Wheeewwwwwwwww what a meal…what a NIGHT! I might just live in stretchy elastic waist pants for the rest of my life. Mmhmmm
Yep, we had a blast all right. There were 17 of us in total and couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful setting. I mean, seriously.
There was champagne, obviously.
And a beautiful pre-dinner spread that I snacked on for pretty much all afternoon….
I just couldn’t get over how BEAUTIFUL the view was!!!!! Yep, yep…I’m thankful for that 
We all sipped champagne and watched a beautiful California sunset before heading inside to EAT!
These brussels sprouts with figs and bacon deserve some special photo lovin’….mmmmmmm
As does this crazy guy right here:
For food we had quite possibly the biggest and best spread that I’ve EVER seen. I mean, I wouldn’t have expected anything less though because I was with the most passionate foodies in Sonoma County. It.was.insane. So was my PLATE!
So you don’t see turkey here! One of the guys actually made these (get ready for it….) pork belly “sandwiches” by sandwiching together the pork belly, butt and skin and then searing them on all sides. Sorry if that grosses anyone out but it was probably the most delicious thing ever. So there.
I also had mashed sweet potatoes, celery root gratin, a wee bit of stuffing, a taste of Hardy’s mac & cheese, brussels, green beans, mushroom gravy and homemade white bread from a popular bakery in town. Holy moly is right!
I can’t even get into the wines because it was all too crazy.
Yum:
Although I have to say that my favorite wine of the night was the sparkling rose that I had at the beginning. It was made from Pinot Noir grapes and was pretttttty much crack in a glass. Yep yep.
Desserts!
BACON BRITTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a bit of pecan pie. tarte tatin and a taste of three homemade gelatos that were brought: rosemary, caramel balsamic and pomegranate. By the end, I physically couldn’t move but was very, very happy indeed. 
So there you have it. Thanksgiving 09. If you would have told me last Thanksgiving I would be where I am today, I would never in a million years have believed you. Just goes to show how crazy life is and we think we have a plan for ourselves, but really, we have no idea. I am very thankful….so very thankful!
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{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
oh my gosh Jenna you are beautiful!! i love that turtleneck shirt on you too!
you thanksgiving was out of this WORLD..and you def deserved it! bacon brittle? wow!! AWESOME.
Bacon brittle?! That sounds absolutely AMAZING! Glad you had a great Thanksgiving!
BACON BRITTLE. OMG.
You look gorgeous!! Love your shirt.
Those brussels sprouts look delicious (MORE BACON!), as do all the desserts… balsamic and rosemary gelato?! Wowowow. You’re a lucky girl, spending Thanksgiving with foooodies!
Your night looks awesome! The brittle–omg heaven.
I have to agree with everyone else – you look gorgeous! And so happy and healthy.
I’m so tempted by things like bacon brittle. I might have to try to make some with vegetarian bacon, although I doubt that it would taste as good.
You had me at “bacon brittle”…
PS Love your nail polish!!
Wow the food looks amazing, what a spread! Bacon brittle, for real? So interesting… but I bet soooo good!
The Brussel Sprouts look so good – but I need to find out how to make Bacon Brittle!
So glad that you are enjoying your life in Cali so much. You really inspire me that maybe next year my life will be in a much better place too. Have a great weekend, Jenna!
Holy Macaroni….you ROCKED turkey day this year!! What an amazing setting to enjoy the Holiday:)
Have a happy rest of your weekend~
In August I more or less stopped eating meat, but I made an exception yesterday. I enjoyed turkey with gravy and roasted brussels sprouts with caramelized onions, bacon, and cranberries. I really do LOVE bacon. Enjoy the holiday weekend!
wow, what a breathtaking setting for a thanksgiving dinner like none I have ever seen. You looked so happy- love it. Bacon brittle- I’m speechless.
OMG!! What a spread! Everything looks so delicious!!
How was the bacon brittle? Did you try it?
Looks delicious – what a fun evening with fun people! It seems you like bacon
and even though I know you are a big wine lover, I was wondering if you would ever be up for trying a bourbon BLT? This restaurant/bar we frequent recently added a bourbon BLT to their menu after my husband mentioned his friend had made some bacon infused bourbon. Bartender thought it would be cool to try and now it’s on their menu complete with a garnish of sundried tomato and ice cubes made up of frozen lettuce!
So glad that you are enjoying Cali life – you are someone with an amazing spirit and creativity and you deserve to enjoy the beautiful life you’re creating for yourself.
Girl, you lived it up!
so jealous of your california life! you’re living a dream! and looking beautiful doing it!
Everything looks absolutely delicious! Keep enjoying life!
Meh. It looks okay. Hahaha! I can’t even joke around here. Seriously, what a spread! Everything looks delicious and yummy! Happy Thanksgiving indeed
…wow! that looks…amazing. i thought i was full from t-giving dinner but looking at those photos made me drool.
What a wonderful Thanksgiving! So glad you enjoy it, girl!
OMG!!! ….How perfect is the Fall landscape/view for T-Day? Love the Yellow Lab with the anticipatory ”Yes, I’ve Been a Good Dog All Year Long’ look. Was trying to imagine background music for this/football game on the TV in the background?
