Thanksgiving is just around the corner. That means it’s time to gather around the dinner table with family and friends to kick off the holidays with lots of good food and football!

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite housewares for a Thanksgiving feast to remember!

AND in the spirit of the holidays, we have a special housewares sweepstakes HERE! Good luck!

1. BIA Cordon Bleu 20" Oval Platter, 2. Le Creuset Set of Stoneware Cocottes, 3. Emeril by All-Clad Hard-Anodized Roaster w/ Rack, 4. Reed & Barton Longwood II 65-Piece Silverware Set, 5. Waechtersbach Fun Factory 4Pc Place Setting, 6. Riedel Bordeaux/Cabernet 2Pc Set, 7. Highbury 12" Square Lacquer Chargers (Set of 4), 8. Emile Henry Classics® 9" Pie Dish, 9. Keurig Elite 40

Today is International Chocolate Day. However, that’s not the focus of this post; in fact, quite the opposite. Although chocolate (particularly dark chocolate) is great when enjoyed in moderation, a healthy lifestyle really does rely predominantly on a healthy, balanced diet.

A diet that consists of mostly whole, unprocessed foods, with lots of fruits and veggies in the mix, is considered to be the healthiest. If that sounds bland and boring to you, think again! Healthy eating can be just as satisfying, if not more so, than eating junk. The trick is having the right kitchen gadgets and experiment with healthy ingredients you love.

Check out a few of our favorite healthy-diet kitchen essentials:

1. Breville 800 BLXL Die-Cast Hemisphere™ Blender, 2. Omega VRT350 Vert Low Speed Juicing System, 3. Fagor Slow Juicer, 4. Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 11" Square Grill Pan 5. Kitchenaid 13-Cup Food Processor, 6. Emile Henry Flame Kabob Grilling Stone and Skewers

For breakfast or a delicious mid-day snack, a refreshing green smoothie* or juice is a great option. With the right blend of yummy fruits and veggies, these super-nutritious drinks are packed with so much vitamins and minerals that are easily absorbed into the body. Investing in a high-quality blender and/or juicer is something your body will reap rewards from for years to come. That’s why it’s always on our “healthy living” must-have list!

For dinner, opt for lean meats and veggies grilled to perfection. Kabobs** are a really easy option, so is grilled fish with salad or a delicious homemade salsa as a side.

*Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com® via user WhitneyLW

**Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com®  via user DAVESARAH

1. Le Creuset of 4 Stonewear Cocottes w/ Cookbook, 2. KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Stand Mixer, 3. OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set, 4. Nordic Ware Snowman Cake Mold, 5. Calphalon Classic Jelly Roll & Brownie Pan Combo, 6. Emile Henry Le Grande 12" Pie Dish

One of our favorite things about the holiday season is the liberty to indulge in our favorite desserts. Diets can wait until the New Year! That’s what resolutions are for, right?

Why not get the baker in your life (or yourself) a gift that keeps on giving with some of the best baking tools around?

In the spirit of sweet indulgence, check out this delicious recipe for a classic pecan pie!

Irresistible Pecan Pie by IHART44

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons white sugar

1/2 cup butter, chilled

4 tablespoons ice water

3 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup light corn syrup

2 tablespoons dark corn syrup

3/4 cup light brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1 pinch salt

1/2 cup pecans, finely crushed

1 cup pecans, quartered

1 cup pecan halves

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. To make crust: In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt and white sugar. Cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually sprinkle the water over the dry mixture, stirring until dough comes together enough to form a ball.
3. On a floured surface flatten dough ball with rolling pin. Roll out into a circle that is one inch larger than pie dish. Place pie shell into dish and refrigerate until pie filling is complete.
4. To make pie filling: In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, light and dark corn syrups, brown sugar, butter, salt and finely crushed pecans. Spread quartered pecans over bottom of refrigerated pie crust. Pour syrup mixture over top of pecans, and then arrange pecan halves on top of pie.
5. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for one hour or until firm; let cool for one hour before serving.

*Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com®

With the holiday season just around the corner, we’re inevitably starting to think about one of the most anticipated traditions around—holiday dinner parties!  From homemade pumpkin pies to turkey dinners, these get-togethers with family and friends never fail to bring back the warm, fuzzy feelings of the holidays!

Check out some of our favorites in housewares to make those dinner parties that much more special:

1. Emile Henry Le Grande 12” Pie Dish: Those signature pie recipes will look spectacular when baked in this lovely pie dish.

2. Le Creuset Rectangular Stoneware Casserole: Save yourself the extra cleanup with this durable casserole. The interior is virtually nonstick, making it ideal for serving your masterpiece recipes right from the oven.

3. Riedel Ouverture Magnum Red Wine Glasses (Set of 8): Enjoy the full complexity of your favorite reds with these durable glasses.

4. All-Clad Stainless Steel Turkey Forks: Let this Thanksgiving essential do the heavy lifting!

5. Le Creuset Fruit/Pasta Bowl: Add a splash of color to the dinner table with this beautiful enamel serving bowl.

6. Emile Henry Lion’s Head Soup Bowls (Set of 4): These are perfect for French onion soups and other hearty soups.

7. Vera Bradley Cocktail Party Napkins: Dress up any table setting with these delightfully printed cloth napkins!

8. OXO 11-Piece Barware Set: Treat your guests to pre-dinner cocktails with the help of this all-in-one bar essential.

9. Highbury Square Lacquer Serving Plates (Set of 4): Add a contemporary feel to your presentation with these modern plates.

10. Zwilling J.A. Jenckels Twin® Gourmet 2-Piece Carving Set: For the pièce de résistance, this high-quality duo will make easy work of carving and serving any roast or turkey.

Got a housewarming party to attend, but a little unsure about what gift to bring? There’s no need to go on an endless search at your department store when you can peruse through our awesome houseware selection from the comfort of your home. When it comes to perfect housewarming gifts, look for items that the new homeowners can use for entertaining, as they’re likely going to be doing more of it in their new place.

Here are some fabulous housewarming gift ideas that will surely make your hosts happy: (clockwise)

Waring Pro Professional Roaster Oven: From turkey dinners to pot roast, they’ll love using this roaster oven for those big holiday get-togethers.

Wusthof Gourmet 18-Piece Block Set: All the essential cutlery that every kitchen needs, all in one high-quality set.

Home Source International Microcotton® Luxury Bath Towel Set: Plush and superbly luxurious towels are always a great staple.

Riedel Happy “O” Wine Tumblers: These elegant stemless wine glasses are perfect for kitchens with tight cabinet spaces. The colorful glass bottoms add to the relaxed, elegant feel.

Cook up some color! (Clockwise from top left:) Chantal Loop Tea Kettle in lime green, OXO 3pc. Plastic Mixing Bowl Set, Emile Henry Mortar and Pestle in citron, Rachael Ray Porcelain Enamel 3pc. Egg Buddy Set in orange, Rachael Ray Bubble & Brown 3 qt.Stoneware Baker in blue

Liven up a dull, boring kitchen with some colorful kitchen gear. Whether you enjoy playing dinner party host, have a housewarming that you need a gift for, or just like to show off your style in the kitchen, colorful kitchenware is the difference between “same old” and spectacular.