Happy Sunday friends! This past week I have been drawing the blinds (literally and metaphorically) and hunkering down with those dearest to me. I have found solace in connecting and refocusing on what I can control, and am working to create a space that feels separate and safe. There have been dinners with friends, thoughtful conversations, and cozy new pajamas as I remind myself every day to look for glimmers.
We are less than two weeks from Thanksgiving, meaning we are in the thick of things. Holidays always bring a mix of emotions; I am currently wavering between excitement and panic (I have a plan! I just need to quit adding to it!). We have several Thanksgiving celebrations on our calendar; and while there is nothing I enjoy more than sharing a meal with loved ones, there is a whole lotta prep happing right now that feels pretty exhausting.
So if you are, like me, trying to create a fussy, festive holiday that evokes nostalgia while engendering new memories (nothing like setting the bar high?), know that I see you. And if you are just hoping to not burn the turkey, I see you, too (and have a great recipe for you below!). So sit back, grab some tea (or make it a hot toddy, perhaps?), and enjoy today’s feast of ideas.
Clicking a link in this newsletter and finding something you love may give (f)unfussy a commission at no cost to you. We only promote things that we believe fussy people (like us) will enjoy. Thank you for your support!
Here are a few things I am fussing over this week:
Luck Favors the Prepared
As I mentioned, I am in full-on holiday prep mode, making my Thanksgiving grocery list and checking it twice. This week I will be stocking up on anything with a decent shelf life and making note of what items will be a last minute purchase (have you ever tried buying sage the day before Thanksgiving? Don’t wait!). I have also been searching for those platters I use once a year and anything else that may make the big day a little easier.
One of my biggest challenges on Thanksgiving in years past has been timing. How do you serve 8 warm dishes with only 1 oven? While I dream of a double oven someday, until then I am eyeing these chafing dishes (or maybe these as a cheaper alternative?), because no one wants cold mashed potatoes. I would love to hear from anyone who has used chaffing dishes in the past, and let me know if there are any tricks to keeping the temperature right!
Games for All
As our boys get older and family continues to spread out, my husband and I are looking for ways to create intentional connection that our boys will actually want to participate in (forcing conversation with a teenager is a losing battle). This year, we are planning a Sjoelbak (Dutch shuffleboard) tournament – we were introduced to the game by a Dutch friend, and I bought my husband a Sjoelbak table off of Facebook Marketplace for his birthday. It is a great game for all ages and skill levels; I cannot recommend it highly enough if you have access to a board (they are available here but are not cheap! Check on Facebook Marketplace!).
Here are a few other game options we love that are sure to get everyone playing:
-
Colorku (made by a company in Grand Rapids, MI!)
2024 Thanksgiving Menu
This week, instead of sharing a single recipe, I thought I would share my full Thanksgiving menu. While I generally adore trying new things, on Thanksgiving there are very specific recipes that need to be on our table: the tried-and true dishes that are the flavor of my childhood memories. And while I have incorporated a few new items and upgraded dishes over the years (my mother-in-law’s mashed potatoes are the best I have ever tasted!), I generally stick to the classics.
Here is my go-to playbook for our Thanksgiving dinner:
-
Lori’s Mashed Potatoes (recipe below!)
-
Brussel Salad with Apples and Pomegranates (this is actually my favorite dish on the menu; I cannot oversell how good this salad it!)
-
Jell-O (cherry, of course, piled with whipped cream)
-
Cranberry Relish (we add pineapple and reduce the sugar!)
-
Scotcharoos (It is not a family gathering without the classic, back-of-the-box recipe)
-
Assorted pies, typically from my favorite local bakery (and cherry must be on the list)
Lori’s Mashed Potatoes:
-
5 lbs potatoes (I use Yukon Gold)
-
8 oz cream cheese
-
1 cup sour cream
-
3 Tbsp butter
-
1 tsp garlic salt
-
1 tsp onion salt
-
Parsley and Paprika (for garnish)
-
Preheat oven to 350.
-
Peel potatoes and boil in very salty water for approx. 15 minutes (until easily pierced with a knife). Drain potatoes and let them cool for just a few minutes.
-
Mash potatoes and stir in cream cheese, sour cream, butter, garlic salt, and onion salt.
-
Spread potatoes evenly in a 9×13 pan and bake for 45 minutes.
-
Sprinkle potatoes with paprika and parsley and serve warm!
This Wednesday we are making ‘Cream Cheese & Pepper Jelly Muffins’ from Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy, Snackable Bakes by Jessie Sheehan (available at Bookshop.org, or Amazon). I am dying to try my all-time favorite appetizer in muffin form!