Thanksgiving is coming down the tracks and will soon be passing through your home.  Have you started thinking about your menu?   Menu planning is a bit of a hobby for me and during the holidays I find it particularly enjoyable. I think that’s because food brings people together more than just about anything else. I love everything about food and I spend a good deal of my time perusing cookbooks, magazines and the internet searching for things to inspire me.

Inspiration comes in many forms.  Maybe you’ll find it by imagining something old made new, experimenting with a unique ingredient, trying a different technique or perhaps by marrying an interesting combination of flavors.

Take the humble pumpkin pie for example.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with it.  Yet you may want something different. Still pumpkin-y but not a pie.   Well what about a pumpkin cheesecake?  Or pumpkin bread pudding?  This year I’ve re-imagined pumpkin pie as a pumpkin ice cream sundae – Pumpkin Ice Cream with a Pecan Sandie crumble drizzled with “Caramel” Sauce.   There are so many possibilities.  Let your imagination be your inspiration!

And while I do love experimenting and I’m thankful that the people I cook for don’t mind that about me, I have a couple of favorites that don’t need re-imagining and they will forever grace my Thanksgiving table — Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie and Corn Pudding. Sometimes old doesn’t need to be made new!   Regardless of the bounty you set on your Thanksgiving table whether the recipes are tried and true or new remember to give thanks.

Decisions, decisions… I’m thankful you visited palatable life.

Be inspired,
Diane