I've always loved this time of year and now that I live in New England it has taken on a whole new meaning. The backdrop for Fall coziness couldn't be better! It all started for me when Martha Stewart was on PBS (20 some years ago) preparing her Thanksgiving dinner at her Westport Connecticut home. Julia Child paved the way for all cooking shows and Martha took it to another level creating a lifestyle brand that revolved around food and kitchens. I was hooked. This was way before the thought of a Food Network was around to inspire us with chefs and their recipes on a daily basis. Martha lived in the most quintessential New England home appropriately named Turkey Hill Farm. Her Thanksgiving special was so inspiring and there has not been a Thanksgiving since I don't think about What Would Martha Do? WWMD! How would Martha decorate her table? Where would she order her turkey from? On Thanksgiving day, while I am roasting the turkey, I go over her roasting instructions at least 10 times, even though I have made the same meal for 20 plus years. She is my go to reference for Thanksgiving.
Martha in her original Turkey Hill kitchen
The perfect turkey and presentation
I love this simple and rustic Thanksgiving table setting
So Charming!
images from Martha Stewart Living
Another food icon for me is Ina Garten. As you know from a previous post, I was lucky enough to visit Ina at her home in East Hampton this Summer and enjoyed a lovely lunch while she shared some of her recipes from her new book "How Easy is That"? As I stood in her kitchen/dining area, I couldn't help think about how great it would be to be cooking my favorite holiday meal in her barn, and as I left that day I joked with her "OK SO WERE ON FOR THANKSGIVING RIGHT?" She giggled as she waived goodbye!!! I am hoping Ina comes out with a Holiday cookbook soon. It would be another food bible to add to my collection.
Ina and her beautiful barn
This barn was made for entertaining
images from Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa
Nothing makes me happier than going through my favorite cookbooks while hanging out in my living room with a cup of coffee on the weekend before Thanksgiving.