Oh, the places one can go from a One-Minute MG entry vid!! Talk about good mileage! Thanks for the fun pix!
Really, bacon brittle.. haha ew! Was it actually good?!
You look so adorable – I just love that shirt. Glad you had an awesome Thanksgiving celebration!
Foodie heaven. Wow. Everything looks absolutely amazing and umm that pork belly ‘sandwich’ sounds pretty good….
Oh, wow. Looks like a fantastic night!
I made my AG order – woohoo! Sure wish it didn’t cost so much to ship to Canada.
What an epic Thanksgiving! The atmosphere must have been spectacular! Glad you enjoyed yourself.
Looks like you had an amazing Thanksgiving!
I’m so glad. The food, the wine, the view, the whole spread was positively to die for. And let’s not forget the bacon brittle! WOW!
Think you could provide us with a recipe for that?
You can wear Thanksgiving pants ala Friends
But really it looks like you had a blast and the food was good. I love unique dishes at big meals instead of the same old fare.
Bacon brittle sounds oddly delicious.
Glad you had a great Thanksgiving!
Yay for thanksgiving food!! looks like you had a ball! U look tan toO!!!
Thanks for the AG discount!!! YUMMY! i will definetly be stocking up! thanks for working your magic!
Yummy and fun! Bacon brittle… DROOL!! I made Caramel Bacon- it was the HIT of Thanksgiving!
Bacon + sweet = heaven. Enjoy your Friday!
omg jenna! your thanksgiving defs tops all of the others i have seen
everything looks so yummy!
jenna
That’s incredible beautiful view !!!
Bacon brittle? Looks very yummmm, though I have never tried that before;D
bacon brittle- OMG heaven!!!! What an awesome foodie life you have out there! Boy you are one lucky girl! You look beautiful and so happy! That is what life is all about! Continue to eat and drink to your heart’s content! You are an awesome inspiration of what a happy truly healthy girl is!
Yummy what does the Bacon Brittle taste like?
Bacon Brittle? The desserts look amazing!!
Looks like the tastiest thanksgiving yet!!
Girl, you are glowing in those pictures. So fun to see someone living the life they were meant for; thanks for sharing! The food looks fabulous as does the vino!
Bacon Brittle? That’s outstanding!
You weren’t kidding when you said you had a crazy re-cap in store for us. So many things about this post that I j’adore. The vibrant Fall view, the gorgeously shot photos, the brussel sporuts with figs and bacon, the deliciously prepped pork, the crazy amount of pies and yummy desserts…it’s all so overwhelming!
It is funny where life leads us. I’m glad life has led you somewhere healthy and happy. As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
Looks like a wonderful celebration. Thanks for sharing that view!!
What an awesome night! You look so happy Jenna
You have such a cool friend family!
what a wonderful meal! sounds perfect
gorgeous food and fun people. and so much to be thankful for right? 
It’s so awesome how things have turned out for you.
Happy thanksgiving! Sounds like you had a brilliant time
Happy thanksgiving! Sounds like you had a brilliant time
I’m not so sure about those pork sandwiches, but everything else looks divine! Especially the pies!
Like everyone else, BACON BRITTLE???
wwwwhhhhaaattt?
What a beautiful Thanksgiving – sounds like you had such a good time, and the view/food/everything is absolutely incredible, and you look stunning, as usual! I hope you’re having a great day!
Meg
Wow! What a Thanksgiving! I feel lilke I should be watching this on TV haha. Bacon brittle?!?! Really? haha love it! Looks like quite the spread with quite the group of people with QUITE the copious amount of wine. Happy Thanksgiving, Jenna
Your spread looks INCREDIBLE!! It looks like you had an absolute blast. I’m glad you had a great time and ejoyed amazing food and company. What a perfect holiday to be surrounded by people so passionate about food and wine. Also, what a view! I absolutely love everything about Sonoma county. Gorgeous.
Wow it is so gorgeous where you are! And those pies looked pretty good too
a little unrelated – just wondering where you watch the top chef episodes online – can’t find a good site! thanks.
Uuummm….do you need a roommate?!
Sonoma looks gooorgeous in the fall!! That tasty spread doesn’t look too shabby either.. I’d still be in stretch pants if I’d had a Turkey day like yours. So glad you’re enjoying your new life on the westcoast. Happy. Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the promo code!!
Bacon brittle!!!! Seriously!!?? Amazing!
That looks like the most amazing Thanksgiving dinner ever!
Everything looks so delicious! Sounds like you had a fabulous day!
That actually doesn’t sound like a whole lot of food that you ate! amazing restraint. . . but maybe it’s because you know that you have the chance to have more amazzzzing food during the rest of your CA adventure. I would have gone much more nuts on all that! Bacon Brittle!? wow. yum.
CaitlinRose,
Ummmmm I pretty much ate 30 lbs of food and was in pain at the end of the night. Looks can be deceiving.
I would happily give up Thanksgiving turkey for Thanksgiving pork belly sandwiches! What an amazing spread….. I seriously need to go find myself some nice cheffy friends. I hope you had an awesome time!
Wow, that is a Thanksgiving feast for the ages! Happy Thanksgiving!
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