4 Unique styles for Hosting (3)

4 Unique Styles for Hosting Over the Holidays

When it comes to holiday entertaining there are many ways to bring different groups of people together. A memorable holiday gathering leaves a lasting impression–a warm feeling of family, community filled with rambling conversations, peppered with flavors that fill the stomach as well as the soul.

Hosting a successful holiday gathering goes well beyond just the theme of Thanksgiving or Christmas. Consider who you will be entertaining, and what type of atmosphere you would like to create.

The recipe for a successful holiday gathering is very simply–a classic combination of food, people, drinks, and meaningful discussions. Food has the power to bring people together–whether you’re serving family members, business colleagues, or new friends. Every choice you make–from theme to menu to music–should center around creating this atmosphere of warmth, openness, and discussion. However, every host or hostess adds their own personal flavor to the event–a sprinkle of fun, a dash of competition, or a heaping spoonful of classic elegance.

Choose a theme by thinking about the reason for your holiday dinner party. Are you entertaining close friends, neighbors, inviting your boss or colleagues? Are you celebrating a holiday with just your relatives or a mix of family and friends?

Consider The Atmosphere You Want to Create

From there you can consider the atmosphere you’d like to create. Will this be an intimate event, or will the evening be an energetic introduction of many new acquaintances? Is this a formal dinner, or a casual gathering? Would you like your guests to feel calm and relaxed, or excited and boisterous?

The atmosphere and theme work together. Even a theme as simple as “Christmas Dinner” can be interpreted in many ways. Is it a classic, elegant, Charles Dickens-style Christmas? A Southern charm Christmas? A fun, whimsical, snow wonderland Christmas with elves and sparkles? A gingerbread and candy Christmas?

Once you’ve decided on the atmosphere you plan to create, you can begin to really narrow down your theme. Many factors can determine a theme.

1. Hosting An Eclectic Group

This is the perfect time to try out some fun finger foods. Maybe make it a pot luck of appetizers. Create a light and casual get together where people can mix and mingle, bring along their children and catch up with others. Imagine guests standing around with a signature cocktail or glasses of sparkling cider, chatting away with an assortment of finger foods and sweets. Mix up the music to appeal to everyone’s style.

2. The Formal Sit Down Dinner

Perhaps you want to dust off your grandmother’s china and host a formal dinner with napkins folded into swans and glistening holiday candles. Place guests according to their interests and hobbies so that the conversation is lively at the table. Keep in mind that this is not much fun for little ones. We are not saying don’t invite them but there was a reason Grandma sat you at the kids table.

3. Hosting Outdoors

Depending on the climate where you live, outdoors can be an amazing way to host friends and neighbors for the holidays. Perhaps you will spark up a fire pit and serve up some butternut squash soup and rustic bread.

Even if you are fortunate enough to live in a region that boasts long lovely springs and blissful autumns, you still cannot always count on Mother Nature to deliver the perfect weather, can you? Having an entertaining plan that incorporates the inside space of your home into the flow of a party can cut down on the anxiety of a pop-up storm or another unplanned unpleasant occurrence.

4. Traditional Family Dinner

Entertaining small can be wonderful. Take care not to create the atmosphere of a weeknight family meal. Make the dinner special for your intimate group. If you want to create a magical dinner for your immediate family, think about special moments in their lives that you want to honor or celebrate and turn your table settings into personalized themes with photos and mementos. You can list the years achievements like you would in a Christmas letter but instead of sharing their accomplishments with the world, share how proud you are of them at the holiday table. This can work regardless of the holiday.

Simple is still memorable

There are thousands of creative, whimsical, elegant, and classic ideas for decorating a tablescape, which can easily be found online. Sometimes just browsing through photos can help you brainstorm the perfect theme and decor for your dinner party.

However good the food, however fine the drink, and however fun the atmosphere — the highlight of a dinner party remains memorable and meaningful conversation among friends and family.

If you plan a few questions beforehand, you won’t be stuck in a rut if the conversation starts to dwindle. Deep, meaningful conversations over wine, candles, and good food — this is the stuff memorable dinner parties are made of.

Your holiday dinner should be as distinct and unique as you. The games, atmosphere, themes, and menu should reflect who you are. Likewise, a host or hostess shouldn’t have to stress out; a dinner doesn’t have to be complex to be amazing. Remember: All of the lace, flowers, and candles on earth won’t make a holiday memorable–at the end, what everyone remember most are how they felt, the people they connected with and conversations.

All of the lace, flowers, and candles on earth won’t make a holiday memorable–at the end what everyone remember most are how they felt, the people they connected with and the conversations.

Cheers. Here’s to creating an unforgettable holiday lasting happy memories.

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Holiday Entertaining Check List

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Make The List – Check it Twice!

Starting from the beginning with a well thought out entertaining plan will determine everything from your menu to your choice of music.

Once you’ve determined your menu, take a few moments to write down each and every ingredient you’ll need for each course. Any event planner or caterer will tell you – staying organized is key! You’ve got a lot of things to think about: cooking, decorating, invitations, seating arrangements, games. It’ll be far easier and less stressful if you take a deep breath and take the time to organize. The last thing you want is to run back to the grocery store two or three times because you forgot a small ingredient!

On a separate document, make a list of every decor item you need. Put a checkmark next to any items you already own.

Most event coordinators will tell you: Begin planning early. Give yourself at least a month to plan. Here’s a simple checklist of your timeline for planning a dinner party.

