Thanksgiving Menu

I've been so hard at work on the store that I have kind of put Thanksgiving off to the side. I still need to order a turkey, since I am going to have 18 people for dinner and 9 house guests for the weekend. I managed to write out my menu:






Appetizers:

Vegetarian Pate (Not a vegetarian, I just like how this tastes)
Local Dates wrapped in bacon and stuffed with goat cheese
Wasabi Deviled Eggs

Main Courses:

Ham (Bill insists on a ham)
30# Turkey (I am going to use a lemon-infused brine)

Sides:

Kale-Apple Salad
Chestnut Stuffing
Corn and Haricort Vert Casserole
Red Miso Glazed Carrots
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce
Mashed Potatoes

Desserts:

Maple Cake
Cherry Pie
Pumpkin Pie

Some of these selections are a little untraditional, but it is nice to mix it up every few years. I LOVE this stuffing recipe. I've been making it for about 15 years. It doesn't have the traditional thyme in it, instead it calls for Allspice and Cinnamon and boiled chestnuts. I make an extra pan because it goes so fast!

Most of my family is coming for the weekend, and our gatherings usually end up being centered on movies, some hikes, eating lots of leftovers, and playing games (our favorite is a homespun game called 'celebrity' which you only need pencils and paper for. It's a hoot!

Not sure about our centerpiece...but I'm thinking about it!

Posh Denver

Had a chance to take in some retail therapy in Denver this past weekend as well. My favorite by far was Posh, 1439 Larimer Street (their website was not up at the time that I wrote this, but the store clerk said it would be soon).

There were some very unexpected things in the store, which I think puts them in the category of "edgy." The 'wallpaper' artwork- very long and hung in short sheets by Deborah Bowness- fantastic for a space with very high ceilings. I also LOVED the regency armchairs behind the cash wrap that were executed in packing tape by creative director Luc Hughart.

Lots of eye candy that had me reaching for my wallet. I restrained myself since I had only carry-on luggage for my flight back to Palm Springs, and bought only some greeting cards (amazing stuff, folks)!

Root Down Denver

I've not had a chance to post since Thursday, and I've missed it! I was in Denver visiting family, and have LOTS of great new things to share with you this week. The first thing is that I am blogging from William Miller Design's new store location at 70020 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage, next to Bangkok 5. We aren't open yet, but will be ready to sell home accessories, home furnishings, candles, books, and holiday decor next week (we're planning a soft opening next Monday). We will continue to offer our interior design services to the Desert communuties of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, and La Quinta, as well as Orange County and Los Angeles.

One of the fabulous places that I was able to eat in Denver was Root Down. Their aim, according to their website is to connect to a neighborhood in the same way that ingredients are connected to food. The food (all organic and as locally sourced as possible), was fantastic. The decor is eclectic, the owners having repurposed a gas station into a dining station. They kept many of the contents of the station intact, which was just as fun and a great break from a stuffy dining room. I loved the air compressor that was turned into a hostesses podium! I also loved my Crab Benedict!

Cody Foster at William Miller Design

Cody Foster was born and raised in the rural northern sandhills region of Nebraska. He began his artistic pursuits at a very young age under the guidance of his grandmother, an avid quilter. Cody began experimenting making cloth figures as an adolescent and soon realized that other people enjoyed and valued his work. These early successes eventually led to a regional, and soon, national popularity. Cody's designs are now widely recognized and have been featured in the American Folk Art Museum. We are excited to have his line of Holiday Ornaments and accessories that are reminiscent of the 1950's and we love their nostalgic look!

Stay tuned for our upcoming grand opening of our store in Rancho Mirage in December!