Thanksgiving Hosting: Perfect First Thanksgiving Tips

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Choose Fool-proof Recipes

After the number of guests is finalized, you should make decisions about what you want to cook and how much you will need. Make sure to know about possible allergies or health conditions of your guest, so you can make informed decisions. After that, ask yourself about what you have experience with and what you are comfortable cooking.

Now it’s time to choose your menu. Stick to a few dishes, you really don’t have to do it all. If you want, ask for help from your guests or family; they could bring a dessert or wine, or a side. Just make sure to know about it early on, so you can plan accordingly. When choosing your dishes and recipes, read them first, check the rating if available and scan through reviews.

Choose only recipes that are fool-prove, with easy to follow directions and that all ingredients can be found fairly easy, preferably at only a couple of places. Ideally, choose recipes you have cooked before or if you have time, make a test-run. Also, make sure you have all necessary equipment at your disposal. But don’t be shy on buying desserts or fresh appetizers from a store if you want. Just make sure that the majority of things served are made by you. The dessert is also really important since it closes the meal and leaves a lasting impression.

Decide on a strategy and stick to it

Now that you have your recipes, work out a strategy and time plan that you will stick to. Of course there should be room for some adjustments if necessary. Make at least two lists of things you need: one for things you can buy several days before Thanksgiving (plates, pantry items, decorations, beverages etc.) and one for things you will need to buy just a couple of days before Thanksgiving (e.g. fresh fruits and vegetables).

Plan your grocery trips carefully, so you save on time and money. Also, make a day – to –day to-do-list where you can write down what needs to get done each day the week before Thanksgiving. Plan ahead for the turkey to thaw (it needs about a full day for each 4 pounds of turkey) and cook ahead of time whenever possible; many things can be frozen or kept in the fridge until it’s time to serve them, just remember to thaw or warm them up in time.

Also, plan in time to clean the house, decorate it and clean and prepare your tableware. If you are awaiting overnight guests, prepare the guestroom at least a week ahead. Check at a glance everything the day before Thanksgiving to ensure everything is in order. Don’t forget your porch or entrance; it’s often the first impression that makes all the difference.

Shop Burlap and Succulents for Thanksgiving Dinnerware, aprons, recipe binders and more!

Think about the flow of Thanksgiving Day

Imagine how the big Day should go, how it should start, where your guest should be at the beginning or where they should take a seat. Make sure to have enough sitting opportunities and spread out serving tables with appetizers and drinks if needed. If you have many guests and want to have a buffet, think about where you will place foods, drinks and tableware.

Also, don’t forget to plan in entertaining details, like music or games for small guests. Write down any details, which will make sure you won’t forget anything and no chaos will be created on the big day. And make sure to have something planned for after the dinner is over, like a late coffee, tea or hot cocoaserving and have some boxes ready if anyone wants to take some leftovers with them.

Don’t leave too many things for the Last Moment

Set the table even days ahead if you can, fold napkins a week before and prepare your decorations sooner than later. Prepare a cleaning kit, so you can attend any emergency cleaning on Thanksgiving without being ashamed of that dirty mop. Wash vegetables and fruits you will need on Thanksgiving days before, strain them or wipe them dry and store them in airtight containers or zip-lock bags in the refrigerator.

Cut foods if possible into the pieces you need and store them until needed. Also make sure everything works and is in good condition. You don’t want to be needing the microwave just to find out it doesn’t work for some reason a few hours before your guests arrive.

Keep control over your First Thanksgiving Day

On the big Day, stick to your plan. Get an early start. Check all rooms and settings for a last time and make any corrections. Prepare your dishes and drinks. Ask your closest friend or family member to help if you need, there is no shame in that! Also, if possible make sure someone is in charge of looking after your guests, if everyone has a drink or if the music needs to be louder.

Bring gifts for the host or hostess!

One last thing to remember is to seek advice from experienced Thanksgiving hosts like your mom or an aunt… there is always something to be learned from the generations before us! So go ahead and follow these tips and it’s sure that your Thanksgiving hosting will be a full success. And of course never forget to have fun and be in a good mood on this special day! After all, the meal is not that important, if you have good times, laughter and fun with your loved ones to remember!