A Month Before Your Event

  • Check Pinterest for unique themes
  • Brainstorm desired atmosphere and decor items
  • Create guest list
  • Begin planning menu

Three Weeks Before Your Event

  • Design and send invitations
  • Determine theme
  • Create a shopping list of required decor items
  • Begin shopping for decorations

Two Weeks Before Your Event

  • Guests RSVP; finalize the list of attendees
  • Check dietary needs for guests
  • Create seating arrangements
  • Finalize menu
  • Create a shopping list for ingredients

One Week Before Your Event

  • Choose music; begin creating a playlist
  • Create name cards if needed
  • Create ice-breaker question cards if needed
  • Deep clean house – Baseboards, lighting fixtures, etc.

Three Days Before Your Event

  • Use finalized shopping list; buy ingredients
  • Purchase alcoholic beverages – wine, champagne, beer, or cocktail mixes.
  • Purchase bottle-openers and corkscrews for opening wine.

The Day Before Your Event

  • Prepare as much of the menu as you can, so you can easily heat and serve the next day.
  • Trash out, restrooms clean
  • Begin decorating and laying out centerpieces, tablecloths, candles, flowers.
  • Hook-up playlist to make sure music plays
  • Go ahead and set your table as much as possible — one less thing to worry about tomorrow.

The Day Of Your Event

  • Prepare any remaining menu items
  • Warm-up previously-prepared foods
  • Layout hors-d’oeuvres and drinks for cocktail hour
  • Arrange all dishes for the prepared courses in the order you’ll need to serve them
  • Set the mood by lighting candles, turning on your playlist, and staging your home for guests.
  • Finally, get dressed for your holiday gathering
reading a book by a fire

Ideally, all of this early-preparation will leave very little work for you to do on the actual day of your holiday gathering. Be sure to take some time for yourself. Drink a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, and take a few moments to enjoy your space before your guests arrive.

Food Safety

5 Thanksgiving Food Safety Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Turkey cooking mistakes

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Mistake #1 – Not Properly Thawing Frozen Turkey

When it comes to thawing the bird- the key is to think ahead.

  • How many pounds do you have?
  • How many days will you be required to leave it in the refrigerator to reach its thawing point?

The dangerous mistake occurs when the turkey is not thawed in the refrigerator. Never thaw on the counter or just sitting in a sink full of water.
The FDA guideline states frozen food of any kind should only be thawed in one of 3 ways:

  • In the refrigerator
  • Under continuous running cold water
  • In the microwave. (If food is thawed in the microwave it must be cooked immediately.)

Thankfully Butterball has a calculator that will help you plan

  • How much turkey you need by weight
  • How long to thaw a frozen turkey by the pound
  • How long your cook time will be
Undercooking the Turkey
Mistake #2 – Undercooking the Turkey

Cooking a turkey can be a daunting task if you have never done so. Be sure to remove all of the innards and the neck which will be tucked inside. You can use them to make a stock for the gravy.

The danger lies in the internal cooking temperature of the turkey. Turkey is considered poultry and the FDA urges that all poultry must be cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Make sure you have tested your food thermometer. Keep it handy and check various parts of the bird. It is not done until every area you insert the thermometer in reads at least 165 degrees F. To test the accuracy of your thermometer you can place it in a glass of ice water for thirty seconds. If it reads 32 degrees F your device passes the test.

Properly reheating side dishes

Reheat the Side Dishes to the Correct Temperature
Mistake #3 – Not Reheating the Side Dishes to the Correct Temperature

Most people will make at least a few of the Thanksgiving side dishes ahead of time. This makes perfect sense considering how much cooking is involved.

Where this can become dangerous is assuming that since a side dish was once cooked properly it can be served with just the chill removed. All ready-to-heat food is required to be heated until an internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

The reason you must reheat to an internal temperature of 165 F is that bacteria grow very rapidly as food passes through what is called the temperature danger zone.

The temperature range for the danger zone is 40F-140 degrees F. These little bacteria can make someone very ill. Especially when it comes to children, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone who may be immunocompromised. Think about who might be sitting at your table this holiday season and use your thermometer to check temps as you reheat the side dishes.

Properly refrigerating food sooner than later

Leaving Food Sit Out Hours After Serving
Mistake #4 – Do Not Leave Food Sit Out Hours After Serving

Many people have a sit-down family-style meal where everyone passes each delicious dish one at a time. Other households prefer to serve a wonderful buffet-style meal in which everyone makes a plate from a central location and carries their Thanksgiving dinner to their own seat. 

Regardless of how you prefer to dine, food-safety should still be top of mind.

Remember the old days where children were always instructed to wash their hands before dinner? This is still a great idea, in fact, in a post-pandemic world, everyone should wash their hands before sharing serving utensils. You as the cook should be washing in between touching each food item.

When it comes to serving your Thanksgiving feast the biggest rule of thumb is to not let any of the food sit out for more than two- hours. Once everyone has had time to eat, pack up the food, and get it in the refrigerator. If it is still hot or warm, simply divide it into smaller containers.

Mishandling of the Thanksgiving Leftovers
Mistake #5 – The Mishandling of the Thanksgiving Leftovers

Packing food in small containers with leftovers in them makes sense on so many levels.

  • If you are packing that leftover turkey stuffing and gravy into single-use disposable containers, your wonderful Thanksgiving leftovers can be offered to your guests as they leave.
  • If the containers are reheatable, you can portion out some ready-to-go meals for your family too.

    In the long run, this is the most efficient way to eat all the lovely thanksgiving food items in a timely manner. We live by the food-safety 3-day rule. By Sunday night all the leftovers must be frozen or thrown out. Make sure you follow the food safety rules of reheating foods to 165 degrees F also. Yes, you can eat the turkey meat cold, but if want some mashed potatoes and gravy or mac and cheese, remember to use the thermometer.

