Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

Thankful at Home 2014

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Julie

It’s officially the time of year to reflect on gratitude.

While our Canadian friends have already celebrated their Thanksgiving, we’re still looking forward to having our friends and families gather in our homes and around our tables for Thanksgiving here in the U.S.

I can’t wait.

I absolutely adore Thanksgiving. I love it even more than Christmas. Truly.

Why?

Because I think it’s more relaxed, it’s less commercial and it’s centered on what matters — being grateful for all that we have and for those we love.

Each year I try to keep a gratitude journal where I write down the things I am grateful for on a daily basis. Sometimes I’m not in the mood to be thankful. Sometimes I feel like I keep repeating the same things over and over. But, the one thing I’ve realized since I began keeping a journal like this is that there is always something to grateful for. Always.

This year was a bit challenging for us as a family. My husband’s job continued to grow more and more stressful as budgets and personnel were cut. His travel schedule remained hectic and he often missed out on important family events like birthdays and anniversaries.

We remodeled our kitchen this summer and it was extremely stressful. Things did not go smoothly during parts of the process so our patience was stretched thin and maxed out at times.

This fall, my son began the 7th grade at a new school. It is his biggest challenge to date. We are working through the normal growing pains of entering the teen years along with hectic athletics schedules, sports injuries and a big load of home work. Some days he and I are both near tears over the angst of learning challenging math problems while finishing his other homework until late in to the night.

Some days we feel like it’s all too much. Wouldn’t the grass be greener (and less to mow!) in a smaller home with a smaller or — better yet — no mortgage? Wouldn’t life be better if my husband could pull back at work and have a less demanding career?

We don’t know what the answers are but I can tell you this: I am grateful for it all. Yes, I’m even grateful for the indecision, the challenges and the uncertainty. It means we are alive, that we have normal, healthy kids and that we have jobs and a home.

I am thankful my husband is such a wonderful provider, husband, father and friend.

I am thankful that we are financially able to make the changes in our kitchen we talked about for years.

I am thankful that my son is an intelligent, thoughtful kid who perseveres when the going gets tough. I am so proud of him.

I am thankful for my daughter who remains cheerful, kind and makes us laugh through it all.

I am grateful for my entire family, my friends and the fact that I have a beautiful home to enjoy through the good and bad.

I am thankful that I am able to stay home with my children while trying to make a successful business out of my little ol’ blog.

I am so blessed.

As I set my Thanksgiving table this year, I am going to be mindful that every single thing is a gift and a blessing. It’s exactly why I love this time of year.

I’m sharing my Thankful printable with you so you and your guests can write down all the reasons you’re grateful this Thanksgiving.

I hope you’ll join me and the 13 other bloggers who are participating in the Thankful at Home tour this week.

We are sharing all the things that make us Thankful at Home. I can’t wait to read each and every one.

Monday, Nov. 3

Funky Junk Interiors

French Country Cottage

Savvy Southern Style

Lilacs & Longhorns — that’s me!

Maison de Pax

Tuesday, Nov. 4

My Soulful Home

On Sutton Place

Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Wednesday, Nov. 5

Stone Gable

At the Picket Fence

Top This Top That

Housepitality Designs

Debbiedoos

Wishing you peace, love and gratitude this Thanksgiving,

Sharing at:

The Scoop

Savvy Southern Style

Between Naps on the Porch

30 Comments
POSTED IN: Fall, fall table, free printable, holiday table, Holiday tablescape, Tablescapes, Thankful at Home, thankful printable, Thanksgiving

Share on facebook | Share on Twitter | Pin on Pinterest

This & That: Show & Tell

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Julie

I can hardly believe it’s November already. The holiday season is fast approaching and I am acutely aware that I need to get ready!

I love Thanksgiving and I’m so excited that it’ll be here soon.

My parents were in town visiting this past week so I don’t have a lot to share today, but I wanted to show and tell you about a few things.

First, there’s a Thanksgiving platter that I can’t get out of my mind. My mom and I saw it at Williams-Sonoma while shopping together this week and I wish I could buy it!

via Williams-Sonoma

The picture doesn’t do it justice. It’s even prettier in person. I think I’m going to put this on my Christmas wish list since it’s not in the budget right now.

