You may have perfected your Thanksgiving menu, including a mouth-watering recipe for Herb-Butter Turkey, but do you know how to choose the perfect bird to serve at your big feast? Have you figured out how big it should be? Do you know the difference between frozen and fresh? If you'd like the answer to these questions, then keep on reading, I've compiled a few tips to help you out.

• To figure out how big of a turkey you should buy, a good rule of thumb is about 1 lb. per person, more if you want leftovers and less if those people are children (unless they're children with adult appetites!). If the turkey is prestuffed, up the amount to 1.75–2 lbs. per person.
• Generally speaking, the younger the bird, the better the flavor and tenderness. Fryer (also called roaster) turkeys are less than four months old and the most tender turkey you can buy. Young turkeys are four to eight months old and have soft, smooth skin. A yearling is a 12-month-old turkey and is reasonably tender. A mature (also called old) is one that is older than 15 months. The meat is tough and it is not well suited for roasting.

Discover a few more tips, just read more

I'm crazy about candles because they create a gorgeous glow and enhance the look of a dinner or party. These clever candles cast beautiful tree shadows that would work wonderfully on a Thanksgiving mantel. If Thanksgiving is not in your home, think about bringing one to your hostess! — Hostess With The Mostess

Thanksgiving is a celebration that lasts half the day, so stock up on a variety of drinks for the different times. Start with a festive, champagne cocktail. Mix Prosecco with pear nectar and season with crushed black peppercorns. Let guests pour their own and have lots of bubbly on hand. Depending on your tastebuds, you could serve sparkling wine during the entire meal. Start with a light Cava and pair the turkey with a sparkling Shiraz.

For a more traditional take, reserve the bubbly for the appetizers and serve a Beaujolais Nouveau or Pinot Grigio with dinner. Think about offering multiple wines with dinner. A Chardonnay nicely pairs with the flavors of squash, while a Sauvignon Blanc complements gravy and stuffing.

Don't forget lots of water and sparkling apple cider for the kids. To take a look at the Prosecco pear cocktail, read more

Las Vegas, the home town of sex and sin, has a new place to grab a cup of coffee. While the rest of us have to head to a place where the baristas are fully-clothed, the fine folks of Las Vegas can head to Sexxpresso, an erotic coffee shop where the baristas are in lingerie. Instead of settling for small, medium and large drink sizes, the "Bodacious Baristas" will fill cup sizes A, B or DD. The drinks also have ridiculous names like Erotic Pleasure (White Chocolate Mocha), Wet Dream (Caramel Macchiato) and Porn Star (Chocolate Covered Cherry Latte).

I suppose if there is a restaurant with "hot nurses" trend, then why can't there be a trend of coffee stands with ladies in lingerie? In fact, there are other erotic coffee shops in Seattle.

Personally I think it's horribly tacky and could never imagine ordering a DD Cup of Erotic Pleasure. But then again, I don't think I'm in their target demographic...

Source

This week I chose a recipe that would work deliciously in a Thanksgiving menu. Instead of the classic pumpkin or squash varieties, a light, slightly creamy mushroom soup is an excellent addition to the traditional menu. Topped with a blue cheese crouton and chopped chives, this soup is rich and heart warming. It's simple to make and yields a large batch, making it perfect for a crowd. If you love the taste of mushrooms, definitely give this soup a try. If blue cheese is too strong for your liking, substitute with a creamy goat's cheese or salty Parmesan. To see how I made it, read more

This week we're spotlighting these amazing cupcakes from flickr member Baking Fairy. Her turkey cupcakes are absolutely amazing! I love the ingenuity of a little cupcake stacked on top in order to create the head. I hope she's inspired you because a batch like these would be a sure hit at any Thanksgiving potluck or celebration!

If you thought the Serpentine Goblets were pricey, then let me introduce you to the world's most expensive dessert: Frrrozen Haute Chocolate. Created by the folks at the Serendipity 3 restaurant in NY, the Frrrozen Haute Chocolate — which is an expensive version of their famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate — rings up at $25,000. Yes, that is a five figure price tag on a single dessert.

The dessert itself is a mix of cocoa and milk, frozen to a slush-like drink. Five grams of 24-carat gold is mixed in and then it's topped with more gold and garnished with a $250 chocolate truffle that is flown in from France.

The dessert has just gone on sale and actually needs a two week lead time (they also fly the gold in from Switzerland). So far they haven't sold any, but I'm sure that's just a matter of time.

Source