When it comes to food safety, you really cannot pick and choose. Bacteria and viruses are part of the world around us. We must learn to live with them and use the knowledge at hand to protect those around us.

As the cook and or the host of a meal, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have properly warded off the potential spread of viruses and properly killed off any bacteria that can potentially make you or someone you love ill. Having a happy holiday season starts with being healthy.

Remember: thaw food properly, cook poultry to 165 degrees F, reheat foods to 165 degrees F, refrigerate leftovers within two hours, freeze or discard leftovers after three days and wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.

Have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!
To learn more about safe and healthy meal prep visit our site at Meal Prep Made.

Holiday Blunders (3)

10 Holiday Entertaining Blunders

We have all encountered one or all of these situations at one time. We have provided not only the hosting faux pas but the tips to ensure that when it’s your turn to entertain, you will be able to navigate the hosting of your party with ease and avoid these all too common entertaining blunders.


1. A Flurry of Confusion


The hosts are still preparing food an hour after the party started. No one knows where to place their gifts or leave their coats. Guests are scrambling through kitchen drawers looking for a wine opener.

Tip: As hosts of a party, being prepared and on time is can be challenging. Your guests deserve to enter a well planned environment. Make a list of everything you need to do to prepare and utilize t time management skills. We have written an article that can help Holiday Entertaining Checklist.

2. The Snooze Fest


A formal holiday dinner party where you were seated for the next two hours alongside a guest you have absolutely nothing in common with.

Tip: When planning out the seating arrangement at a dinner party, make sure you seat people with like interests together. As the host it is your job to keep the conversations moving, Always be scanning the table for lulls in the conversation and find a commonality for people.

3. Menu Snafu

You leave a party hungry.

Tip There are many people with dietary restrictions. Make sure you are aware of allergies or known food sensitivities prior to planning your menu. Make sure there is enough food for the amount of guests. It is always better to have more than less.

4. Sporting of the Lampshade

You arrive to find earlier guests or worse, the hosts already well on their way to feeling no pain

Tip: Start a party off with less alcohol by offering a spritzer in lieu of a glass of wine. A light beer instead of a 10 % stout, or a punch with light alcohol rather than a shot.

5. The Glass House

You were told it was okay to bring your small children to the party only to find precious antiques placed all over the house at their eye level.

Tip: As the hosts, you do not have to redecorate your entire home but do place precious items above the reach of very small children. Make sure they do not have access to anything that can be harmful to themselves such as cleaning supplies, sharp objects or medicines.

6. The House is a Mess

You’re not sure what has happened, however it is apparent that the house keeper has not visited in sometime.

Tip: Cleaning over several days before your party is an easy way to ensure that you will have time for tidying up your home the day of your event. If you have clean laundry that is not going to be folded, tuck it away in a closet. No one wants to look at a pile of your undergarments while nibbling on an appetizer.

7. The “I Am Too Stuffy” Party

Pretentious people stand around in their own cliques while you try to fit in with small talk about the caviar.

Tip: In business situations, this can not always be avoided. But when hosting, it’s your job to match up the guest list appropriately.

8. The Uncomfortable Family Drama

You are forced to listen to Uncle Joe and his half-sister publicly air their respective families past grievances.

Tip: When putting together a guest list, sometimes you may not have a choice but to invite certain relatives. However, try to mitigate the drama by structuring a less formal seating arrangement.

9. Who left the dog out?

Fido is running amuck and jumping on everyone who had food in their hands.

Tip: Pets are great, but not always at your holiday party. Some well-meaning people do not understand that they should not feed your four legged friends. Accidentally dropped party food or spilled alcohol can be poisonous to pets.

10. Hosting if someone in your home is ill.

Tip: After all the world has been through since 2020 we should all know better. If someone becomes ill, it is better to contact all your invited guests to let them know you must cancel or postpone your festivities. It is never in good form to share an illness with guests.

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The Tablescape Contest

Knowing that the holidays would soon be upon us, we asked the members of our Love of Food Facebook group to share their beautiful table settings and participate in a contest. These are some of the photos that are being considered for our contest. We have named each one in the caption under its photo.

If you would like to vote for your favorite, visit our Facebook Group using the link above. The contest will be pinned in the group until Dec 25th when the winner will be announced.

THE AUTUMN LEAVES TABLE
THE REINDEER TABLE
THE DINNER OF THE DEAD TABLE
THE GILDAD BUTTERFLY TABLE
THE RED GLASS TABLE
THE BLACK WHITE AND RED TABLE
THE BIRDS NEST TABLE
THE CHRISTMAS BUFFET

4 Unique styles for Hosting

Holiday Table Setting Tips

When it comes to creating, serving, and showcasing food, the choices are limitless. From setting the tone for a fun party to a formal dinner, and everything in between. All you need is a little creativity, some dinnerware, table cloths, glassware, and holiday decor. A theme will make your food stand out and set the right mood for a memorable holiday meal.

Designing Your Holiday Table- Where Should You Begin?

Many times people shy away from entertaining because the idea of having to set up an extravagant table appears like a daunting task. But it does not have to be hard. The key is starting a week or two ahead of time and follow these simple steps.

1. Elegance or Fun

The first rule of thumb is to decide is who will be in attendance? Perhaps your guest list includes your very traditional mother in law, and or your new boss. If this is the case, the answer is simple. You should shoot for elegance above all else. If it’s a group of close friends and neighbors you may want to decide on a fun theme.

