A "God and My Girlfriends" Friendsgiving

By Lisa Hentrich & guest blogger girlfriends

There’s nothing like Friendsgiving with God and My Girlfriends! This month, some of our GAMG guest bloggers have shared family traditions, table decorating tips, and recipes to make your Thanksgiving holiday extra special. Enjoy this gathering of goodies to try at your own gathering!

A Colorful Table Tradition:
shared by Stevie Mitchell

YEARS AGO, A UNIQUE AND COLORFUL “TABLE TRADITION” WAS BORN IN OUR FAMILY WHILE CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MY FATHER-IN-LAW.  WHILE GOING THROUGH FAMILY BELONGINGS AFTER THE MEMORIAL SERVICE WITH MY HUSBAND AND HIS SIBLINGS, I WONDERED IF THERE WAS A STORY BEHIND A COLLECTION OF GOBLETS I NOTICED IN A CHINA CUPBOARD.  THERE WERE 7 GLASSES, EACH DIFFERENT FROM ONE OTHER IN A VARIETY OF COLORS.  I LEARNED THAT EACH PERSON IN THE FAMILY HAD THEIR VERY OWN UNIQUE GOBLET BROUGHT OUT ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS FOR FAMILY DINNERS…A SIMPLE YET SPECIAL REMINDER THAT EACH PERSON IS UNIQUELY DIFFERENT, NOTICED, AND TREASURED.

MY HEART WAS SO TOUCHED WHEN I LEARNED HOW THE MITCHELL FAMILY USED THESE GOBLETS DOING “LIFE AROUND THE TABLE,” I WAS INSPIRED TO CARRY ON WHAT THEY HAD STARTED.  THAT YEAR FOR CHRISTMAS, EACH OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS RECEIVED NOT ONE, BUT TWO GOBLETS THAT HAD BEEN SPECIFICALLY CHOSEN WITH THEM IN MIND.  ONE OF THE GOBLETS WOULD BE USED IN TABLE GATHERINGS AT OUR HOME; THE OTHER WAS FOR THEM TO TAKE HOME FOR BEGINNING THEIR OWN FAMILY TRADITION.

WE’VE ENJOYED MANY THANKSGIVING MEALS OVER THE YEARS SINCE THEN, DECORATED WITH THIS SWEET TABLE TRADITION MADE EVEN SWEETER AS OUR FAMILY HAS GROWN. I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SELECTING “JUST THE RIGHT GOBLETS” FOR SON-AND-DAUGHTER-IN-LOVES, GRANDKIDS, AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE BECOME A PART OF THE FAMILY!

SHARED BY STEVIE MITCHELL, CREATOR OF STEVIESTABLE.COM .

Tablescape Toolbox:
shared by Ashleigh Mackey

SETTING AN ATMOSPHERE THAT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL LOVED AND VALUED DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE OR COMPLICATED.  I ACTUALLY THINK IT’S MORE FUN KEEPING THINGS SIMPLE AND LOW-COST, AND I FIND IT SO REWARDING WATCHING PEOPLE “OOOOH” AND “AHHH” OVER A TABLESCAPE THAT WAS QUITE EASY TO PUT TOGETHER!

TABLE DECORATING IN 2 STEPS

STEP 1:  GET A VISION.  I START BY LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION.  MAGAZINE PHOTOS AND BROWSING PINTEREST ARE GREAT PLACES TO START FOR IDEAS, AND I ALSO FIND IT HELPFUL TO SEARCH OUT HASHTAGS ON INSTAGRAM (EXAMPLES:  #THANKSGIVINGDECOR #THANKSGIVINGTABLESCAPE).  FIRST I DECIDE ON A COLOR SCHEME AND THEME, AND I’M OFF AND RUNNING! 

STEP 2:  COMBINE “THE FOUR ELEMENTS”.  I USE 4 ELEMENTS TO BUILD THE LOOK I’M GOING FOR:  COLOR, PATTERN, TEXTURE AND SHINE.  I ALWAYS USE THESE 4 ELEMENTS, JUST ADDING A NEW “TWIST” EACH TIME USING THE SAME OLD TRIED-AND-TRUE TRICKS.

