Hello and welcome to my Five Faves which include our non-traditional but exceptional Thanksgiving menu, a great party and drool-worthy recipe book (with more menus), a source for things to do in San Francisco, and my go-to casual outfit for walking around town.
The table is already set for our small family Thanksgiving dinner and I am looking forward to eating, playing games, and getting the dogs out for some hilly San Francisco walks! This is a great holiday with none of the stress of gift-giving! Just being grateful.
Remember to check out Cindy’s and Annie’s Five Faves at the end of the post!
1. Our Non-traditional But Exceptional Thanksgiving Menu (Which May Surprise You)
Last year, when we were separated from loved ones by the pandemic (and it was just our immediate group of five) someone said “I think turkey is over-rated.” Which lead to my husband, Howard creating a version of this menu that got high-fives all around.
- I wrote about Autumn Arugula Salad with Apple and Crispy Proscuitto. And it’s been requested again.
- Howard makes a great beef tenderloin. He’s not sure which sauce he will make yet for it (I couldn’t pin him down).
- Our son-in-law, Luca makes his mom’s mashed potatoes with mozarella and peas. It’s amazing!
- My sister, Teresa finds the best desserts! She ordered ours (they are frozen until ready to bake) from Chesapeake Bay. I cannot wait to bake them!
2. Spending More Time In the Dining Room?
You may find this post helpful: “How to make your dining room less boring!” in case you missed it!
3. San Francisco Visitor’s Digital Magazine
With the gang all here for Thanksgiving, we have been checking out this free SF Travel Guide for ideas of things to do. Pin it for your next trip here (even if you are local).
4. Julia Reed’s Book “New Orleans- Food, Fun and Field Trips For Letting The Good Times Roll”
My friend, Juliet gave me Julia Reed’s “New Orleans” book and I love it. Julia Reed was a contributing editor for the magazine “Garden and Gun” and our whole Florida group of friends was saddened by her recent death at age 59.
But Julia’s zest for life really comes through in this fun book. There are party ideas, menus, and recipes (Creole, Italian, French, Irish, etc). It will make you want to hop on a flight to New Orleans. Or have a party at home!
5. Casual Outfit Of The Week
This is the fourth time I’ve asked my hairstylist to snap a photo of me before I leave…so this is a series 🙂
Usually, I walk several blocks to her shop so I am in something “city casual.” Some people have asked me to state the sizes I wear (for the record, I’m 5’1″ and around 120 to 126 depending on how motivated I am).
Madewell is having a 30% off sale right now…so some of these things like the boots and bag are a deal.
Note: These make great gifts! Dior hydrating lipstick • soft leather moto jacket by Madewell (this is a size small but I had the sleeves shortened–not cheap, but you could just push them up if you are short like me) • black turtle neck in small (similar) • Apple watch band (real leather and inexpensive) • Banana Republic Sloan pant in check (size 8 petite), These wash nicely in the washing machine • My fave Madewell lug booties that I got for my birthday (normally I wear a 7 but these fit better in a 6.5) • Madewell crossbody bag that fits a laptop.
If you are new here, each Sunday I share my top five favorite things along with my friends, Cindy and Annie. It’s like our weekly “catch-up” phone call. If you would like to receive this series every week, please sign up HERE.
Let’s see what Annie and Cindy’s Five Faves are this week:
Hi Mary Ann,
We started mixing things up with the Thanksgiving menu when both of our sons developed a passion for cooking. I love trying new things and have never needed all that goes with the traditional Thanksgiving menu.
I loved some of the gift suggestions and still have a few gifts to buy.
I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.
xo,
Karen
Cheers to making T-Day your own. It’s always been my favorite holiday and meal. We gave up turkey long ago. We prefer capon or chicken. But it’s always the sides I enjoy the most. Much happiness and joy to those at your table and enough booze for the youngsters so you can beat them in scrabble.
Ha! That’s a good tactic!