There can however be extenuating circumstances once you take your guest list into consideration. Can you have both? The answer is kind of… yes.

Case in point; this Thanksgiving we have little ones attending. While we still all want everyone to feel as if they were being treated to a wonderful meal, we had to consider spills, drips, table bumps and busy hands. We opted to ditch the formality but weave in a sprinkle of elegance. While our tables will not be magazine cover worthy and as fancy as previous years, we are blessed to have children in our lives.

Grandmother’s antique platters will not make their appearance. We will skip the tall candles and the decorative glass votives. Low profile decor that is more stable will dawn our table. The crystal long-stemmed wine glasses that can tip too easily will be replaced with stemless options. Instead of the fancy table cloths, our tables will be draped with cloths that will be no worse for their wear if/when they get spilled upon.

Our tables will still be quite festive, and have a hint of elegance but are more approachable for all the guests. The parents of the little ones will feel more relaxed, as will we, as the hosts. Here are some of the designs we plan to use.

The most important part of creating this sacred space where we will partake of our Thanksgiving meal is that each and everyone seated at the dining table is made to feel comfortable.

Now that you have considered who will be attending, what do you do next?

2. Select A Signature Piece and Build Around It

Start with one signature piece for inspiration that will help define the theme of your design, Sometimes it can be a fantastic dinner plate.

It does not always have to be the dinnerware that is your muse. We found this rooster placemat and decided the theme would be farm/country. From there we were able to gather pieces, gift bags and really hone in on the details. Fresh vegetables were even part of the decor.

Once we hosted a birthday dinner for a girlfriend from Texas and that gave us the idea of a fun cowgirl theme. The inspiration for this, believe it or not, was not the hat but the cute little checkered pigs we found at a craft store.

3. You Do Not Have to Break The Bank Creating a Centerpiece

Beautiful tables can be made from Items you source just about anywhere. These beautiful flowers are from a Crepe Myrtle tree located in our neighborhood. Tall weeds were growing around them so they were added for greenery. You can also find sticks or Cat N Nine tails. Even wheat grass can be a great way to add color and dimension to your tablescape. Just be sure to spray anything before coming in from the outside with a solution of dish soap and water to remove any insects hiding in tiny crevices.

4. Secret Dollar Store Finds

This past Halloween, we were challenged to set a great table using mostly Dollar Store finds. We hosted a dinner and a brunch using the same items. It was the best 15 dollars we ever spent. Storing these items does not make sense for our space, so the next day we packed it all up and made a donation to the local thrift store.

Thrift stores can be a great place to find pieces that you can use for your dinner parties. One time we hosted a birthday dinner for a friend who happens to really like the color blue. We found some pretty blue glassware sitting on the store shelves just begging for us to take it home. We made a small donation to a good cause and made our friend smile when she saw her favorite color proudly displayed on her table. When the party was over we gave her all the glassware to keep.

Thrifting is only one of the ways to have fun with your tablescapes. We know some of you cringe at the thought of using someone else’s dishes, but if you think about it you do this each time you dine out. Yes, it would be nice to walk into Sur La Table or Pottery Barn and purchase everything showcased, but unless your last name is Rockefeller, that kind of expenditure for each and every holiday is not sustainable. We even set our Christmas table with pretty red snowflake plates that we found in a box at a local thrift store. This year we donated them back to the same store. That is good example of re-use.

5. Incorporate and Repurpose Already Owned Pieces

You do not have to purchase dinnerware and decorative items for every holiday. The best way to make the most of pieces you love and a table look different is to repurpose them.

For the Halloween tables shown previously we repurposed everything and transformed the dinner table to a buffet. The tree in the middle of the table is an old jewelry tree that we found on clearance at Kirklands. This tree will make its reappearance on our Christmas table. Instead of spooky bats and orange lights it will sparkle with white lights and hold little ornaments. Perhaps it will be repurposed again at Easter where it can drip with pastel colored ribbons and dangle little eggs. One piece repurposed over and over.

Your table is your canvass to create on.

  • Think of it as a piece of art
  • Find your muse for inspiration
  • Follow the tips that we have provided

It does not matter if you will have lots of company or just an intimate holiday dinner. Like a Broadway production, a well staged table allows your food to shine as the star of the show. You and your guest will be seated in the front row. Your holiday dinner table is the vehicle for meaningful dialogue, laughs, and entertainment. Like a well written play the storyline of your dinner may be cherished for many years to come.

We hope you have found some creative inspiration and clear direction on getting started. To see more beautifully dressed tables you can preview of the submissions from our table scape contest on our Facebook Group Page.

Healthy Happy

Happy and Healthy Holiday Season

The holiday season is now in full swing! The hustle and bustle of gift shopping, family visits, holiday parties, and end of year to-do lists can become quite overwhelming. After the year we have all endured, why not simplify life, slow down, and enjoy all that we have been blessed with?

While this year may look a little different, I am sure there will still be families gathering and friends celebrating together. Whether your gathering includes two people or twenty people, one thing is for sure – there will be food! If you are anything like me, the promise of delicious food may be one of your top reasons for attending such events. 

It also means we may not make the healthiest of choices as we navigate the wide array of sweet and savory options on every table. There is a way to make better choices for ourselves and enjoy a great holiday season. Some of us may need to simply avoid too much sugar while others, including myself, must be wary of the options presented due to allergies. I am not able to eat gluten or dairy due to severe intolerances. Once upon a time, this made every gathering daunting and unenjoyable. 

No matter what your goals are this year, here are five great tips that I have taught myself over the years! They are simple and easy to remember.

