My sweets, how are you spending Thanksgiving this year? Last year we hosted my darling husband’s family at our place for the first time ever. And this year, we are excited to play hosts again – this time, hosting my parents for the first time! Since we are going to be a small – but merry – group of four, I’ve been asking each person, What are your Thanksgiving musts? What do you really love at Thanksgiving and would be crushed not to see on the table?

I’m all for Thanksgiving leftovers (it’s really the best part, isn’t it?), but with out-of-town visitors, I also know it’s fun to take them to eat at new places. So, we’re cutting out the superfluous and making our musts. So far, that’s been turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes (my Mom makes the BEST ones ever), stuffing (really dressing, but I will forever call it stuffing even though it’s not coming from inside the bird), and cranberry sauce. I’ll also be making some crispy Brussels sprouts and a simple green salad for added crunch.

I’ve never been a big pie person, so in lieu of that, we’ll be making chocolate mousse (my mother-in-law has the best recipe) and I want to try this pumpkin bread pudding just to try something new. And, in addition to Pizza Bianca, I might be making these sparkling cranberry brie bites as an appetizer to nibble on while we cook the day away.

But enough about me, I wanna know: What are your Thanksgiving musts?  What just isn’t Thanksgiving without it? Family fights and tears, not included.

[Table from The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate and Live Well via A Lovely Being; Gnome via Slim Paley; Pudding by Romulo Yanes; Brie bites by Yummy Mummy]