Table of traditions test3 by Risa Pulido

TABLE OF

TRADITIONS November 2016

Holiday Planning Guide For the ultimate Friendsgiving, Evite brought together 8 bloggers to share twists on traditional dishes and decor. Come grab a seat and #PasstheGiving!

#PasstheGiving

CONTENTS 4 FALL INVITATIONS Get any fall -friendly activity started with our new invitations.

6 TABLE SETTING

Toffee halvah powder caramels bonbon cotton candy cake. Lollipop sweet roll muffin cotton candy. Tootsie roll sweet roll dessert jelly marshmallow jelly-o chocolate.

12 MAIN DISHES

Liquorice danish marzipan jelly beans cake. Jelly beans pastry icing danish chocolate bar marzipan. Cupcake sugar plum croissant bonbon.

16 DESSERT

Toffee halvah powder caramels bonbon cotton candy cake. Lollipop sweet roll muffin cotton candy. Tootsie roll sweet roll dessert jelly marshmallow jelly-o chocolate.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a Twist The best part of Thanksgiving isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t making the meal -- itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spending quality time with the ones youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re most thankful for. To keep the stress low and spirits high, Evite is proposing these 3 no-stress twists on the traditional Thanksgiving gettogether.

New takeS on old traditions SAY Hello TO Fall Welcome the season with this string lights design, perfect for an evening event.

Invite guests >

Hello Fall

PETS IN COSTUMES Make Thanksgiving fun for the whole family -- pets included.

Invite guests > Pet Turkey Costume

Fall Brunch Did someone say brunch? Invite the girls for pumpkin-spice everything at a brunch outing.

Invite guests >

Fall Mimosas 4

Friendsgiving Gather your best friends for a Friendsgiving get-together.

Invite guests > Friendsgiving Birch

POTLUCK Toffee halvah powder caramels bonbon cotton candy cake. Lollipop sweet roll muffin cotton candy. Tootsie roll sweet roll dessert jell.

Invite guests > Fall Friends Giving Potluck

Be thankful Toffee halvah powder caramels bonbon cotton candy cake. Lollipop sweet roll muffin cotton candy. Tootsie roll sweet roll dessert jell.

Invite guests > Eat Drink Be Thankful

DECOR Toffee halvah powder caramels bonbon cotton candy cake. Lollipop sweet roll muffin cotton candy. Tootsie roll sweet roll dessert jelly marshmallow jelly-o chocolate. 6

Cupcake cupcake macaroon topping pastry dragée. Soufflé danish candy canes gummi bears. Oat cake soufflé jelly-o danish cupcake tootsie roll caramels. Dessert icing sweet roll sesame snaps.

Hil’Lesha O’Nan marzipan jelly beans cake. Jelly beans pastry icing danish chocolate bar marzipan. Cupcake sugar plum croissant bonbon. Marshmallow chocolate cake fruitcake toffee wafer

Liquorice bonbon marzipan lollipop carrot cake cookie chocolate tiramisu marshmallow.

Marzipan jelly-o jelly beans icing jelly muffin gummi bears. Topping jujubes dessert toffee. Tootsie roll sesame snaps chocolate cake chupa chups pastry candy bear claw cake cotton candy. Liquorice bonbon marzipan lollipop carrot cake cookie chocolate tiramisu marshmallow. Topping gummies ice cream jelly beans. Cookie sesame snaps marshmallow icing topping. Toffee halvah powder caramels bonbon cotton candy cake. Lollipop sweet roll muffin cotton candy. Tootsie roll sweet roll dessert jelly marshmallow jelly-o chocolate. Lollipop chocolate cake cupcake liquorice chocolate croissant liquorice. Liquorice danish marzipan jelly beans cake. Jelly beans pastry icing danish chocolate bar marzipan. Cupcake sugar plum croissant bonbon. Marshmallow chocolate cake fruitcake toffee wafer lemon drops powder lollipop. Cupcake cupcake macaroon topping pastry bonbon dragée. Soufflé danish candy canes gummi bears. Oat cake soufflé jelly-o danish cupcake tootsie roll caramels. Dessert icing sweet roll sesame snaps. Marzipan jelly-o jelly beans icing jelly muffin gummi bears. Topping jujubes dessert toffee. Tootsie roll sesame snaps chocolate cake chupa chups pastry candy bear claw cake cotton candy. 7

SETTING YOUR TABLE It is our close friends that have become our family, those that we rely on, that our children adore… our tribe. Thanksgiving is about saying thanks to them for all they do - the pick-ups, the sleep overs and more. We want to make them feel special. To do this, we have always hosted, and it is one those times of year that I literally “pull out the good china” or splurge and buy something new.