EAT BEFORE YOU GO

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Don’t show up on an empty stomach! One sure fire way to ensure confidence in yourself when presented with a huge table of sweets and treats is to already have a belly full of food that makes you feel great. With this already done, you can grab a glass of wine or champagne and focus on other things. Your energy is high, you feel great in that new outfit you bought for the season, and you are ready to enjoy friends and family. 

FILL YOUR PLATE ONCE

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You have already had your belly filling meal before showing up – great! This does not mean you are not allowed to enjoy a few treats. I will find the smallest plate being offered and fill it up once. I will add a dessert or two and maybe a small bunch of veggies. This allows you to still feel a part of the crowd and treat yourself a bit.

DON’T SOCIALIZE BY THE FOOD TABLE

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This may seem obvious, but it is quite easy to stand, chat, and pick at the food all evening long. Remove yourself from the temptation of grabbing all of the small finger foods or cookies within an arm’s reach.

TAKE A DISH TO SHARE THAT YOU CAN ENJOY

My number ONE favorite thing to do is cook! All my friends know this, and I am usually asked to bring at least one dish to all parties or get togethers. I am flattered when they ask but also excited because it means I can bring something that I know I can enjoy without any guilt. Take a fun dip without dairy products or create a fun dessert that is sugar free. People will be amazed at how it tastes, and you know it is at least one option you can feel no guilt about enjoying. 

Below is my Spiced Cranberry Turkey Meatball recipe. It is Gluten and Dairy-free and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at whatever event you attend this season. Everyone loves a party meatball!

Spiced Turkey Cranberry Meatballs

Time: 30 minutes total
Recipe makes 25-30 small meatballs

Meatballs Ingredients:

  • lb. lean ground turkey
  • ¾ cup almond flour
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup shredded Granny Smith Apple
  • .5 tsp allspice 
  • 2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp dried sage
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1.5 tsp salt

Sauce

  • 14 oz can jellied cranberry sauce
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • Zest from half an orange
  • Juice from half an orange
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

Allergy note: if you have Celiac or severe gluten allergies, be sure to purchase Gluten-Free versions of any spices or sauces needed

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Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix all meatball ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.
  2. Place a baking rack on top of a baking sheet and spray generously with cooking spray.
  3. Spoon out 1 tbsp of meatball mix and roll into a small ball. Place onto the baking rack.
  4. Bake for 12-14 minutes until slightly browned and no longer pink on the inside.
  5. While the meatballs are baking, make your sauce! Add all sauce ingredients to a small saucepan on low heat. Whisk ingredients together until you have a smooth sauce. Simmer on low heat for about 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally as not to burn the fruit.
  6. Add as much spice as you would like! I added a whole teaspoon of red pepper flakes and my kids still enjoyed them. Red pepper flakes go a long way. Add a little and taste before adding more!
  7. Once meatballs are done, add your sauce to the bottom of a large bowl. Add in the meatballs and toss them together. Serve immediately. You can also make them ahead of time and transport them in a slow cooker set on WARM.

GIVE YOURSELF GRACE

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This time of year is supposed to be about joy and family and love. While it is important to be continually conscious about our health, it is equally as vital to keep priorities in their place. Family and togetherness are at the top of the list! That one party, one special family holiday reunion, or one diet slip up, should not determine your happiness this year. You are not what you eat and what your slightly altered diet plans say. Have a great time and give yourself grace! Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. 

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from R&R Table!

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17 Ways to Enjoy Thanksgiving Leftovers

Thanksgiving is over, your meal was amazing! They raved about your turkey and everyone loved your homemade cranberry sauce and stuffing. What happens next is an important part of how to save all that delicious leftover food from going to waste. Sure, everyone will want a late-night turkey sandwich or a plate of everything reheated the very next day, but two or three days of that same old meal loses its allure quickly. In the eyes of your family, your beloved turkey dinner slowly morphs into the dreaded Thanksgiving meal that will never end.

Sure, everyone will want a late-night turkey sandwich or a plate of everything reheated the very next day, but two or three days of that same old meal loses its allure quickly.

The secret to using up all that leftover Thanksgiving goodness is a multi-pronged approach including handling the food properly, meal planning, and creativity. By reimagining the Thanksgiving dishes by their ingredients you can team them up with your family’s other favorite foods. Don’t worry if you are not culinary trained, we have compiled information from the experts and have tested some of the recipes ourselves. We will walk you through every step of the way starting with food safety.

How to Properly Pack Thanksgiving Leftovers

The first step to using those leftovers is to properly store them away. Too often the food sits for hours waiting to be packed up and this can be dangerous. Foodborne diseases are far more serious than many people realize. The Federal government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually — the equivalent of sickening 1 in 6 Americans each year. And each year these illnesses result in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Bottom line: Absolutely no grazing!

Watch local food safety expert Ben Chapman, from North Carolina State University, explain what is the safest way to handle Thanksgiving leftovers. Spoiler alert; after he properly packs the food away he also sets the temperature of his refrigerator in a way that allows him to store his leftovers for a longer period of time.

