Cooking Thanksgiving dinner for a crowd can be a little intimidating and overwhelming. The one thing I think most people fear is having a turkey that is dry and overcooked. I discovered that brining your turkey can help to keep it tender and moist. I think what scared me the most when I first learned about brining was the idea of submerging the turkey in salt water. I was worried the turkey would be super salty. The truth is, it's not salty at all! The salt works as a tenderizer and helps keep the turkey tender and juicy. Keep scrolling to see my tips on brining a turkey! You still have to be careful not to overcook the turkey or it can be tough and dry, but brining and using a reliable thermometer increases your chances of having a moist turkey to serve to your guests. The turkey needs to reach 165 degrees to be fully cooked and safe to eat. Insert the thermometer into the deepest part of the breast to get an accurate reading. If you're stuffing the turkey, make sure
Holiday Hosting at Home #4: Creative Ideas and Recipes for Thanksgiving and Christmas
Holiday Hosting at Home #4: Creative Ideas and Recipes for Thanksgiving and Christmas
It’s time for another post on my Holiday Hosting at home series! I’ve teamed up with two of my talented friends who enjoy hosting and entertaining as much as I do. This week are sharing some creative ideas and recipes for the holidays Thanksgiving and Christmas. With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner we have come up with some fun ideas for hosting and entertaining. I hope you’ll find some inspiration here for hosting and entertaining in your own homes!
Here is what my friends have been sharing this week for their Thanksgiving and Christmas recipes and creative ideas. If you would like to pin any of these images, please go to the original post linked below each image. Check out their entire posts – there is so much beauty and inspiration in each of these, you’ll be
Rustic Thanksgiving Tablescape
Sharing a Rustic Table For Thanksgiving including greenery, green garland, and velvet pumpkins for warmly welcoming your guests.
When I saw these white ceramic turkeys at Pottery Barn (linked at the bottom of the post) a few months back, I knew I wanted to create a tablescape around them. I envisioned a rustic table for Thanksgiving with a green garland and some velvet pumpkins throughout.
I started with a tan linen table runner and layered faux green leafed stems, eucalyptus, and some smaller faux sage bunches. I added in a few small white flower stems and some tan colored pinecone picks.
I used some rustic candlestick holders with white candles and some turkey shaped salt shakers. I also found some matching turkey place card holders that I'll put place cards in when I have finalized the guest list for Thanksgiving.
For the places setting, I used light, neutral colors to create a rustic feel to the table. I used a pretty
Fall Home Tour – Highland House 2018
Fall Home Tour - Highland House 2018 Welcome to my Fall Home Tour of the Highland House!!
I've been excited to share this fall home tour of the Highland house! I hope you'll find inspiration here on how you can decorate your own home! I haven't always had a nice home and I'm a big believer in creating beauty no matter what your home looks like. Whether it was the apartments I managed and lived in (with 3 kids) while my husband was in dental school or the Army housing we were assigned, I always tried to create a beautiful home with what limited money and resources I had at the time.
It just takes some creativity and some DIY to add some beauty to your home. One of the reasons I started sharing photos of my home was to create inspiration on how to make a house feel like a home. Creating warmth in my home has always been something I've enjoyed doing. I hope you'll feel the warmth too! I tend to
Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
This is a simple recipe for making your own Pumpkin Pie Spice. I use this pumpkin pie spice recipe in my pumpkin pie, pumpkin cream cheese muffins, pumpkin roll, and any recipe that calls for pumpkin spice or pumpkin pie spice. At times, I've had a difficult time finding it in the grocery store and it is quite expensive for a small amount. You can make a batch of your own and store it in a spice container or small mason jar. Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
Make your own pumpkin pie spice mix.
3 tbsp ground cinnamon2 tbsp ground ginger1 1/2 tbsp ground allspice1 1/2 tsp ground cloves2 tsp ground nutmegMix ingredients together and store in an airtight container or spice jar.
Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix RecipePumpkin Pie Spice Mix Recipe