How to Be Thankful This Turkey Day

It's that special time of Thanksgiving once again. All around the country people are rushing home today to get to their family and away from the bustle. I love holidays and traditions. There's nothing like everyone in the entire country stepping away from the daily routine to come together with family, food, relaxation and time together. What makes it even greater is the fact that we're following the footsteps of those from nearly 400 years ago. When you realize the exceptional and earmarked this day is for it's heritage and it's purpose, you begin to become quite grateful. That's what Thanksgiving is all about, too. It's being honestly thankful in a heartfelt way for all that is real in life. It's for the things that got you through the year since the previous Thanksgiving. And when you truly think about it with a little bit of effort, those 'things' aren't things at all. They're the people that were there when push came to shove, whether you appreciated them (all year or at the moment) or not. They're the people you always went to for advice, or the ones you had to call when you were excited. And they're also those who come to you in this way, too :)

As you race home today, don't dwell on the hassle of traveling. Don't worry about the one or few people you don't want to be bothered with around the table tomorrow night. Instead, realize that you have food and at least (I guarantee) one smile that you're happy to see. Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and coming together. Take a tip from our ancestors who created this tradition and come together with those around you, even if you have nothing in common (despite popular belief, the Pilgrims did not harm Native Americans. That came from other Europeans that followed). Be thankful that you weren't created to be alone, and that God gave you the people you are grateful for whether they're with you or far away. Remember to count your blessings, and say a fervent grace. After all, it only comes once a year :)

Pecan-Cranberry Pie: A Thanksgiving Specialty

While rummaging through my Williams-Sonoma cookbooks last year looking for something yummy to bake for Thanksgiving, I turned a page and saw pecans and cranberries in one dish and thought, " wow! I've got to try this!" I made this pie and it turned the heads of everyone at my parents house, including my grandmother and aunt who do not like pecan pie. Even my other grandmother (who is getting to old to bake these days) loved this pie and she is known for good ol' southern pecan pies. Needless to say, this is a great recipe and will be one to pass down from generation to generation. The cranberries add tart and sweetness to an otherwise rich pecan pie. Give it a shot this holiday season.

Pecan-Cranberry Pie

What You'll Need for one 9-inch pie:

• 1 pie crust
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 2 tbsp. light molasses
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries

How to Make it:

1. First, toast your pecans! Preheat the oven to 325. Spread the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until they are fragrant and just beginning to change color, 5-10 minutes. Remove from the oven, transfer immediately to a plate and let cool to room temperature.
2. Then position a rack on the lower third of your oven and turn the heat up to 400.
3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, brown sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, molasses and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Stir in the pecans and cranberries.
4. Pour pecan-cranberry filling into the pastry shell. Bake until center of the filling is set, about 45 minutes. Check periodically and cover the edges with aluminum foil if the crust browns too quickly.
5. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before serving.

If anyone tries this, please let us know how it goes!

Handmade Wednesdays: Thanksgiving Napkin Rings

Sorry for neglecting my Handmade Wednesday Crafts for the past couple of months. But they have now returned! While looking through my Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts for a project I could tackle this week, I stubbled upon these napkin rings which I knew would make any Thanksgiving table pretty next week. So, thank you Martha!

Acorn Napkin Ring

What You'll Need:

• Oak leaves
• Glycerin (available at drugstores)
• Water
• Rotary tool
• 1/16 inch drill bit
• 16 inch length of gauge wire
• matching acorn nuts and caps
• Wood glue
• Brown floral tape
• Brown seam binding

To preserve oak leaves, mix 1 part glycerin in 2 parts hot water, and let the leaves soak in the mixture for about 2 days. Then hang them to dry on a clothesline for around 5 days. To make the napkin rings, start by drilling two 1/16 inch holes through 2 acorn caps. Insert one end of a 16 inch length of a 22 gauge wire into each one; bend the wire and twist. Attach nuts to the caps with wood glue. Attach wire to the end of the leaves. Wrap wires with floral tape. Wrap leaf wire and 1 acorn wire together with brown floral tape, stretching the tape as you wrap it tightly. Repeat with the other acorn wire, facing in the opposite direction. Wrap wires with brown seam binding. Glue at each end. Bend into a ring and put napkin inside.

Fun Autumn Outings For Any Age

Autumn is in full swing. I know it has been for quite some time, but it never fully hits me until Halloween or just after. The changing leaves, need for jackets, hot apple cider, pumpkin bread and scarecrows always make me remember being a child. Now that Halloween and baseball are over, focus is on the season until Thanksgiving comes around.

