The guide to epic thanksgiving in Bloomington

 Look, holidays can be very stressful, especial thanksgiving. All pressure of the family and friends and all the food. Everything has to be perfect. Let’s face it everyone can use a little a help, with the cooking and the decoding, the setting up the perfect table.

I’m here to tell you that you’re saved.  This guide can help make your day better and hopefully make a little easier for you.

                   

 

Survival guide to thanksgiving

 Cooking food doesn’t always work the way we want to or planned it on the holidays. Luckily Bloomington  normal has more restaurants per capital than any other state so that means that there is always going to be at least a few places open, also there is private people who are willing to share homemade receipts for a buck or two. Let’s be honest who wouldn’t pay for a mean turkey that tested and looks betters than ours aunts, or for those who life is busy and there no time for cocking at home.  Don’t you worry anymore just follow below and we will write down the best or a few restaurants to stop by on thanksgiving or where you can get a mean turkey.      

Catering

 

Heavenly delights-Latonya Skinner- Her catering business started in Chicago and had expanded to Bloomington normal. She has a vision of building one relationship with one light at a time, thought her Cajun southern cooking. Latonya is also known for her fresh cooking. Everything is fresh from her green house and she does everything from scratch. She makes her on organic oils and seasoning, which you may purchase.  She is also a phenomenal baker. She also host cooking parties and teaches group cooking classes or one on one class. Anyways she is known for her Cajun turkey. If you can’t or doesn’t know how to cook a thanksgiving meal. Heavenly delights can help. Any size turkey with any size of mac and cheese, green bean casserole, corn, dinner rolls, mash potato, yams, sweet potatoes. Latonya believes that every meal should ends with a delicious dessert of choice. She can bake any pie from traditional pumpkin pie to fresh baked apple and pecan pie. Whatever you want heavenly delights can make it happen. 

Know how to cook will there are a few places in Bloomington Normal where you can get your thanksgiving meal ingredients at a reasonable price

Red bird catering

1507 N Main St, Bloomington, IL 61701 (309) 828-8000

Marriott

201 Broadway St Normal, IL (309) 862-9000

 

 

2.       Grocery stores in Bloomington normal 

·         Aldi- low price

301 Greenbriar Dr. Normal, IL

1025 Wylie Dr. Bloomington,IL

·         Schnucks-10/10 doubled couponing

1701 E Empire Bloomington, IL

1750 Bradford Ln Normal, IL

·         Cub foods

403 N Veterans Pkwy Bloomngton, IL

·         Wal mart-everyday low price and price match

300 Greenbriar Dr. Normal, IL

2225 W Market Bloomington, IL

·         Kroger-10/10

1502 N Main Bloomington,IL

2507 E Oakland Ave Bloomngton, IL

1550 E College Ave. Normal, IL

·         Bloomington Meats

2401 S Main Bloomington, IL

  • College Hills Meats

1550 E College Ave #1 Normal, IL

·         Fresh market-organic/ fresh produce

200 Greenbriar Dr Normal, IL

·         Meijer- 10/10

1900 E College Ave Normal, IL

 

 

A few restaraunts in town offer a traditonal thanksgiving meal (no clean up required)          

3.    Restaurants that offer traditonal meals

  • Bob Evans$-801 IAA Dr
    Bloomington, IL
    (309) 663-5131  or 2115 W Market St Bloomington, IL (309) 829-5595
     
  • Denny's$-

    1615 N Main St, Normal, IL 61761
    (309) 452-7446

     

    701 ELDORADO RD

    BLOOMINGTON, IL 61704 US

    Phone: (309) 663-5251

 

If you’re not much in the family scene of traditional Thanksgiving or happen to be in Bloomington normal on a business trip there are other options.

4.       Restaurants that are more non-traditonal  

  • Ozark house $$

704 McGregor bloomington, 61701

  • Biaggis$$

1501 N Veterans pkwy. Bloomington IL, 61701

  • Medici$$

120 North St. Normal, IL 61761      

  • Papa john $   

​602 Kingsley St. Normal, IL 61761

1407 N Veterans Pkwy BLoomington, IL 61701

  • China Star$

​2402 E Oakland Ave. Bloomington, IL 61761

616 Raab Rd. Normal, IL 61761

  • Steak n Shake$

​1802 S. Veterans Pkwy. Bloomington IL 61761

4 Yount Dr #1 Bloomington IL 61701

325 S Veterans Pkwy Bloomington, IL 61701

 

Holiday Meals for the Needy

Let’s help the ones that are less fortune and the ones that really need help, you can donate anything you want or also you can always go to any of these places below register and volunteer your time for a good reason and be part of the community.