Second, I’m super excited that Kelly, from My Soulful Home, and I are co-hosting our Thankful at Home tour again this year. It begins tomorrow (Nov. 3) and I am so excited to be able to start things off with a great line-up of bloggers.

Monday, Nov. 3

Funky Junk Interiors

French Country Cottage

Savvy Southern Style

Lilacs & Longhorns

Maison de Pax

Tuesday, Nov. 4

Craftberry Bush

My Soulful Home

On Sutton Place

Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Wednesday, Nov. 5

Stone Gable

At the Picket Fence

Top This Top That

Housepitality Designs

Debbiedoos

I absolutely love this tour we created last year. It’s all about the heart and soul of home. We reflect on what makes us Thankful at Home while sharing beautiful pictures and some even a share a Thanksgiving project or two.

I love getting to see the hearts of the bloggers I already love and admire. I know you will too! (Here’s last year’s Thankful at Home tour in case you missed it.)

Finally, each week I’ve been introducing you to some of my blogging friends.

I hope you’ll stop by and pay them a visit.

Thanks so much for visiting me today. Remember to stop by tomorrow for the start of the Thankful at Home tour! I can’t wait!

1 Comment
POSTED IN: Thankful at Home, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving platter

Share on facebook | Share on Twitter | Pin on Pinterest

Rich and Delicious Pecan Pie Recipe

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Julie

If you’ve been reading my blog lately, you know that I love Thanksgiving.

I love the focus on being grateful, I love the traditional food and most of all, I love the pies.

In my opinion, Thanksgiving dinner just wouldn’t be complete without pumpkin or pecan pies.

Today, I’m honored to be participating in a Virtual Progressive Thanksgiving Dinner with more than 20 bloggers. Each of us bringing you our very best Thanksgiving dinner recipes, decorations and all of the things that make a Thanksgiving dinner special.

Today, I’m sharing my signature pecan pie recipe.

Yes…it’s my “signature” recipe.

(Kind of like Shelby in “Steel Magnolias” when she says that pink is her signature color)

It became my “signature” dessert several years back when I first start making pecan pie for my husband.

It was his very favorite pie and he always wanted one at Thanksgiving. And, me who believes cooking/baking is a way of showing my love was always happy to oblige.

I tried several recipes and each time he took a bite of a new version he would tell me what he did or did not like about it. It seemed like every recipe was good but was missing that certain something.

So, I continued trying recipes and then began tweaking and perfecting until I landed on just the right combination.

It is rich and delicious and I’ve been making it this way ever since.

It is always a hit with pecan pie lovers and non-pecan pie eaters alike.

I think it’s because I chop my pecans in to small pieces making it easier to eat and less offensive to those who don’t really love nuts (like me). The nuts blend in to the pie a little more so if you love the yummy inside, you’ll love the pecans, too.

Of course, if you love pecans then by all means don’t chop up the nuts! You’ll still love the pie!

Rich & Delicious Pecan Pie

2014-11-05 19:44:14

Yummy and rich pecan pie

Write a review

Save Recipe

Ingredients

One pie crust for a 9 inch pie.
4 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup dark Caro syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup pecans, chopped*

Instructions

Roll out pie crust and place in to a 9-inch pie plate and crimp the edges
Whisk together eggs and next 6 ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat until well blended. Pour in to pie crust and sprinkle with pecans.
Bake at 350 on lower rack 30 minutes or until pie is set.

Notes

*Chopping the pecans is optional, you may leave them whole if you prefer.

Lilacs and Longhorns http://www.lilacsandlonghorns.com/

If you’re looking for more great recipes and Thanksgiving dinner resources, be sure to visit the folllowing blogs:

November Fourteenth:

Printables –

Worthing Court

Mom 4 Real

Decor –

Just Paint It

Making Lemonade

Centerpieces:

The Everyday Home

Designer’s Sweet Spot

Table Decor and Ideas –

Creating This Life

My Soulful Home

Major Hoff Takes a Wife

Drinks –

Southern Color

Deja Vue Designs

Appetizers –

Our Southern Home

Sweet Pea

November Fifteenth:

Soups –

Town and Country Living

Just Us Four

Salads –

Cedar Hill Farmhouse

Fresh Idea Studio

Main Dishes –

First Home Love Life

Side Dishes –

All Things Heart and Home

Desserts –

Domestically Speaking

Lilacs and Longhorns

Parting Gifts –

House on the Way

Dukes and Duchesses

Sharing at:

