FMG 2024 thanksgiving menu: the pumpkin patch feast
Greetings and welcome to the 2024 FMG Thanksgiving hullabonanza!
I think I’m comparatively late with my Thanksgiving posts each year, partially because I’m lazy and this isn’t my career and partially because I take quite a lot of what spare time I have (which isn’t much) to develop what I need to develop. Better late than never, though, yeah? And this year I really wanted to do it right.
I likely speak for many when I say that I want this year’s holiday season to feel extra special. Desperately special, if you will, since I foresee a lot of stormy days in our future. I’ve been planning this tablescape and menu for a few months now, obsessing over details and dialing in on the ambience I wish to push through the imagery. While I visited Pennsylvania I went on a virtual shopping spree of sorts, gathering pieces and flipping through Pinterest for inspiration.
This year’s theme is “The Pumpkin Patch Feast.” Why? Well, as you’ll notice, there’s a buttload of pumpkin-flavored goodies both sweet and savory, edible and drinkable, holding down the fort. Secondly, when I decorated my house this year I created something of a pumpkin patch of throw pillows on my couch – and I dubbed it such. Thus, this namesake seemed pretty appropriate.
Obviously, I don’t expect you’ll make every single recipe on this damn guide, but if you take just one, I’d be utterly pleased. Be sure to show me what you make on Instagram and comment on the individual recipe! Your feedback is important to me, and seeing your photos of what you create warm my soul.
Alright, before I get too sappy, let’s shimmy on down to the dinner table, shall we?
The FMG 2024 Thanksgiving Menu: The Pumpkin Patch Feast
Breakfast
I’m running the Turkey Trot this year and definitely will have an appetite for something once I finish my race. If you eat dinner later in the day and you and/or guests will be up fairly early, whip up something festive that’ll soothe your grumbly tummy.
Baked Pumpkin Sticky Bun French Toast
Herby Mushroom Swiss Croissant Breakfast Bake
To drink…Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Appetizers
A few nibbles here and there are always part of my spread. I never go without a cheeseboard of some kind, and often have veggie and fruit trays too. This year I played with a cute lil cheeseball that I adore and can also be woven into a charcuterie arrangement if you wish.
Brown Butter Stuffing Snack Mix
Whipped Goat Cheese with Herb Marinated Olives
Cheddar Ranch Pumpkin Cheeseball
Mains
Plan on one vegetarian option if you know a meatless person (that sounds weird) occupies your guest list. I don’t eat turkey so we don’t make it – a good salmon or seafood dish near always serves as our main these days.
French Onion “Meatball” Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Side Dishes
The stars of the show! We always make potatoes of some kind, mom’s famous stuffing, salad, and dinner rolls. Below is a humongo variety of accompaniments that you may honestly be more excited for than the main.
No Boil Baked Pumpkin Mac & Cheese
Easy Cheddar Chive Mashed Potatoes
Pumpkin Risotto with Herb Butter Mushrooms
Kale “Bacon” Harvest Salad with Bourbon Candied Walnuts
Shredded Brussels Sprout Wild Rice Salad with Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette
Kale Apple and Sage Croissant Stuffing
More options:
Stovetop Herb Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
Crispy Cheddar Ranch Potato Stacks
Parmesan Honey Butter Sweet Potato Stacks
Cheddar Honey Butter Dinner Rolls
Pumpkin Sage Butter Brioche Dinner Rolls
Dessert
Always something sweet to finish off the night! Pie is traditional, and I love my pumpkin cookie pie that I provided below, but cakes are my forte currently and in the past few years my choice for a final bite before my stomach blows up.
Salted Caramel Apple Cider Layer Cake
Pumpkin Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cookie Pie
Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes
Drinks
Sangria is perfect for a party of 3+, and of course, a good ole hot chocolate on a chilly Thanksgiving is swell for anyone who chooses not to drink, for younger folk, or if you’re just peaced out of alcohol for whatever reason.
Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini
Tips for a Slammingly Successful Soiree
1. Plan your menu and shopping list early.
Don’t get caught with your pants down and hit up the grocery stores on Wednesday with only a half-assed plan for your menu. Start picking through your preferences from this spread (and elsewhere, too!), write out and organize a shopping list, and look at your work and life schedules to figure out when you can shop without overwhelming yourself.
Bonus…If you’re type-A like me and love organization, divide your grocery list into categories like produce, dairy, dry goods, seafood or meat, etc. Makes for an even breezier trip or trips!
2. Enlist family members for help.
No need to do all this shit alone! Delegate someone to help you shop, someone can help your decorate, a couple could spiff up the house, etc. Or, if you have just one person available to you, divvy up tasks between you and your cohort. By yourself for all the prep? Nothing wrong with delivery services either. Tip your drivers!
3. Set the table.
Hopefully my tablescape provides some inspiration for your own aesthetic, but even a few nice candles and a decent set of plates go a long way. Think inviting and cozy, even if you’re hosting just one or two people.
4. Make a playlist
Music can help quell nerves, amplify excitement, and pass the time while you perform some of the more mundane preparations. Jazz, classical, or instrumentals are my favorite, but hell, if you need to twerk it out or bump to some trap music, have at it. Ask your guests to contribute as well! You might have a fucken weird variety of Dave Koz and Charli XCX on your Spotify, but at least you’ll be kept guessing.
5. Make an oven schedule.
Check your recipes and see what can be thrown into the oven at the same temperature. I find it handy to print all the recipes I plan to make and put them in a binder or folder in the order they can be made. If you still have a bit of time after everything is cooked off, switch the oven to a very low heat setting, cover the dishes with foil, and place them inside to stay warm.
6. Don’t neglect self-care.
Holidays, no matter how much you enjoy them, can bring about a lot of stress, especially in light of current domestic events. Be sure to schedule in time for yourself, even if it’s just a nice walk every day, a hot bath with Epsom salts, ordering your favorite takeout or baking up a frozen pizza, or sharing rant sessions with your friends. If you see a therapist, book an appointment early in the week to check in and let out any steam or tension. I plan to do just that myself.
7. Have games available.
Board games, video games, word games – set them out for guests to enjoy while they nibble on snacks and mill around the house. I love a mean round of Mario Party or any sort of card game.
8. Light ALL THE CANDLES
I love a flickering flame for ambience! Candles are a relatively cheap and basic way to create an inviting and soothing atmosphere. Don’t overwhelm your nostrils with scents: neutral pillars, tapers, and tea lights are perfect. The house will smell good enough with all the food cooking and baking.
9. Encourage guests to bring tupperware.
If leftovers are in the forecast, ask your guests to provide containers to bring foods home. I don’t think anyone is too mad about post-Thanksgiving grub for a couple days, and this takes a big load off your own fridge.
10. Clean as you go.
I try to load as many dirty dishes as possible when I’ve finished using them, and for some this can help reduce the overwhelming nature of post-holiday cleanup. Don’t let mid-cooking dishes interrupt your family and friend time, but if you can pop a handful of forks in the dishwasher before checking on the cake, feel free.
Bonus…If you’re hosting a larger gathering and fear dishes overload, many brands make very cute plasticware that won’t feel so ugly and boring. You can still set your table, but don’t be afraid of switching over to disposables to ease your mind and let your dishwasher breathe a little bit.
Shop My Table
Make anything from the FMG 2024 Thanksgiving menu? Leave a rating and comment below with your thoughts, and don’t forget to come say hi on Instagram and show me what you made! ENJOY this season, friends!
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