Thanksgiving Snapshots

Turkey in the Straw | Hannah & Husband

Our Turkey in the Straw is finally done! Click here for instructions on how to make him yourself.

Hello! Hello! How was your Thanksgiving? Our holiday weekend was filled with friends, family, and So. Much. Food. (Everyone says that, don’t they?) We host Turkey Day at our house every year, and I have to say that this year the highlight for me was this pie crust–the first one I’ve made myself in about 9 years. Why did I ever stop?

Other highlights documented below from the day of the feast include…

hannahandhusband-thanksgiving

 

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Hannah & Husband weekend without a little time in the mountains, right?

hannahandhusband-friday

 

What was the highlight of your weekend?
Did you travel or cook a homemade feast for the family?

 

Thanksgiving Decoration: Turkey in the Straw

Turkey in the Straw DIY | Thanksgiving Decor by Hannah & Husband

Several years ago my mom picked up this fun little turkey. Every year she would buy an oversize pumpkin for Halloween, and then come November she would add the turkey to the pumpkin. This year as she pulled the feathers and head out of storage a couple of the dowel rods were broken, so she asked me to do a little turkey surgery. After I fixed hers I stuck them in a straw bale on our front porch. Voilà: Turkey in the Straw.

Turkey in the Straw How-To | Hannah & Husband

Click here to listen to Turkey in the Straw for a little inspiration while you work.

Before she came to take the turkey back, we decided it would be fun to have one of our own. We cut the shapes out of a scrap of 3/4″ plywood using a jigsaw (for a more permanent turkey use solid wood and be sure to waterproof it), and Hannah painted them to the colors of her choosing. Take a look at our process, and download the templates to create your own!

Turkey in the Straw How-To | Hannah & Husband

Turkey in the Straw How-To | Hannah & Husband

Turkey in the Straw How-To | Hannah & Husband

Looking for more Thanksgiving inspiration? Click here.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Snack Recipe

I have a slight obsession with Charlie Brown so it is basically a given that my favorite Thanksgiving pick is A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. So this weekend, I decided to make A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving snack. Not being a fan of jelly beans, I used mini M&Ms for color. Enjoy!

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving snack, holiday, Hannah and Husband

 

Ingredients:

1 bag plain popcorn
1/2 bag pretzel sticks
1 cup mini M&Ms
1 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
1 Tbsp shortening

Steps:

Pop your popcorn. Then, by handfuls, put your popcorn in a larger bowl. The first time I did this, I forgot about all the un-popped kernels that may be in the bottom of the bag so my testers had to look out for seeds lest they lose a filling.

Next, mix in your pretzels and mini M&Ms.

Melt your white chocolate. You can do this over stove in a double-boiler or in the microwave in 30 second intervals. If you’re on the stovetop, you can put the shortening in right away. If you’re in the microwave, I like to wait about a minute and then add the shortening so it’s easier to mix.

Pour the white chocolate over the mixture and stir together immediately. Work quickly to make sure that the chocolate gets mixed in before it starts to harden.

Pour your mixture onto parchment paper to set up. Ours rested over night in the kitchen. The next morning, you can break it apart to serve!

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Weekend

Here’s a little glimpse of our holiday weekend, which consisted of a lot of food, a lot of drink, a house full of family, crafty projects, & Netflix.

instagram weekend

How was your weekend?

Google “Vintage Thanksgiving”

Go ahead; I’ll wait. If you do, you’ll come up with several weird/wonderful gems including but not limited to…

When I first read this one, I wasn’t sure if it was the girl speaking or the turkey. I’m not even going to mention the phallic shape that a friend pointed out to me. Nope, not going to mention it.

Come on, kids! Let’s play with Plucky one more time before he goes into the oven. Side of salmonella, anyone?

“Quite a dish herself.” Ummm, wow.

Charlie Brown’s Feast

Still worried about the holiday tomorrow? Have all your friends decided to congregate at your casa despite the fact that your family is going to Grandma’s house for dinner? Well, I’ve got you covered! *wink*

Charlie Brown:
I can’t cook a Thanksgiving dinner. All I can make is cold cereal and maybe toast.

Linus:
That’s right. I’ve seen you make toast. You can’t butter it, but maybe we can help you.

 

charlie brown thanksgiving essentials

A Good Belle Stocks Her Bar

Well ladies, if your house guests have not arrived yet, odds are you will all be together by tomorrow. So what sort of belle would I be, if I didn’t include one of the most important things to have on hand during the holiday season? I’m speaking of drinks, of course! It’s very hard for people to have unhappy discussions while holding a drink. It’s not only something to do (sip when there’s a lag in the conversation) but also something to spill, which will prevent the discussion from getting heated. So here’s how to build a basic bar with something for everyone…

Start with Liquor

You’ll want a good vodka, gin, and bourbon. Then, you can start adding different things like a good rum and a good scotch. You’ll also want some things to help you make cocktails like bitters, Triple Sec and simple syrup. Oh, and Grand Marnier.*

*Fun Fact: A glass of Grand Marnier is guaranteed to make over-stuffed Thanksgiving tummies feel better.