Leftover Food Tips

  • Food should not be left out more than 2 hours without being refrigerated.
  • Remove all the turkey meat from the bone and save the carcass for soup. It is okay to freeze it if you are not going to have time to make soup in the next few days.
  • Sliced white meat can be kept moist in a plastic baggy with a damp paper towel.
  • Leftover cranberry sauce should be put into mason jars or glass bowls with lids. Do not use plastic containers as the cranberry will stain them. Do not overfill as the cranberry will make a mess in the fridge.
  • Leftover gravy should be stored the same way.
  • Don’t throw away the mashed potatoes as these can be recooked or repurposed.
  • Vegetables can all be used again so pack them in baggies or sealed in a container regardless if it is corn, carrots or green beans.
  • Casseroles like Green bean or Sweet potato should be placed in small glass containers with lids so that they can easily be reheated.
  • Leftover salad without dressing can be placed in a baggie with a dry paper towel for the next day.
  • Cover pies with plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and refrigerate.
  • A cake can be frozen in slices for an appearance on a weeknight meal or late night treat.
  • Even leftover wine or apple cider should be repurposed. You can freeze it into cubes or simply refrigerate and add to sauces or marinades.


Now that it is all packed up and put away in the fridge, what’s next? Taking that refrigerator temperature is really the key as to how long you can safely keep food. According to the FDA, your fridge should be at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. At that temperature, you can safely eat the leftovers for 3 days. After that, anything that is still waiting for its moment to shine again should be placed in the freezer. Frozen foods will not spoil, however, they do lose their flavor over time. Ben Chapman, the NC State food safety specialist, set his refrigerator temperature at 38 or 39 degrees Fahrenheit and he keeps his leftovers for as many as seven days. Invest in a refrigerator thermometer to ensure you are storing foods at an appropriate temperature.

Meal Planning

I like to make dishes that use some of the ingredients but taste nothing like the original dish. Our meal plan will stick with the 40 degrees F refrigerator temperature setting, therefore we will use the three-day rule. Many of the items in our meal plan are adapted from our own recipes where we will simply substitute the original protein with the leftover turkey. By utilizing the leftovers you will save money and feed your family for the rest of the week. The meals will taste great and will not end up repeating the same dinner they had on Thanksgiving.

This above menu is a sample to show how you might plan your meals for three days. We have many other suggestions and substitutions depending on your family’s food preferences.

Recipes for Repurposing

Stuffing Waffles w Cranberry Maple Syrup
Love of Food Magazine

The first item on our menu was the Stuffing Waffles with Maple Cranberry Syrup. This was a savory breakfast item, that could also be substituted for brunch or lunch. The waffle is made from leftover stuffing (I use sausage and apple in mine). The recipe for the waffle calls for cheddar cheese and egg. The syrup is simple to make using leftover cranberry sauce and maple syrup. You can adjust the sweetness as you like.

If waffles are not your jam, maybe repurposing the leftover stuffing inside some acorn squash would hit the spot. This recipe was one that we found created by another food blogger so we can not vouch for it, but it certainly does look interesting.
2. Stuffing Filled Acorn Squash

Photo and Recipe Credit A Taste of Home

When it comes to Shepherd’s Pie there really is no limit to what you can do. Our sample menu utilizes the leftover mashed potatoes so all you needed to do is make your preferred filling using beef or turkey, and corn or green beans. Below are the types of Shepherd’s pies we have made along with their recipes, but if you are utilizing either your leftover Sweet Potato Casserole or the mashed potatoes, you have already cut your prep time in half!

3. Use the Piped Shepherd’s Pie to make everyone think you spent hours making this special dish- Only you will know it’s made from leftovers.
4. The Not Your Momma’s Shepherd’s Pie is filled with Comfort.
5. The Sweet Potato Turkey Shephard’s Pie will leave you craving more.

Cranberry Smoothie Love of Food Magazine

The Cranberry Smoothie is the perfect repurpose of the Thanksgiving cranberry sauce. This recipe was a pleasant surprise. We made these for a quick morning breakfast. We did two versions: a sweet one that will appeal to the kids and a more tart grown up version. Whichever one you decide to make, you will not be disappointed by this leftover cranberry sauce smoothie.

8. We also reimagined our Mexican Stuffed Peppers that are usually made with ground beef and substituted leftover shredded turkey.
9. Mexican Stuffed Zucchini Boats typically made with ground turkey can be made with the pre-cooked turkey that was left from your Thanksgiving feast. Again, this is a timesaver and a money saver. What a great way to repurpose your American food into an ethnic feast.

Continuing with ethnic flavors, bring a bit of Italy in with this twist on turkey soup.

Day-After Turkey Soup Love of Food Magazine

Day-After Turkey Soup is not such a big surprise, however when you add in these little shells and prepare this Italian style dish by adding grated cheese before serving. This soup will certainly have them coming back for seconds!

11.. We also found a recipe for Penne w Turkey, Kale, and Olives in a goat cheese sauce yum! This one belongs to Martha Stewart but if I had any turkey left, I would be giving this one a try.

Photo courtesy Martha Stewart Living
Pho Love of Food Magazine

If you want a change from using your leftovers that are not Mexican or Italian, why not try making a Vietnamese Pho soup? This spicy soup is normally made with beef or chicken so by all means substitute in that turkey. If you want something hearty to go along as we did on our Saturday menu, you could add some chopped turkey to some cabbage and carrots to make the filling for turkey spring rolls.

These spring rolls are really easy to make. You can create the filling ahead of time so all you have to do is roll and fry them when it’s meal time. You can even make them in the air fryer! You could possibly roll some extra and freeze them for another time. I also make my own duck sauce for dipping. You can find the link for the sauce with the Spring roll recipe.

Spring Roll Love of Food Magazine

Bonus Recipes Worth Trying

The days after Thanksgiving are really a long weekend that got us thinking about how to incorporate those leftovers into some pub type foods. 14. Why not make a Buffalo Dip using turkey instead of chicken? Serve it up with a blue cheese dressing and leftover celery you likely have in the refrigerator. You can also make 15. Turkey and Cheese Quesadillas or 16. Turkey Queso.

