Thanksgiving is good, mac and cheese is good, friends are good.

This will be my first Thanksgiving away from home. As depressing as it seems at times, I have decided to put my pity party on the back burner and focus my energy on creating a most fabulous meal for my husband and a few friends.

If you think I am going overboard, my husband agrees, but what beats the holiday blues better then homemade mac and cheese?

The Menu

Drinks

Cranapple Spritzers

Appetizers

Tomato basil baby elephant ears (Ina Garten)

The Main Event

Tomato Cucumber Salad

Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Sweet Potatoes, and Parsnips with Rosemary

Corn Bread Souffle

Baked Mac & Cheese

Mashed Potatoes

Curried Mahi Mahi

Rice and Dahl

Turkey Breast with Maple, Sage, and Bacon (Tyler Florence)

Mom's Dressing

Fresh Cranberry Compote (Emeril)

Desserts

Bonnie's Pumpkin Roll

Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie