With my dairy and wheat allergies I often miss out on some of the best holiday dishes-especially dessert. This year I decided I wasn't going to settle for cranberry sauce and fruit as my dessert yet again for Thanksgiving. I created a gluten free, dairy free chocolate bourbon pecan pie recipe that tastes like I'm not missing out on a thing. It's so good I might not even share.

Pie Ingredients

• 1 Wholly Wholesome Gluten Free / Dairy Free Pie Shell - 9" 
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup corn syrup 
• 1/2 cup Earth Balance Vegan Butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 eggs, room temperature 
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 4 oz dairy free dark chocolate chips (Ex: Enjoy Life)
• 1 cup pecans (1/2 cup chopped, 1/2 whole for the top) 

Bourbon Whipped Cream Ingredients (Optional)

• 1 can (14 oz) coconut cream, chilled
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 tbsp agave
• 1 tsp bourbon

Pie Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Take GF pie out of freezer and cover outer crust with aluminum foil. Poke bottom of pie shell and sides with fork. 
2. Combine sugar, corn syrup, and vegan butter in sauce pan on medium heat until butter melts. Take off the burner and allow to cool to just warm or room temperature.
3. Meanwhile, whisk together vanilla, salt, eggs, and bourbon. 
4. With your slightly cooled sugar syrup, slowly pour into your egg mixture-constantly whisking so it doesn't cook the eggs. Mix well. 
5. Mix in the chocolate and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans. Pour into pie shell, leaving a tiny bit of room at the top. Arrange whole pecans on the surface in whatever design brings you joy (I went classic). 
6. With outer crust still covered in aluminum, bake pie for 45 minutes before taking the foil off. Cook for another 10 minutes, or until set and golden on top. 
7. Cool and cover in plastic wrap. This pie is best made the day before so it has time to set after cooling (plus it makes the holidays that much less stressful if you have one less thing you have to make the day of). 
8. Serve with dairy free whipped cream (Optional)

Tell a "Story": Are you bright, bold, and festive? Glamorous, sparkly, and fun? Or natural, minimal, and subtle? Pick a color scheme and incorporate seasonal elements that shows what story you are trying to tell. I chose to heirloom pumpkins' muted oranges, grays, and yellows as my color scheme and incorporated organic wood tones, clean whites, and copper. I repeated my "story" with in the serveware, food, and flowers.

Variety in Height: Think vertical as well as horizontal! Tiered serveware conserves space while moving the eye easily around the sideboard. Cake stands show off elegant desserts while allowing shallower dishes park below. Keep the eye moving across the table with variation.

Practical(ish): While it might be tempting to go all out, think [somewhat] practically. For example-I prefer to use flameless candles, if any, where serving food. I hate anyone to have to worry about catching their sleeve on fire or knocking it over while grabbing seconds of mashed potatoes. Additionally, allowing your serveware to step up as part of your decor saves room and makes it festive. I love my ceramic pumpkins that serve as decor AND soup or casserole dishes.

Decor: Know your theme and stick with it! If it's plaid and bright colors then go all out and sprinkle in festive orange pumpkins everywhere. If you're glamorous and sparkly put a glittered table cloth over your sideboard and cover the stop with dark, dramatic dishes. I chose a more muted, subtle scheme and wanted organic elements such as pinecones, antlers, and heirloom pumpkins. Also: it never hurts to add some flowers if you have the room. It instantly makes a space feel celebratory.

Planning: Round up your serveware, dishes, utensils, and little kitchen goods the day before or morning of. Lay out your sideboard's plan early in the day before guests arrive. Make sure you have enough space for all the dishes. If someone is bringing a dish always think about where you will save them a spot on the buffet.

Create Order: While life is short and I never object to eating dessert first, not everyone agrees. Think about the natural progression of making a plate of food and the flow of traffic. Which side should the buffet line start? Do you start with salads and work you way to the main course? etc...

Labels: While not necessary for small groups, if you have a large group you can save the trouble of answering "What is this?" thirty times with dish labels. This is also really considerate for people with food allergies / concerns.


How do you plan for serving your Thanksgiving food? 
What would be the "story" you'd like to tell with your color scheme and decor? 
How would you describe your Thanksgiving style? 
Do you prefer buffet style, pre-plated, or on the table? 

