A Cozy Thanksgiving Gathering at The Casey’s

The holiday season is going to look a little different for Quinn and me this year. We’ve got one foot in at our Austin townhome, where we’re still living for the moment, and the other foot in full reno mode for our future home – The Austin Tudor. It’s a last hurrah for family gatherings before the big move, so we decided to go all out. Our family is flying in for Thanksgiving to celebrate at our place, and we couldn’t be more excited.

The catch? Since we’re in the midst of a move, we need to plan for an easy, uncomplicated menu and table design. Think something special but also relatively quick to throw together. I’ve landed on a statement floral centerpiece and my grandma’s vintage dishware with a classic menu including all the Thanksgiving hits. We’ll follow dinner with apple pie and honey bourbon cocktails by the fire as we reminisce on all the memories we’ve shared in this sweet home.

 

Table Design + Styling: The Identité Collective | Photography: Madeline Harper

 

 

The Bountiful Harvest Centerpiece

 

As mentioned, the concept behind our Thanksgiving table design was understated simplicity. With a portion of our life in boxes during the move, my idea was to entertain while keeping the decor relatively simple.

That said, the floral centerpiece was one area where I wanted to flex some creative muscles. Since the tablescape design was pared-back, I let a single bountiful harvest centerpiece be the wow factor. I started with an oversized basket from a local boutique (similar option here + here) and placed a low vase with chicken wire in the basket to hold the florals. This easy workaround will turn any basket into a waterproof vase in seconds.

 

Build the Centerpiece

 

 

 

 

 

 

Set The Table

 

 

 

 

The Menu

 

As I was building out the menu, I wanted to capture an ode to the classics. This gathering feels extra sentimental as the last Thanksgiving in our current home, so it was all about channeling comfort and nostalgia. You’ll find all the usual suspects (turkey, stuffing, roasted vegetables, and rolls), but I also included a few new recipes to add into the lineup. The Pull Apart Cheese Bread starter is quite possibly the best way to welcome guests into your home, and the Green Beans With Orecchiette is a little twist on everyone’s favorite side dish.

 

 

 

TO START

Pull Apart Cheese Bread

 

ENTREE + SIDES

Classic Roasted Turkey

Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing

Green Beans With Orecchiette

Roasted Rainbow Carrots

Parker House Rolls

 

DESSERT

Lattice Top Apple Pie

 

 

 

The Cocktail

 

via Our Salty Kitchen

 

INGREDIENTS

Rosemary Honey Syrup

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 fresh sprigs of rosemary

Honey Bourbon Cocktail

• 2.5 oz bourbon
• 4 tsp rosemary honey syrup
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• ice
• 1 orange peel
• 1 rosemary sprig

 

DIRECTIONS

Rosemary Honey Syrup

• Pour the honey and water into a small saucepan and stir to dissolve the honey. Place the rosemary spring into the honey water. Place the saucepan over high and heat until the liquid comes to a boil. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. 
• Once cooled, remove the rosemary sprig. The syrup will keep in the fridge for about a week.

Cocktail

• Place 2-3 ice cubes into a rocks glass and set aside. Using a paring knife or a vegetable peeler, peel a 3″ strip from an orange for garnish. 
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour the bourbon, rosemary honey syrup, and bitters into the cocktail shaker. Stir to combine, and pour the cocktail into the rocks glass. 
• Twist the orange peel over the cocktail and garnish with a rosemary sprig.

 

 

 

The Playlist

 

A well-designed table is one part of the equation to a warm gathering, and a great playlist is another. I put together a Folksy Afternoon Spotify playlist, filled with three and a half hours of music for lingering conversation around the table. You’ll find artists like The Lumineers, John Mayer, and Mumford & Sons, to name a few. Happy celebrating!

 

For some additional content:

• The Best Fall Colors for Your Home
• Thanksgiving Style: What I’m Wearing
• A Designer’s Guide to Holiday Content
• 3 Subtle Ways to Bring in Fall Decor

 

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