yosemite valley

 
well dear ones, the hubs and i are headed to yosemite valley for the week! our thanksgiving meal will most likely consist of instant pad thai or something (though i did fix us a little pre-thanksgiving meal last night, how could i not eat stuffing this year?!). we’ll be returning on sunday, so i’ll see you back here on the 28th, just in time for cyber monday!

speaking of cyber monday.. are you having a sale? please leave in the comment section or e-mail me your special and i’ll be sure to include it in monday’s post! happy thanksgiving, everyone! love, bonnie

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turkey photo by carl christensen

 
the first my mom said when i told her i was going to be a vegetarian was, ‘what are you going to eat at thanksgiving?!’ well that was some 6 years ago and we’ve come a long way! though turkey is a tradition each year, it seems that more and more vegetarians and vegans alike are coming to the table to have a turkeyless thanksgiving. no matter where you are on the scale: from being interested in having a veggie side – to expecting a vegetarian guest – to being a vegan yourself, below is something for everyone!

i wanted to share with you a few vegetarian/vegan recipes and articles relating to thanksgiving, and invite you to share your recipes and thought as well!

1. vegetable wellington (i made this last week, and it is now my most favorite recipe!)
2. apple sage ‘sausage’ chestnut stuffing
3. candied lime sweet potatoes
4. soy braised carrots
5. coconut butternut squash soup
6. seitan piccata

other yummy and delightful resources:

- find a local, sustainable turkey - still want a turkey? find out how you can find a healthy and sustainable one here!
- a thanksgiving feast, no turkey’s allowed – an article by the ny times
- ny times vegetarian thanksgiving (tons of recipes!)
- vegan & vegetarian thanksgiving dinner recipes – a great source for recipes and menu ideas
- celebrate a vegan holiday – awesome recipes (like sage & pumpkin seed encrusted seitan with roasted garlic-pumpkin sauce!)
- vegetarian thanksgiving recipes – you guessed it, more amazing recipes!

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thanksgiving is over and the leftovers are gone. today, most of us will return to our normal schedules and see that the hype of the holidays is upon us.  before the busyness sets back in, i want to take a moment to give thanks.  there are so very many things that i am thankful for, and i know i don’t say thank you enough. today and always, i am thankful for:

my husband, my light, my love and my life entertainment

my mom and dad, for the selfless love they give

my sister and how she makes me laugh

my grandma, and all the times we spend in the kitchen

my mom, dad & sister-in law for the inspiration and laughter they spread

great food and a family that loves to cook

toaster, and his willingness to snuggle

our jobs, and the way they fulfill us

safe travels, for the many miles we drive

great tasting coffee on cold mornings

having a deeper desire within me to do better and be a better person

for you, and your faithfulness- and how you make me smile!

for every blessing in our lives, that too often get overlooked.

what are you thankful for this thanksgiving?

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even though our homes and hearts are filled with thanksgiving, it’s time to start thinking about christmas cheer as well. soon, we’ll be gathering holiday stamps and begin sending christmas cards to our friends and families, and i love these vintage inspired ones by rifle paper company.  with beautiful typography, pretty colors and scenes reminiscent of a simpler time, these cards are sure to bring back nostalgic memories.

as we all are traveling, cooking and spending time with family, i’ll be taking the rest of the week off to celebrate thanksgiving with our families.  i may be popping in with a post or two, and a possible surprise on friday (wink wink), but until then, i wish you all a beautiful holiday and wonderful times with your loved ones.

happy thanksgiving!

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during our visit last week, my sister and i had some of the most delectable butternut squash soup we had ever had, and decided to try to recreate it ourselves for thanksgiving.  in search for a similar recipe, i found this butternut squash soup recipe from one of my favorite cooking blogs, roost.  it’s accompanied by pear, cider & vanilla and sounds like the perfect addition to our family meal this thursday.

are you trying anything different for your thanksgiving meal this year?

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these paper leaves are actually a wallpaper created for your iphone or ipad, but seeing them just seemed to get my creative juices going. wouldn’t it be pretty to make your own paper leaves and crumple them about your thanksgiving day table? you could use children’s craft paper, or pretty scrapbooking paper. glitter them up or leave them plain, string them from the chandelier or use them as a center piece. you could even use them as place cards!

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hi all! this is bonnie’s mom, maxine, and i’m so excited to post for you today! i am always inspired by bonnie’s projects- in fact, her whole life inspires me. i inherited a few of her youngest chickens when she left for colorado and they began to lay this week! i was absolutely thrilled. one of them is an easter egger, which means she will lay blue eggs. i really miss bonnie, but i know she’s where she is supposed to be right now, and i’m excited for her.

she asked if i’d like to post instructions for a floral arrangement that i made for becky’s (her sister’s) halloween party. this arrangement would be nice to use through thanksgiving and it’s really very easy to do.

supplies:

- a pumpkin
- assorted flowers
- assorted greenery (i used hydrangea stems, bradford pear tree limbs and ornamental grasses, all from my yard)
- chicken wire (about 5″ x 24″) or florists foam (the kind that absorbs water)

directions:

step 1: cut out the top of the pumpkin. save it to use in the arrangement.
step 2: clean out the inside of the pumpkin and discard. (seeds and gooey stuff)
step 3: roll up the chicken wire into a loose ball & stuff it inside the pumpkin. it won’t move around if you push it in place. if you don’t have chicken wire you can use florist foam. it needs to be slightly larger than the inside bottom half of the pumpkin so that it will stay firmly in place.
step 4: use a florist pick or wire to attach the pumpkin top to the front side of the pumpkin edge. I used a few 3″ long florist wire pick.
step 5: arrange your flowers as desired. add the greenery where needed.
step 6: fill with water and enjoy!

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it’s just about that time of year! in the next three of four weeks we’ll be setting our festive tables and gathering around them for warm meals and family fellowship.  here are a few ideas from courtney russell at two straight lines on how to doll up your tables, diy style!

how very pretty are these leaves! made from cotton fabric and grocery bags (yes, grocery bags!) they are easy to make and have endless possibilities.

origami ships and pumpkin can vases make this table fun, festive and playful.

painted nuts, pretty place cards, simple napkin holders and a stamped runner make for a modern, classy and unexpected table setting.  whether you mix and match these ideas, take ‘em and run with them or come up with something on your own, a diy table setting this thanksgiving will be sure to make your guests oo and ahh!

visit two straight lines or the kitchen daily to read more of coutney’s creative tips for diy projects, recipes and more!

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