A Green and Barefoot Thanksgiving

There is one more week until Thanksgiving! What will you be serving? How will you be decorating your table? I am not the biggest Turkey lover, but I especially love Thanksgiving when we are with great family and friends…and when there are lots of yummy sides. I am thankful that this year that will be the case. And I will be cooking much of it.

I love to cook for the holidays and one of my very favorite chefs is Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa. I enjoy her casual, easy style and her love of local, fresh foods. I also share her Parisian and Provencal inspiration. Just over a week ago, I had the great opportunity to meet her at a book signing at Books & Books in Coral Gables.( more on this Miami Fave in an upcoming blog) While she is so personable, it was a bit disappointing that she had no time to chat or personalize her signature. Still, her new cookbook, Barefoot Contessa, Back to Basics: fabulous flavors from simple ingredients is wonderful.

While reviewing her new book, I thought, what a wonderful cookbook and gift for those who would like to Greenify Thanksgiving.

Here are a few tips from Ina that are absolutely Green:

• Focus on simplicity, quality & flavor to bring out the essence in your foods. Use the best ingredients and less equipment & kitchen gadgets.
• Shop locally and at fresh markets.

“Each ingredient has a season, and that’s generally the time it’s most flavorful. Not only is it more likely to be grown or raised locally-and ripened on the vine-it’s also likely to be fresher and less expensive."

• Fill your home with wonderful smells like of baked apples and pumpkin pie.
• Entertain simply and with beautiful flower arrangements – perhaps handpicked
• Enjoy friends and family.
  
  Our CLB Decorating Tips:
  
• Bring in leaves or mini pumpkins/squash to use as place card holders, simply write your guests names on them.
• Use a mix of tea towels, china or antique tea cups for a personalized table.
• Create a centerpiece with fresh fruit or pumpkins.
• Give a donation to those less fortunate.

Here’s my Barefoot & Green menu with a few personal touches:

• Ina's Pomegranate Cosmos
• My Mom's Squash Soup which we LOVE and which happens to be similar to Ina's amazing Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple soup with Curry, scallion, cashews and banana condiments (optional)
• My sister in law's Turkey with Dried Fruit
• My favorite Mushroom Stuffing by Jacques Pepin
• Cranberry Sauce with Grand Marnier ( I think this is also Ina's)
• Ina's Over Roasted Vegetables: potatoes, fennel, asparagus and string beans
• Ina's Pumpkin Roulade and/or my sister in-law's Pumpkin Bread with Apple Butter
  
  Happy Thanksgiving