How to Create a Gourmet Thanksgiving Meal

A gourmet Thanksgiving meal may seem far out of reach for a busy working mom or someone who is all thumbs in the kitchen, but using a few basic techniques to spruce up the dinner can make a huge impact on the overall experience. From starters to dessert to the table setting, a gourmet Thanksgiving meal can be prepared days or even a few weeks in advance. Each part of the gourmet Thanksgiving meal will likely be noticed by the guests at your table, and most will wonder where you found the time to prepare such a gourmet and festive holiday meal!

Gourmet Thanksgiving Table Settings

One way to create a gourmet Thanksgiving tabel setting is to use fresh fruit as candle holders. There is a tool available for purchase that slices out a section of an apple, pear, or similar fruit just enought to fit a tea light candle inside. If you do not want to spend the money for your gourmet Thanksgiving table you can simply trace the outline of a tea light onto the fruit and carve it out yourself. This job is perfect for your spouse or older child and really makes a great addition to the gourmet Thanksgiving table.

Small pumpkins make great place settings for a gourmet Thanksgiving meal. If you are handy with a paintbrush you can paint the names of each guest onto the pumpkin and set it down atthe proper place setting. Alternately you can use a permanent magic marker to label the pumpkins. If you have small children in the house you can have them paint and decorate the pumpkins ahead of time so they are even more personal. Another way to label the pumpkin is to tie a tag onto the stem of the pumpkin. This small touch makes allthe difference between a regular meal and a festive gourmet Thanksgiving meal.

Bringing some of the outdoors to your gourmet Thanksgiving meal can be a great way to make it more festive. Children can gather leaves of all colors which can then be placed on the table as is or dipped in wax for a finished look. Pinecones and other outdoor elements can also look great on the gourmet Thanksgiving table. Glitter can be painted onto pinecones to make them look even nicer on the gourmet Thanksgiving table.

Gourmet Thanksgiving Meal Ideas

An easy way to add flair to a gourmet Thanksgiving meal is to whip up some homemade flavored butters. Creating an entire array of delicious gourmet Thanksgiving spreads is easy when you start out with premade butter or margarine. Cinnamon cream spread can be made by whipping up butter with cinnamon and would taste great slathered on sweet potatoes. Whipping margarine with honey can create a delicous gourmet Thanksgivign spread that is ideal for biscuits. Pumpkin pie spice and a tablespoon or two of canned pumpkin blended with butter makes a delightful spread that will leave your guests wondering where you purchased such a gourmet Thanksgiving butter. Cranberry butter is another option and will round out the assortment of gourmet Thanksgivign spreads offered at your table. By simply including these gourmet Thanksgiving spreads with your next holiday you will get the guests excited about the meal and talking about your gourmet abilities.

Serving a first course of soup is another way to make the meal go from a plain holiday dinner to a gourmet Thanksgiving feast. Pumpkin soup is relatively easy to make using canned pumpkin and cream and can be served in hollowed out pumpkins for a real gourmet Tthanksgiving touch. Butternut squash soup is made in a similar fashion and can also be served in a hollowed out gourd or squash. Creamy mushroom soup or potato soup would go great in a bread bowl and also add to the gourmet Thanksgiving theme.

Dessert can be transformed easily into a wonderful ending to a gourmet Thanksgiving meal by using premade cakes and other ingredients. A store bought cheescake becomes a gourmet Thanksgiving treat by simply creating a cranberry syrup sauce to pour on top. Cook whole canned cranberries with some sugar until the mixture is syrupy and thick. Once it cools down it can be poured over the cheesecake to creat ea gourme Thanksgiving dessert. To really kick it up a notch try spreading a layer of pumpkin pie filling over the top of the cheesecake before puring the cranberries on top. Any store bought cake can be used as a base for a gourmet Thanksgiving dessert and no one will know the entire dessert wasn't made entirely by you.

Gourmet Thanksgiving Autumn Theme Ideas

Creating a meal that is cohesive and based on a theme is another way to make a gourmet Thanksgiving event. Using squashes, apples, and other autumn vegetables and fruits will create a colorful and delicious gourmet Thanksgivign meal that flows. Using these items to create a unique version of standard dishes is a great way to keep the flow of the gourmet Thanksgiving meal going. By making certain that everything you serve compliments each other and goes with the gourmet Thanksgiving theme you can ensure that the holiday goes smoothly. Below is an example of a gourmet Thanksgiving meal that I will be using this year to create a warm and festive holiday in my home.

Appetizers

Cheddar and cranberry cheese spread layer dip with walnut crackers

Goat cheese, apricot and hazelnut stuffed mushrooms

Warm Spinach Cheese Dip Served with Sesame Breadsticks

First Course

Creamy Pumpkin Soup serves in hollowed out pumpkins

Second Course

Warm Beet, Orange and Onion Salad

Third Course

Turkey

Stuffing

Brussel Sprout Leaves with Browned Butter and Walnuts

Golden Cauliflower with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Creamed Butternut Squash

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Honey Wheat Biscuits

Dessert

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Cranberry Pumpkin Cheesecake

Apple Fries with Peanut Butter Dip

Chocolate Dipped Dried Fuits

Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Warm Apple Cider