A palette of rich reds and golds makes your table warmly inviting and sets the scene for a memorable Thanksgiving Gathering. When doing a sit down meal there is much you can prepare ahead of time. Prepare a soup a day in advance. Bring your home to life with seasonal touches like pumpkins, gourds, fruit and glowing candles. Offer a range of beverages to complement the meal. A pinot noir pairs wonderfully with turkey. You may also want to offer hot apple cider or a signature cocktail.
On Thanksgiving Day plan to start cooking early – the turkey will need at least 3-4 hours in the oven plus needs to sit for an additonal half hour to rest before carving.
FRESH CRANBERRY AND ORANGE RELISH
1 bag (12 oz.) whole fresh cranberries
1 thin-skinned, seedless orange, well washed and dried
1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled and cored
1 cup granulated sugar
Roughly cut the orange and chop the apple into 1 inch pieces. Place the raw cranberies, orange and apple into a food processor and gently blend. Do not over process – chunky is better. Transfer to a serving bowl and add the sugar. Cover with plastic and let stand for 24 hours in the refrigerator. Use fresh orange peel as garnish.