CREATE A “TABLESCAPE TOOLBOX”

HERE’S HOW TO BEGIN CREATING A “TABLESCAPE TOOLBOX” TO DRAW FROM WHENEVER YOU WANT TO SET THE ATMOSPHERE FOR A GATHERING.

START WITH THE BASICS.  START BY INVESTING IN A COLLECTION OF DÉCOR ITEMS THAT CAN BE USED TIME AND TIME AGAIN—NO MATTER THE SEASON OR OCCASION.  HERE ARE THE BASICS I RECOMMEND TO START COLLECTING:

• BLACK AND WHITE TABLE CLOTHS

• NEUTRAL AND PLAIN COLORED CLOTH NAPKINS

• SERVING DISHES

• VASES

• CANDLES AND CANDLE HOLDERS (PEDISTALS & VOTIVES)

WATCH FOR SALES TO BUILD YOUR BASIC TOOLBOX – YOU CAN DO IT OVER TIME.  EVEN THE DOLLAR STORE CAN BE A GREAT SOURCE FOR CERTAIN PIECES TO MIX WITH HIGHER QUALITY ITEMS.  IN THE LONG RUN, HAVING A SHELF STOCKED WITH BASIC DÉCOR ITEMS IS A MONEY-SAVER BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE TO REPURCHASE PLASTIC VERSIONS.

ADD THE 4 ELEMENTS.  THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO BRING IN COLOR, PATTERN, TEXTURE AND SHINE.  REAL OR FAKE GREENERY, FRESH FLOWERS, EVEN STICKS AND PINECONES GATHERED IN THE YARD CAN BRING LIFE TO THE BASICS YOU HAVE IN YOUR TABLESCAPE TOOLBOX.  PATTERNED OR BURLAP RIBBON FOR TYING AROUND CLOTH NAPKINS, PRINTED OR SHINY CHARGERS TO HOLD PLATES AT TABLE SETTINGS, GLASS BOTTLES AND MIRRORS ARE ALL GREAT EXAMPLES OF STAPLE ITEMS TO ACCESSORIZE WITH.

I NOW HAVE A SHELF STOCKED WITH DÉCOR ITEMS I’VE COLLECTED AND USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL OCCASIONS, BABY AND WEDDING SHOWERS---YOU NAME IT! NOW THAT I HAVE A WELL- ROUNDED COLLECTION OF ENTERTAINING DÉCOR, HOSTING EVENTS IN MY HOME COST NEXT TO NOTHING TO DECORATE BECAUSE I HAVE THESE THINGS ON HAND. YOU CAN DO IT, TOO…JUST BY USING YOUR TABLESCAPE TOOLBOX OF BASICS + 4 ELEMENTS!

Not Your Average Green Beans:

shared by Megan DeJarnett

WHEN I THINK OF THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS FOR OUR FAMILY I THINK OF THE 11+ YEARS WE’VE SPENT THE HOLIDAY WITH OUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE BECOME FAMILY. WE’VE WASHED OUR BABIES IN THE KITCHEN SINK AFTER OUR THANKSGIVING FEASTS, WE’VE CELEBRATED BIRTHDAYS AT THE THANKSGIVING TABLE (WE BOTH HAVE A NOVEMBER 22 BABY, JUST 5 YEARS APART) AND WE’VE LAUGHED AND MADE MEMORIES. WHEN WE DECIDED OUR FAMILY WAS MOVING 1,500 MILES AWAY WE KNEW THE HOLIDAYS WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME.

I REMEMBER OUR FIRST HOLIDAY APART I NEEDED A LITTLE SENTIMENTAL PIECE FOR OUR THANKSGIVING MEAL, THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND WAS MY FRIEND’S DELICIOUS GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE DISH! I NEVER GO A THANKSGIVING MEAL WITHOUT IT! THANKS FOR MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY DISH, ALISSA!

