THANKSGIVING RECIPE ROUNDUP

Personally, I think Thanksgiving is the most wonderful time of year. Christmas is great and all, but the pressure around buying gifts can become overwhelming. What I love about Thanksgiving is that the only expectations of the day are focused on football, food and good company. The weather is finally (FINALLY) starting to cool down in Austin. While cooking is my zen place, I know it can be a bit stressful for others not so comfortable in the kitchen.

I wanted to do a roundup of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes, and what I do to make them my own. I also wanted to share a few tips to make Thanksgiving Day a breeze and provide inspiration for your menu.

SIPS

Sangria - My summer sangria is just as tasty in the Fall. To warm it up, I add some cinnamon sticks to really bring the Fall flavor. Getting a drink dispenser is such a great investment. They aren't that expensive, and they come in handy throughout the year. 

Bourbon Iced Spiced Cider - Bourbon purists will not agree with me here, and will suggest you add rum instead. But, I’m not big on whiskey or bourbon straight up. Sorry folks! I was out of rum. I made this drink last weekend and I absolutely loved it.

• 1 shot of bourbon
• 1 large ice cube
• Top with spiced cider + pumpkin pie spice

APPETIZERS

Appetizers should be easy and quick. All of these appetizers can be made the day or night before, which frees up your kitchen the following day for other dishes. These are classic recipes and don't require a lot of prep work. 

Brie + Cranberry Phyllo Turnovers

Sausage Cheddar Bites

Veggie Tray

TURKEY

Image Source: Food Network.com

Turkey Brine - Brining your turkey is by far the easiest way to ensure you don’t dry it out. I’ve brined my bird for years now, and the flavor difference is worth the extra preparation. The great thing about brine is that you can make it your own based on the flavors you like. The brine I’ve linked above is what I plan to use this year. Also, don't be scared of the salt. It seems like a lot but your turkey gets a bath before it goes in the oven. 

I highly recommend getting an oven thermometer. It's the only way to truly know when your turkey is fully cooked.

SIDES

Is it even Thanksgiving without sides? I feel like sometimes sides steal the show - which is okay by me. I wait all year for stuffing. :) I think it’s good to have a mix of veggies and starches. The turkey is already going to put you to sleep, so adding some veggies on your plate won’t kill you.

Crock Pot Mac-n-Cheese - I like to do a crockpot version to keep the oven and stovetop free for the turkey and other sides. Kyle is lactose intolerant, so I follow this recipe (like most) very loosely. I omit the tomatoes and the evaporated milk. I use lactose-free whole milk and I also make sure to use lactose-free cheese. And, before you think, “ew, that sounds disgusting”, Boar’s Head makes some delicious naturally lactose-free cheeses. So, it’s not vegan imitation cheese. (Nothing wrong with being vegan, but I hear cheese is tough to replace!) This is real cheese that naturally does not have lactose.

Image Source: RecipesthatCrock.com

Green Bean Casserole - It’s really easy to adapt most recipes to be lactose-free. For this recipe, I just make sure to use lactose-free milk. Making this dish from scratch really makes a difference. And, this is a classic dish that must be on the table for Thanksgiving.

Smoky Bacon Biscuit Dressing - I’ve only made the biscuits that are in the original recipe once. Save yourself time and bake off canned biscuits. You can assemble this the night before, and throw it in the oven the day of Thanksgiving to bake and heat up.

Mashed Potatoes + Gravy - Jeff Mauro’s recipe for mashed potatoes is downright divine. Butter, garlic, and cheese. Yes, please. I keep it really easy for the gravy. I make a simple roux with flour and butter in a pan, then add pan drippings from the turkey. It’s the tastiest way to make gravy. If you need extra liquid, or your bird didn’t make tons of pan drippings I suggest keeping a couple of boxes of chicken broth on hand. This pantry ingredient can save you in so many ways on Turkey Day - if you need extra gravy or you overcook your stuffing. :)

Image Source: FoodNetwork.com

Balsamic Roasted Brussels - I love Brussel sprouts. It’s good to have another green item on your plate, and the balsamic really gives these veggies a special twist.

