From Tamar’s Desk: Thanksgiving Edition

Posted by Tamar Miller on

Hi Friends,
Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving holds the most special place in my heart—how can you not be moved by the warmth, conviviality, family banter, and spirit of gratitude? And of course, the food! 
Here are a few of my favorite recipes, tips, and traditions—as well as the perfect shoes to take you through the whole holiday season.
Hope your Thanksgiving is filled with all the things you love most!
Warmly,
Tamar

I definitely enjoy celebrating with a very special bubbly this time of year, and Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs is all that and more:  This is a phenomenal sparkling white wine made from a red grape, which gives it a unique richness and complexity. Plus it pairs really well with turkey!

When I host a more formal, sit-down special meal, I love starting out with a velvety butternut squash soup (see my recipe below). I usually serve it with some kind of warm muffin (honestly, I usually just bake this pumpkin bread mix from Trader Joe’s!). I make mini muffins out of it, and everyone is happy to have a little warm something with the soup (it's the kids’ favorite every year!). 


As a festive side dish, this year I’m making this roasted cauliflower, hazelnut and pomegranate seed salad, which is full of sweet-tart flavor—and is a welcome reprieve from the richness of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing.

The first year I hosted Thanksgiving, we brined a turkey in the fridge, but didn't realize that the brining bag wasn't sealed properly. On Thanksgiving morning, I opened the fridge to a literal waterfall of turkey juice that spilled out all over the fridge, the floor, my feet. That was followed by a power outage and no functioning oven!  After that Thanksgiving, I learned to take a breath, relax, and focus on the joy of being together with family.

Mary janes are the silhouette of the season and I can’t stop wearing this glimmering pair, which manages to be both dressed-up and easygoing. As an added bonus, they’re the perfect choice for when you’re on your feet all day long prepping and cooking!

 

My favorite part of the meal always happens right before we start to eat. We go around the table and everyone shares what they're grateful for. My favorite thing is hearing what the littlest kids have to say. The kids offer the most heartfelt and genuine thoughts about what they appreciate and care about. It's both heartwarming and uplifting every time!

 

TAMAR’S BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Serves 10

Ingredients:

1 large butternut squash (Peeled and cut to 4-5 pieces. Tip: Buzz it for 2 minutes in microwave to make it easier to peel)

4 yam (Peel and cut up)

3 carrots (Peel and cut up)

5 large cans/box of chicken broth

fresh garlic

parsley

cilantro

cardamom

Vegetable boullion

 

In a large pot:

Mix the chicken broth with about the same amount of water

Add vegetable bouillon

Mix the veggies and cook in broth

Simmer veggies in broth until they are tender

Add 2 tsp sugar to soup

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Once veggies are soft, drain, allow to cool a bit, and put into the food processor. Blend until very smooth.

Add veggies back to soup broth and mix well

Allow to cool and place in fridge 1-2 days before serving

Put into fridge with some parsley and cilantro

 

When ready to serve:

Remove parsley/cilantro

Heat up soup slowly

Add spices: cardamom (1/4 tsp), cinnamon, fresh minced garlic, nutmeg, etc

Can add more broth or water if soup is too thick

Decorate with a little fresh parsley

 

 

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