Favorite Things

Happy Friday my friends! I’m elated because today feels like it is the beginning of a vacation. After this weekend, we basically have two normal days of work and school and then we’ll be back into vacation mode. The kids have early dismissal on Wednesday, and then they’re all mine for the next five days!

This weekend I’ll be busy working on a Friendsgiving Celebration in collaboration with Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market. With the exception of a few items, I stopped cooking Thanksgiving Dinner years ago. It was way too much preparation and not enough relaxation. Balducci’s has a gourmet Thanksgiving Menu, click HERE, and their food is always delicious. You can order a custom dinner by selecting the main entrée and build from there. Or, you can pick and choose any combination of food. I went into the Westport, Connecticut location this morning to meet with the on-site chef to review the menu, get his suggestions and place the order. They are going to cater 80% of the meal and I am going to make crab cakes, salad, and brussels sprouts.

For dessert, I made leaf and pumpkin shaped sugar cookies. And, with the help of a friend and artist, Susan Allabashi, we decorated them. I’ve included a photo below and will share more on Monday. Of course I’ll also include a couple of pies (pumpkin and apple) to round out the dessert. I’m so excited about the menu and can’t wait to share the photos of the tablescape I have planned. Come back on Monday for the Friendsgiving reveal and the gift guides I have put together in preparation for Black Friday.

Until then, have a wonderful weekend xo