial Day Weekend, I thought I'd compile them all into one post so you can drool...I mean...plan your holiday cookout!  Some of my favorite recipes from the following cookout menu's include:

Sandra Lee's Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Burgers

Marinated London Broil

Tortellini Salad

Click the pictures below to be whisked away to my mouth-watering cookout menus:

Some more ideas that I've tried thanks to Pinterest. These are FANTABULOUS and cookout-worthy:

Source: moderndaydonnareed.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Source: addapinch.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Source: skinnytaste.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

What does YOUR Memorial Day Cookout menu look like?

Share your recipes or link-up your posts with our Motivation Monday Memorial Day Weekend Link-Up!

Mother's Day Brunch Menu

Just to give some inspiration to those of us who will be serving (or contributing to) Mother's Day Brunch this Sunday, I thought I'd throw out a few of my favorite brunch recipes.  I made sure to do a good mix of "breakfast" and "lunch" items. Because that's the point of Brunch - that it's a partnership between the early and mid-day meals.  Too often I've arrived at a late brunch that starts at, say, 11:00am, only to find mainly breakfast items. This does not constitute Brunch, my friends.  That is a late breakfast.


So give the Mommas in your life an elegant brunch.  They deserve it!


This brunch menu actually goes really well for any brunch occasion. I make the Breakfast Casserole and Monkey Bread every Christmas Morning!


Here is my Quintessential Mother's Day Brunch Menu.  Enjoy!

Beverages

Mimosas

Orange Juice

Coffee

Iced Tea

Appetizers and Sides

Asparagus Roll Ups

Warm Tortellini and Cherry Tomato Salad

Main Meal

Breakfast Casserole

Dilled Shredded Beef Sandwiches

Desserts/Pastries

Fruit Pizza

Cannoli Dip

Monkey Bread

What items will you be serving on Mother's Day? What are your favorite Brunch recipes? I'd love to hear from you (and snag a few recipes while I'm at it), so leave a comment!