My Thanksgiving Menu

With 9 days left before Thanksgiving, I finally finalized my menu! I thought I would simplify things this year and maybe serve a few less dishes, but who was I kidding??? I didn't have the heart to cut down the menu. So here is my Thanksgiving Menu...for 10 adults and 3 sweet little girls! 

First Course

Antipasto: My husband's family is Italian and every get together always includes this yummy collection of meats, cheeses, artichokes, peppers & olives. 

Image from www.saraskitchen.blogspot.com

Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots: I knew I had to make these as soon as I saw them on a bacon party featured at Piggy Bank Parties. I found the recipe on Recipe Girl.

Deviled Eggs: I make a pretty traditional southern-style deviled egg with the addition of some bacon...because bacon makes everything better!

Photo from FoodNetwork.com

Salad: To make us feel better about all the carbs we are going to ingest.

Photo from FoodNetwork.com

Fruit Turkeys: I saw these and thought they would be fun for the kiddies at their table. This cute idea is from Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons.

Dinner

Turkey: What else???
I've made about 12 Thanksgiving dinners now and am hooked on dry-brining my turkey. Best JUICEST bird ever and I'll never prepare it any other way!! You can read all about this easy method here.

Photo from What'sCookingAmerica.net

Baked Sweet Potatoes: I'm so over the whole marshmallow concoction (sorry), so I thought I'd try this yummy recipe based on Ruth's Chris' recipe. The recipe is from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole: Instead of mashed potatoes this year, I'm excited about this recipe from Paula Deen found on Food Folio. It's Paula...really...you know it's going to be good!

Baked Eggplant: This will be made by my Italian Mother-in-law. It is incredibly delicious and smothered in cheese and her own sauce (that's spaghetti sauce to you non-Italians).


Sausage & Apple Stuffing:It's been a few years since I've made this and I couldn't find my recipe. But this one from Good House Keeping sounds pretty delish!

Green Bean & Artichoke Casserole: I'm not too keen on the fried onion & soup version of the green bean casserole. But I love this recipe I found a few years ago on Allrecipes.com. It reminds me of stuffed artichokes and everyone always gobbles it up!

Cranberry Sauce: Before I met my husband, I used to make this fancy shmancy cranberry sauce from fresh cranberries and Grand Marnier and it was delicious! After I got married, my husband informed that the only cranberry sauce he was interested in made a schloooop sound when you poured it out of the can and has ring marks on it. So now Oceanspray handles our cranberry needs!

Thankful Rolls: I always want everyone to say what they are thankful for (ummm...it IS Thanksgiving after all) and I try to come up with new ways to do it every year. This year, I'm in love with this idea from The Girl Who Ate Everything! You bake notes in the rolls and everyone reads & completes them throughout the meal...fun!

Dessert:

My favorite part of any meal!

Flan:My family is Cuban and like any other Latin American family, flan is a staple at every gathering. My brother has mastered my mother's recipe and so this year he is charge!

Mini Pumpkin Pies: I wanted to try something new this year, but knew I couldn't stray too far from pumpkin pie. So I'm making these mini pumpkin pies found on Makes and Takes! They are made in a cupcake pan and perfectly sized for individual portions...plus they are cute!

Pumpkin Cake:
On Thanksgiving we will also be celebrating my father's and my mother-in-law's birthday, so a cake is in order. I thought this Pumpkin Spice Cake from Joy of Baking would be perfect. But instead of the cream cheese frosting, I'll be making this Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Swiss Buttercream from Sweetapolita!

I also wanted to make something fun & cute for the little ones. These easy Turkey Cookie Pops are adorable!

That is it! Whew!!! Writing all that down made me realize I have my work cut out for me. Time to make my shopping lists and my time-lines to get this all done!

I hope you are ready for your delicious feast and find the moment to give thanks for all your blessings! Oh and don't forget to wear pants with some elastic in them ;)

GOBBLE GOBBLE!!

