2024, #1

  The end of 2023 was a lot of “things” for me.  I was able to celebrate my birthday with a room full of people I laugh with, debate with, dance with, cry with and generally consider my Framily (friend family).  My home welcomed my Family to gather and eat a LOT of food, a few times.  There were gifts, wonderful gifts.  And in the end, I took some time to gather my thoughts, and that is where I will begin the Articles of 2024 for the Hopeful Hostess!

  I am a fan of notebooks and lists.  Writing on paper is still my go-to, but now I also will take photos and upload them into files on my computer.  In previous writings I have shared my game plan for a party, click here if you would like to visit the article: https://thehopefulhostess.com/2023/11/16/thanksgiving-here-we-go/ 

  I keep a Party Journal with the menu, time schedule, guest list and all of the things I used to host the event.  The most important part of the process is what I write after the party.  This is where I record what worked, and I note what was a poor decision.  

This was the original plan for Thanksgiving 2023

Thanksgiving 2023:   12 People

Appetizers:

Deviled Eggs – Mom Makes, 1 Dozen

Pigs in a Blanket – Piccolina Makes, 2 Dozen

Sliced Summer Sausage – On Wooden Board – Everyone slices- crackers served in bowl next to the board.  Have spicy Mustard as well.

Olives – Warm in Foil with Fresh rosemary, Garlic, and Olive oil Drizzle – NO PITS

Sausage Balls – Trying the old Southern Living Recipe to see if they are still popular.

Meal:

Turkey – 12- 15 pounds – Oven – Covered Dish

Honey Baked Ham – Mia Sorella is bringing.

Mashed Potatoes – Stove – Covered Serving Dis

Baked Mac and Cheese – Oven – Rectangle baker with Basket

 Roasted Sweet Potatoes – Oven – Large Serving Platter

 Artichoke Hearts- Oven – Rectangle baker 

Bread “Stuffing” – Mom Makes, not putting in bird, baking in a pan. – Oven – Covered Serving Dish

Gravy – Stove – Gravy Boat

Can Cranberries – small serving platter

Rolls – Oven – Basket with napkin Liner (2)

Salad – Big Glass Bowl

Desert:  

 Chocolate Pie

 Pumpkin Pie – Mom Makes

  Ice Cream

Time Table:

7:00       Wake and start prep in Kitchen

                  Boil water for pasta for Mac and Cheese

7:30       Make Mac and Cheese – cover and put in refrigerator

8:00       Scrub sweet potatoes and put on foil lined roasting pan

8:30       Make Artichoke Hearts – cover and put in refrigerator to bake later

9:00

10:00    Start Turkey Prep

10:30

11:00    Turkey in Oven

11:30  Sausage Balls – Mix and Bake – Warm before serving

12:00    Pick wine and libations and be sure to decant wine and set up garnishes, etc.

12:30    

1:00       Mac and Cheese in Oven

                  Set up Antipasti/Appetizer

                 

                  Pigs in a Blanket – Piccolina prep and bake

1:30       Sweet Potatoes in Oven (Roast 1 hour)

                  Start water to steam potatoes to Mash.

2:00       Guests Arrive

                  Potatoes steam

                  Warm Dairy and butter for whipped potatoes

                  Artichokes in Oven

2:30       Turkey out of oven (hopefully) – REST Turkey

                  Start to Whip Potatoes

2:45       Someone cuts up Turkey

                  Ham is set up

                  Things hit the table

3:00       Try to eat 

3:30

4:00       Probably clear table and start coffee and tea and after dinner drinks

4:30       Aim for Desert

5:00

5:30

6:00       Finish 

                  

Here is the same thing with my notes from that night.  (Blue Notes)

Thanksgiving 2023: 12 People – GET MORE COVERED DISHES!!!!  NEED NEW TABLECLOTHS

Appetizers:

Deviled Eggs – Mom Makes, 1 Dozen                Mom did great, 1 Dozen is perfect

Pigs in a Blanket – Piccolina Makes, 2 Dozen              People ate, but not a must have.  Only if Piccolina wants to make.  Maybe she can try something else next time.