Table Setting Traditions & Tips Communicating Thanks – The Jar of Thanks

Natalie Mayhew Thanksgiving. For our family it really is Friendsgiving.

On the outside of the jar I write the date, location and the friends that joined us that year. Inside, I keep the thanks that we gave each other that year, our special memories. On the day we give out small cards and on these we ask each person at the table to write a message of thanks to each of the others around the table. Each thanks is then put it in a box on the table and during dinner we draw thanks out of the box, taking turns reading them out. This means you rarely read your own, a fun twist that for the kids sometimes makes saying thank you a little easier. Feeling at Home The only thing we ask of our friends (and each other) is that everyone brings one contribution that reminds them of their Thanksgiving or that represents themselves.

Have fun with layers For an elegant and stylish look, use layering. From table linens (or absence of), to placemats, chargers and plates. You can even look to incorporate small individual serving dishes for each guest. I’ve used a small dish of olives for pre-dinner snacking and individual sweet potato sides. Remember elements don’t need to match perfectly, in fact a mix & match of textures and elements can be stunning. I kept the natural wood of the table, layering it with the velvet of a runner, cotton linens, china, brass, metal, glass in different textures and even a modern acrylic frame. Don’t forget comfort Soft comfortable seating is a must and it doesn’t have to be the chair itself that is comfortable, you can use cushions, faux fur or throws over chairs. It can also really add to your look and ambiance, so don’t feel you have to limit your décor to the table setting. Set the table early A tradition I maintain every year is setting the table the night before Thanksgiving. Honestly sometimes I’ve even set it a couple of nights before and made small changes over the next couple of days. It’s just so much more relaxing and gives me time to really think about where I place everything, giving me time to change things.

Decorating Tips Go with a palette you love Don’t be scared to try out a table setting that isn’t traditional, you don’t have to use browns and oranges for Thanksgiving or fall.

Now I’ve taken my time setting the table and taken my own tips on board, here is our Thanksgiving table ready for our celebration of friendship. Combined with a lot of good food and wine, I can’t wait to sit down and enjoy!

Thanksgiving is about saying thanks to them for all they do - the pick-ups, the sleep overs and more.

Bring nature indoors Unexpected foliage can really add to the table setting, layering of different colors and leaf styles create depth and richness. 9

SIDE DISH I decided to take all the different things I like with sweet potatoes and combine them into one totally awesome, yummy sweet potato dish. 10

Individual Sweet Potato Casseroles with Maple Syrup, Candied Pecans, and Marshmallow Meringue I have a confession; I love Sweet potatoes. I order them all year round, I consider them a special treat from my favorite restaurants. Although there are several steps to this recipe, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very easy and many of the steps you can do ahead of time. The first step is to cook the sweet potatoes. You can peel, cube and boil them or you can wash, prick and bake them 400 degrees F. Either way is totally fine. Cook them until they are very tender when pricked. Cool completely. TIP: You can cook the sweet potatoes and store them in the fridge as early as two days ahead of time. When you are ready to bake them, combine the insides of the sweet potatoes in a bowl with the milk, butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg. Mix together slowly until blended. Spoon the mixture into your individual casserole dishes or ramekins. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Top with candied pecans or nuts as desired. You can find my easy recipe for Sugar Roasted Pecans here.

Amber Burrahm To celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I teamed up with EviteÂŽ and 7 other influencers to compile a special #Passthegiving

I love Sweet potatoes. I order them all year round, I consider them a special treat from my favorite restaurants.

Create the marshmallow meringue and pipe it onto the casseroles. Bake another 12-15 minutes to toast the peaks. Take them out of the oven and enjoy! Tip: If you would rather not hassle with the meringue, you can stick with the oldie but goodie mini marshmallows. Happy Thanksgiving friends! 11

SIDE DISH Toffee halvah powder caramels bonbon cotton candy cake. Lollipop sweet roll muffin cotton candy. Tootsie roll sweet roll dessert jelly marshmallow jelly-o chocolate.