For more Thanksgiving entertaining tips on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Make Creamy Mushroom Soup Recipe

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Mushroom Soup Recipe Ingredients:

• Ingredients
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• ¼ cup of butter
• 1 chopped medium white onion
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, snipped
• 1 ½ pounds coarsely chopped button mushrooms
• 2 14 ounce cans vegetable broth
• 2 cups whipped cream
• A little olive oil for serving

Soup Recipe Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, the bay leaves, the minced garlic and the rosemary to the pan and cook for about 5-6 minutes, until the onion becomes tender.
2. Add the mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let the ingredients simmer for 5 – 10 minutes without covering the pan, until the mushrooms become tender. Take out the bay leaves and let it cool a little bit.
4. Little by little blend the ingredients in a blender until smooth, but not completely smooth, you can leave a little portion of chunky ingredients for texture if you like. When you have blended the soup, pout it again into the pan and add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Bring the soup to a boil and whisk in the whipping cream; let it all heat through.
5. Serve the soup individually, drizzling a little olive oil over it and sprinkle with a few snipped rosemary leaves.

This easy yet elegant soup will give your dinner a perfect kick off. Add a few wild mushrooms to the button mushrooms when cooking for giving the soup an even earthier taste or add some more minced garlic to spice things up. Serve the soup with some crispy croutons or bread sticks to round the dish up and you will have the perfect Thanksgiving Side.

How to Make A Classic Meatloaf Recipe

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Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Yields: 10 servings

Classic Meatloaf Recipe Ingredients:

1 coarsely chopped carrot

1 coarsely chopped rib celery

½ coarsely chopped onion

½ coarsely chopped red bell pepper

4 coarsely chopped mushrooms

3 chopped garlic cloves

2 ½ pounds ground chuck

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup plain bread crumbs

1 teaspoon olive oil

Meatloaf Recipe Glaze:

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Hot pepper sauce to taste

The Best Meatloaf Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Place the carrot, onion, celery, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic in a food processor, and pulse until very finely chopped, almost to puree. Put the minced vegetables into a large mixing bowl, and mix in ground chuck, Worcestershire sauce, and egg. Add salt, black pepper, Italian herbs, and cayenne pepper. Using a wooden spoon mix gently to incorporate vegetables and egg into the meat. Pour in bread crumbs. With gently mix bread crumbs until combined.
3. Form the meatloaf into a ball. Pour olive oil into a baking dish and place the meat of ball onto the dish. Now shape it into a loaf, about 4 inches high by 6 inches across.
4. Bake in a preheated oven just until meatloaf is hot about 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix together ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and hot sauce. Stir until brown sugar dissolves.
6. Remove meatloaf from oven. With back of the spoon, smooth the glaze onto the top of the meatloaf. Then pull a little bit of glaze down the sides of the meatloaf with the back of the spoon.
7. Return meatloaf back to oven and bake until the loaf is no longer pink inside and glaze has baked onto the loaf, approx 30-40 minutes. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the loaf which should read at least 70 degrees C. cooking time will depend on the thickness and shape the meatloaf.

Need more Easy Meatloaf Recipe Ideas?

We love this Simple Meatloaf Recipe from All Recipes.

This Homestyle Meatloaf from Paula Deen is sure to become one for your cookbook.

Don’t like Ketchup? This No Ketchup Meatloaf could be a great recipe for you.

This classic meatloaf tastes so good that you might want to double the recipe so that everyone can enjoy second servings. If there are any leftovers, simply chill and reheat. The slices also taste good in sandwiches as well.

For more fall recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

The Best Charleston Shrimp and Grits

Prep Time:  46 min

Cook Time:  6 min

Total Time:  46 min

Servings:  4

Shrimp and Grits Ingredients

1 ½ Medium Shrimp; peeled, halved (lengthwise), and deveined
1 Lemon
Juice of Tabasco
1 ½ teaspoons of Salt
1 ½ cups of Stone Ground Corn Grits (Not instant or quick-cooking)
6 slices of Bacon, chopped
1 Onion, finely chopped
¼ cup of Green Bell Pepper, finely chopped
1-2 Garlic Cloves, minced
½ cup of Scallion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons of Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 cup of Chicken Stock
1-2 tablespoons of Unsalted Butter
1 cup of Grated Cheddar Cheese