Savvy Southern Style

24 Comments
POSTED IN: holiday recipes, pecan pie, pecan recipes, pie, pie recipe, recipes, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving recipe

Share on facebook | Share on Twitter | Pin on Pinterest

Fall Favorites Friday {Our Family Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes}

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Julie

I’m a little late, but here it is…my FINAL Fall Favorites Friday (posting on Saturday — oops!!) Did fall fly by or what? My kids are already pestering me to put up Christmas decorations. One thing at a time, kids, one thing at a time. Momma’s gotta cook a Thanksgiving turkey first!

Speaking of which, I feel like I’ve devoted a lot of my Fall Favorites Fridays posts to food, but honest to God, I love a good meal. And, one of the reasons I love Thanksgiving even more than Christmas is because a lot of the food we prepare is a once-a-year treat.

Today, I’m sharing a few of our family favorite Thanksgiving recipes. I’ll warn you right now that you will consume nearly a billion calories and lots of fat with these beauties. But, if you just tell yourself that it’s only once a year you’ll cut down the fat and calories by at least half – ha!! (Wouldn’t it be nice if that were actually true?)

Recipe #1
Alton Brown’s ThanksgivingTurkey

Source: Food Network

This recipe is not the big fat and calorie offender, but it is very good and it is our go-to holiday turkey recipe. It comes out moist every time and it only takes a couple of hours to cook – so no getting up at 4 a.m. to put the turkey in — gotta love that!

The recipe can be found here on the Food Network site.

Recipe #2
Cheesy Corn Bake

I got this recipe from a former co-worker when we did a potluck Thanksgiving meal at work one year. If you like creamy corn with a little southwestern kick to it, you’ll love this recipe! I make this every year for my Texas family — they love it!

Click here for a printable recipe.

Recipe #3
Something’ Special Sweet Potato Casserole

Source

This is not an actual picture of my sweet potato casserole, but it’s a pretty good representation of what this recipe looks like when done. (Since I’m a new blogger I don’t have my own picture, so I improvised.)

This dish has a kick to it, and not the jalepeno or Cajun kind. It is spiked with alcohol. The recipe calls for apricot brandy, but one year we ran out and used Jim Beam bourbon instead and it has been the number one favorite around here so we now use it regularly. (I know, we sound like a bunch of drinkers, but seriously, the alcohol burns off during cooking and just leaves a bold flavor. Your kids can eat this too.)

This is another recipe from a former co-worker who got it out of an old Southern cookbook called, “Big Mama’s Old Black Pot.” I seriously need to order a copy of the book. I can only imagine what other gems are inside!

Click here for a printable recipe.

I should also note that one of the great things about this particular recipe is that it needs to be prepared a day or so ahead of time so the flavors can marry — that’s what makes this such a great Thanksgiving recipe!

Recipe #4
The Ultimate Pecan Pie (& Pie Crust)

Source: Southern Living

This recipe is one that I modified from a Southern Living recipe I found several years ago. I can’t seem to find the original online but here’s a link to several they have posted if you’re interested in doing more browsing.

My recipe is my family’s hands-down favorite and I get rave reviews every time I bake it. My husband’s work colleague came to dinner one night and told me it was the best pecan pie he’s ever had!

Click here for a printable recipe.

I should also mention that I am a pie snob and believe a pie is only as good as it’s crust, so I only make pies with a from-scratch crust. That’s not to say I haven’t cheated a time or two with a store-bought one. I’m just saying that I’m always disappointed with the results when the crust isn’t home-made.

Source: Martha Stewart

I have also tried a few pie crust recipes over the years and have decided that Martha Stewart’s easy pie crust recipe is my favorite. It’s buttery and flaky and I’m hungry for pie just thinking about it!

I can’t tell you how much I look forward to eating our Thanksgiving meal each year. Even if these particular recipes were not a part of it, I still enjoy the act of preparing a sit-down dinner for family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Linking up to:

It’s Overflowing
Homemaker on a Dime

Due to stolen content I cannot provide a full RSS feed. I work hard to provide fresh, original content and, unfortunately, there are sites that like to steal from honest, hard-working bloggers. Thanks for understanding!