 

  • Home Sweet Home Ministries: Offers meals to families and the homeless-

    Home sweet home minister (HSHM) about their mission is to served Jesus Christ by providing food, shelter and hope to hungry, homeless and hurting.  A future where homeless and hurting people are given a second chance and all the tools necessary to successfully transition into safe and loving relationships. Just how we can donate something also we can volunteer in places like these since when you give, you help provide more than a meal. You offer life change through: a $1.92 a meal for this thanksgiving or register online to see which other ways you can come and help. Billy Shelper Center303 East Oakland Avenue Bloomington, IL 61701 309-828-7356. Home Sweet Home Warehouse Operations1700 West Washington Bloomington, IL. 61701. Bloomington mission mart 301 East Oakland Avenue, Bloomington, IL 61701 309-828-1530.

  • Salvation Army-

    The Salvation Army Safe Harbor shelter is established as a temporary emergency shelter for men and women eighteen years of age and older who find themselves homeless.  The temporary emergency shelter provides nights lodging, food and basic human necessities.  Shelter residents will meet with case managers who help facilitate and guide individuals on the path to self-sufficiency and independence.  On any given month, there are approximately 400 volunteers participating in the meal program `same quality service.  Very helpful place for this coming up thanksgiving. Heartland Division Headquarters

    The Salvation Army 611 W. Washington St. Bloomington, IL 61701 (309) 829-9476

  • Bloomington-Normal Jaycees -are a non-profit, community organization and is a chapter of the United States Junior Chamber International. The Bloomington-Normal Jaycees are actively recruiting young men and women who want to make a difference in the community. They provide everything a family needs for a good, well-balanced, thanksgiving dinner- including the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry, green bean casserole, bread, and pumpkin pie… and the pans needed to cook these items in. P.O. Box 42 Bloomington, IL 61701 (309) 319-6107 meetings are hosted in different houses

 

 

 

 

Traditional decorations

 When we talk about thanksgiving pumpkin spices, cinnamon, turkey and some smelly family member its all we can breathe. Candles and autumn decorations go very well with the family dinner. Who doesn’t love the background of a happy family reunion; since for some of us thanksgiving is represent as one of the only days those family members get together. some of these decorations bring the melancholic but lovely spirit of thanksgiving. And it’s crazy to believe how easy is to make some of these decorations, we can jump to conclusions from using old tools from home. Also start from scratch and do some quick and cheap shopping at the super market, or any convenient store, or let’s not forget to check the closet or it’s just me the only person who every year finds decorations which in one of those window shopping’s around the antique store might made a purchase without looking or thinking.

You can used a white table cloth( you can buy at Walmart for less than $5) and a piece of brown burlap( you can buy at the dollar store for $1)  as a table runner.

You can add some dried white beans in the bottom of 3 mason jars, added a candle, wrapped a tan piece(which you can buy at the dollar store) of burlap and a doily around them with jute and placed in the center of table.

 



 Table setting

Table setting is often overlooked but it’s important. Having a nice table setting affects your enjoyment of the meal which can even affect how well you digest your food. Well not really, just don’t set upside down and you will be fine. But after putting in the effort in thoughtful menu planning don’t tarnish the meal by having a disorganized presentation. But what is worse is having family meal in the living room or in front of computers and televisions. Come on now its thanksgiving. It’s the one time families can civilize. Little touches can really add to the mood of the meal. A nice centerpiece can add to the atmosphere. You can choose something that matches the room or go with a theme that is appropriate for the season. This shows your family that you care about making mealtime special for them. Children can help out by making center pieces during craft time. Sometimes it’s the smallest touches that work quietly to make a big difference in overall mood. By taking the time to set a nice table before the meal begins, you can ensure that everyone is able to sit down and enjoy their meal in peace.

 

 

Proprer Table Setting

Proper placement of cutlery, glasses, and plates can make your Thanksgiving table look sophisticated and classy. This will also help with clutter on the table.

Try this simple table setting:

 

 

The plate is centerd in the place setting. To the left of the plate should be your salad fork and dinner for (set these slightly ascew to add a classy feel). To the right of the plate is the knife and teaspoon ( these can also be slightly ascew). Above the plate is the cake fork and desert spoon. In the upper left hand corner is the bread and butter plate with the butter knife place diagonal across the plate. In the upper right hand corner is the wine glass and water glass.

Crafts and Activities for Kids:

Keeping the kids busy during the preperation and afte the meal can make or break a holiday celebration. There are alot of easy and fun activitites you can find online. Dont be afraid to use your imagination. Afterall it is your family and friends and you know what they like best.

Try this cute activity with the kiddos:

 

Its easy to do! All you need is paint, small paper plates, toilet paper rolls, construction paper, and a marker. Have each kids cut out feathers with the construction paper and then write what they are thankful for. Then allow them to put together their turkey how ever they like.

Another easy and cheap activity jsut involves paper and pen. Jsut have everyone write down what they are thankful for on a peice of paper. Put them in a bowl or a hat and mix them up. Pass the bowl or hat wround the table and have each guest read one card. Then have the guest try to guess who wrote it. This is simple and easy. It will also be funny and exciting for a family to try.  

 


(more info to come)

 

 

 

 

 

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