The most classic and most celebrative traditions of Fall are the festivals. There are a plethora of pumpkin and Autumn festivals. No matter what the name of it is, it will definitely include squash bread, apple pie, hot chocolate, hay stacks, face-painting with corn and pumpkins everywhere. Some will obviously have more than others such as train and wagon rides, animal petting zoos, cake walks and other things of this nature. The great thing about festivals is that they are everywhere. Living in Los Angeles, I found at least 10 festivals/farms within 1½ hours of me. This is guaranteed to be great, outside, small town fun for everyone.

Also possibly found at festivals/farms or on their own are mazes. Mazes are a favorite for Halloween activities, but it’s always a fun thing to do in the Fall. Mazes come in two forms: hay mazes and corn mazes. Hay mazes are constructed, and corn mazes are cut out. I personally prefer corn mazes, because they are more authentic to me. It’s in an actual field and you actually do have to find your way out. In hay mazes, it’s more of a cute obstacle course. Either way, it’s assured that you will have a blast. You’ll feel a rush like a kid running through a towering maze with your friends or family.

A superb activity for families (especially young children) is apple picking. Find an apple orchard near your house that allows picking apples. This simple task proves to be age-old amusement for everyone. The greatest part comes after the apple picking is done. At home, you can bake with your kids a variety of tasty treats. The most obvious are apple pie, apple cider and applesauce. Another simple and exceptional delight is cinnamon-spiced baked apples. It’s easy for kids to do with simple ingredients and (for mom’s concern) it’s a healthy dessert.

For most of the US, Autumn is the trigger for cold weather. Unfortunately, living in Los Angeles, I don’t have this luxury. By November, many areas have snowfall or frost at the very least. This usually means the opening of ice rinks (yes, we still get to have these in Los Angeles). Ice skating will make any evening romantic and make you feel like a kid again. Pair this up with hot chocolate and you have a memorable night planned. This cheap, easy wholesome fun fits for family, friends, dates or any other outing. Like festivals, ice rinks are found all over the US beginning in autumn. If you can find one in LA, you can find one anywhere ;)

The last activity is for kids wanting to help out and decorate for Thanksgiving. Give your kids some supplies and have them make a placemat for each guest at the Thanksgiving table. This will be a cute keepsake for years to come and can be a fantastic yearly tradition. It can simply be done with some sturdy construction paper or poster board and markers/paint. If you want to get more creative, you can include leaves, feathers, cotton balls and anything else in your child’s imagination. One thing that is for sure with this project is that it will get your kids in the mood for Thanksgiving and keep them busy for some time :)

Grab a jacket and the family and go out to enjoy the autumn weather, because it will pass all too soon.

Holiday Conundrums: Gathering Family

Now that Halloween is over, you are probably beginning to make your Thanksgiving plans. I certainly am trying to. It has just become this huge cluster of madness in trying to coordinate different families and their "holiday" schedules. You know what I'm talking about: Different families spend a Holiday with one side of the family and then the next year with the other. It can all be so confusing and aggravating. This is what I am currently dealing with among my family and I felt that maybe you were feeling the same as I am.

Here's the deal: This year my husband and I are planning on being with my immediate family. An aunt on my mothers side wants to take on the planning of the day and host the gathering. My family never spends this holiday with them so it's sort of throwing everything off. However, my fathers side of the family usually spends every thanksgiving with us and has no one else who could take on such a daunting task (and hosting a Thanksgiving dinner is daunting). Therefor, they would have to be invited to my aunts but this may end up being too many people for her to handle (food wise and space wise). Because of this my mother is now thinking we may just have our own Thanksgiving as usual with my fathers side of the family only. But....... she's not sure. She hasn't decided. She doesn't want to hurt my aunts feelings or exclude the other side of the family. So here we are, unaware of what is happening and where the holiday will be taking place. For some of you this may not seem like a big problem, but to me it is. I can "go-with-the-flow" in many situations, but not when it comes to planning holidays. This is when I want to say, "Screw all this indecisiveness! I'll be with my in-laws."

Now, I'm bringing all of this up to inspire you to get your holiday plans worked out now before it's too late. The best way to go about planning your holiday is to know how many people you can accommodate (the more people, the more food you have to make and the more room you need). If that means that some people can't be involved then either host the gathering at a different location, ask people to bring more food, simply relinquish your desire to host or someone will have to host a separate gathering. No matter what you decide, decide now. Make your choices and then get the word out. Don't wait until the week before and leave everyone hanging. It will be the people like me - that always find information out through the grapevine - who will end up ansy and frustrated until they know where they will be for Thanksgiving.

No matter which way you decide to go, making the day lovely is what you really desire; ending up with happy people, focusing on what they're thankful for. So, take feelings and space into consideration, but ultimately make the choice that is best for everyone involved. And do it now!