Mary Ann! I am so jealous that you don’t have to cook a turkey! I would much prefer Howard’s Beed tenderloin with or without sauce! I adore your “Mary Ann at the Salon” series! Keep it up gorgeous! xxoo
I adore YOU, Annie, as you know 🙂
Oh Mary Ann, your menu truly sounds exceptional for I, too, find turkey a bit over-rated. I think I’d like to steal your menu for our Christmas dinner this year. And how I’d love to sit at your beautiful table! I’m so thankful for all the blessings in my life and for the joy and inspiration your blog has brought to me.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Happy Thanksgiving, Gail!!! Chief and I are blessed to have you in our lives!!!
Hello Mary Ann, as you would already know here in Australia we don’t do Thanksgiving but I do like the idea of it. As I have gotten older I enjoy Easter far more than Christmas. Why? There are no pressures or expectations, no gift purchasing (apart from a few chocolate goodies) and for us the weather is cooler. I think your menu is great and very ‘Australian’. Have the most wonderful day with your family.
I’m with you about turkey, I like it in a sandwich but I’m not crazy about it for dinner. In years past we would do unconventional food: ribs, pork roast with potato dumplings. THen I felt my in-laws were disappointed so I went back to a regular Thanksgiving menu. Oh well.
You always look so good when you go to the salons! Love the boots, I recently got a new pair myself. Now if only the weather would cooperate. It’s in the mid-70;s here today, not boot weather!
Great post Mary Ann,
Happy Thanksgiving!
X Heidi
I love a good turkey sandwich too, Heidi!!
JUlia Reed was always one person I wished I had been in a position to know. Write about her sometime and share your impressions.Howard’s menu sounds great. Our oldest granddaughter is having everyone for Thanksgiving. Her father is worried because he thinks she can;t cook,so everyone is binging something to endure it is a decent meal!The Mashed potatoes and peas looks yummy. Will try it next time! Happy turkey day!
I laughed out loud when I read the part about your granddaughter’s cooking…Howard asked me what was so funny!
Love that lug boot on you ! Pushing me to buy into that trend ❤️
They would be so cute on you, Liz!
Your Thanksgiving menu looks delicious. Enjoy!
Thanks, Dawn!!
I agree! Turkey is over rated. We changed up our menu years ago. It gets boring eating the same food every year. Some years we have salmon, some roast….
I’m going back to check out your salad recipe and potatoes.
Love the salmon idea, Joanna!!
Hi Mary Ann,
The menu looks amazing, you both have spent so much in the preparation. You even printed out a menu, you don’t miss a beat do you?
Enjoy all the comforts of home and your family.
We are leaving on Monday driving to LA (Beverly Hills) to be with family. My niece Jennifer (really more like my daughter) is an incredible cook. We will be eating a Kosher Turkey. They are the best, so tender. I agree you do not have to have Turkey for Thanksgiving. We usually eat Tofurky, because we eat mostly plant based.
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for the little joys that surrounds us daily.
I’m grateful for your blog.
Hey! I think I will print out the menu and put it on the refrigerator! I am grateful for YOU, Katherine!
Love your blog so much !, I also make a tenderloin for Thanksgiving – no one enjoys turkey in our small group. Will Howard tell us how he roasts it? Every year I go back and forth between the high temp / short time or lower temp/ longer cooking time… which way does Howard do it ?? Tx so much and have a wonderful Thanksgiving
Your Thanksgiving dinner menu would make a great dinner party any time! I also love Julia Reed — she is on Phil Rosenthal’s NOLA episode of Feeding Phil (I hope you watch that series — we just love it! Totally built around people wh love travel, food and friends!)
Happy Thanksgiving!
We need to start watching Somebody Feed Phil again! I think we missed that episode.
Great pre-Thanksgiving post.
We are traditionalists though I use the turkey as a means to get to all the sides! Luca’s potato recipe sounds heavenly and I will try it for our Christmas dinner.
Thanks for the reminder of Julia Reed. Loved that woman whose voice was deep with bourbon tones. Such a funny woman with a zest for life. She certainly entertained Anthony Bourdain on one of his shows. To think of it, I miss them both…
Wishing you and your family the happiest Thanksgiving!
I know…we miss them both too. Happy Thanksgiving, Holly.