Thanksgiving is a time to spend with those who are dear to you so, preparation is key in order to ensure that you can enjoy the day doing what’s important. Here is how to prepare for Thanksgiving in five easy steps…
After all the whole day is there for us to recognise our blessings. Therefore, to take some time to consider exactly what you are grateful for this year will put you in the right frame of mind for the whole event. It is important in the lead up to Thanksgiving to give thanks for everything dear to you. Simple but effective, deciding what you are grateful for this year is a necessary first step in preparing for a relaxing and love-filled time.
Travelling home for Thanksgiving is a vital part of the celebration for so many of us. As such, securing your travel plan as soon as can be is incredibly important in order for your journey to be as stress-free as possible. Start by following these 5 tips for Thanksgiving travel:
1. Opt for an early morning flight so as to avoid airport crowds.
2. Extend your trip so that you are not travelling on the busiest days either side of Thanksgiving – also this will provide you with extra bonus time with your family.
3. Travel light – this will mean that you trip is easier and much simpler.
4. Pack a flight pack with items to help you relax such as a lavender eye-mask or an enriching skincare product.
5. Use the Headspace app to meditate away any stress whether waiting for a flight or in the sky.
Travel in style this Thanksgiving with the Piazzale trolley suitcase…
There are a couple points of prep regarding your Thanksgiving meal which will help the cooking process to continue without any problems.
Firstly, we all know that there is nothing better than continuing with tradition on Thanksgiving. Therefore, with just a week to go, now is the time to seek out those family recipes and ensure that everything is on your grocery list. As a host, it is always particularly thoughtful to include any special extras that you know certain guests also favor and preparing ahead of time provides you with the time to make these smaller considerations which have a big impact.
Furthermore, considering grocery shopping now means that you can start with some of the food preparation. For example you can make your gravy and freeze it until the day. Find a recipe here to impress.
Starting to think about food also means that you have some time to try any recipes before the big day which you have never made before. This way you can add a new tradition to your table without any fear that the recipe will not work.
Serves 10-12.
Ingredients:
For the base: 250g crushed digestive biscuits + 110g melted butter
For the filling: 500g full fat cream cheese + 500g mascarpone cheese + 50g caster sugar + 2 large eggs + 2tsp vanilla essence + zest and juice of 1 lemon
For the glaze: 3-4tbsp water + 50g sugar + 100g fresh cranberries + 3 tbsp orange marmalade
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 325 F/170 C. Then line the bottom of a 20cm spring form or loose bottom cake tin with parchment paper.
To note: You can alternatively bake the cheesecake in a pie dish, without lining, so it is ready to serve on the day.
2. To firstly make the base of the cheesecake mix the melted butter into the crushed biscuits and press this into the base and sides of the tin with the back of a spoon. When completed, place in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
3. For the filling, mix both the cheeses, sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon zest and juice, and beat the mixture until well blended. Next, spoon this into the prepared base and smooth over the top with a knife.
4. Bake your cheesecake in the oven for one hour. After an hour, switch off the oven and leave the cheesecake inside the oven for a further two hours.
5. After the two hours remove the cheesecake from the oven and allow to cool completely. Then, remove the outer spring form tin and turn the cheesecake out onto a plate so that you can remove the bottom of the tin and the paper. Now, place the serving plate over the cheesecake base and invert so that it is ready to decorate with the glaze.
6. To prepare the glaze place the cranberries in a saucepan with the water and sugar and boil on a gentle heat for 5-10 mins until the berries start to burst. Then add the marmalade and bring this all back to the boil, stirring occasionally to mix well.
7. Allow the topping to cool completely, then spoon over the cheesecake. Refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
Discover 3 other Thanksgiving dessert recipes here
As established, preparing as much as you can makes Thanksgiving as enjoyable as possible and that continues into what you will wear. Especially important if you are travelling, this will also help with the general ease of the day if you are at home.
Be sure to choose classic styles with many layering opportunities in order to look sleek whilst remaining warm on cooler fall days. It is, after all, a special occasion and therefore the perfect excuse to dress up in smart attire.
For Her
For Him
Lastly, make sure that you have everything sorted for the table setting. Linens must all be washed, ironed and pristine and your chinaware must be considered within the general chosen color palette.
A particularly sophisticated option for this is creams and greys punctuated by seasonal candles which add an ambience to the dining room. This minimal backdrop also works well against a stunning center piece – a must on any table. To truly reflect the thankfulness for the harvest this year use fall colours and perhaps a pumpkin or two within your floral arrangement or discover many more centerpiece ideas here to truly wow come Thanksgiving.
Make the day even more memorable with Thanksgiving gifts which will last a lifetime…
