One of my favorite dishes at Thanksgiving is cranberry sauce. The canned kind is good (I love how it comes out as one giant cylinder on the plate!) but homemade is even better. Here is my favorite cranberry sauce recipe, courtesy of Food & Wine magazine. It is easy and delicious.

Jellied Cranberry Sauce with Fuji Apple

One 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
1 large Fuji apple, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water

Today is the first day of Autumn. While I am sad the summer flew by, I am so excited for Fall. The leaves turn, the weather gets crisp, and it is a sign the holiday season is not far behind. I also love Fall because it is a fun time to entertain. Here are some reasons to celebrate this season:

• Football is here! Whether it’s your alma mater playing in a college conference or your favorite NFL team is on Monday Night Football, it’s great to get friends together to watch teams battle it out on the gridiron. Football parties do not need to be fancy — casual is better — which it all the more easy to pull something together.
• Fall picnics. Pack a picnic basket and cooler with your favorite snacks and drive to the country for an afternoon. Many wineries allow the public to picnic on their property which can be a beautiful backdrop as you snack and sip.
• Thanksgiving. Turkey. Pumpkin pie. Hot apple cider. Can it get better than that? It’s fun to set a formal table, break out the china, and put together a special feast. We’ll talk more about that as November approaches.

There is so much to celebrate this Fall, so don’t let the season fly by without stopping to spend quality time with friends and family!

1) Create a menu plan.

The menu plan template I created includes the item (recipe/dish), ingredients, where I will buy each ingredient, when to prepare it, what serving vessel I will serve it in, and any additional notes I might have. I print the plan out and use it as my shopping list as well as a guide on Thanksgiving day. Each year I save the document and my chicken-scratch notes to remind myself of what I served that year, which recipes worked, and other lessons learned. The document doesn’t need to be complicated or pretty, it just needs to work for you.

2) Label your serveware.

I generally set out my serveware a day or two before the meal to make sure I have all of the right vessels and to determined how they will work with my tablescape. Once I’ve pulled out all of the vessels, I use post-it notes to label what item will go in what vessel. This not only helps me stay organized, but it is also helpful if you have family who are helping you set out the items — they’ll know where everything goes.

3) Keep recipes and notes in a clear folder.

Once I have determined my Thanksgiving menu, I put all of the recipes in a clear folder along with my menu plan. I take it with me when I go shopping. Before I leave the store I not only check my menu plan/shopping list but I also scan the ingredients on the recipes themselves to make sure I have not forgotten anything. (I hate having to make two trips to the store!)

The clear folder is also helpful because it keeps the recipes clean and visible  when cooking. If something spills on the folder, wipe it off and keep on going! No crinkled or smudged paper to deal with next year when you are pulling out your recipes.

I prefer the reusable tabbed clear folders like these. I write the event in pencil and then erase and reuse for my next event.

Custom crossword puzzle; via Martha Stewart

A custom crossword puzzle would be a perfect way to create discussion at a bridal luncheon, or wedding or baby shower. Try Variety Games or Puzzle Maker for customizable templates.

"Fun Facts" card; via Style Me Pretty; photo by Olive Juice

Even listing some fun facts about the bride and groom or guests of honor at a party can be a great way to start chatter around the table. This card is adorable!

Question-prompting guest book; via Martha Stewart

Create your own thought-provoking guest book that guests can sign and pass around the table.

DIY fortune cookies; via Once Wed

I love these DIY fortune cookies found on Once Wed. Create a series of “fortunes” or best wishes and insert them into the folded fortune-cookie-look-a-like and encourage guests to share their wishes around the table.

Paper Leaves of Thanks; via Martha Stewart

With Thanksgiving coming up it’s a perfect opportunity to create some interactivity around the table through having guests share what they are thankful for. Even just writing little thoughts on these simple but pretty paper leaves could be fun.

What’s your fun idea for making your special occasion dinner table interactive?

Stores are carrying double placemats more and more these days, but if you don’t see them in stock, you can always take a regular runner and turn it crosswise on the table.

I made double placemats for my Thanksgiving table last week. So easy! Standard runners are 16″ wide, but I made mine 18″ to make sure they covered the width of the charger.

Easy DIY double placemats for my Thanksgiving table

These neutral double placemats from CB2 are fabulous and would work with almost any decor.

duo linen placemat for two, from CB2

A votive wrapped with vibrant fall leaves and tied with twine can make a nice addition to a buffet or dining table this Thanksgiving.

lovely leaf votives, from Better Homes & Gardens

1.) Plan the menu.

Do you want to stick with the tried-and-true favorites this year or be adventurous and try something new? Or maybe a little of both? Check out some of these great online resources to help you narrow in on a five-star Thanksgiving menu:

Finecooking.com has a fantastic menu, complete with shopping list, created by seven top chefs featuring new spins on traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

A step-by-step guide and menu for cooking for a crowd is featured on Epicurious, complete with wine pairing tips.

Speaking of wine, check out Food & Wine’s list of top 10 great Thanksgiving wines.

Cranberries are a must-have when it comes to a great Thanksgiving menu. I love these ideas from Let’s Entertain on how to incorporate cranberries from beverages to dessert.

2.) Make sure you have the right equipment.

Williams-Sonoma has a wonderful checklist of essential Thanksgiving kitchen accoutrements. Scan the list to be sure you have all the tools you need to cook the bird, make the gravy, mash the potatoes, serve the pie…

3.) Check the weather.

Will it be sunny and beautiful, allowing guests to enjoy a drink on the patio? Or cold and rainy in which case you’ll need to practice some rainy day hospitality?

4.) School yourself.

What’s the best technique for making great pie crust? For carving a turkey? No need to fake it. There are great resources online like  Saveur’s step-by-step instruction photo guide for carving a turkey or Martha Stewart’s Pie Crust 101.

5.) Set it up.

Doing a buffet? Check out this short, helpful Epicurious video with Clinton Kelly on tips for setting up a great buffet.

Need centerpiece ideas? This previous post offers some simple, stylish, organic-inspired ideas. Country Living also offers easy-to-execute ideas for dressing up your holiday table.

6.) Prepare for leftovers.

Plan ahead for how you will use all of that yummy leftover turkey. Epicurious has dozens of ideas to help you out.

Want to send home some leftovers with guests? Why not dress up the take home containers?

7.) Give thanks!

Above all, remember to pause and reflect on the many things in your life that you are thankful for.  Invite your guests to do the same. For while food and drink and beautiful table settings are all important parts of the day, gratitude is the guest of honor.