Unexpected Colors for Your Thanksgiving Palette
When planning the same holiday year after year, how do you keep your celebration fresh and interesting while maintaining a sense of tradition? We asked our favorite bloggers and food people to share what's inspiring their Thanksgiving planning this year. From ancestor's recipes and falling leaves, to beautiful piles of ingredients and thoughtful home decor, there was no shortage of imagination. See what motivates some of the most creative minds we know, and then start planning your annual feast.
When we hear the word “Thanksgiving,” a number of things come to mind: family, togetherness, feasts, just to name a few. For some people, the lucky ones, it also means stepping outside and indulging in beautiful colors that weren't there during the summer months and which will soon disappear. These colors are easily found within typical Thanksgiving fare, so when we think about table decor, we like to offset that palette by adding in some light colors, like blues and greens. It’s a bit of an unexpected route to take your table decor, but it really makes the food look amazing because of the contrast it provides.
As a food stylist and photographer, we also really appreciate it when the food looks really pretty. Pick plates that fit your food nicely. Consider the color of your plate, and how it will match up with the food you serve on it. You don’t have to be “matchy” about it. Mismatched napkins, plates and silverware can also look amazing.
We also understand that making a huge meal can be a whole lot of work. We really appreciate it when recipes are manageable, yet still having something about them that takes them to the next level. While we like to stick with the staples of any Thanksgiving meal, because they’re some of our favorite foods and give us a great sense of tradition, we also like adding unexpected elements here and there to keep things new and exciting. We convey this through some of our recipes like, herb turkey meatballs with a sweet and savory cranberry barbecue sauce (instead of the traditional whole brined turkey) and maple roasted acorn squash (instead of the more familiar butternut squash). All of these recipes are simple, easy and delicious. Anyone can make them, whether you’re a newbie to hosting Thanksgiving dinner or a 10-year veteran. Happy Thanksgiving!
For more Thanksgiving ideas, visit our Thanksgiving Inspiration Board Gallery.
Jenny Park is a food stylist and recipe writer born and raised in Chicago. She has worked for companies such as Herbalife, Harvest House Publishers, Lucky Strike Lanes and Quirk Books. Teri Lyn Fisher is a food and interior photographer born and raised in Boise, Idaho. She has produced images for companies such as Rue magazine, Clos Du Bois Winery, Anthology and Sterling Publications. Jenny and Teri both currently live in Los Angeles and collaborate on Spoon Fork Bacon together.
Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes from Cooking Channel
