Tag Archives: thanksgiving

A Fall Table // Trebo Salad Recipe

November 4, 2015

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, Fall tablescapes are on my mind.  I like an approach to a Fall table that doesn’t seem so obvious.  A few fall colors mix in with some brighter colors makes for a beautiful table that doesn’t scream Fall or Thanksgiving and I think is a nice chic approach.
A simple Rosemary sprig can help dress up a place setting, and it doesn’t break the bank.  
Florals always bring a finishing touch to the table.  I picked up this fall floral bouquet from Harmons Grocery, and a table cloth and linens from Home Goods.  Once I knew the colors with the help of my tablecloth, I was able to put the rest together.  I found the perfect little Pellegrino bottle from Harmons and a few little treats to decorate the table from Home Goods.
This salad is one of my favorite salads, but would also be an amazing addition to your Thanksgiving spread.  With brussels sprouts and fresh thyme, it is the perfect fall salad that is always a show stopper.  My friend JaNaan served this at one of her amazing lunches, and I just had to get the recipe. It has a homemade vinaigrette with a lovely fresh lemon flavor mixed with fresh thyme.
Trebo Salad
Adjust amounts to the size of salad you will need:
Fresh Arugula
Shaved fresh brussels sprouts
Toasted sliced almonds (toasted in a skillet for a few minutes until the edges are a little golden)
Hard Boiled Eggs, Sliced
Bacon, cooked and cut into small strips
Pecorino cheese, grated
Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette
1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons finely minced shallots
1 teaspoon fine lemon zest (zest the yellow part of the lemon only with a microplane)
1 teaspoon fresh chopped thyme leaves
pinch of freshly ground pepper and sea salt to taste.
Whisk in 1 1/2 cups of regular olive oil (not extra virgin).
Adjust lemon juice to the acidity taste you like.
Add the dressing to the salad just to coat and serve.
Enjoy!
I hope this has helped inspire your fall table.  I don’t know why, but I just love a nicely set table.  It seems to be a rare occurrence these days,  gone are the days that every couple registered for a nice china set for their wedding.  But, I sure hope the art of setting a nice table continues on.  There is something special about sitting around a table with those you love enjoying a nice meal.
Table Sources: (affiliate links included in this post)
Florals: Harmons Grocery
Dishes / Plates:  A lucky thrift store find
Tablecloth/ Cloth Napkins: Home Goods
Treats: Home Goods
Chairs: Scoop Back Chairs West Elm
Stem Glasses: Tai Pan Trading
Silverware- Wayfair
Moroccan Glasses: Wayfair
{all photos by me}

Recipe: Harmons Holiday Pies …

November 2, 2015

Pie.  Isn’t it everyone’s favorite part about Thanksgiving?  Well, it most certainly is one of mine!
There are so many pies to choose from when making your favorite holiday pie, and sometimes it is just too hard to have to make that decision!  Well, you’ve come to the right place!  We did all the hard work for you!
I’ve teamed up with the Harmons Grocery Bloggers to bring you a master list of amazing pies with amazing flavors that have been tried and tested!  
We were able to meet up, chat, sample and photograph these beautiful pies, talk about food, and our favorite recipe secrets.  I just love getting together with fellow foodies to eat and talk about one of my favorite subjects, food!
I made my favorite French Apple Tart.  I shared the full step by step recipe here.  I’ve made it countless times over the years, and my mom has as well.  It is a family tradition to eat at Thanksgiving, and special holidays.  I hope it will become your tradition too!
Becky from A Vintage Mixer made this unique Almond Butter Pie.  It was a perfect combination of Chocolate and nuts.
Si from A Bountiful Kitchen made this beautiful Chocolate Silk Pie.  Si knows her pies, just look at that crust!  It’s a tried and true recipe that I know you’ll just love!
Rachael from La Fuji Mama made this beautiful Gingerbread Chess Pie.  It had the most unique flavors and the gingerbread was just amazing!  
Jesseca from One Sweet Appetite made this Streusel Pumpkin Pie.  If you are sick of plain old boring pumpkin pie, then give this one a try this year to spice things up!  
Here are the links again to the recipes for this wonderful spread of pies by all the Harmons Bloggers:

Enjoy!
This post is sponsored by Harmons Grocery, your neighborhood grocery store.