Shrimp and Grits Instructions

1. Take the shrimp and combine it with the lemon juice and a few generous splashes of the Tabasco sauce, and let the mixture sit while you start on the grits.
2. In a large heavy saucepan boil 6 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt.  Whisk the grits, handfuls at a time and they will bubble at the initial entry.
3. When all of the grits have been added turned down the heat to a very low simmer and let the grits cook for 35-40 minutes, being sure to stir occasionally at first the constantly towards the end.
4. Now you are going to work on the gravy while you grits are simmering.  Fry the bacon in a skillet over a medium heat until they are brown but still limp, then stir in the onion, green pepper, and garlic and let them cook until the onion and pepper are limp (approx. 5 min).
5. Next, add in the scallions, sprinkle flour over the entrie mixture and continue to sauté it for 5 min longer. 
6. After it is finished sautéing then stir in the chicken stock and remaining salt and cook for another 5 min.  After you have finished cooking the combination then remove it from the heat while you continue on finishing the grits.
7. When the grits become thick and creamy, begin to stir in as much butter as you like along with cheese, then add a splash of Tabasco sauce and more salt if desired.  Cover the grits while you are finishing the gravy.
8. Heat the gravy and stir in the shrimp, cook until the shrimp are opaque throughout which is about 5 min.
9. Then serve immediately mounting the grits in large shallow bowls or on plates and covering them with shrimp and gravy.

For more brunch recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Ultimate Sausage and Cheese Lasagna Recipe

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Total time: 30 minutes preparation + 2 hours 30 minutes cooking

Yields: 12 servings

Lasagna Recipe Ingredients:

1 pound sweet Italian sausage

¾ pound lean ground beef

½ cup onion, minced

2 crushed garlic cloves

28 ounce crushed tomatoes

6 ounce tomato paste

6.5 ounce canned tomato sauce

½ cup water

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 and half teaspoons dried basil leaves

Half teaspoon fennel seeds 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 tablespoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

12 lasagna noodles

16 ounces ricotta cheese

1 egg

Pinch of salt

¾ pound mozzarella cheese, sliced

¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Lasagna Recipe Directions:

1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, beef, garlic, onion over medium heat until well browned. Add in tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with basil, fennel seeds, sugar, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Cover and let it simmer for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Bring a large pot of water (lightly salted) to boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8-10 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse with cold water. In another bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and pinch of salt.
3. Preheat oven to 190 degrees Celsius.
4. To assemble, spread 1 and half cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9*13 inch baking dish. Arrange six noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with one third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 ½ cups meat sauce over mozzarella, sprinkle with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat the layering process, and top it up with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil in order to avoid sticking. Spray foil with cooking spray.
5. Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake for additional 25-30 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Looking for a delicious side for your lasagna? Try this Caprese Salad recipe!

For more delicious and easy dinner recipes, check out our recipe archives for easy dinners.

How to Make Delicious Smoky Deviled Eggs

Deviled Eggs Ingredients:

1 dozen large eggs

Ice cubes

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons crème fraîche

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

3 tablespoons finely chopped cornichons

2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Freshly ground white pepper

1/2 teaspoon pimentón

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Deviled Eggs Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, cover the eggs with cold water and bring to a boil over high heat; boil for 1 minute. Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover and let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Drain the eggs and cool them under cold running water, shaking the pan vigorously to crack the shells. Add ice cubes to the pan and let stand until the eggs are cool. Drain and peel the eggs.
3. Halve the eggs lengthwise. Gently remove the yolks and transfer them to a food processor. Add the crème fraîche and mayonnaise and process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl, stir in the cornichons and onion and season with salt, black pepper and white pepper.
4. Arrange the egg-white halves cut side up on a serving plate. Using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip or a teaspoon, fill the cavities with the yolk mixture. Sprinkle with the pimentón and serve.

NOTE: Make Ahead the deviled eggs can be refrigerated overnight. Sprinkle with pimentón just before serving.

Place a couple of Smoky Deviled Eggs on a white plate and sprinkle them with spice.