{DIY} Burlap Wreath Two Ways

So with less than 2 weeks until Thanksgiving, I finally got around to taking down my Halloween wreath! And if you are judging me for that, I might as well tell you that the rest of my Halloween decorations are still cluttering up my hallway (YIKES)! I realized I needed something Thanksgiving-y on my door, so I decided to whip up a quick wreath.

This was SUPER easy...really! I put it together in less than 15 minutes. 

I re-used the straw wreath I had previously used for my Halloween wreath. See...I knew I kept it up for a reason!

I bought a few yards of burlap last week with the intention of using it for most, if not all, of my holiday decorations. I cut some of the burlap into strips and then wrapped the strips around the wreath securing with some hot glue.

I attached a yellow flower I found at the craft store for a little color. I also wanted to include a pop of turquoise since I am using that in some other decorations. So I made a very, and I mean VERY, simple little ribbon decoration.

All I did was fold the ribbon accordion-style and staple the ends. There's probably a nicer craftier way to do this, but this worked for me. I made two and hot glued them on either side of the flower.

See...I told you that was super easy! Door wreath...DONE!

It was so easy in fact, that I decided to whip up another one for inside the house. This time I re-used a painted wreath I had on hand. I sooooo believe in recycling my crafts! I cut some more burlap strips (I was on a roll) and wrapped it around the wreath. But this time I used less so the color would show through.

I also attempted a sort of burlap flower thing. I twisted a strip around into some semblance of a flower and hot glued it on.

Then this is where I got REALLY crafty! I decided to print words on the burlap. I've been dying to print on fabric and followed this great tutorial from Domestically Speaking. It took me 3 tries of jamming my printer up with burlap before I realized you MUST trim the paper and burlap so that they are exactly the same with no overhang...at least that's what my printer wanted!

You may notice that the words are a little crooked, but I was just happy that I got the darn thing to print that I didn't even care!

I wanted the burlap to have a little more structure, so I dug around in my recycle bin until I found something suitable to attach it to. Then I hot glued it on.

Finally, I hot glued on some ribbon to dress it up and then some more to attach it to the wreath! 

2nd wreath DONE!

Easy...simple...the way I'm really hoping my Thanksgiving day is going to be. This leaves more time to give enjoy my family & give thanks for all the beautiful things in my life!


I'm linking up to these great parties...

Friday's Fabulous Five {Pumpkin Desserts}

Happy Fabulous Friday! 

I've started planning our Thanksgiving menu and it's getting me excited!!! I always start planning the desserts first! Among some other goodies, there is of course going to be a pumpkin dessert, but I want to try something new instead of the classic pumpkin pie. I'm hoping there won't be a mutiny over it if I make one of these delicious recipes I've found...

Pumpkin...cheesecake...and throw in some Heath bars!! This recipe sounds like a winner all around. Take a look at this mouthwatering recipe for Layered Pumpkin Pie Toffee Cheesecake from Our Best Bites! 

Now you know you can't go wrong with a recipe from Paula Deen! I love how pretty this Pumpkin Roll Cake looks! I have no doubt that if it's Paula's recipe, it will taste as good as it looks!

I love small individual portions of dessert. It makes me feel like I haven't eaten a whole lot, even if I wolf down 3 or 4 of these little cuties! How pretty are these little Pumpkin Praline Trifles from Bakers Royale? Love them!

And since we are talking cute little mini desserts...how about these mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes with Caramel Pecan Topping from Tidy Mom! So adorable and so delicious I'm sure!

And finally, I'm going to bring it home with a pumpkin dessert that includes two of my favorite ingredients...chocolate & salted caramel! I am DROOLING over this Pumpkin-Orange Cheesecake with Chocolate Crust and Salted Caramel! That title is quite a mouthful and I'm sure this dessert would be a mouthful too....of DELICIOUSNESS!

I hope these yummy recipes got you excited to whip up Thanksgiving dessert! 

Hope your weekend is FABULOUS 

& full of LOTS OF SUGAR!

