Gobble Gobble.

One of our good friends came over the other day to talk about Thanksgiving - a holiday we will be celebrating together next week! She wanted to get the menu set and the vibes secured, way ahead of time so that she didn’t end up serving the classic yet generic spread. She really wanted it to be special.

So we all sat down and built a killer menu, brainstormed some fun season cocktails (hello #cranberryspritz with smokey rosemary), and choose a few epic desserts like my Classic Apple Pie or Pecan Pie Bars.

The meeting was especially productive! We decided on an absolute - the kids must eat first. That may be the MOST important lesson for Thankgiving. Have the food ready for the kids, so that they can eat at any point before filling up on sugary treats. I love to make these Thanksgiving meatballs a week or two in advance and freeze them, for easy access during the meal. They somehow taste like the whole meal in a ball, which I think is priceless for the kids. (Make sure to make some extra in order to keep away the Holiday blues…!)

Zikki will be making the Stuffing loaded with Challah & Pears, an absolute classic fan favorite. We keep our stuffing without meat, because we love it on the lighter side, but feel free to add 2 Italian sausages into the recipe for a super boost of Thanksgiving cheer! (But, the truth is…Thanksgiving stuffing get’s it classic taste from the combination of celery, onions, and winter herbs cooked together before baking.)

As for dessert…I’ve taken that upon myself. 😱 On the menu…Gingis? Pumpkin Pie Basque Cheesecake (#wowza) and my Pear Frangipane Tart. A touch seasonal. A touch fancy. And both SO easy.

#TBT to Last Thanksgiving!

a note from Zikki ❤️

My goodness all, I just cannot believe a year has passed. Last year at this time, we were hands deep in a VERY special project with the entire team at our home from 7am to 5pm, every single day - including Thanksgiving. We were going to skip the holiday last year, but I insisted that we all crowd into our tiny 600 square foot Manhattan 2 bedroom and celebrate together. In record time, I pulled together a full Thanksgiving feast, and before we knew it our friend Amit set the table, our neighbor Brandon brought the wine and we squeezed together 12 chairs around a make shift dinner table.

I can confidently say it was one of the most magical meals I’ve ever served. Running around in sweatpants, hot Sweet Potato Casserole straight from the oven, our daughter playing with my father and eating string beans, and our guests - together, chatting, laughing, and leaning into an unknowingly unforgettable moment.

So…if I can recommend anything this year for the holiday? Be around people you love, invest (emotionally and physically) in the food you are making, and do practice gratitude. It is my favorite thing to do during Thanksgiving dinner. This year, while sitting down for dinner, pose the question: “What are you grateful for this year?”. You’ll be shocked to hear how reflective and excited everyone is to answer this question.

Anyhoo, til next week Gingis!