No Comments
POSTED IN: Fall Favorites Friday, Thanksgiving

Share on facebook | Share on Twitter | Pin on Pinterest

Fall Favorites Friday {10 Tips for Creating an Inviting Thanksgiving Table}

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Julie

I can’t even believe Thanksgiving is a week and a half away! (Well, not quite…) How in the world did that happen?!

The fact is, it’s here, it’s going to happen, and I have to get ready!!

I’m hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year so I’ve got to start thinking about my table (among other things). I’m pretty excited about it because I have a new (to me) dining table that will seat 10 people! Woo hoo!

I want to make it pretty and inviting so I’ve been browsing fall tablscapes and I ‘ve gotten a lot of great ideas. Today, I’m sharing 10 Tips for Creating an Inviting Thanksgiving Table.

Let’s get started!

1. Use nature — Twigs, pumpkins, gourds, wheat…it all looks so beautiful and inviting in a Thanksgiving tablescape.

Source: Dear Lillie

Source: Pinterest

Source: BHG

2. There are no rules — meaning, you don’t have to have placemats, chargers, fancy china or dinnerware to make it beautiful. Sometimes a few simple things you already own combined with some creativity are all that’s needed to make a welcoming display.

Source: Everyday Occasions

3. You don’t have to use typical fall colors — pops of blues, greans,whites and a hint of red make this table sing. I especially love the blue and white bowls — so fresh and lovely! I don’t think I even need to mention these gorgeous flower arrangements. I mean, WOW!

Source: The Lettered Cottage

The picture below is from the Life in Grace blog. She called it her “Bohemian (Rhapsody) Thanksgiving Tablescape.” It’s so alive and full of color — love it!!

Source: Life in Grace

4. Candles make it cozy — whether it’s a simple votive candle or several tall candlesticks, candles set a warm, cozy mood that makes everyone feel good.

Source: BHG

Source: Good Housekeeping

5. You can never go wrong with silver — Look how beautiful this silver looks with the gorgeous dishes. Now look a little more closeley…it doesn’t match! Still looks great, doesn’t it?!

Source: Vignette Design

Pottery Barn’s use of mercury glass pumpkins, silver chargers, silver napkin rings, silverware and silver candlesticks make this table pop.

Source: Pottery Barn

Keep in mind you don’t have to buy everything from Pottery Barn or other expensive places. Estate sales, garage sales, clearance bins, Goodwill — they’re all great sources for a lot of these perfectly good, shiny items. Don’t forget, a can of silver spray paint can go a long way to add a little sparkle to your table!

6. Use stuff you find outside for free — This is always a favorite tip for me. The possibilities are really endless! Twigs, horse apples, magnolia leaves, evergreen branches, apples, pears, pomegranites, acorns, nuts — you name it! Wherever you live there is something that can be used to decorate your fall table for FREE!

Source: (2 pictures above) BHG

7. When in doubt, use white or cream as your main color. I’ve seen a lot of beautiful tablescapes and some of the most beautiful use white as their main base layer of color.

Source: BHG

Source: Country Living

8. There really is no substitute for fresh flowers. If you can afford to splurge on some fresh flowers, it’s totally worth it. One simple display makes a huge impact.

Source: Vignette Design

9. Cloth napkins class up the joint. Sure, it creates additional laundry but they look so nice – don’t you think?

Source: (all three photos above) Everyday Occasions

I love how she showed the same place settings with three different napkins and a different embellishment.

(Cloth napkins can be totally home-made, too. Can’t sew? Cut inexpensive fabric and fray your edges on purpose!)

10. Placecards, menus and food labels give the table and side-board that extra special touch.

I have never done this before but I love the idea. It really makes the table special, I think.

Source (2 pictures above): Dear Lillie

Source (2 pictures above): Martha Stewart

The cute pilgrim card sets above are available in Dear Lillie’s online shop.

There’s nothing like a beautiful, well set table. I hope these little tips gave you some inspiration.

Also, I’d love to see your holiday tables. If you have a blog, please share your links in the comments. If you don’t have a blog, please share a picture on my Facebook page. I’d love to hear from you!

Linking up to:

Lovely Crafty Home
Tatertots & Jello
Miss Information
It’s Overflowing