Add Some Wine

At all times you will want to have a good red, a good white, and a good sparkly wine on hand. Here are a few of our favorite picks.

Of note: Cupcake Prosecco is the perfect sparkly for every day, but if you’re having a celebration, you may want to invest in a good bottle of Veuve.

Then There Are the Extras

You want to be sure you have something for everyone. Always have Coke and Diet Coke on hand. This will take care of the people that don’t drink, the people that need a jolt of caffeine, and, heaven forbid, people that mix things with Coke. On that same note, having a variety of juices is great for kids, non-drinkers, and people that love cosmopolitans. Also, stock up on fruits commonly used as garnish with emphasis on the lemons and limes.

Finally, the Tools

A shaker and jigger are the absolute musts, and, if you’re looking for something new, might I suggest looking at the W + P collaboration with West Elm? I want one of everything!

Hope this helps you prepare for company. On a personal note, we just made a liquor store run and are now stocked up for the weekend. Bring on the in-laws! Cheers!

The Thanksgiving Game Plan: 6 Days Out

Today, we discuss one of my very favorite parts of the holiday party season: Planning the menu. The first year we hosted Thanksgiving, I completely geeked out on the research. (Full disclosure: I have a slight obsession with buying cookbooks from the 1940s & 50s that introduced the ‘modern housewife’ to planning a menu for new-fangled nutritional needs.) All that to say, I thought I’d offer a simple set of things I’ve learned along the way from vintage cookbooks, Williams-Sonoma, and Martha Stewart. (You can also find some other favorite links and recipes on my Pinterest board: The Belle’s Thanksgiving Game Plan.)

The Cardinal Rule of Dinner Parties: Always make enough for 3 extra guests. No hostess ever regrets having too much.

Well, she may if no one shows up, but for holiday parties, guests are usually kind enough to RSVP.

Before Dinner

Have something for your guests to snack on while they chat. The traditional choice is, of course, wine & cheese. But not too much.

The Turkey

Portioning:

A good rule is 1.5 pounds per guest. (Of note: For smaller birds, try 2 pounds per guest. The smaller the bird, the smaller the bone to meat ratio.)

Cook Time:

It doesn’t take nearly as much time to roast a turkey as some people think.

Start with the turkey, breast down, at 400°F for 45 minutes. Then, flip the bird and roast at 325°F until it your thermometer reads 180° when inserted into the deepest part of the thigh. (Be careful not to let the thermometer touch the bone.) The juices should be clear, not pink.

The basic idea is you want to seal in the juices in the beginning and then slow roast it the rest of the way.

A good estimate of cook time is: 2.5 hours for a 10 pound bird and add 15 minutes for every 2 pounds after that. (Here’s a really helpful

2 Secrets to Be Sure It Doesn’t Dry Out:

  1. Baste the bird every 15-30 minutes.
  2. Trust your meat thermometer.

A Couple Other Things:

  1. I use beer along with chicken stock to roast any poultry including turkey.
  2. I love bundling fresh herbs in cooking twine and using them when roasting the bird as well as in the stuffing.

The Sides

The Traditionals…

A Couple Others…

  • I *love* serving squash this time of year.
  • Always have 2-3 other veggies. (I know it’s unbelievable but these brussels sprouts are always a hit!)
  • My mother-in-law makes the best pretzel salad. (Think this, minus the pineapples.) I also eat it for my Thanksgiving midnight-snack and Black Friday breakfast.
  • Sides are the easiest thing to have guests bring. Just be sure you’ve made at least one or two yourself in case your guests forget. (Yes, this has happened before.)

The Desserts

2 Words: Pumpkin. Pie. (My *award-winning* recipe to follow!)

Also, might I recommend another choice for those (like Husband) that hate pumpkin. How about these little Caramel Apple Bundles?

The Thanksgiving Game Plan: 7 Days Out

Thanksgiving 7 Days Out Gather

Alright ladies, we are 7 days out from the big day. If you’re hosting for the festivities yourself and wondering what you should be doing this evening to help you get ready, I’m here to set your mind at ease. You should be Pinteresting, of course!

7 days out from any holiday party, I like to gather. Gather some visual inspiration on Pinterest, gather some new recipes, gather supplies (table linens, candles, etc.), and then, I make a ToDo List. It looks something like this…

FRIDAY

  • Finalize menu.

WEEKEND

  • Wash & iron table linens.
  • Gather, polish, & wash all dishes, flatware, stemware, and serving pieces.
  • Stock the wine rack & liquor cabinet.
  • Put together a stain remover kit.
  • Make place cards.

MONDAY

  • Grocery Shop. (best done LATE at night to avoid crowds)
  • Restock tea light & unscented candle supply.

TUESDAY

  • Buy flowers.

WEDNESDAY

  • Make a playlist.
  • Set the table.
  • Prepare the desserts.
  • Chop the veggies.

 As you might assume, tomorrow we’ll talk recipes. Until then, here’s a little bonus…
Click here to see The Belle’s Thanksgiving Pinboard!