7 Tips for First-Time Thanksgiving Hosts

Will this be your first year hosting Thanksgiving? (Or do you remember the first time you did?) I was in college the first time I hosted. My brother, who was in the Marines at the time, was unable to come home for the holiday so instead of celebrating without him at home, my parents came down to Washington, DC (where I went to school) for a low-key Thanksgiving in my tiny studio apartment.

I remember prepping for days and cooking WAY too much food for just three people.  (Seriously--I think I made a 22-pound turkey, which is way too much turkey.) It was all delicious, but I could definitely have used a bit more guidance to keep things streamlined and less stressful.

That's why I pulled together this post to help share hosting tips and advice for first-time Thanksgiving hosts (although these tips will work for everyone, too!).

Below are a few of the best tips I've learned over the years:

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Cranberry Sauce Crostini with Garlic & Herbed Goat Cheese

Here's a super simple idea to serve at your next holiday party: Cranberry Sauce Crostini with Garlic & Herbed Goat Cheese!

I love easy appetizers like this that come together quickly, look gorgeous, and taste amazing. These are great to make in advance and serve guests as they arrive. They can enjoy with a glass of sparkling wine or a cocktail, while you finish things up in the kitchen.

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Cranberry Sauce Margarita

What is the best way to use up leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce? Drink it!

In margarita form, that is!

This ridiculously good Cranberry Sauce Margarita is made with leftover homemade cranberry sauce (yes...it has to be homemade. The jelled canned stuff won't work here.), tequila, fresh lemon juice, and a bit of triple sec.

It's beautifully tart and tangy and strong. (I can attest to that last part after testing this recipe a couple times. Ooops!)

Oh and you know what? You don't even have to wait until after Thanksgiving to enjoy it. Skip the pinot noir and mix up a pitcher of these instead. Your guests will love you.

You'll notice that I used fresh lemon juice in my margarita instead of the usual lime. I actually prefer the way the lemon tastes with the cranberries, but give it a try both ways and see what you prefer.

And since homemade cranberry sauce tends to differ, use that as a guide when determining how much acid to add. If your sauce is super sweet, you may want more lemon juice. If it's a bit tart? Then less.

Taste and see what works best for you.

Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving!

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Loved this recipe? Here are three other Fall Cocktail Recipes you might like:

• Double Apple Spritzer Cocktails
• Pomegranate Rose Champagne Cocktails
• Spiced Apple Cider Rum Punch Cocktail

And let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates.

Thanks so much for reading

Cranberry Sauce Margarita
Serves 1, multiply as desired

Ingredients
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup homemade whole berry cranberry sauce (do not use canned or "jellied" style cranberry sauce--you need the chunky stuff)
1 tablespoon triple sec
1/4 cup reposado tequila
Ice
A few whole fresh cranberries, for garnish

Directions
Combine lemon juice, cranberry sauce, triple sec, and tequila in a large shaker. Add ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is frosty.

Fill a cocktail glass with ice and strain drink into glass. Garnish with a few whole cranberries, and serve immediately.

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Chipotle Coca-Cola Sweet Potatoes for 5 Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish Ideas

Let's talk about Thanksgiving for a minute, OK?

I think a lot of us make this holiday way more complicated than it needs to be. We spend days (or even weeks!) seeking out new recipes, creating elaborate menus, and figuring out fancy techniques to bust out on the big day.

And the weird part is that, often, the thing people love most about Thanksgiving are the old favorites!

All that work, and your brother just wants the same old stuffing. Bummer, right?

So this year, we're going to keep things simple. (But we're still going to have some fun!)

Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some of my solid favorite Thanksgiving recipes, but showing you a few creative ways to mix them up and serve them. So your family gets to enjoy their favorites, and you still get to play around in the kitchen.

Everybody wins!

First up are these Chipotle Coca-Cola Sweet Potatoes. This season, I've partnered with Coca-Cola to share some favorite holiday recipes and party inspiration so this felt like the perfect recipe to start off this series. I've been making this easy sweet potato recipe for about 7 years, and it has never let me down.

And the best part? SO easy. You puree a few ingredients, pour them over the sweet potatoes, and bake.

I'm NOT even going to make you peel the potatoes! Awesome, right?

And I promised you fun, right?

Because while these sweet potatoes are amazing served as-is (seriously...I'm talking spicy, smokey, and a little bit sweet...so perfect!), they're also a great base for some super creative (and easy!) serving ideas.

I love this because it gives you a chance to personalize and customize your dish, while still keeping everyone happy.

Read on, and get inspired!

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23 Best Last-Minute Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Need one or two last dishes to complete your menu for Thursday? Here are 23 of my BEST last-minute Thanksgiving side dish recipes to inspire you.

From super quick grain salads to the easiest EVER homemade dinner rolls, I'm sure you'll find something to make your meal complete.

Because, we all know Thanksgiving is all about the sides!

Scroll down and get inspired!

1. Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Italian Salsa Verde

2. Spicy Cornbread and Chorizo Dressing (or Stuffing!)

3. 10-Minute Sweet Potato Hash

4. Coconut Israeli Couscous with Dried Apricots

5. Chimichurri Pasta Salad

6. 4-Ingredient Potatoes au Gratin

7. Spiced Cranberry Orange Sauce

8. Kale Salad with Dates, Hazelnuts & Spicy Honey-Lemon Dressing

9. Brussels Sprouts with Hazelnuts and Pecorino

10. Gingerbread Cornbread

11. Sweet Potato Cheddar & Jalapeno Gougeres

12. Cauliflower and Butternut Squash Gratin

13. Sweet & Sour Brussels Sprouts Hash

14. Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Spinach, Pecans, and Apples

15. Creamy Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

16. Creamy Classic Stovetop Mac & Cheese

17. Creamy Parsnip and Carrot Puree

18. Spicy Roasted Parmesan Potatoes

19. 5-Minute Cinnamon Coconut Couscous

20. Perfect Glazed Carrots

21. Buttery Brioche Batter Rolls

22. Chocolate Parker House Rolls

23. Vegetarian Mushroom & Cheese-Stuffed Zucchini

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15 Easy Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas

Sure...we all know about pumpkin and pecan pie, but what if you want to do something a little different this year?

Here are 15 of my favorite ideas for easy Thanksgiving desserts that are a little bit more creative than the usual.

From super simple brownies with fresh cranberries, to a slightly more elegant layer cake, I'm sure you'll find something perfect for your celebration!

Scroll down and get inspired!

1. Walnut Layer Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
This simple, nutty walnut layer cake is rich with great Fall flavors and will be a hit on your holiday table. You are going to love the orange frosting!

2. Roasted Maple Syrup Caramel Pears
Buttery, caramelized pear wedges are amazing on their own or served over ice cream or yogurt. Such a quick and easy recipe that can be made in advance. (Leftovers are incredible for breakfast, too!)

3. Cranberry Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake
The mix of tart berries, sugary caramel, and sweet cornmeal cake is perfect for Thanksgiving. It's just as pretty to look at, too!

4. Super Chewy Ginger Cookies
You will want to double the batch of these chewy ginger cookies--they have a tendency to disappear!

5. Vegan Carrot Cake Cookies
Keep all your guests happy by serving a platter of these delicious vegan cookies--they're like tiny little bite-sized cakes!

6. Baked Gingerbread Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting
Who needs cake when you can have doughnuts!

7. Anise Biscotti
After a big meal, it's nice to serve up something to nibble on with coffee and conversation. These crunchy anise biscotti are just the thing! Perfect for dipping in coffee or sweet wine.

8. Saffron Walnut Bundt Cake
This easy cake is simple to make, but the flavors are absolutely incredible. Perfect for a special occasion!

9. Cranberry Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake
Cranberries and chocolate are a match made in heaven. Give this easy loaf cake a try!

10. Fresh Cranberry Brownies
Add fresh cranberries to a simple brownie batter for a unique dessert that will please a crowd.

11. Gluten-Free Flourless Cashew Oatmeal Cake
This delicate, buttery cake is just the thing to serve if you have gluten-free friends or family joining you this year.

12. Baked Apple Cider Donuts
An easy baked homemade version of the farmer's market favorite.

13. Almond Raspberry Shortbread Cake
Swap in cranberry sauce for the raspberry jam in this shortbread cookie cake, and you'll have a stunning Thanksgiving dessert that will impress.

14. Bourbon Pumpkin Mousse
Made with whipped cream instead of egg whites, this "cheater" mousse is super easy to make and serve.

15. Chardonnay Cake
White wine baked into this easy cake make it an elegant and festive holiday dessert.

Want more holiday recipes? Check out my eCookbook: The Puerto Rican Christmas Table with 40+ recipes and full-color photos. Amazing recipes for the whole holiday season!  

Click here to learn more!

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Easy Bourbon & Spice Pumpkin Mousse

I first posted this easy Bourbon & Spice Pumpkin Mousse recipe a few years ago as part of a Thanksgiving round-up, and thought I should share it again for those of you looking for a simple and no-fuss holiday recipe idea.

This is kind of a cheater mousse--no eggs involved. Instead, you get lightness from freshly whipped cream that's folded into a sweet, fall-spiced pumpkin base. A few tablespoons of bourbon adds a special touch.

Make this a couple days in advance and serve it in wine glasses or custard cups, topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon and some sliced or chopped nuts. (I use almonds in this photo, but pecans would be perfect, too!)

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Love Always Order Dessert? Let's connect! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!   

Bourbon and Spice Pumpkin Mousse
This pumpkin pie cousin can be whipped up quickly and keeps well overnight. Serve in wine goblets or parfait glasses and garnish with toasted nuts and a cinnamon stick.

Ingredients
1 14oz can pumpkin puree (plain with no seasoning)
3 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
3 tablespoons bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

For garnish: toasted sliced almonds or pecans

Directions
In a medium size saucepan, combine the pumpkin, sugars, bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves. Cook for 2 minutes over medium heat until all the sugars are dissolved and the spices well incorporated. Remove from heat and pour into a large glass bowl. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill.

Once the pumpkin is cool, whip the three cups of heavy cream until medium peaks form.

Gently fold in the whipped cream in batches until light, fluffy, and well combined. Pour into a serving dish and let chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

When ready to serve, spoon into wine goblets or parfait glasses and sprinkle with toasted nuts. Add a cinnamon stick as a decorative touch.

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