
In my opinion, the dining table is just as important as the food that sits on top of it. I enjoy putting together a beautiful, autumnal setting.
Start early with the tablecloth and build up from there.
Thanksgiving is a celebration that lasts half the day, so stock up on a variety of drinks for the different times. Start with a festive, champagne cocktail. Mix Prosecco with pear nectar and season with crushed black peppercorns.

One dish that's easily overlooked at
Thanksgiving is the appetizers. Some people find them unnecessary, but with all the fragrant aromas coming from the kitchen, it's important to offer guests something to snack on while the turkey cooks. Keep it easy, don't experiment with new, difficult recipes.

After you have finished your
Thanksgiving meal, clean the kitchen and take a nice, leisurely walk. By the time you return home you will feel refreshed and ready for a piece of pie and a glass of champagne. Pumpkin pie is the obvious choice for a decadent dessert.

Besides
mashed and sweet potato sides, no Thanksgiving meal is complete without the quintessential cranberry sauce. My fragrant recipe is flavored with fresh squeezed orange juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks. The whole house will smell warm and delicious while this sauce bubbles away on the stove.