Sliced Summer Sausage – On Wooden Board – Everyone slices- crackers served in bowl next to the board.  Have spicy Mustard as well.  Always easy and good, all the crackers were gone

Olives – Warm in Foil with Fresh rosemary, Garlic, and Olive oil Drizzle – NO PITS. Easy and people eat.  

Sausage Balls – Trying the old Southern Living Recipe to see if they are still popular.  Not worth the time.  Got a few compliments and they tasted good.  But there are easier things.  They do freeze well.

Meal:

 Turkey – 12- 15 pounds – Oven             Good size, put more butter under the skin

Honey Baked Ham – Mia Sorella is bringing.  Grateful

Mashed Potatoes – Stove – Recipe makes a TON – practice cutting in Half next time

Baked Mac and Cheese – Oven – Good for those who love Mac and Cheese

Roasted Sweet Potatoes – Oven – Simple and Good, cut in half to serve

Artichoke Hearts- Oven – Easy and Good

Bread “Stuffing” – Mom Makes, not putting in bird, baking in a pan. – Oven

                                    Nostalgic, but hardly eaten, try to cut in half

Gravy – Stove

Can Cranberries – No one eats, but it reminds me of my dad, so I will probably keep

Rolls – Oven – TOO MANY ROLLS, but is that a bad thing??  Kerrygold Butter

Salad – Keep it simple and small, do not dress, keep two options in bowl on table 

Desert:  

Chocolate Pie – THE BEST, Keep that recipe

Pumpkin Pie – Mom Makes – So yummy, always

Ice Cream – Easy and people enjoyed, also added whipped cream

  This is how I use my Party Journal.  It has served me well.  I look back at notes from previous gatherings to see what might be good to do for a new event.  What the journal does for me is not only about the logistics of a party.  It is also a walk-through memory.  I was looking through my last book and I found the outlines for my dearest friend’s baby shower.  I have Piccolina and Bambino’s birthday parties from 2007 through 2023.  I love to look back and remember the Strawberry cake (never freeze a strawberry cake if it has Jell-O in it) or the Nerf War party where the boys had huge cardboard boxes and made forts and a battlefield.

  We have pictures, but the narrative of how the party was made is a different kind of treasure.  It reminds me of the stage they were and what was important.  How they wanted to celebrate.  Who their friends were, and which ones have come back every year.  It is the same for Family gatherings.  I can see what my mom always brings and where I made notes of how I would change things to make them a little different but still honor her tradition.  I remember who all has been around my table and those I have not seen in a while.  It reminds me why we have a large table.  It is so we can gather our people.

  I use a Moleskine, hardcover, lined, medium size book.  I like Red, so that is the current color book I am using.  I this this brand because the pages are thick and my pen writes well on them.  I also like that it has the built in bookmark and elastic strap to keep it closed.  

  My husband and I have always agreed our home is open to our people.  We want to have people here to eat, laugh and create memories.  Using the Party Journal Keeps it simple for me.  I have started to create my “Repeat” menus, and my “Never Again” lessons.  I have a few parties in my mind I want to throw one day.  The Party Journal lets me play with the idea and come back to it without pressure of a timeline.  

  Mom told me she used to keep a similar notebook, but she cannot find it now.  I have started keeping mine with my cookbook collection (One of my favorite things).  I have told my people that I will keep it all for them like an old scrap book.  Maybe they will want to know what the cookie was I made every year, or how I planned their favorite birthday.  Or maybe they will drop them into recycling, laughing about how their mom was too detail oriented and that is why they now travel for every holiday.  Both could be true.

  Thank you for your time to read these words.  Please comment and share, I enjoy learning your stories of the holidays and Party Perils!  If you have a question for The Hopeful Hostess, please drop me a messier here.

Talk to you next Thursday!  

Stay Hopeful!  

Mona