2325 Alameda Diablo, Diablo
PENDING SALE
6 beds | 6.5 baths | 6,461 sq.ft. | 1.93 acre lot
238 Cameo Dr Danville
5 beds | 3 baths | 2,986 sq.ft. | 0.26 acre lot
SOLD $1,420,000 | LISTED $1,399,000
20 Lodgehill Court, Danville
5 beds | 3 baths | 2,986 sq.ft. | 0.26 acre lot
231 Belden Dr, San Jose
3 beds | 2 baths | 1,237 sq.ft. | 4,891 sq.ft. lot
Thanksgiving Menu Ideas
Thanksgiving is an annual national holiday commemorating a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621. This day, which is used to express gratitude, is observed in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. One of the greatest traditions of Thanksgiving is that of a family dinner, which means menu planning is a must. Here are some Thanksgiving menu ideas that will fill your table and the appetite of your guests: Main Course The traditional main entrée for Thanksgiving is, of course, turkey. If this isn’t quite your taste, you may want to consider serving ham instead. This is a popular alternative and is a pleasing main course for your dinner guests. Side Dishes When it comes to serving a meal, the side dishes are almost as important as the entree. Popular Thanksgiving side dishes include mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, dressing, green beans, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, rolls and cranberries served with cranberry sauce. If you have a large family, it may be a good idea to prepare several side dishes so that everyone will be able to find something that they like. Dessert What meal would be complete without the perfect dessert? Whether it’s a pumpkin pie, chocolate pie or other favorite flavor, this traditional treat is common at the conclusion of a Thanksgiving dinner. If you are planning for a large gathering, consider serving several different pies in an effort to accommodate a variety of taste buds. The Benefits Of A Homemade Meal Believe it or not, some may choose to dine at a restaurant on Thanksgiving instead of preparing a homemade meal. Although dining out may be easier, it cannot replace the taste and camaraderie of a family dinner at home. Many may shy away from preparing a large Thanksgiving meal because it seems intimidating to cook for so many people. However, with the right recipe, cookware and a little knowhow, your next holiday meal can be a breeze. Rounding Up The Perfect Recipes If you know what to cook, but still need a little help with the details, consider looking for the perfect recipes to turn your meal into a masterpiece. While many recipes are available online, many turn to cookbooks and/or women’s specialty magazines for popular recipe and preparation ideas. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, there is no shortage of publications containing ideas for creating the perfect meal. Now that you have the perfect menu idea, it’s time to start putting your plan into motion. By planning ahead, your Thanksgiving meal can be stress free and enjoyable for you as well as for everyone who joins you. And don’t lose sight of the reason for your efforts – a time for family and friends to celebrate and give thanks.
Decorating For Thanksgiving Using The Bounty Of The Season
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season, a time spent with family and friends. It is also the time of year when we can spend a lot of money, and in these tough times finding ways to save during the holidays is always welcome. Using the natural bounty available at this time of year is a great, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly option for decorating for the holidays. Here are a few creative ideas for your Thanksgiving decorating! Harvest Vegetables The vegetables that are available during the harvest season are not only great to eat, but are also a beautiful and inexpensive way to decorate your home and table. Arrange some pumpkins or large squash on your front steps or by the door. Also use smaller squash as part of a table centerpiece or as candleholders. Corn is another great vegetable that can be used as a decoration during Thanksgiving. A bunch of corn hung on the door or arranged in a vase can create a stunning look at virtually no cost. Colorful Leaves The colors of the autumn season are some of the most beautiful of the year, and collecting leaves to use both in crafts and as part of seasonal decorations is a great and inexpensive idea. Leaves can be a beautiful addition to flower arrangements or can make great arrangements all on their own. They can also be used for festive wreaths for the front door or to make Thanksgiving themed garlands. Nuts, Berries, And Branches As the autumn season turns to winter, natural decorative items such as nuts, berries, and pine branches can be great choices not only for the Thanksgiving season but can easily transition into the Christmas season. Adding some walnuts to your Thanksgiving table or some berries to a wreath can add a nice touch that will last you through the season. Getting creative with the natural bounty at this time of year is a great way to give your home a beautiful and traditional holiday look without breaking the bank.
