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Come Party With Me: Fast Thanksgiving — The Look

partysugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:15:49 -0800

If you have no time to cook dinner, you won't have much time to worry about the table. However, set aside 15 minutes to transform your everyday dining table into a beautiful Thanksgiving table. Cover the table with a cream-colored cloth and brown runner. Take a walk around your house and get creative with the place mats. Stack plates on the table and fill a basket with utensils; when the dinner is ready, guests can grab a plate and servingware. Choose a versatile glass that can hold the cocktail, and both red and white wine.

Line the glasses in a row next to the wine and drinks and let guests serve themselves. Instead of running around the house lighting a million candles, save time by assembling them all in one place. No time to run to the florist? Step outside and gather pretty, colorful Fall leaves. Fold white cardstock in half for a simple place card.

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Come Party With Me: Fast Thanksgiving — Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:30:11 -0800

As much as I love cocktails made from fresh, seasonal ingredients, sometimes there simply isn't time — especially when you need Thanksgiving dinner ready in a hurry — to juice 20 blood oranges. The grocery store liquor aisle is crowded with generic and overly-sweet cocktail mixers, but there's one brand I trust for excellent mixers: Stirrings. With their blood orange flavor you can make a quick batch of blood orange bellinis.

Serve wine at mealtime. Call your local wine shop and ask them to set aside a couple of Thanksgiving-friendly bottles for you. Use their expertise to save time. You won't have to research wine pairings or stand in the wine aisle wondering what to buy. Don't forget sparkling apple cider, water, and soda for the kids. To look at the easy blood orange bellini recipe,

Come Party With Me: Fast Thanksgiving — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:00:17 -0800

If you are in a hurry for a Thanksgiving dessert, the easiest thing to do is be like Sandra Lee and take some help from the store. Use a ready-made pie crust, instant pudding mix, and caramel sauce to assemble a delicious turtle pumpkin pie. The recipe calls for cool whipped topping, but it really doesn't take that long to make.

If you have the time, I suggest whipping the cream with a couple tablespoons of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. To look at this easy recipe,

Come Party With Me: Fast Thanksgiving — Menu

partysugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:00:56 -0800

Many people think that serving your family a classic, delicious Thanksgiving requires days of work in the kitchen. However, with a little culinary savviness, one can make a complete meal in a couple of hours. Pick up store-bought snacks to tide over your crowd until turkey time. Put together a simple cheese plate with olives, nuts, figs, and charcuterie.

Cut cook time in half by serving a roasted turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. Keep the stuffing simple and the flavoring ingredients to a minimum. A gravy that doesn't require turkey drippings is another time saver. Combine the sweet potato side with the traditional mashed potatoes. Make a quick cranberry sauce with sugar, cranberries, and water. Serve one vegetable side in the form of a crunchy broccoli-cauliflower gratin. To look at these fast and easy recipes,

Come Party With Me: Fast Thanksgiving — Invite

partysugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:17:50 -0800

Too busy to think about Thanksgiving? No worries, this week I'm planning a quick and easy Thanksgiving dinner that requires little effort and minimal stress. With help from the grocery store everything on the menu can be made the day of. A dinner party that gives thanks can be stress-free and delicious. Instead of hosting a formal fete, host a casual meal with the emphasis on friends and family. To get started, call guests to invite them to dinner, or send these easy, hand-written invites in the mail. Learn how I made them and,

Come Party With Me: Foodie Thanksgiving — The Look

partysugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:45:30 -0800

Use a combination of white, bronze, and gold to create a rich looking Thanksgiving table. Cover the table with an embroidered runner and mirrored place mats. On each setting, place a white plate and a gold napkin. Paint mini pumpkins with bronze paint, tie a pretty ribbon to the stem, and attach to a hand-written place card. Goblet-style wine glasses work for both white and red wine. A branch-like candelabra looks stunning on a nearby banquet. Copper votives glow with candles at the table. Lush, white bouquets add a touch of refined elegance.

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Come Party With Me: Foodie Thanksgiving — Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:30:39 -0800

At Thanksgiving, impress your foodie friends with a sophisticated cocktail. A blend of sweet and dry vermouths and bourbon, the perfect turkey is a seasonal variation of the classic Manhattan. The potent flavor of the whiskey will pair nicely with the rich appetizers. Prepare a pitcher, shake and serve as guests arrive.

Have champagne on hand. Nicolas Feuillatte has some lovely, affordable options. For the meal pour a pinot noir. To look at the recipe for the perfect turkey,

Come Party With Me: Foodie Thanksgiving — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:00:57 -0800

A caramelized pumpkin trifle is the perfect finish to a foodie Thanksgiving. A seemingly simple dessert, a trifle is really quite complex. Before assembling you have to make the components. In this case, the flavors of classic pumpkin pie are layered to make an exciting new dish. Candied pumpkin, pumpkin bread, and cinnamon pudding come together to create the ultimate dessert. To look at the recipe that allows you to show off your trifle dish,

Come Party With Me: Foodie Thanksgiving — Menu

partysugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:00:44 -0800

With rich flavors, luxe ingredients, and complex cooking techniques, this delicious Thanksgiving menu is sure to wow your foodie friends. Start with brioche toasts topped with foie gras, date purée, and pomegranate seeds. Caviar with cream cheese on peppered crackers is another hors d'oeuvres option that comes together easily with elements from a gourmet grocery store. A slow-smoked turkey with cane syrup-coffee glaze is a showstopping centerpiece to the main event. Before being smoked, the bird is braised in a mixture of coffee, apple cider vinegar, and cane syrup, so make sure you have a pot large enough to hold a whole turkey.

A decadent stuffing with bacon, sage, and fresh-shucked oysters is a delightful accompaniment to the smoked bird. Sweet potatoes reach new heights when served in souffle form stuffed inside a phyllo dough. To get these recipes for the more advanced home cook,

Come Party With Me: Foodie Thanksgiving — Invite

partysugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:15:19 -0800

Thanksgiving is the biggest food holiday of the year; the entire celebration revolves around the meal. Thus, I'm planning a Thanksgiving dinner for foodies — those who love to cook and eat. From the invite to the decor I've got you covered. Take my ideas to make your own memorable and scrumptious Thanksgiving. Let's start by sending elegant, homemade invitations. To see how I made the invites shown here,