All photos by me.

Recipe // French Apple Tart

French Apple Tart was always a staple in my household growing up, and it still is.  It is usually served at Thanksgiving or on our Christmas table, and stems from my French side.  
It is always a show stopper, and always tastes as good as it looks!  French style apple pie is my favorite because the apples are lined up so thin. I prefer it that way vs the American Apple pie.  A nice thin layer of apples is the perfect amount for me!
I am teaming up with Harmons Grocery today, and all the Harmons Bloggers to bring you some of our favorite pie recipes (see all the links at the bottom for more pie recipes and ideas!).  We hope that you can get some good ideas for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  Pie season is just around the corner!
French Apple Tart is a pretty simple pie to make.  Once you make your dough, it all comes to together nicely.
Homemade pie dough is a must for me when it comes to pies.  A homemade dough makes all the difference in my opinion.  It doesn’t take long to make the dough either. 
After I make the dough and roll it out, I like to carefully roll it up onto the rolling pin, then carefully roll it back out onto the pie tin I’m working on.  Then, for a straight edge top pie tin, I take the rolling pin, and roll it across the top to cut off any excess edges.
Next, I take fork, and poke some holes in the bottom of the dough, then I allow it to chill again for a few minutes.
Add a layer of applesauce and some cinnamon sugar.
Peel and slice the apples thin. 
Fan them out, and place them over your applesauce and cinnamon sugar. Add a little cinnamon sugar to the top, and some little pieces of butter then put it in the oven to bake.
After it bakes add some apricot preserves, and apple jelly to finish it off.  It not only adds a beautiful shine to the top of your tart, but also an amazing flavor!
French Apple Tart

Pate Brisee Pie Dough, Martha Stewart
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut in pieces
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

Directions
Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor, and process for a few seconds to combine. Add the butter, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. With the machine running, add the ice water in a slow, steady stream, through the feed tube, just until the dough holds together. (you may not need to use all the water) Do not process for more than 30 seconds.

Turn the dough out onto a work surface. Divide in two. Place each half on a sheet of plastic wrap. Flatten, and form two discs. Wrap, and refrigerate at least 1 hour before using.

Roll out onto a tart pan, and poke holes using a fork along the bottom of the crust. You can use two rectangular pie tart tins, or a round.

Filling ingredients
4-5 medium to large golden delicious apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2- 1 cup applesauce
2 tablespoons butter cut into small pieces
1-2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons water
½ cup apple jelly

Directions
Spread a thin layer of applesauce onto the un-cooked pie crust. Mix together sugar and cinnamon and spread half of the mixture over the applesauce. Start layering apples in a nice pattern over the applesauce. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture over the apples. Place butter pieces evenly over the top of the apples.
Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 45-60 minutes or until apples are golden and the dough is cooked. *check halfway to see if edges of dough is too brown or starting to burn. if so take some aluminium foil and line the edges so the showing dough  edges will not burn.
Heat apricot preserves with water in the microwave for 30 seconds. (Optional: strain out the preserves for any large chunks) Brush a thin layer over the apples.  Put ½ cup of apple jelly in the microwave for 30 seconds. And, finish off with brushing a layer of apple jelly.  Allow to set for at least 20 minutes and serve with ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
I hope this French Apple Tart becomes a tradition at your Thanksgiving table as it has been at mine!
And, for more ideas and recipes for a nice pie table for your Thanksgiving feast, be sure to see my round up of the Harmons Bloggers Holiday Pies!
Chocolate Silk Pie by A Bountiful Kitchen
This post is sponsored by Harmons Grocery, your neighborhood grocery store.

All photos by me.