If your family insists that they want the true flavors of Thanksgiving served to them, once again there is an option that will not look like an unappealing pile of leftovers thrown onto a plate drowning in gravy. This recipe turns all their favorite flavors into little balls called 17. Thanksgiving Leftover Gravy Balls.


As we reflect on all things Thanksgiving we are thankful for the bounty that sits on our table this year and for all years past. We wish you and your family the best of things to come in the holiday season that lies before us.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Love of Food Magazine.

Stuffing  waffle

Leftover Stuffing Waffle w Cranberry Syrup

Leftover Stuffing Waffles w/ Cranberry Syrup

I have to admit I was a skeptic on this one, but we tried a recipe since I had both stuffing and cranberry sauce leftover from our Thanksgiving feast. It passes the taste test, it is frugal, and easy to make.
This is not a recipe for someone who loves their sweet breakfast pancakes and waffles, rather it is for the more savory food lover. The person who tolerates breakfast while they are waiting for lunch or who would rather order a BLT or a chicken biscuit for their first meal of the day.

Ingredients
  

Waffles

  • 3 Cups Leftover Stuffing
  • 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 2 Eggs beaten
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste
  • Non-stick Spray for the waffle iron

Syrup

  • 1 Cup of Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 Cup of Maple Syrup the original recipe called for a 1/2 cup

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the waffle iron on medium heat
  • Mix the stuffing, cheese, and egg in a bowl, set aside
  • In a saucepan add cranberry sauce and the maple syrup turn on low heat
  • Spray the waffle iron with non-stick spray
  • Spoon approximately one cup of the mixture into the waffle iron
  • Cook for approximately 10 minutes per waffle
  • Stir the syrup to make sure it is heating but not sticking to the pan
  • For each waffle you are serving pour some syrup on the top

Notes

The original recipe that I used called for less maple syrup in the syrup and to appease the sweet breakfast folks in my house I simply added more. The original recipe also called for processing the cranberries down with an emulsion blender, I prefer the berries as a mix of chunky and whole and therefor left them that way when I made the syrup.
Whichever way you choose to go on this recipe, it is a true winner for something innovative to do with Thanksgiving leftovers.  
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

I have to admit I was a skeptic on this one, but I tried a recipe I saw online for this and since I had both leftover from our Thanksgiving feast, I decided to give it a try. This is not a recipe for someone who loves their sweet breakfast pancakes and waffles, rather it is for the more savory food lover. The person who tolerates breakfast while they are waiting for lunch or who would rather order a BLT or a chicken biscuit for their first meal of the day.

The original recipe that I used called for less maple syrup in the syrup and to appease the sweet breakfast folks in my house I simply added more. The original recipe also called for processing the cranberries down with an emulsion blender, I prefer the berries as a mix of chunky and whole and therefor left them that way when I made the syrup.

Whichever way you choose to go on this recipe, it is a true winner for something innovative to do with Thanksgiving leftovers, It passes the taste test, it is frugal, and easy to make.

Ingredients

Waffles
  • 3 Cups of Leftover Stuffing
  • 1 Cup of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 2 Eggs (beaten)
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste
  • Non-stick Spray (for the waffle iron)
Cranberry Syrup
  • 1 Cup of Cranberry Sauce
  • 1 Cup of Maple Syrup (the original recipe called for a 1/2 cup)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the waffle iron on medium heat
  2. Mix the stuffing, cheese, and egg in a bowl, set aside
  3. In a saucepan add cranberry sauce and the maple syrup turn on low heat
  4. Spray the waffle iron with non-stick spray
  5. Spoon approximately one cup of the mixture into the waffle iron
  6. Cook for approximately 10 minutes per waffle
  7. Stir the syrup to make sure it is heating but not sticking to the pan
  8. For each waffle you are serving pour some syrup on the top

Enjoy!

Tart Cranberry Smoothie

Cranberry Smoothie

Cranberry Smoothie

Wait, don't throw away that cranberry sauce from your Thanksgiving Dinner table! Especially if you made our Easy 3 Ingredient Cranberry Sauce Recipe These little berries are too good and too healthy for you to throw away. Instead, freeze that cranberry sauce in a baggie and make a smoothie from it later. This drink is for the cranberry lover who does not want an overly sweet smoothie,

Ingredients
  

  • Cup Leftover Frozen Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
  • ¼ Cup of Frozen Pineapple
  • ¼ Cup of Orange Juice
  • of a Ripe Banana
  • 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla Yogurt

Instructions
 

  • Place all the ingredients in the blender and mix until smooth

Notes

It is refreshing and tart, but not too bitter. If you are looking for a more kid-friendly version we have a recipe for a Sweet Cranberry Smoothie also made from leftover cranberry sauce.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Wait, don’t throw away that cranberry sauce from your Thanksgiving Dinner table! Especially if you made our Easy 3 Ingredient Cranberry Sauce Recipe These little berries are too good and too healthy for you to throw away. Instead, freeze that cranberry sauce in a baggie and make a smoothie from it later. This drink is for the cranberry lover who does not want an overly sweet smoothie, It is refreshing and tart, but not too bitter. If you are looking for a more kid-friendly version we have a recipe for a Sweet Cranberry Smoothie also made from leftover cranberry sauce.

