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Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving

It’s the season of gratitude and there’s so much to be thankful for! Christopher Companies values quality time with family and friends and aside from sending well wishes for the Thanksgiving holiday, we’d like to share some tips for planning the perfect gathering! From home décor, meal prepping and festive cocktails, we’ve got you covered.

 

Thanksgiving Dinner

To make everything a whole lot easier, the dinner menu can be put together way in advance, maybe even a month or so before Thanksgiving Day. If you are preparing all the food as the host/hostess, then this is absolutely the way to go. Knowing what you are having and being able to buy or place orders in advance will help you so much. If you are having some of your family & friends help you with making the dishes, it is also important to get this started in advance! It will be much easier to know what you’re making and what everyone else is bringing ahead of time.

 

Décor & Table Settings

Let’s talk decorating, starting right at the front door. There are so many beautiful, fall/Thanksgiving wreaths to make a beautiful entrance. Amazon, Etsy, Michael’s, World Market, Bed Bath & Beyond, and so many more stores have wreaths for good prices.

Now, onto the table! There are so many ways you can go about decorating the table. First, you may want to get a tablecloth or a table runner. This adds color and décor, while also saving your dining room table from spills and messes. Next, we’ll want to think of a centerpiece for the table; whether that is candles, flowers, pumpkins, leaves, greenery, or all of the above. This will make the table festive and fun! On to the place settings and dinnerware. You want to get your linens, cutlery, plates, place mats, etc. ready to go days or weeks beforehand. Something to add to that can be napkin rings, which can add an elegant touch. All of the elements on your table can go with whatever theme/color scheme you want, whether that is fall colors, like oranges and reds, or a white & gold theme, or a modern, clean look with white and black, or even something classic like plaid with pumpkins! You may also want to consider a kids table! Not everyone has these, but if it is needed for your party, it could be fun to decorate as well!

For the rest of your home, you can put candles around, put out some fall pillows, decorate with leaves or greenery-maybe on your fireplace mantle, place pumpkins and/or other décor on your tables and other surfaces, and maybe even hang some lights, like string lights or fairy lights, around your home. These simple additions of decorations can add to a great vibe for this Thanksgiving.

 

The Best Thanksgiving Desserts and Their Recipes

There are so many desserts you could prepare for Thanksgiving, whether it’s a traditional pie or something completely new. Here are some ideas from The Food Network and links to their recipes:

Hot Toddy Apple Pie

Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Pumpkin-Cranberry Cheesecake

Pecan Pie

Spiced Cutout Sugar Cookies

Crumble Lover’s Sheet-Pan Apple Crumble

Pumpkin Pie

Apple Pie

Bourbon and Chocolate Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Click here for the recipes!

 

The Best Wines To Have At Thanksgiving Dinner

We can’t forget about the perfect wine pairing for your Thanksgiving feast! There are so many wines you could try and pair with individual dishes, but instead it may be easier to compliment the entire dinner spread with a few different selections!

The first, classic, easily-paired wine is Riesling. Riesling is a white wine that goes very well with your veggies, but at the same time your dessert! The Food Network calls this wine the MVP of pairing for Thanksgiving!

For a red wine, Pinot Noir is also a classic. The fruity flavors of a pinot noir go well with your savory and salty flavors of Thanksgiving dishes.

Then, to pair with dessert, a tawny port is the way to go. Especially with pumpkin and apple flavors, this wine is a great pairing!

 

Thanksgiving Cocktails

For those who want something different from wine and enjoy putting together a festive drink, here are some cocktails for you! (recipes & instructions from Town and Country Magazine)

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Ingredients- 1.5 oz vanilla vodka
1 oz spiced rum
1 oz Domaine de Canton
2 tbsp pumpkin puree
2 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp ground pumpkin pie spice
1 cup marshmallow cream or whipped cream, for garnish

Instructions- Add vodka, rum, Domaine de Canton & pumpkin puree into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well combined. Rim a martini glass with mixed sugar & pumpkin pie spice. Double strain the martini into the glass and top with marshmallow cream or whipped cream.

 

Apple-Cranberry Moscow Mule

Ingredients- 4 oz vodka
.25 cup cranberry juice
.5 cup sparkling apple juice
2 7.5-oz bottles Q Ginger Beer
fresh cranberries for garnish

Instructions-Fill two large glasses with ice. Add the vodka and cranberry juice. Add the sparkling apple juice and then fill the rest of the way with the ginger beer. Stir gently to combine and serve immediately.

 

Thanksgiving Ginger Diplo

Ingredients-1.5 oz Diplomático Mantuano Rum
3 oz ginger ale
Dash of cocoa bitters (optional)
Cranberries, for garnish
Rosemary, for garnish

Instructions-Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the rum, ginger ale and bitters. Shake until well chilled. Strain into rocks glass. Garnish with fresh rosemary and cranberries.

 

Apple Crisp Punch

Ingredients- 26 oz Nolet’s Silver Gin
13 oz apple juice or cider
6.5 oz lime juice
6.5 oz honey
2 limes
Apples (Green or Red)

Instructions-Mix all ingredients in an infusion jar or punch bowl and stir thoroughly to dissolve honey. Slice limes into wheels and add to jar. Serve over ice, garnished with lime, apple slices or matchsticks, cinnamon sticks and or thyme.

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 THE BEST SEASON TO BUY A HOMENew Home for the New Year with The Christopher Companies 

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10461 White Granite Drive,
Suite 250, Oakton, VA 22124

703.352.5950

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Phone: 703.352.5950 Address: 10461 White Granite Drive, Suite 250, Oakton, VA 22124
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*Community, plans, pricing and amenity details and dimensions are approximate and subject to change. Illustrations are artist concepts and may vary from the actual product being built, as well as from community to community. Builder specifications are subject to revision or substitution of equivalent materials without notice. We reserve the right to substitute equipment, material, appliances, and brand names with items of equal or higher, in our sole opinion, value. Contact the community manager for the latest information.

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