{Get Thrifty} Thursday 12.4.14

 I was on a thrifting frenzy last week, trying to gather enough plate chargers for Thanksgiving. Miss High School also needed to look for vases for a school project so we did one more trip and lucked out. 

Not only did I find three more chargers, she found a vase and I got a few more candle holders plus a "Let It Snow" ornament.   Pretty sweet score!  The red charger didn't go with my Thanksgiving table but I got it just in case I needed it and I could spray paint it gold if necessary. I like the beaded detail on it and wanted to use it for Christmas if I didn't paint it.   I didn't need to..yay!

I posted my Christmas mantel change up yesterday and here's a close up of the "Let It Snow" ornament.   I love how it sparkles in the candlelight!

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Mantel Change Up

What a difference a day makes...

The day after Thanksgiving all most of this came down to make room for..

 this! 

The mantel was the first thing I decorated for Christmas.

I've even found a place for that cute deer plaque I thrifted a few weeks ago. I'm leaving him natural for now because I think he goes perfectly with my rustic-picnic vibe that I've got happening on the hearth.

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Scenes From Thanksgiving 2014

Some scenes from our Thanksgiving...

I was happy with how the tables turned out.  I set them on Sunday before Thanksgiving and added some yellow roses in Mason jars. I originally wanted white flowers but the yellow gave the tables some color(and that's what Costco had!).

I pulled out all of my crystal salt and pepper shakers so that each table could have their own. Who knew I had four of them?

We were thinking of doing place cards so I mocked one up by punching a tag out of card stock and adding a sticker. I used my label maker for the name and tied the tag to a pine cone.  

This is how the basement looked, you can see we still have plenty of room for tv watching on the sectional.  We had a table set up at the foot of the stairs with the salad and gravy and another table with a basket of rolls on it. 

I made Oh She Glows Glazed Lentil Walnut Apple Loaf.

I doubled the recipe and froze one to have later. 

Right before the bulk of the guests arrived we got a few photos (as you can see the Eagles-Cowboys game was on).  Of course we were missing one VIP but we'll be seeing her in less than 3 weeks!

Some of the appetizer spread: pumpkin bread, a pepperoni and cheese tray, cream cheese and pepper jelly, rosemary spiced almonds, wings and spinach dip (the broccoli and sausage wontons hadn't arrived yet).

The dining room was set up buffet style. We had mashed potatoes, two kinds of stuffing, corn in a crock pot(easy!), broccoli rabe with mushrooms, green beans with caramelized onions, lentil loaf, Chinese noodles with pork and noodles with tofu, mac & cheese and of course, turkey! (Like I said, the salad, gravy and bread were in the basement so you could grab them on your way to the table).  Everyone contributed a few things to the meal which was great!

Here's my plate of vegetarian deliciousness!

It was so nice that we were all able to sit together. It was a little tight but we're usually jammed together at a holiday meal anyway. After dinner, we gave everyone foil containers so that they could all have some leftovers to take home with them (the best part!).

For dessert I was planning on using the buffet in the dining room but we had too many desserts so we quickly moved them over to the table. We had gluten free Shirley Temple cupcakes, cannoli dip, chocolate Kahlua cake, pumpkin pie, apple pie (still warming in the oven), fruit and pumpkin cheesecake.  Who had room for dessert though? #wedid

Miracle of miracles, we even got a photo of us all together (thanks to my tripod and camera remote)..all 32 of us! 

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful too!

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{Recipe} No-Chicken & Dumplings

Happy Cyber Monday! Are you taking advantage of the deals out there? I plan to check them out later, but right now I've got a recipe for you.

Miss High School found this recipe and has made it a few times.  I wasn't sure I'd like dumplings but they are delicious.

 We have made it with faux chicken and also just left it out all together. It's good either way and if you want to use up your leftover turkey that would be good in this as well.

Ingredients for soup:

 2 Gardein Chk'n breasts (optional), diced

1 onion, diced

2 -3 celery stalks, diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 cup of carrots, chopped

4 TBS Earth Balance vegan butter (or use regular butter if not making this vegan)

1/2 cup flour

6 cups of vegetable stock (I like Better Than Bouillon No Chicken base) 

1 bay leaf

Spices: 1 1/2 tsp tarragon,  1 tsp salt,  1/2 tsp pepper,  3 TBS cilantro,  1/2 tsp thyme to taste.

 Melt the butter, add onion and saute a few minute, add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add flour and heat, stirring until paste forms. Add stock and rest of the ingredients. Simmer and cook covered for about 30 minutes until vegetables are tender.

 Dumplings:

2 cups unbleached flour (I used half whole wheat)

1 tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup of vegan buttermilk (add 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar to non dairy milk)

3 TBS shortening or vegan butter (coconut oil would be good here too!)

Combine dry ingredients, cut in shortening then add the buttermilk, stir to combine until dough forms a ball.

Knead dough on a floured surface until it is no longer sticky. 

 Drop spoonfuls of dough into simmering soup. Cover and cook for another 15-25 minutes.

 The dumplings expand as they cook.  I like them a little over cooked so we cook them even longer.

Spoon some out into a bowl and enjoy!

Total comfort food.

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