Pirate Birthday Cake for Icing Smiles

About a year ago, I learned about an amazing non-profit organization called Icing Smiles. The mission of Icing Smiles is to provide custom celebration cakes & other treats to families with a child who is afflicted with a critical illness. It is their goal to "create a custom cake for the ill child or their sibling that will provide a temporary escape from worry and create a positive memory during a difficult time".

From the moment I learned about this incredible organization, I knew I wanted to be a part of it! I got my "call to action" last week. I had just a few days to put together a cake for a little boy who was turning 5 and was in Wolfson's Children Hospital due to complications from Leukemia. He was not happy that he would be spending his birthday in the hospital (who would be???)! But then, a little ray of sunshine shone through the clouds and he was sent home just in time for his birthday.

I delivered his cake to his home, where he happily celebrated with his family. It was so great to meet sweet little Liam! I mean look at him...is he not just the cutest little guy??? He couldn't wait to take a swipe at his cake (which he did when mom wasn't looking)! 

You can read more about Liam's story & the sign the guestbook on his website at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/liamkeanegonzalez/mystory 

Some people might say "it's just a cake" and in some respects that's true. But if for just a little while you can put a smile on a child's face and let them enjoy some birthday normalcy...without thoughts of doctors or medications or treatments...then I think it becomes more than "just a cake". 

Please visit Icing Smiles to learn how you can help! If you are a baker or cake decorator (professional or hobbyist), sign up to be a "Sugar Angel". They serve children nationwide so chances are there is a child you can help in your area! 

Even if baking is not your thing, you can still help with a donation, delivery of cakes, or fundraising! 

Visit the Icing Smiles website and "like" their Facebook page. I promise you will be touched by the stories of these brave children and families and moved by the beautiful Icing smiles you will see!

Website: http://www.icingsmiles.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icingsmiles

Halloween Birthday Cake

If your birthday is going to be close to a holiday, I couldn't think of a more fun one than Halloween! 

 I was recently asked to make a birthday cake for a little girl celebrating with a Halloween costume party! 

Her mom wanted spiders to be featured!

I loved all the fun colors she chose!  

A fun party theme that I'm sure all the kids enjoyed!

Happy Halloween!!!

{DIY} The Great Pumpkin Tree & Free Printable

I really love all the Halloween trees  I'm seeing on the party scene this year! When I put together our recent Halloween Play Date, I knew I wanted a tree for the kids. I originally saw a Pumpkin Treat Tree from Pottery Barn, which was the inspiration for mine! 

The Great Pumpkin Tree was super easy 

& inexpensive to make!!

You will need:

1 Plastic Pumpkin bucket 

mini pumpkin buckets

tree branch

black spray paint

candy corn

yarn or ribbon

printable tags (I'm giving you those)

scrapbook paper & stickers *optional

2" circle punch *optional

The first thing you will need to do is spray paint your tree branch black. I found one right in my front yard!! Although you will notice that I "rearranged" some of the branches to my liking, using some electrical tape!

I thought it would be cute to use candy corn as pumpkin seeds, since the fruit of a tree has the seeds inside! Fill your mini treat buckets with candy corn. I found these cute little buckets at the craft store!

Use yarn or ribbon to attach the Pumpkin Seeds tag (provided below) to each little pumpkin.

When your branch is dry, you are ready to put your tree together! You will need to weigh down the inside of your pumpkin in order to hold the branch in & support it. You can get pretty creative with what you want to use!

I used a bag of rice & a bag of leftover candy corn! But you can use pretty much anything you have lying around! Then I covered the opening with some black Halloween netting. 

Then hang your mini pumpkins onto the tree branch. Distribute them evenly in order to keep the tree balanced.

I also decided to make a "The Great Pumpkin" sign for the tree. I used scrapbook paper and stickers to create this simple sign.

Today I'm giving you the Pumpkin Seed printables to use to make your own tree! Just click on the title or on the bottom of the Scribd toolbar to download.

Pumpkin Seeds

Hope you enjoy your Great Pumpkin Tree!


I'm linking up to these great parties...