DESSERT

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Pie - I finally found this recipe on a blog! My aunt has made this pie for years and years. I can’t wait to make it. I want to see how closely it resembles her version. The cream cheese layer is made of unicorns and dreams. It pairs perfectly with the smooth layer of pumpkin. Secerectly, I could eat the entire thing myself.

Image Source: The recipe REBEL

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest. I've pinned all the recipes on my Pinterest board. I've also linked to all the recipe owners above, so please be sure to check them out. Cooking should be fun, and the more you put your own twist on things the more comfortable you'll become in the kitchen.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. This year has taught me a lot about patience and what's truly important. I'm grateful for my friends, family, and yoga. Every day I'm focusing on being the best version of myself, so I can give back to all the people who mean so much to me. This Thanksgiving - instead of turning your thoughts to gaining abundance - focus on what is right in front of you. The gifts of the present. 

XO,

Kimberly

THE BEST BEAUTY BAR IN AUSTIN

A couple weeks ago, I was invited to attend an event at Parlor Beauty Bar. Lots of sweet ladies in the blogosphere got together to check out the styling salon - located on Austin’s east side.

Their mission is to build a fun environment to gather with friends, shut off the outside world, and have your beauty needs serviced under one roof. My experience was just that.

I was met with a pink carpet as I walked up to the door situated just off East 6th and Comal.

Every square inch of this beauty bar is Instagram worthy. Charlotte, the owner, traded my bag for a glass of champagne and gave me the cutest kimono to wear while my services were performed.

Isn’t getting your hair shampooed the most relaxing feeling in the world? I wish I always had someone to shampoo my hair. And, well, now I kinda do. Meet Kelsey! She’s a shampoo and blowout queen. We  bonded over the fact I have a Weimaraner and she always had the same breed of dog growing up as a kid.

After we decided on “Victoria Secret” hair, she shampooed my hair and brought me back to the cutest chair. She Went. To. Work. Blowdrying. Applying products. Round brushing. Curling. Pretty sure she infused some magic into my hair too because when I stood up the volume was REAL. I felt like my hair was going to float away. It was so light and bouncy. Charlotte even gave me some great tips on how to get my blowout to last as long as possible. What's the secret? Dry shampoo, of course. Dry shampoo solves all life's problems. 

I got a chance to mingle with some others girls, and honestly, it was great to step outside my comfort zone. I've been in Austin for two and a half years and it's good to meet new people. But, sometimes it can be tough. Parlor Beauty Bar is a great place to meet up with the girls before you hit the town, or maybe before you head out to meet a date. There's lots going on in East Austin. Plenty of bars and restaurants line the streets near Parlor Beauty Bar. I think it would be so much fun to book a girl's night out here to get pampered before heading downtown.

Parlor Beauty Bar not only offers blowouts but lots of other services including:

Brows/Microblading
Lashes
Makeup
Skin Care
Nails
Spray Tanning
Waxing

The next Parlor Beauty I met was Brittany. Her makeup kit was enviable. She knows how to work a makeup brush. I am a makeup junkie, and I am a firm believer that makeup should be fun. So, when Brittany consulted me on what I wanted, I said I was open to anything, and I meant it. Brittany suggested glitter liner, and I was GAME.  After all, I had a B-I-G night planned...movies on the couch with my dog since my boyfriend, Kyle, was in NYC for business.

Y'all. I felt like it was a crime to go home to sit on my couch that night. My confidence was through the roof. The ladies made us all feel so welcome, and it was such a great experience. I'll let you in on a little secret. I've never been to a salon that strictly focuses on styling and general beauty prior to this, but now I'm hooked. We live in a fast world, and I think the importance of pausing to do little things for yourself is extremely crucial to staying balanced.

I really appreciate Charlotte and the staff opening the doors to us that night. They were wonderfully gracious hosts. I'll be back soon.  A final thank you to the sweetest Alicia at Love-Li for organizing this meetup with all the Austin Blogger Babes! 

XO,

Kimberly