Thanksgiving Tablescapes

Thanksgiving may not be a French holiday (in fact, it’s the furthest thing from being a European celebration at all!), but that doesn't mean you can’t add a French flair to the traditional American festivities. One way to do this would be to serve foods that hail from the country, but if your family is a stickler for the annual usuals  another way to embrace your love of Europe’s sexiest little county is to just simply decorate your table with France in mind! Whether you use feathers, vintage photos and frames, Fleur-de-Lis adorned pieces, pears or even burlap napkins, your table is sure to be a stunning success.

 

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I really got it lucky this year, as I don't have to lift a finger at all for Thanksgiving! My eldest daughter offered to host the feast at her apartment in Los Angeles, and she's quite the little chef, so I'm looking forward to what deliciousness she'll have to offer. Unfortunately, she lives in a studio apartment without a table and chairs, so we'll have to balance turkey, stuffing, potatoes and pie on our laps while perched on her couch. But considering she'll be doing all the planning, cooking and cleaning (and it's all taking place in the beautiful Southern California sunshine with plenty of champagne to go around), I don't think I'll be complaining!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. May your day be filled with love, laughter and lots of family and friends!
P.S. Don't forget to check out this weeks French Friday Sale at French Charmed!

 

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Out Of The Blue

Oysters don't generally scream "holiday time" in my house, but I know they're quite popular on the East coast when it comes to stuffings and side dishes for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. And believe it or not, oysters are a very traditional addition to holiday feasts in France! It's a little outside of the box for my family, but I think I'll give this herbed oyster stuffing recipe a whirl for myself this week and see if all the hype is worth it. I do love slurping cool, briny oysters from their shell, and I'm thinking the addition of crusty French bread, herbs and veggies can only heighten the appeal!

 

Photo credit: myrecipes.com

Language Lesson

Due to it being strictly an American and Canadian holiday celebrating the bountiful harvest of fall, Thanksgiving isn't celebrated in France (I'm crossing my fingers that this isn't shocking news to any of you!). However, just because it's not a typical French holiday doesn't mean we can't bring a little inspiration from the country into our family dinner, right? I tend to incorporate a little something special into my affair, whether it be a French martini in place of wine or a galette in place of a pie. But if you're set on following American traditions when it comes to your feast, how about calling each element by its French name? Here are a few words, just to get you started. Good luck!

turkey:   la dinde

gravy:   la sauce au jus de viande

mashed potatoes:   la purée

stuffing:   la farce

bread:   le pain

corn:   le maïs

sweet potato:   la patate douce

yam:   un igname

cranberry:   la canneberge

pumpkin pie:   la tarte à la citrouille

 

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Language credit: about.com