2016 Gift Guide

1. Linwood Handcrafted Cutting Boards These simple, sophisticated cutting boards are the perfect gift for the entertainer in your life. The richly colored wood makes the perfect surface for a cheese board, a pile of fresh fruit and are sure to become a favorite piece in any kitchen. Plus, purchasing one of these beauties supports a small (but mighty) family business! 
2. Faribault Woolen Mills Coffee Cup Wool Sleeve I gave my sister, and myself, one of these sleeves a couple of years ago. I love them because, even though we are too far away to meet for coffee, I can slide my sleeve onto my cup of coffee and pretend she's right there with me. Plus, you're being kind to the environment by using a reusable (and super stylish) sleeve! 
3. Di Oro Living Spatula Set Every cook needs a trusty set of spatulas and these are perfect! Heat resistant and easy to clean, these spatulas are the perfect gift for anyone setting up a new kitchen! 
4. Skinnytaste Fast and Slow by Gina Homolka I have a million cookbooks. Seriously. But this one has been on repeat for over a month because the recipes are crazy easy, crazy delicious, and HEALTHY. But truthfully, you'd never know how healthy they are because everything has such big, wonderful flavor. Busy parents will especially appreciate this gem! Plus, the recipes are all gluten free but can be made gluten-full as well! 
5. Baking Illustrated from Cook's Illustrated This book has every baking recipe you could ever want. From a classic chocolate layer cake to oatmeal lace cookies to pizza dough, this book has you covered with foolproof recipes! For the bakers (and non-bakers) in your life! 
6. Old Moscow Handcrafted Moscow Mule Mugs Not sure what to get for the guy in your life who is basically a steel trap when it comes to telling you what he wants for Christmas? These gorgeous Moscow mule mugs are a sure win! For an extra little something, give him a little bottle of whisky and some ginger ale so he can whip up his own Moscow mules right after opening these beauties! 
7. Kyocera 12.5" Ceramic Coated Nonstick Wok One pot dinners are all the rage these days and this nonstick wok is a total work horse for your favorite weeknight meals! One pot pastas and soups are a dream to make in this bad boy. And, of course, you can always make a flawless stir-fry with whatever you can find in your fridge! Trust me when I say that the recipient of this gift will be thrilled with its versatility! 
8. LUSH Charity Pot Winter + washing dishes = dry hand city. No fun. But with this lotion, you'll be doing double duty: moisturizing and contributing to a good cause! Win win! 
9. Kuhn Rikon Kinderkitchen Essential Set Know a kiddo who wants to spend more time in the kitchen? These knives are perfect for little ones just learning their way around the kitchen. They are the perfect size for little hands and aren't sharp enough to do any damage if a little slip occurs. Plus, they're ADORABLE. 

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Cocoa

We finally have all of our Christmas lights and other decorations up. And, true to form, Colorado has given us crazy warm weather, leaving me feeling like we've put all of these decorations up in May instead of December. It's very confusing. Still, I'm pushing through by listening to constant Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, and burning pine scented candles. And lets not forget the hot chocolate. There are other warm holiday beverages that are equally as festive, but nothing so classically comforting as a mug of hot chocolate. There has been lots of hot chocolate happening around here lately. I decided to mix things up a little bit by adding a bit of Chinese 5 Spice powder to my hot cocoa mix and boy am I glad I took that leap. The star anise, cinnamon, and cloves are natural flavor enhancers for hot chocolate. Then, there's the Szechuan pepper and fennel that give it that little bit of uniqueness that makes traditional recipes more special. Who knew Chinese 5 Spice Hot Cocoa could spur such excitement?

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Chocolate | Set the Table

I would tell you to make your own hot chocolate mix, but let's be honest: sometimes it's nice to have a recipe that dresses up something you can purchase, ready made, in the store. That may seem like cheating to some people, but I am becoming a believer in good quality store bought items to make life a little easier. With that said, if you do have the energy to make your own hot chocolate mix (unlike my 8 months pregnant self) have at it! In fact, this recipe is my favorite. Otherwise, trust me that this will be just as delicious with a good quality mix.

5 Spice Hot Chocolate | Set the Table

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Chocolate Mix | Set the Table

No matter where in the world you are celebrating Christmas, this hot chocolate will make you feel cozy and warm from the inside out. And the twist the Chinese 5 Spice Powder brings will no doubt inspire other new holiday traditions to bring the world to you and your family. Minus the expensive plane tickets.

Chinese 5 Spice Hot Cocoa

Makes 2 servings

• 1/3 cup hot cocoa mix (about 2 envelopes store bought)
• 1 teaspoon Chinese 5 Spice Powder
• 2 cups milk
• marshmallows or whipped cream for topping

Begin by whisking the hot cocoa mix and Chinese 5 Spice Powder together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat the milk over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until steam begins to slowly rise from the surface a couple small bubbles rise to the surface.

