Color Me Domestic - Thanksgiving Roundup

Even though Thanksgiving is late this year, somehow it has managed to sneak up on me!  This past weekend we celebrated Friendsgiving with turkey and all the fixins.  As much fun as it is to try new recipes, at Thanksgiving I find myself going back to the classics.

Last year I shared a lot of my favorite recipes and I wanted to share them with you again!

The Right Stuffing

Cranberry Salsa

Green Beans and Ravioli

Pumpkin Dip

Depending on how much you travel you'll want to make sure you pack appropriately.  You should consider the general casualness of your holiday, but it will also be handy to check the temperatures and pack the right coat!

Thanksgiving Style

A Coat A Day

And if you happen to be hosting for the first time... Congratulations!!! I'm sure you're busy getting everything together but here are a few extras that you'll be extra thankful for.  Or, be the best guest ever and snag one of these for your hostess!

#nomnomnom apron, oven mit and pot holder set, and dishtowel

White Lacquer Flatware Box

Coasters: Cheers, Arrows, Herringbone, Confetti, and/or Triangles

They're so easy you can totally wait until the last minute to get your supplies (chances are you have most of them already)!  Tomorrow I'll have the How To so you can make your own set of wineglass tags!

Give Thanks tablescape from CaitlinWilson.com

Color Me Domestic - Bite Sized Brunch

I've mentioned before how the small square footage of our apartment limits our entertaining options but yesterday we hosted a highly successful brunch meet and greet for EGBOK Mission.

For nearly 3 hours our guests asked questions, learned about day to day life in Cambodia and discussed ways to engage our peers with the organization.

Because we were all sitting around the coffee table the menu had to be finger foods. And, per usual, I prepared what I thought was too much food for our 10 guests but thankfully everyone brought their appetites.

What's breakfast without eggs? The Salmon Dill and Peppered Bacon and Cheddar mini omelets were tasty two bite starters. Along with them hashbrown patties and fruit kebobos rounded out the meal. I used the pros at Little Goat and Kingsbury Street Cafe to make scones and they were delicious (selfishly there are left over scones that I will not be sharing). And for dessert was a Lemon Sauce Crepe Cake!

The bloody Mary bar and lemongrass gin and champagne cocktail were hits and can be credited for fueling some of the discussion. 

I'll share all the recipes soon but today I'll start with the Salmon Dill mini omelets (original recipe from Inspired Edibles) 

Salmon Dill Mini Omelets (makes 12 muffin omelets or 24 mini omelets)

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

6 eggs

heaping 1/2 cup of whole milk ricotta cheese

1/4 cup whole milk

1/4 cup half & half

1 1/5 cups smoked salmon broken into bite sized pieces

2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

salt & pepper

Process

Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray muffin tin with non-stick spray

Saute garlic and onion over low-medium heat until translucent (about 5-7 minutes)

Whisk together the eggs, milk and half and half then add ricotta cheese and combine. Mix in the salmon, dill and red pepper flakes and a dash of salt and pepper.

Distribute mixture into muffin tin filling 90% of the cup and bake for 25-35 minutes until puffed and barely brown around the edges.

Color Me Styled - Cookie Exchange!!

Well Folks... the Mayans were wrong so onward with life we go. Hopefully you didn't put thousands of dollars on a credit card yesterday.

Last night was the cookie exchange party and it was such a lovely get together of many ladies in my life! 

We had a lot of great discussion over a lot of wine and then everyone took home big tubs of cookies. And I still have 3 tubs to bring to work today!

We also decorated the cookie cut outs that I made on Wednesday night. 

The big storm we were supposed to get turned out to be nothing so everyone made it easily and safely.

And today many of these gals are jet setting out across the country to visit their families for Christmas. I suggest they all wears leggings, tunics and the biggest pair of boots of all the shoes they are packing in order to maximize space in their suitcases! Scarves and gloves and hats in their carry on bags so they can bundle up on the flight. 

Color Me Styled - Hostess with the Mostess

Thursday's Cookie Exchange is fast approaching and I am busy crossing off to-do list items right and left. Tomorrow I'll post recipes because I'm doing almost all of my cooking tonight but today I was delighted to see Anthropologie send out gift suggestions for the hostess.

Even if you are just heading over the river and through the woods to family this Christmas, giving a bottle of wine wrapped in a new apron or pretty kitchen towel is a gesture that goes a long way. (For example: that last pour of wine in the bottle is headed your way... or the extra cressent roll.)

Here are some of my favorites for the hostess with the mostess this holiday season!

Does your Hostess enjoy a cocktail... or three? Here's a subtle, yet darling, reminder on the Slow Slips Cocktail Napkin.

Tuck these napkins into a set of Platinum Rim Stemless Glasses from West Elm.

Round out her collection with this beautiful Ice Bucket from Anthropologie.

Is your hostess more of a baker than a cocktail shaker? Fret not, there are endless options of adorable baking molds like this one from Sur La Table.

Add on a pair of pot holders and you've completed the set.

If you know your hostess spent more time in the powder room than in the kitchen for your party treat her to a new eyeshadow set from Urban Decay.

And if she is always re-applying her lip stick between sips give her the Bite Beauty Bite Size Discovery Set. This is some of the longest lasting lip color I've ever used and the set provides a great range of colors.

And finish off the gift with the hello sunshine compact mirror from Kate Spade.

Color Me Styled - Hostess Gift

The time comes in every woman's life when she is called upon to host a wedding shower, baby shower or graduation party. There are the invites, the favors, the venue, the menu and any games to plan and then you've gotta look pulled together and chit chat with everyone who attends.

Oh, and you need to give a gift.

For a lot of these events the lady of honor will be registered but there is something about opening a surprise gift that makes the day more special. Add in a super thoughtful element and your event will rank among the favorites for years to come. So, in addition to your "Cooking for Two" or "Mute Button Binkie" there is a gift that takes it to the next level.

What is this thoughtful gift? (And, I can't believe I am sharing this secret with you) Thank you cards. 

Since you invited the guests you've got the list of names and addresses. Pick up some stamps and fill in the return address and all the bride / mom to be / new grad has to do is add her personal note!

For added fun order a custom address stamp from Etsy (this shop is our favorite) and include that in the gift.

Notetrunk on Etsy