How to Throw a Simple and Stress-Free Thanksgiving
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Food & Drink
How to Throw a Simple and Stress-Free Thanksgiving
November 22, 2022
In a time of year defined by gratitude, it’s often all too easy for us to overlook the opportunity to celebrate those we hold closest. Enter: Jenni’s effortless take on Friendsgiving. With a well-stocked pantry of tabletop essentials, a few simple, seasonal recipes from Pamela Salzman, and the company of five friends who spent years taking cooking classes from Pamela herself, the meal was an endlessly meaningful addition to their seasonal schedule—and one you can easily recreate. Read on for all the festive details that you’re bound to want to bring to life, including must-try Thanksgiving sides, Thanksgiving table décor, and a Thanksgiving menu unlike the rest.
How to Throw a Simple and Stress-Free Thanksgiving
The Seasonal Tabletop
For this tabletop, Jenni was keen on looking towards shades of color that felt very in-line with the tones of Thanksgiving. Think: yellows, oranges, and greens. Much of the tablescape was foraged and included elements such as dried florals and grasses, and she used the coloring atop the table to inspire the banquette by adding in green and yellow pillows to tie it all together.
For the dinnerware, she used a favorite combination of hers: the Pacific Dinner Plate in Ivory and the Pacific Breakfast Bowl in Taupe, paired with the Bistro Vintage Cutlery Set, checkered linens, and simple glassware.
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"I love the laid-back atmosphere of Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving. It's about being with close friends and family—not about perfection."
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The Inspired Menu
For this intimate lunch, each guest was asked to bring something from Pamela Salzman’s inspired lineup of recipes, whether it be Thanksgiving sides or something simply in sync with the season. With no shortage of dishes, there was plenty to choose from—and lucky for you, we were able to snag the Thanksgiving recipes.
First on the list of dishes to call out are Pamela’s Butternut Squash Soup, Herbed Hasselback Sweet Potatoes, and iconic Cranberry Sauce—the three of which you can find the recipes for below. Rounding out the menu was her Fall Market Salad, Apple Crumble Bars, and Roasted Root Vegetables. With a focus on fresh ingredients and seasonality, each dish was the perfect addition to the menu—and will surely make your Thanksgiving meal one to remember.
"We took monthly cooking classes with Pamela Salzman together for years, so this felt like the perfect way to come together."
Photos by Bliss Katherine