Whisk the hot cocoa mix into the milk. Pour into two mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream.

Planning the Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner

When I started this blog, I wanted to bring a little of the holiday magic that seems to surround us at the table amidst clinking glasses and forkfuls of delicious food. I realize that can be difficult to achieve in the midst of everyday life. Between errands, work, shuttling kids, and general exhaustion, finding the time to set the table and enjoy a real meal can be a challenge. Guess what? Those challenges (and perhaps more) are around during the holidays as well. And yet somehow, it all comes together and that magic makes itself known. I may not be able to take care of all the challenges you're facing around this time of year, but I can offer some tips for planning the perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

Since I know we are all crunched for time, I'll get right to it! Let's start with putting together a prep schedule.

5 days before:

• Finalize your menu
  • Decide exactly what you'll be making and what others will bring.
  • Write your shopping list
  • Plan time for work and relaxation
    • A successful Thanksgiving begins and ends with a happy host. Take care of you!
    • Determine the wines/cocktails you'll serve
      • A favorite this time of year is Beaujolais Nouveau. I am a fan of a clean, un-oaked chardonnay and a nice pinot noir.
      • If you will have beer lovers around, go for something local, if you can, featuring autumn flavors.
      • An easy and festive bourbon apple cider is perfect for a crowd!

4 days before:

• Do your grocery shopping
  • Get as much of your grocery shopping done as possible. You'll save yourself from battling heavy crowds and avoid running into product shortages at the store.
  • Be sure to have kid-friendly beverages and snacks if you will have little ones at your Thanksgiving dinner
  • Purchase wine & beer
  • Start getting your dishes ready
    • make sure you have plenty of dishes, serving vessels, and flatware for your guests
    • polish wine glasses with a soft, lint-free cloth

3 days before:

• Clean out the fridge! You're gonna need plenty of space as you prepare for the big day!
• Begin preparing your mis en place
  • I always try to get the heavy-duty chopping and mincing done a couple of days in advance. Things like onions that will be used in dressing/stuffing, gravy, etc, are great for chopping in advance. I also chop up my celery and carrots. (Garlic I save for just before I need to use it.)
  • If you're chopping in advance, store the chopped veggies in gallon sized ziploc bags lined with a couple slightly damp paper towels. This will help keep your vegetables from turning brown or drying out.

2 days before:

• Tidy up the house
  • There are four main areas that I think have to be clean before guests come over, and giving them a good scrubbing a couple days in advance means that the day of consists of simply picking up any clutter and doing a quick wipe-down before guests arrive. The four main areas to pay attention to are:
    • bathrooms
    • living area/wherever guests will be lounging and spending the most time
    • kitchen (this is mostly for you but also for guests who come wandering in wanting to help out)
    • entryway (make sure there is enough space for shoes if you have guests remove them, and places to hang coats)
    • Plan a kids' table if necessary
      • An easy way to keep kids entertained is to line a table with big sheets of white paper. Set jars filled with crayons and sheets of stickers on the table and let kids get creative while the adults enjoy themselves!
        • I also like to make plate-sized circles on the paper with the kiddos' names written in the center so everyone knows where to sit. They can also decorate their "place mats".

1 day before:

• OK, now it is time to do the lion's share of the cooking. Here are the items I prepare the day before Thanksgiving:
  • pies (prepare up to the point of baking
  • bread for dressing/stuffing (cut it into cubes and store in a ziploc bag)
  • Sweet potato casserole (or twice baked sweet potatoes- yum!)
  • thaw/brine the turkey (VERY important to do in advance!)
  • Have take-out for dinner. We always have take-out Chinese food (this tradition goes way back to when I was a kid) so that we don't produce a bunch of extra dishes.

Thanksgiving Day:

• Eat a good breakfast
• Drink coffee + make a to-do list
• Take a shower
• Begin cooking the turkey
• Finish preparing your dishes before guests arrive (if they can be baked ahead, go for it and just warm them up before serving)
• Do as many dishes as possible before guests arrive
• Get yourself gussied up and have a glass of wine!
• Turn on some festive music like this playlist from Food52

And there you have it! This is my no-fail list to making sure you have everything done without feeling rushed. Overall, no matter when you do these tasks, don't overdo it on any particular day. You want to enjoy Thanksgiving, not resent it! Take lots of deep breaths and know that your guests are happy to be with those they love and in a welcoming home. Beyond that, don't sweat it. Everything will work out.

I've got 3 delicious Thanksgiving recipes coming your way this week that will help you plan your menu, so stay tuned!