For more food recipe ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Make a Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

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Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Ingredients:

1 fresh turkey (frozen will do too)

2 sticks of unsalted butter that has been softened

2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped fine

1 tbsp dried sage

1 tbsp dried thyme

1 tbsp sugar

1/4 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp ground cloves

Freshly ground pepper

Salt

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Directions:

1. Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey and rinse it under cold water. Pat dry.
2. In a bowl mix 1/3 cup salt, sugar and pepper.
3. Rub the mixture all over the turkey and in the cavity.
4. Place the turkey overnight in a refrigerator on a rimmed baking sheet.
5. Rinse well and pat dry.
6. Mix butter, paprika, sage, thyme, parsley, ground cloves and a little pepper.
7. Keep aside a little of this butter mix for later.
8. Rub in the mixture under the turkey skin, breast and legs. Let it stand for about 30 mins at room temperature.
9. Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the turkey, breast side up on the lowest rack in a large frying pan. Tie the drumsticks together.
10. Roast until the skin is golden brown and the thermometer reading is 165°F in the turkey thigh.
11. Transfer onto a cutting board and let it rest for about 30 more minutes.
12. Carve it the way you want to serve and top it with the reserved butter mix.

Want more Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes?

Try these delicious twists on your traditional turkey recipe.

We love The Pioneer Woman’s Simple Turkey recipe here.

Country Living’s 25 Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes are a must try.

Plan on Thanksgiving Turkey Leftovers!

Try making this Turkey Cobb Sandwich – the perfect way to enjoy leftovers.

This Dry Brined Turkey With Butter & Herbs Recipe can be served with your favorite accompaniments, be it mint chutney or a hung curd and mayonnaise dip or anything else you like. The idea is to relish the subtly infused flavor of herbs with turkey. Do let us know if you have some suggestions to make this recipe more than a meal.

For more Thanksgiving recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Here’s links to the past ‘Best Of’ Stagetecture years:

Best of 2015 – No 4 – Easy Meatloaf Recipe

Craving for a warming, autumn-inspired meal? Here is a classic meatloaf recipe that is just perfect for cooler weather evenings. Serve it with simple mushroom gravy and mashed potatoes for a hearty, satisfying meal it will give your usual chicken recipe a run for it’s money! The only secret to get it right is very finely chopped vegetables that will give it its due moisture and flavor. We point you the recipe.

Image via: Martha Stewart

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Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Yields: 10 servings

Meatloaf Ingredients

1 coarsely chopped carrot

1 coarsely chopped rib celery

½ coarsely chopped onion

½ coarsely chopped red bell pepper

4 coarsely chopped mushrooms

3 chopped garlic cloves

2 ½ pounds ground chuck

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 cup plain bread crumbs

1 teaspoon olive oil

Glaze Ingredients

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Hot pepper sauce to taste

Procedure

Image via: Betty Crocker

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Place the carrot, onion, celery, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic in a food processor, and pulse until very finely chopped, almost to puree. Put the minced vegetables into a large mixing bowl, and mix in ground chuck, Worcestershire sauce, and egg. Add salt, black pepper, Italian herbs, and cayenne pepper. Using a wooden spoon mix gently to incorporate vegetables and egg into the meat. Pour in bread crumbs. With gently mix bread crumbs until combined.
3. Form the meatloaf into a ball. Pour olive oil into a baking dish and place the meat of ball onto the dish. Now shape it into a loaf, about 4 inches high by 6 inches across.
4. Bake in a preheated oven just until meatloaf is hot about 15 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, in a small bowl mix together ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and hot sauce. Stir until brown sugar gets dissolved.
6. Remove meatloaf from oven. With back of the spoon, smooth the glaze onto the top of the meatloaf. Then pull a little bit of glaze down the sides of the meatloaf with the back of the spoon.
7. Return meatloaf back to oven and bake until the loaf is no longer pink inside and glaze has baked onto the loaf, approx 30-40 minutes. Insert an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the loaf which should read at least 70 degrees C. cooking time will depend on the thickness and shape off the meatloaf.

This classic meatloaf tastes so good that you might want to double the recipe so that everyone can enjoy second servings. However, still if there are any leftovers, simply chill and reheat. The slices also taste good in sandwiches as well.

Please share with us your best meatloaf recipe!