Ingredients

  • ½ Cup Leftover Frozen Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
  • ¼ Cup of Frozen Pineapple
  • ¼ Cup of Orange Juice
  • ⅓ of a Ripe Banana
  • 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla Yogurt

Instructions

  1. Place all the ingredients in the blender and mix until smooth
Cranberry Smothie

Sweet Cranberry Sauce Smoothie

Sweet Cranberry Smoothie

Don't ditch that leftover cranberry sauce on the trash, especially if you made it from scratch. Our homemade cranberry sauce was such a big hit this year that we hated to throw it out! Instead, I froze it until I could think of something to do with it. One Sunday morning I was rifling through my freezer to find ingredients for smoothies and there sat that frozen bag of cranberry sauce just begging to be tested in the blender. We tried a couple of concoctions, one was sweet and kid-friendly, which is this recipe and we also made one that is a bit more grown-up tasting because it is more tart. Both are delicious and made from the leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce.

Ingredients
  

  • ½ Cup Leftover Cranberry Sauce Frozen
  • Ripe Banana Frozen
  • 1 Peeled and Sliced Apple
  • 2 Seedless Tangerines or Cuties
  • ¼ Cup Orange Juice
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Teaspoon Honey

Instructions
 

  • Blend all the ingredients if its, is too thick add a smidge of water
  • Adjust the honey and vanilla to taste
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Don’t ditch that leftover cranberry sauce on the trash, especially if you made it from scratch. Our homemade cranberry sauce was such a big hit this year that we hated to throw it out! Instead, I froze it until I could think of something to do with it. One Sunday morning I was rifling through my freezer to find ingredients for smoothies and there sat that frozen bag of cranberry sauce just begging to be tested in the blender. We tried a couple of concoctions, one was sweet and kid-friendly, which is this recipe and we also made one that is a bit more grown-up tasting because it is more tart. Both are delicious and made from the leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce.

Ingredients

  • ½  Cup of Leftover Cranberry Sauce Frozen
  • ⅓ of a Ripe Banana Frozen
  • 1 Peeled and Sliced Apple
  • 2 Seedless Tangerines or Cuties
  • ¼ Cup of Orange Juice
  • 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Teaspoon of Honey

Instructions

  1. Blend all the ingredients if its, is too thick add a smidge of water
  2. Adjust the honey and vanilla to taste

Kale and Spinach Au Gratin Opt

Kale and Spinach Au Gratin

Kale and Spinach Au Gratin

We love a creamy cheesy vegetable dish, especially on a holiday. This Kale and Spinach Au Gratin dish can be made up a day ahead so you can enjoy more of the day with family and friends.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Bundle of Kale washed and stripped from the stem
  • 1 Large Bag of Spinach
  • 2 Medium Vidalia Onions Rough cut
  • 6 Tablespoons Butter
  • 3 Tablespoons Flour
  • 1 Cup White Wine
  • 1.5 Cups Heavy Cream
  • 2 Cups Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 Cup Milk
  • 1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions
 

  • Blanch the kale and spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds, this keeps its green color and prevents is from looking brown
  • Transfer to a bowl of ice water
  • When cooled strain the greens and squeeze out all the excess water
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan
  • Add the onions and some salt and pepper
  • Cook over medium-low heat until onions are translucent and caramelized (25-30 minutes)
  • Roughly chop the drained greens and set aside
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
  • In a bowl mix together the cream, milk, nutmeg, cayenne, and lemon zest (set aside)
  • When the onions are caramelized add in the flour stirring
  • Add in the wine stirring well and increase the heat to medium
  • Add in the cream mixture and let simmer for 2-3 minutes stirring often
  • Add in 3/4 of the parmesan cheese reserving 1/4 for the top
  • Place the greens in a casserole dish open and release them from their squeezed state no one wants to eat. a wadded ball of greens
  • Pour the creamy mixture over the greens and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula so you don't scratch your casserole dish
  • Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top add salt and pepper to taste
  • Bake covered for 30 minutes then uncover for another 10 -15 minutes until brown on top
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

I love a creamy cheesy vegetable dish, especially on a holiday. This Kale and Spinach Au Gratin dish can be made up a day ahead so you can enjoy more of the day with family and friends.

Ingredients

  • 1 Bundle of Kale (washed and stripped from the stem)
  • 1 Large Bag of Spinach
  • 2 Medium Vidalia Onions (Rough cut)
  • 6 Tablespoons of Butter
  • 3 Tablespoons of Flour
  • 1 Cup of White Wine
  • 1 and 1./2 Cup of Heavy Cream
  • 2 Cups of Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 Cup of Milk
  • 1 Teaspoon of Lemon Zest
  • 1/2 Teaspoon of Nutmeg
  • 1 Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions

  1. Blanch the kale and spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds
  2. Transfer to a bowl of ice water
  3. When cooled strain the greens and squeeze out all the excess water
  4. Melt the butter in a saucepan
  5. Add the onions and some salt and pepper
  6. Cook over medium-low heat until onions are translucent and caramelized (25-30 minutes)
  7. Roughly chop the drained greens and set aside
  8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
  9. In a bowl mix together the cream, milk, nutmeg, cayenne, and lemon zest (set aside)
  10. When the onions are caramelized add in the flour stirring
  11. Add in the wine stirring well and increase the heat to medium
  12. Add in the cream mixture and let simmer for 2-3 minutes stirring often
  13. Add in 3/4 of the parmesan cheese reserving 1/4 for the top
  14. Place the greens in a casserole dish open and release them from their squeezed state no one wants to eat. a wadded ball of greens
  15. Pour the creamy mixture over the greens and stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula so you don’t scratch your casserole dish
  16. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top add salt and pepper to taste
  17. Bake covered for 30 minutes then uncover for another 10 -15 minutes until brown on top