Tips For The Perfect Turkey
Whether it is Thanksgiving or Christmas, a small family gathering or a huge party, cooking the perfect turkey for the holidays is every chef’s goal. Here are a few foolproof tips to cooking the perfect turkey! Get The Right Equipment The first step to the perfect bird is having all the right tools. You will need: Heavy duty roasting pan Rack to keep turkey from resting on the bottom of the pan Foil to cover turkey Basting brush to brush turkey with melted butter Baster for basting with pan juices Fine sieve for straining the pan juices for gravy Wire whisk for making lump-free gravy Good quality carving set Meat thermometer Follow These Simple Instructions: A small, fresh turkey that weighs less than 14 pounds will usually be a more delicious bird. Large turkeys take longer to cook, which makes the outer meat overcook more easily. If you’re feeding a large group, buy two small turkeys rather than one big one. Brine the turkey. Salt draws out the blood, which cleanses the bird and breaks down the meat. This step is especially important if you purchase a frozen turkey, as it greatly improves the flavor. Cook the stuffing in the oven, not inside the turkey. A stuffed bird takes longer to cook and dries out the meat. When carving the turkey, remove the wings and legs first. Remove each breast half from the bone in one piece, and thinly slice each half crosswise. Cut each leg at the joint, and then carve the meat from the thigh and drumstick. These simple tips can help you make the star of your holiday meal-the turkey-taste fantastic, and will have your friends and family talking about it for the rest of the year!
Create Kid-Safe Jack-O’-Lanterns
Create Kid-Safe Jack-O’-Lanterns Halloween is a great time of year to let the creativity go wild, and when decorating for this fun and family-oriented holiday, it really wouldn’t be complete without a jack-o’-lantern or two! While carving pumpkins is the traditional way to create a jack-o’-lantern, if you have young children or kids who want to create jack-o’-lanterns without adult supervision, then it can be a dangerous and risky craft idea. You would be surprised at the number of kids, and even parents, who end up in emergency rooms each year from pumpkin carving related accidents. So to prevent this from happening to your family, here are some safe carving tips and alternatives to keep little fingers safe! Alternatives To Carving While carving a jack-o’-lantern is the traditional way, more and more people are choosing to paint their pumpkins as a safe and kid-friendly alternative to pumpkin carving. The easiest method is to use stencils similar to ones that you would use in carving, and simply paint the image in black paint rather than cutting it out. This can include things like simple faces, or more complicated images such as a silhouette of a witch flying on a broom or even a skeleton. You can also get really creative with this idea and use other colors! Try painting an entire pumpkin silver or gold, or even just let the kids go crazy and create a one-of-a-kind pumpkin masterpiece. For The Jack-O’-Lantern Purist If the idea of painting your jack-o’-lantern doesn’t appeal to you, and you want the effect of the glowing light shining through on Halloween night, there are a few steps you can take to prevent injury. Be sure that you always have an adult supervising any children who will be carving, and purchase a special carving knife that is safe for children to use. Also, you may want to do the actual carving yourself, and just have the kids draw on the stencil and scoop out the pumpkin. Also, if you are going to light your jack-o’-lantern, be sure you use a flashlight, or even better a battery operated tea light, rather than a candle. It will prevent accidents, and you won’t have to re-light it throughout the night. Halloween really is a great time for the family to get creative together, and keeping everyone safe while having fun will make the season most enjoyable for everyone!
Create A Spooky Yard For Halloween
Halloween can be one of the most child-like and fun holidays of the year. From the adorable and excited children in their costumes to costume parties for adults, Halloween is really a time to let out the kid in all of us and have a good time. Whether just entertaining the Trick-or-Treaters or having a party, creating a spooky looking yard and exterior for your home can really add to the atmosphere of the event. Here are a few great ideas to make your home and yard look “spooktacular”! Pumpkins And Jack-O’-Lanterns Autumn is a great time of year to find lots of decorations that come from nature. Naturally when we think of Halloween we think of Jack-o’-Lanterns, and having plenty of these on your front step and in your yard will give it a great eerie effect. Also, rather than just cutting out the traditional faces try tracing out other images such as witches and cats. Painting pumpkins is also a great idea, and be sure to include many of different sizes. Remember to use battery operated tea lights or flashlights rather than candles in order to prevent accidents. Scary Signs And Window Decorations Creating scary signs or gravestones is a really inexpensive and creative way to make your front yard look scary. Use old pieces of wood to create signs that welcome your guests to your house of horrors or to design old-looking grave markers. Also don’t forget to decorate your front windows to match the look. Hang dark colored drapes, suspend fake cobwebs, and add a few fake spiders to complete the look. Lights can also add a nice spooky effect, but avoid candles for safety reasons. Don’t Forget Your Trees! A great place to add scary Halloween décor to your front yard is in your trees. Hang fake bats or a ghost, string some lights, or set a witch on one of the branches. These are just a few of the fun, scary, and inexpensive ways in which you can make your property the spookiest on the block. But most importantly, don’t forget to get yourself into the spirit of the day and find a great costume that matches your newly created house of horrors!
316 Red Maple Dr, Danville
3 beds | 2.5 baths | 2,567 sq.ft. | 0.26 acre lot
Listed $1,995,000 | Sold $2,000,000