It's just days to my favorite time of the year and I can't wait. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite and not just because of the food. It is the one holiday that my entire family tries very hard to be together. My grandmother, Maybell Brown, died in 2013 just weeks after Thanksgiving and we knew it was important to continue this tradition. The Butler clan merges on Myrtle Beach in rented houses, condos and or hotels for a few days of laughter, fun and lots of food!
Planning this does not come without stress. A menu has to be planned to feed over fifty people from Wednesday to Sunday. Brooke Parkhurst, Entertaining Expert and Cookbook Author, shared some tips with me that we all put to use and eliminate the stress.
- THANKS-GRIA– A delicious glass or two of wine is welcomed at any holiday gathering! Even easier? Put it in a pitcher so everyone can serve themselves. Lightly chill red wine and add a few spices and seasonal fruit to make a soon-to-be favorite holiday libation– Thanks-gria!
- FORGET ABOUT FLOWERS, BUT DON’T FORGET YOUR HOSTS– Unless you have your own garden, decorating with fresh flowers can cost more than your meal. Instead, create centerpieces from seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh greenery and berries. After the party’s over, make a meal from your centerpiece! And don’t forget about gift baskets for the hosts.
- JUICY WHITE MEAT– Who needs to roast the whole turkey when you can just bake the best part? The turkey breasts and legs cook at very different rates, which means that one will not be properly cooked. Instead, focus on cooking the turkey breast perfectly, roasting it at just the right temperature and saving a lot of time in the process.
- FRESH & FAST– It’s chilly out which makes us gravitate towards creamy, cheesy, heavy dishes. Want a little balance? Make your favorite potato casserole but off-set it with a delicious & easy arugula-pomegranate salad or butternut squash and ricotta crostini. Fresh dishes are usually the fastest to prepare!
With the food stress out of the way, next up is our entertainment. The men and a few women will want to watch football, the children the parade and a few will want to catch holiday movies. I never stress about catching my favorite shows because I set my DVR before I leave home and thanks to the Fios Mobile app I can either watch on the go or wait until I get home. This app which is available for both android and apple devices is a must on every phone. It gives you instant access to popular movies and TV shows. Verizon My Rewards+ is giving you points for downloading the app and you can earn double the points for using Video on Demand to rent your favorite show on November 25 or 26th. These points can be redeemed for gift cards, charitable giving and Video on Demand. With the option to select holiday movies it will not be hard to accumulate points.
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Disclosure: I am a member of the #FiosPhilly team and receive complimentary product for the purposes of this post but all opinions are my own.
