Thanksgiving is a celebration of the best things in life; family, friends, and good food. This year, get back to basics and focus on these simple pleasures. Try easy Southern style recipes and casual dining for practical entertaining.

A backyard setting offers plenty of space to relax and mingle plus it gives kids room to play. Complete the Thanksgiving feast with fried turkey. An oil-less fryer yields great taste with less mess than traditional fryers. A chiminea or outdoor firepit and arranged seating such as wooden benches, a safe distance from the fire, creates a cozy atmosphere.

It’s a good idea to have some games ready to play. Outdoors you can setup a Turkey hunt or a pumpkin race. Indoors why not play charades or work on a puzzle together. A couple of games and everyone will end the Thanksgiving day happy.

Chances are you might have a bottle of olive oil someplace in your pantry. But do you really know the quality of that oil? If you really want to add some pizazz to your meals, then consider using only Gourmet olive oil. More specifically, Gourmet extra virgin olive oil.

Here’s the reason why. Most Gourmet olive oils are what we call first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. This means there is little to no processing which means you get the finest flavor the olives can give. This oil enhances the flavor without overpowering your recipes. What’s more is that the oil will have a different taste depending upon which region it came from. Some places in Italy are known for their robust, spicy olive oil while olive oil from Spain may be much milder. So what are you waiting for, go online and buy some Gourmet olive oil today and start enhancing the taste of your recipes!