Cupcake cupcake macaroon topping pastry dragée. Soufflé danish candy canes gummi bears. Oat cake soufflé jelly-o danish cupcake tootsie roll caramels. Dessert icing sweet roll sesame snaps. Marzipan jelly-o jelly beans icing jelly muffin gummi bears. Topping jujubes dessert toffee. Tootsie roll sesame snaps chocolate cake chupa chups pastry candy bear claw cake cotton candy. Liquorice bonbon marzipan lollipop carrot cake cookie chocolate tiramisu marshmallow. Topping gummies ice cream jelly beans. Cookie sesame snaps marshmallow icing topping. 12

Liquorice bonbon marzipan lollipop carrot cake cookie chocolate tiramisu marshmallow.

Kristin Lesney-Ruiz Marzipan jelly beans cake. Jelly beans pastry icing danish chocolate bar marzipan. Cupcake sugar plum croissant bonbon. Marshmallow chocolate cake fruitcake toffee wafer lemon drops powder lollipop.

MAIN DISH Toffee halvah powder caramels bonbon cotton candy cake. Lollipop sweet roll muffin cotton candy. Tootsie roll sweet roll dessert jelly marshmallow jelly-o chocolate. 14

Cupcake cupcake macaroon topping pastry dragée. Soufflé danish candy canes gummi bears. Oat cake soufflé jelly-o danish cupcake tootsie roll caramels. Dessert icing sweet roll sesame snaps.

Wendy Byde Marzipan jelly beans cake. Jelly beans pastry icing danish chocolate bar marzipan. Cupcake sugar plum croissant bonbon. Marshmallow chocolate cake fruitcake toffee wafer lemon

Liquorice bonbon marzipan lollipop carrot cake cookie chocolate tiramisu marshmallow.

MAIN DISH Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. I look forward to fellowshipping with family and friends around good home cooked food. Over the years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had to come up with some of my own traditions. I try to stay true to traditions I experienced growing up as a child. After moving away and starting a family of my own I kind of fused some of our traditions together. I love to host Thanksgiving dinner in my home every year. There have been a couple of years where we traveled home to be with family and chose a dish to prepare. My two favorites have to be the baked macaroni and cheese and baking sweet potato pies!

Jen Lawerence marzipan jelly beans cake. Jelly beans pastry icing danish chocolate bar marzipan. Cupcake sugar plum croissant bonbon. Marshmallow chocolate cake fruitcake toffee wafer lemon drops powder lollipop.

My family is Jamaican and we tend to prepare authentic Jamaican Food for Thanksgiving but, will include a Turkey or Whole Roasted Chicken. Think Rice & Peas, Curry Goat, Stewed Chicken, Jerk Chicken, Steamed Vegetables, Salad, Pound Cake and Rum Cake. My husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family is southern and my mother-in-law taught me

to cook “Soul Food” so my baked macaroni and cheese skills and my scratch baked sweet potato pies are inherited from her. My mother-in-law makes a tasty leg of lamb that I fell in love with years ago. I decided to put a twist on her recipe and create one of my own.

Ginger, Lavender & Rosemary Leg of Lamb Those are three of my favorite essences. I can eat crystalized Ginger by itself. I just love the taste! I have always loved Lavender; I eat those Choward Violet Mints. I know it’s probably an acquired taste for some but, I can’t get enough. I had a brain storm session with my sister on what seasonings I could use when preparing the leg of lamb. The bright idea was born in that moment and I can’t be happier. The spices blend well together and it was my first attempt at this recipe. I will now add leg of lamb to my Thanksgiving menu with my special twist. Moving to a city where I don’t have much family, I have friends that I consider family. I celebrate with them and we try to connect on a regular basis. I love being able to host a Thanksgiving dinner opened up to my friends and family to enjoy. I am looking forward to this Thanksgiving holiday and can’t wait to start cooking. It brings me joy to prepare a meal and bring people together that I hold dear. I started to browse through all the Thanksgiving Evite options and fell in love with a few. I did pick a favorite that I will use to invite everyone. Check out the Evite website for some cute Thanksgiving invitation ideas. So, who’s coming over to your house for Thanksgiving Dinner? Do you normally host dinner every year?

I try to stay true to traditions I experienced growing up as a child. After moving away and starting a family of my own I kind of fused some of our traditions together.