Check back throughout the week to see the rest of Stagetecture’s Best Of for 2015 posts!

Recipe Round Up: Our Favorite Chicken Recipes

Chicken Paprikash Recipe

Image via: Kraft Recipes

With just a handful of ingredients, Chicken Paprikash is a simple delicious Hungarian stew. Known for its mild sweetness, mellow flavor, and tender chicken, this recipe will hit the spot when you are craving for something warm and comforting. The best part? All it takes is just 20 minutes if you are well-prepared.

Spicy Roast Chicken Recipe

Image via: Sainsbury’s

This spicy roast chicken recipe is a simple blend of herbs and spices that most of us usually have on hand. If you don’t have a lot of time to cook but still want to enjoy a delicious meal, this one is for you. Alternatively, you can marinate the bird overnight to help it stay moist during cooking and spread more flavor.

Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Recipe

Image Via: Steamy Kitchen

Ready in no time and very easy to bake, this chicken dish brings out the subtle flavors of all your favorite herbs and comes with just the right amount of seasoning. You can enjoy this fantastic meal with the side dip and your favorite drinks. So, are you trying this baked garlic parmesan chicken recipe tonight?

Lemon-Pepper Balsamic Chicken Recipe

Image via: Skinny Mom

This lemon-pepper balsamic chicken recipe will definitely be the star of your family meal. The lemon and pepper seasoning add the punch while the vinegar and garlic complement each other. Incredibly easy, it takes minutes to put together. And only you would know that it’s healthy too!

From Sunday roast to a weeknight dinner, chicken is a popular choice for any occasion. After all, it’s easy to prepare, economical, and great tasting, so what’s not to love about the dish! Take your pick from our selection of chicken recipes and let us know how it was?

For more round up posts on Stagetecture click here.

Recipe Round Up: 5 Amazing Fall Casseroles

1. Beef and Cheddar Noodle Casserole Recipe

The combination of beef, cheddar cheese, and noodle in a casserole recipe sounds more than yum! Made with ground beef, egg noodle, grated Cheddar, sour cream, and diced tomatoes, the healthy recipe can easily take a place in your family dinner table. Children will love its delicious noodles and cheese while the flavors of Italian seasoning and red bell pepper will captivate the adults.

Image via: Pip and Ebby

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2. Swiss Vegetable Casserole Recipe

An easy, healthy, delicious, and comforting dish is what you want on a cool autumn night. The main ingredients of this dish are vegetables – an excellent way to taste the season’s produce. The healthy dish gets a creamy texture from the shredded Swiss cheese and milk while salt, green onions, and pepper add flavors to it. It is a crowd-pleaser and you can have it for brunch or dinner.

Image via: The Fitchen

3. Curried Turkey Casserole Recipe

Turkey dishes are mainly prepared during the holidays but nobody forbids you to relish a warm turkey casserole on a cool autumn night! Cooked turkey mixed with diced bread pieces, broccoli florets, and flour will keep you full for dinner or lunch. Curry powder, ground pepper, and minced garlic have added extra flavors to this recipe. Serve it with your favorite wine or drinks and your family members will absolutely love it!

Image via: Yummly

4. Smoked Turkey Nachos & Casserole Recipes

How about another turkey recipe? Well, I’d say the more the merrier! They are actually holiday recipes when you run out of ideas of how to make the best use of Turkey leftovers. But, hey, there’s nothing wrong making them on a cool Autumn Sunday night! In fact, the combination of Turkey nachos and Turkey casserole will make a great dinner at any day.

Image via: Campbell’s Kitchen

5. Southern Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

How about a sweet casserole recipe? Well, I bet that this southern sweet potato casserole will blow your mind with its mouthwatering taste and nice texture. Made with sweet potato accompanied with miniature marshmallows, you will have no better sweet side dish that delivers the combination of chewy marshmallows and crunchy pecans and cornflakes.

Image via: Joseph Cooking Class

Whether to eat as a brunch, dinner, or a light side dish, our fall casseroles suit any purpose and occasion. Cook them for a family dinner, a small party, or just for you and your partner, they are the best option to comfort you on a cold autumn day.

For more of our best round up of recipes on Stagetecture, click here.