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2024 Thanksgiving Menu and Meal Prep Timeline

* image These past few months have been busy for our family, especially since our oldest joined a local swim team. Between juggling our work schedules and balancing school with practices... we're all pretty wiped out. Although it's a lot of work, I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. Preparing the holiday meal for our family fills my heart with joy, and I can't wait to get started. To make things easier for me, I don't deviate much from  our first Thanksgiving  as a family. The dishes I make are familiar ones, and the recipes for them live at my fingertips. Keeping the same menu year after year means I don't have to spend time researching recipes or planning a new one. Here are my tried-and-true Thanksgiving recipes, as well as my prep timeline for the big day!

An Easy Espresso with the Nespresso CitiZ

Taste As You Go Coffee Bar - Photo by Taste As You Go

I was provided with product samples at no cost to me. I do not accept monetary compensation for writing about these products or about my experience while using them. All opinions expressed are my own.

As evidenced by the row of appliances lined up in my kitchen, I have a serious addiction to coffee. My first summer job was at the local coffee shop in the center of town, so my love affair with coffee began when I was in high school. Now that I'm an adult, I've made sure that I have ready access to coffee at home by way of my Mr. Coffee coffee maker, Krups coffee grinder, and Keurig MINI (courtesy of my boyfriend's parents).

And then the intensity of my addiction changed with the delivery of one little package...



Nespresso CitiZ Espresso Machine- Photo by Taste As You Go



Nespresso CitiZ Espresso Machine - Photo by Taste As You Go


Meet the Nespresso CitiZ espresso machine, a machine that relies on the concept of brewing coffee one capsule at a time. Its sleek and slim design makes the CitiZ an ideal addition to any kitchen, especially the typical tiny New York City kitchen that's tight on counter space. While I selected the black model, the machine comes in a variety of colors to match any decor, including red, grey, and retro white.


Box of Nespresso CitiZ Capsules - Photo by Taste As You Go



Box of Nespresso CitiZ Capsules - Photo by Taste As You Go



Box of Nespresso CitiZ Capsules - Photo by Taste As You Go


The machine itself came with a starter kit of capsules, but I was fortunate enough to receive a case of capsules featuring samples of The 16 Grand Crus, sixteen varieties of espresso with distinct characters and aromatic and flavor profiles:

Espresso Blends
  • Ristretto - powerful and contrasting (Intensity 10)
  • Arpeggio - intense and creamy (Intensity 9)
  • Roma - full and balanced (Intensity 8)
  • Livanto - round and balanced (Intensity 6)
  • Capriccio - rich and distinctive (Intensity 5)
  • Volluto - sweet and fruity (Intensity 4)
  • Cosi - light with citrus notes (Intensity 3)
Pure Origin Espressos
  • Indriya from India - powerful and spicy (Intensity 10)
  • Rosabaya de Colombia - fruity and balanced (Intensity 6)
  • Dulsao do Brasil - sweet and smooth (Intensity 5)
Lungos
  • Fortissio Lungo - rich and intensity (Intensity 7)
  • Vivalto Lungo - complex and balanced (Intensity 4)
  • Finezzo Lungo - flowery and refreshing (Intensity 3)
Decaffeinated
  • Decaffeinato Intenso - dense and powerful (Intensity 7)
  • Decaffeinato Lungo - light and full-flavoured (Intensity 3)
  • Decaffeinato - fruity and delicate (Intensity 2)

Clearly... something for everyone!


Getting Ready to Brew Espresso with the Nespresso CitiZ - Photo by Taste As You Go


Once you go through the recommended steps for setting up the Nespresso CitiZ for its initial use, the rest is cake. Remember those espresso cups I picked up from The Brooklyn Kitchen? This is why I needed them. I didn't think it was appropriate to use a regular coffee mug to make my first cup of espresso.


Selecting a Nespresso CitiZ Capsule - Photo by Taste As You Go


After you select your capsule...


Inserted Nespresso CitiZ Capsule - Photo by Taste As You Go


... just insert it into the top of the machine and push the handle down to close. Press the Espresso or Lungo button and stand back to watch.


Espresso Brewing - Photo by Taste As You Go


Isn't that a beautiful thing?


Freshly Brewed Espresso - Photo by Taste As You Go


In no time, I had a cup of freshly brewed espresso. Perfection!


Taste As You Go Coffee Bar - Photo by Taste As You Go


So, now, after several positive test runs with the Nespresso CitiZ espresso machine, I had to make room on my table for yet another appliance dedicated to coffee.

One big happy family!

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