1 LB OF BACON - COOKED AND CRUMBLED

• 2 MEDIUM RED BELL PEPPERS, SEEDED AND DICED

• 1 MEDIUM YELLOW ONION, DICED

• 2 CUPS WHITE WINE

• 2 BAGS FROZEN OR FRESH GREEN BEANS

• 2 CANS CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

• 1 1/2 CUPS SHREDDED MOZZARELLA CHEESE

• FRENCH FRIED ONIONS1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 3752. COOK BACON AND CRUMBLE - SET ASIDE BUT RETAIN BACON GREASE3. SAUTÉ THE ONION AND BELL PEPPER IN THE BACON GREASE UNTIL TRANSLUCENT, THEN DRAIN.4. ADD THE WHITE WINE AND SIMMER UNTIL ABOUT 1/4 TO 1/2 OF THE LIQUID HAS EVAPORATED.5. ADD THE GREEN BEANS AND MIX IN, BRING BACK UP TO SIMMER.6. ADD THE CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP AND BRING MIXTURE BACK TO A SIMMER.7. IN A CASSEROLE DISH, LAYER THE GREEN BEAN MIXTURE, FRENCH FRIED ONIONS AND MOZZARELLA CHEESE. FINISH OFF THE TOP WITH THE MOZZARELLA CHEESE.8. BAKE AT 375 FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES OR UNTIL THE TOP CHEESE IS BROWNING AND BUBBLING.DAIRY FREE VERSION: USE BOILED AND BLENDED TURNIPS (WITH SOME GARLIC AND SEASONINGS) INSTEAD OF CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP AND OMIT THE CHEESE.

Pumpkin Pie Dump Cake:
shared by Lisa Hentrich

I LOVE TO MAKE THIS “PUMPKIN PIE IN A CAKE” RECIPE EACH YEAR FOR THANKSGIVING. EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIKE PUMPKIN PIE USUALLY LOVE THIS RECIPE...AND IT’S EASY AS PIE TO MAKE!

INGREDIENTS:

1 CAN OF PUMPKIN + PIE INGREDIENTS SHOWN ON CAN (GINGER, CINNAMON, SUGAR, EGGS, MILK)

1 BOX YELLOW CAKE MIX

1 STICK OF BUTTER

CHOPPED PECANS (OPTIONAL)

1. MIX THE PUMPKIN AS IF YOU ARE MAKING A PIE, FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS ON THE PUMPKIN CAN.

2. POUR THE “PIE” MIXTURE INTO A GREASED AND FLOURED 9X13 PAN. I PERSONALLY LIKE TO USE A GLASS CASSEROLE PAN.

3. BAKE THE “PIE” AT 350 DEGREES UNTIL HALFWAY COOKED, ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THEN REMOVE FROM OVEN AND MOVE TO STEP 4.

4. SPRINKLE THE DRY YELLOW CAKE MIX ON TOP OF THE HALF-BAKED PIE MIXTURE. CUT THE STICK OF BUTTER INTO VERY THIN SQUARE PATS, COVERING ALL OF THE DRY CAKE MIX WITH THE BUTTER PATS. IF DESIRED, SPRINKLE CHOPPED PECANS ACROSS THE TOP.

5. BAKE FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES AT 350 DEGREES. SERVE WITH WHIPPED CREAM OR VANILLA ICE CREAM, AND BE SURE TO REFRIGERATE LEFTOVERS (IF THERE ARE ANY)!

Ornaments of Love at the Table:
shared by LaShea Colson

EVERY YEAR WHEN HALLMARK RELEASES THEIR CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS, WE TAKE OUR CHILDREN TO LOOK AT THE NEW ORNAMENTS. THEY GET TO PICK THEIR FAVORITE ORNAMENT, BUT THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THANKSGIVING DAY TO RECEIVE IT. MY HUSBAND AND I WRITE A NOTE IN THE LID OF EACH BOX THAT IS PERSONAL JUST FOR THEM, AND WHEN THEY OPEN THEIR BOXES AT THE TABLE WE TELL THEM HOW THANKFUL WE ARE FOR EACH OF THEM. ONE BY ONE, WE REMIND THEM OF THE MEANING OF THEIR NAMES AND THAT THEY HAVE GREAT PURPOSE. THEN, THEY EACH GET TO HANG THEIR ORNAMENT ON CHRISTMAS TREES THEY HAVE IN THEIR ROOMS. EACH OF THEIR BEDROOM TREES HAS BECOME A REFLECTION OF THE FAVORITES THEY'VE PICKED THROUGH THE YEARS...WITH REMINDERS OF HOW MUCH THEY ARE LOVED