Get Ready for Thanksgiving!

To watch Part 1 of the Thanksgiving Live, click here. There were a lot of promises made during this live – you’ll find recipes and links below. We really enjoy spending time with you live! Join us on Nov 9th for Part 2. 

Appetizers

Candied Pecans 

Put a cup of pecans into a small pan on the stovetop, stirring occasionally so they don’t burn. Cook over medium-low heat with a tablespoon of pure maple syrup and a sprig of fresh rosemary. Cook until warm and fragrant, then finish with a sprinkle of salt.

Serve on a decorative plate and garnish with rosemary.

Baked Brie

• Roll out a sheet of puff pastry, sprinkling with a bit of flour so the pastry won’t stick to the rolling pin.
• Spread your jam of choice onto the middle of the pastry in a vertical stripe. Be careful not to use too much; you don’t want to overwhelm the brie! Cranberry and fig are both great flavors for fall.
• Cut brie into slices; remove the rind if you don’t like to eat it. Layer brie slices in a vertical stripe on top of the jam.
• On either side of the brie, cut the sides of the puff pastry into strips, cutting perpendicular to the edge of the pastry.
• “Braid” the pastry by folding strips in over the middle, alternating sides.
• When you reach the bottom, use your fingers or a fork to seal off both ends.
• *If you’re making this appetizer ahead of time, freeze at this point. Just make sure to wrap tightly in plastic wrap or put it in a Ziploc bag to keep the air out.
• Whisk an egg, then brush the pastry with an egg wash.
• Bake at 400℉ for 15-20 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. As an option, you can use my favorite quarter sheets that are great for RV kitchens too. 

Let rest for a few minutes before serving warm. Cut into slices and serve on small plates.

Autumn Cocktail

Canadian Gold Rush (Winning Name)

2 oz bourbon

1 oz lemon juice

½ oz pure maple syrup

Stir with ice. Pour over a decorative large ice cube and serve in a lowball glass.

To make an eye-catching cube, freeze cranberries and rosemary, orange peels, or other decorative garnishes into large ice cubes.* 

*Pro tip from the KYD Community: Use hot water so the cubes freeze clear.

Thanksgiving shopping list

All of the items on our Thanksgiving list are things that we personally use and enjoy. Some will help you cook a great meal, others make perfect holiday gifts, and still others will turn your table or campsite into an idyllic holiday scene. 

We’ve also got fun toys and games to help bring the family together—because, in the end, it’s not what you have that matters. It’s the people you share your most memorable moments with!

In the Kitchen

• Marble rolling pin: Link This rolling pin is heavy, so it’s not practical for an RV kitchen. But it’s perfect for a house, and the stripes make it both decorative and functional. I love this rolling pin because the weight of the marble does all the work for you.
• Silicone brushes/mops: Link These are lightweight and can go right in the dishwasher when it’s time to clean them.
• Quarter sheet pans: Link We originally bought these because they’re the perfect size for a tiny RV oven, but we loved them so much that now we use them everywhere! They’re just the right size to fit on your grill, they help with baking lots of separate items in a single oven at Thanksgiving, and we even use them as little TV trays when we’re camping. 
• Quarter sheet baking mats: Link These silicone baking mats go perfectly with the quarter sheet pans, so there’s no messing around with foil or cooking spray. They’re easy to clean, and you can pick them up by the edges to move items around the kitchen quickly and easily.
• Kitchen timer: Link I’m famous for burning bread and pastry in the oven, and it’s easy for anyone to get sidetracked when guests are over and making sparkling conversation. This kitchen timer helps me enjoy holiday company and get food out of the oven before it burns to a crisp. 
• Large ice cube tray: Link We freeze ice in these large cubes for classic cocktails.
• Glassique Cadeau lowball glasses: Link I love this art deco glassware. You can buy a set of four for a very reasonable price; they look great on your table; and because they come in a nice box, they make a great gift.
• Vinglacé stainless steel stemless wine glass: Link This is all we use in the Airstream. If you don’t like the tang of stainless steel in your wine, these are for you! They’re stainless steel on the outside for protection and insulation, and glass on the inside to preserve the flavor of your drink. The glass lifts out for easy cleaning.  

Party Time

• Hygge game: Link Fun conversation-starting questions the whole family can enjoy. We like that each card includes three questions, so you likely won’t need to “pass.”

• • Brightech string lights: Link We use these to create a nice ambiance at our campsite when we’re in the Airstream. They emit a nice warm light and can plug right into our battery bank with a USB plug. We love the easy-to-change bulbs and how easy these are to set up. They’re so lightweight, we just clip them to either end of our awning and we’re done!
  • Small LEGO kits: Link These are a nice touch at a place setting for kids, who can easily get bored at big family meals. Show the youngest members of your family that you’re thinking about them with this fun and affordable toy. 
• Jumbo playing cards: Link Another great way to get the whole family together! These are exactly what they sound like. And because they’re comically large, they’re also extra fun.

Table Toppers

Here are a few items I love for setting a beautiful, clean-looking table this holiday season: 

• Linen waterproof tablecloth: Link Our Mexican tablecloth comes with us when we camp, but this is our top pick for indoor use at home.
• Linen napkins: Link These are easy to fold and provide a fun activity for kids and guests while dinner cooks.
• Round table mats: Link Make your place settings extra beautiful with these woven mats.
• Vintage glasses: Link At $14 for four glasses, these are super affordable and look great on the table. Perfect for water, iced tea, or apple cider.
• Ceramic vase set: Link These vases look great in a set and can help create a floral centerpiece. Pick a bold statement color and buy flowers in that color, then arrange the flowers in these three vases by bloom size. These vases also make a great gift.
• Plastic collapsible vases: Link For the RV, you can’t go wrong with these plastic vases. They’re unbreakable, lightweight, and look great whenever you find yourself with fresh flowers to display.
• Fairy lights: Link I like running these down the middle of the table as an alternative to candles, especially if you have young kids visiting who will find it hard to resist the urge to blow candles out.
• Taper candle holders: Link These candle holders are perfect for the middle of your holiday table and can pair with any number of candles (my favorites are below).
• Totem candles: Link I love these so much I don’t want to burn them! They’re such a fun shape and pair perfectly with the candle holders above. 
• Tree-shaped candles: Link I’m jumping ahead a bit here, but these take some time to arrive, so order now if you want tree-shaped candles for Christmas!
• Illume candles: Link My last pick for candles. These are a beautiful color and make a wonderful gift for the hostess who has everything.

Dress to Impress

If you watched the livestream and wondered about my outfit, here’s what I was wearing and where I got it!

• Cropped flannel plaid jacket: Link I love this for fall. It’s a nice statement piece that won’t break the bank, and you’re almost guaranteed to get questions about where you picked it up. (It’s up to you whether you choose to reveal that you got it on Amazon!)
• Tank top: Link I have these in virtually every color. They’re inexpensive, so it’s no big deal if something spills on them, and they go nicely under a jacket like this. They’re also form-fitting but not tight—perfect for a big holiday meal!

Stay tuned for Part 2! Thursday, Nov 9th at 7 PM Central