What's All the Fuss About? #10

Your weekly remedy for the Sunday Scaries

Nov 24, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving week my friends! This weekend, my father-in-law came up to visit from Ohio for a pre-Thanksgiving celebration. It was such a lovely time time filled with turkey, games, and late night movies; I am still full from yesterday’s dinner! It also got me in the mindset of coordinating cooking times and maximizing oven space, so I am feeling ready for Thursday! I just need to remind myself to slow down and breathe.

For those of you still deciding what to cook, a reminder that you can find my full Thanksgiving menu here (if nothing else, making the salad - you won’t regret it!!). And from my family to yours, I hope this holiday is filled with love and coziness as we all take time to reflect on what truly matters.

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Here are a few things I am fussing over this week:

Untraditional Traditions

This weekend, we enjoyed all the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving: turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy; plus coleslaw (I love coleslaw, but is not in my November cooking rotation). In a new-to-me tradition, my father-in-law has been making a side of coleslaw to serve at Thanksgiving meals the past few years, and it got me thinking about other untraditional dishes people serve.

A co-worker from Louisiana just shared with me that, while her mom is making the turkey, she is bringing the gumbo (so I of course immediately asked for her recipe). And of course, my family has had cherry Jell-o at every holiday meal for as long as I can remember. Does your family have any untraditional dishes you serve at the holidays? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

Solicited Advice

As wonderful as Thanksgiving is, sometimes celebrating with our families can be, well, complicated. For anyone anticipating some awkward holiday moments (or if you just need to laugh), I recommend tuning in to Alison Roman’s podcast, Solicited Advice. Each week, Alison and a guest tackle listener questions, and right now she is all about complicated Thanksgiving dynamics. From how to (nicely) kick people out of your kitchen (something I relate to!), to how to encourage people to linger at the dinner table, Alison’s wit and no-nonsense wisdom are worth the listen.

Celebrate the Small Things

Every year, my husband and I celebrate the first snowfall of the season by enjoying a bottle of Flock Ice Cider from Virtue Farms. I had tried ice wine in the past (so syrupy!), but when we stumbled on this ice cider a few years ago, it was love at first sip. If there is one thing the last few years have taught me, it is to slow down and celebrate the small, everyday moments; and welcoming a season of slowness with intention feels like just the right thing to toast to.

A (fun)fussy Gift Guide - Part 1

Tis the season for ‘gift guides,’ if you’re into that sort of thing (and you know I am!). I adore researching and coming up with a present that is both clever and thoughtful; so I thought I would share with you some of the gifts I am most exciting to be giving this year (spoiler alert: if you are on my gift list stop reading now!).

For the Spa Lovers: I adore these bath pebbles by Kate McLeod; they smell incredible and make my skin feel so soft (a wonder this time of year when I am constantly slathering on lotion!). Their Daily Stone is another lovely option for anyone looking for a little ‘me’ time.
For the Home Chef: This may be the category I struggle with the most as I have so many kitchen favorites (a great cookbook, my favorite spices, and some very cool utensils to help rid your kitchen of plastic to name a few!). But this year I am gifting Julia Turshen’s Cooking Classes. I have taken several and they are an absolute blast, plus I always walk away with new skills. It is such a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and it would be even better with friends!
For the Crafter: I am not inherently crafty, but I have friends who are, so I am crafty by association? When I asked where to start, they directed me to The Woobles. They are the most adorable crochet kits that can teach even the most crafting-challenged of us how to crochet (and of course I’m eyeing the gnome!).
The Holiday Woobles Collection!
For the Gardener: All that digging around in the dirt is wonderful for the soul but a little hard on the hands. Enter Crabtree & Evelyn’s Gardner’s Hand Therapy. This miracle cream absorbs fast, is non-greasy, and will repair even the most dry, cracked skin. I’m also eyeing this beautiful gardening book that’s full of inspiring ways to group plants to create amazing displays.
For Mr. (or Ms.!) Fix-it: The only thing my husband has asked for this year is the 10 Million Dollar Stick. Thankfully, it does not cost as much as it’s name implies. All I know is it keeps fingers safe, and that is enough for me!

This Wednesday we will continue making appetizers from Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy, Snackable Bakes by Jessie Sheehan (available at Bookshop.org, or Amazon).