5 Tips for a Virtual Thanksgiving!

This is definitely a weird year for holidays! Our kids and parents are scattered across the country, travel is more than difficult and we simply cannot be together physically this year, (darn Covid-19!) so we are going to try and do some fun virtual celebrating instead. 

Not quite the same, but we'd like to share some fun tips and ideas that we came up to make hosting a Thanksgiving event via your computer or phone screen if you can't be together this year either....

1. Take a walk on the beach together! Pour a cup of coffee, put on your beach shoes and use your phone to Zoom, Facetime or Skype away.  Show off your sea glass and shell finds while breathing in the fresh air, hearing the crash of the waves and feeling the sand beneath your feet. (personally, my favorite way to start everyday..)

2. Share your pre-Thanksgiving breakfast virtually.  Smoked salmon and yummy bagels with all of the fixings are on our menu tomorrow - my dad's favorite!  Not quite the same as being together, but we have a plan tomorrow that we will all jump on a Zoom call and have breakfast together before things get crazy in the kitchen.

Great idea if it's too difficult to get everyone together during dinnertime. Takes some of the "techie" pressure off while you are trying to serve the mashed potatoes and carve the turkey...

3. Make sure to decorate your Thanksgiving dining table for the holiday! Even if it's for a very small group, everyone on the call (video chat) still loves to see all of your decorations. No reason that you can't still use your favorite dinnerware or glasses. 

Think outside the box, maybe this year go leave the formal china in the china hutch? Or better yet, if you have the right climate - host your party alfresco with extra lap blankets and fun candlelight. Make simple, or make it fancy - just have fun! 

4. Share a Signature Cocktail.  Check our Fall Cocktail Blog Post for recipes and idea if you don't already have a family favorite.  Fall and Holiday Cocktails are one of our specialties in our family.   

We are especially fond of the Pear Negroni, fits perfectly with most Thanksgiving Menus. Recipe Below!

Here's what you need for one cocktail - pretty easy!

• 1 1/2 oz. Laird's Apple Brandy
• 1 oz. Campari
• 3/4 oz. St. George's Spiced Pear Liqueur
• Barlett Pear Slice for garnish
• Large Ice Cubes

Stir over ice, strain into a double old fashioned glass with one large ice cube . Love this look- and your cocktail won't get watered down! Garnish by slipping a slice of pear into the glass. (featured in our Cast of Crabs Double Old Fashioned Glasses)

5. Wrap up the evening with dessert. Since we are alone and some of our closest friends in Seattle are also without family at our homes this Thanksgiving, we have decided schedule a "friends" video call.  We will be spinning some vintage rock and roll albums on the turntable - and sharing some fancy dessert  (Hopefully Elvis's Christmas Album if I can get away with it!)

This year, we are going way off the menu, as there is simply no way that Tom and I can possibly eat an entire pumpkin or apple pie. One of my favorite employees, from our "brick and mortar" days, gave me a new recipe to try - Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Enchiladas. Pumpkin and Cream Cheese with Cool Whip wrapped in tortillas and then drizzled with Caramel Sauce. So decadent and I think they will be perfectly sized for two people!  (will let you all know how they turn out!) 

If all else fails, I did make individual sized Honey Crisp Crisps too.... just in case!

6. Cozy up beside the fire and call your best friend - Seriously. 

Happy Thanksgiving from our Beach Home to Yours!

Caron

(P.S. Pearl Dinnerware featured above - NEW will be introduced in December)