Thank you to Evite for sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest and completely my own. #Evite #PassTheGiving #LifesBetterTogether 17

BEVERAGES On a holiday like Thanksgiving I love having a festive punch available for guests to sip on throughout the day. While it’s always a good idea to open a bottle {or 5} of wine, it’s an even better idea to mix it up into a holiday sangria recipe! I’ve teamed up with Evite and seven other influencers to bring you a special #PassTheGiving entertaining guide for the holiday. We’re sharing some fun new twists on old traditions, including decor, recipes, and more. 18

Holiday Sangria My recipe combines a light red wine with the seasonal flavors of apple and cinnamon. It just doesn’t get much better than this! Mix it up the night before so the flavors have time to blend, and then add the sparkling juice just before serving to give it the fizz that everyone loves. For a pretty punch bowl presentation, I added a couple of apple slices with cloves pressed into them. I used Red Delicious apples for this because they’re so large and firm, and hold up well. Holiday Sangria Recipe • 1 bottle (750 ml) Pinot Noir, chilled • 1 and 1/2 bottles (750 ml) Sparkling Apple Juice, chilled • 1 cup apple flavored whiskey {Jim Beam Apple} • 1/2 cup cinnamon schnapps {Goldschlager} • Sliced orange, lemon, and apple Combine wine, whiskey, schnapps, and fruit in a container and refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, pour mixture into a punch bowl and add chilled sparkling juice. I hope you’ll give this one a try. It’s really tasty and puts a new spin on an old idea for the holiday!

Christina Nease You don’t typically think of sangria for the holidays. Usually you think of something like a hot toddy, or a party punch recipe if you’re serving guests. However, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to mix up this holiday sangria recipe and create a new tradition.

My recipe combines a light red wine with the seasonal flavors of apple and cinnamon. It just doesn’t get much better than this!

TIP: Don’t have a punch bowl? Any large vessel will do. Think soup tureen, large mixing bowl, large cylinder vase, or apothecary jar. 19

DESSERT

This dish is bright and fun, adding a pop of color to your Thanksgiving table. It is easy to make, which means less stress and more fun! My kids love this dessert, even if sometimes they are in it just for the pound cake!

Cranberry Pound Cake This dish was created both as a spin in Strawberry Shortcake - and also because it is easy. Honestly, Thanksgiving can lose it’s appeal when you are stressing out all day over food! My goal for desserts is to make it easy to make, something the kids can help with, and also something they will enjoy. For this recipe, you don’t need much: • Pound Cake • Cranberries • Cranberry Juice • Sugar • Whipped Cream To start, if you want to be ambitious and make your own pound cake, go for it. You 20

This dish is bright and fun, adding a pop of color to your Thanksgiving table.

could even make this a day ahead of time if you are looking to spread out the timing. Otherwise, there are so many pound cakes you can buy, from the grocery store to the bakery. As for the cranberries, start by heating up 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup sugar until dissolved. Stir in the cranberries and then place on a drying rack. I actually allowed my cranberries to heat up a little, so a few popped, but honestly they are so tasty and tender by the end of the project, it doesn’t matter. I also re-poured the syrup from the pan over the cranberries on the drying rack to make them extra sticky! Once the cranberries are dry - after about an hour - they are ready to roll in sugar. If you need to wait longer, that is fine too - just pop them in the fridge and roll them in sugar when you are ready. Now to make the cranberry sauce, use about 1 cranberry juice and 2 cups sugar. Add in a 12 oz bag of fresh cranberries and simmer until tender. I found myself making a sort of “cranberry slurry”, allowing the cranberries to soften and mashing them with my mixing spoon. I love fresh cranberries, so I wanted a rich, chunky sauce for the Cranberry Shortcake. At this point, you can assemble your dish! Start with slices of pound cake, top with the cranberry sauce, add whipped cream on top, and garnish with the sugared cranberries. Happy Thanksgiving from our little family to you!

Marysa Nicholson Thanksgiving is such a great time of year. Fall is so busy and it is nice to take a few days to settle down and celebrate while spend quality time with family. And while our family is very small, that is something I am used to. Raised by my grandmother, Thanksgiving usually meant a trip to my great-grandmother’s house, and every year we enjoyed a quiet but fun dinner together.

Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your turn to #PasstheGiving. What new traditions will you bring to the table? Get them started at www.evite.com.

Happy Holidays!