• 1 Daiya Chocolate Cheezecake OR their New York Cheezecake (Your Choice! I found mine in the freezer aisle at Whole Foods). 
• 1 container of Sunshine Raspberries, washed and dried. (I like Sunshine for Thanksgiving due to their golden-orange color and tartness, but you can substitute regular raspberries too). 
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp coconut oil 
• 1/2 tsp natural vanilla extract 
• 1/2 bar dairy free dark chocolate bar, (optional)

What is your favorite, easy recipe? 
Do you ever potluck your Thanksgivings or do you love to do it alone? 
What's your favorite recipe / dish? 

 Get the Look: 

• World Market's Ivory Ceramic Pumpkin Casserole Baker (Was $20, on sale now $10). 
• Martha Stewart Collection Harvest Collection - Lidded Harvest Pumpkin Soup Tureen (Was $109, on sale now $43)

1. Love of My Life: I've been so blessed with the love of a man who cherishes me and thinks about and acts often around my needs and heart. We balance and compliment one another and are experiencing love and trust that we have never found in anyone else. I am so grateful for this gift.
2. Family: My family has helped shape who I am and how I approach life. I've learned something unique from each member. My father is a leader in his acts of service for others, my mother constantly demonstrates unrivaled compassion and grace (I can only strive to love others as she does), my sister is a warrior of strength through adversity and pain and protector to those she loves, and my brother is forever finding ways to make others smile and show affection. I take each of their best as blessings I carry with me daily.  
3. Friends: I have such loving and fun friends. I am so grateful to those that have listened to what is on my heart when I am in need of a compassionate ear. As well as to those that challenge me when I am in need of it, even if I don't see it at first. I love every single laugh we've shared, stupid messages and Snapchats we send one another, and every revealed wish. Without this chosen family I would not be as rich with life.  
4. My Readers / Followers: Thank you so much to YOU! Thank you for following my blog and IG and investing your precious time in what I am doing. I really appreciate it. 
5. My Apartment: After some horrible living experiences I am so happy in my beautiful and safe home. I have meticulously styled my home in a way that brings me joy everyday when I wake up and get to relish it. I have never lived in such a nice place and am so aware of the blessing it is. 
6. California Living: I can drive along the most stunning coast or to the dramatic mountains and grand forests or to the storybook wine countries in a single day. I am able to experience the best this country has to offer and look out my window each day at the natural beauty California possesses. Additionally, I love the more laid back and simple lifestyle I've learned while living here. Getting out more, going on adventures, having less-it's all freed me up to enjoy life fully.  
7. House Plants: Short note, I've become a plant lady (think cat lady, but with plants). I love them.  I am a Jungalow chick. My apartment is full of them (see my bedroom's Fiddle Leaf Fig pictured in this post). 
8. Mentors: Thank you to those who have taken the time to invest in me and my future. I learn much from you and appreciate the words of wisdom, life experience, and help in developing myself into who I want to become. Your time is so valuable to me. 
9. Fall / Nature: Everything about fall invigorates me. The colors, the weather, pumpkins, leaves, hot tea, etc... It really makes me slow down and reflect on life while giving me the inspiration to get outside to be in touch with nature and go on adventures. 
10. Flowers: I've made a goal of having more flowers or foliage in my home this year. It's really cheered up my space while artistically challenged me while coming up with new ways to arrange them. #FridayFlowers
11. Creativity: I am SO SO SO SO thankful for my imagination and natural creativity. It adds so much wonder and color to my life. It is a huge part of my identity and I don't know where I'd be without it. 
12. Artistic Community: To my fellow painters, crafters, artists, writers, makers, and doers. Thank you for your support and love. Thank you to those who have asked, "Why?" or "How?" so you could innovate and add to this world. 
13. Travel: This is a big part of my life now and has really helped me grow and become more innovative. I'm developing new points of view and seeing the world through new eyes. Plus, I really love to go on adventures now. 
14. My Job: So grateful to the opportunities my job has given me in life and where it has taken me. I have developed a greater sense of self and confidence through my work and learning to "lean in." 
15. Freedom: Thank you to those who fight for our freedom, in whatever shape or form it is that you do it. I am so thankful to live in a country where I can vote and have the liberties that I do. I am praying for our country as we go through growing pains and new discoveries. 
16. Candles, fuzzy socks, a hot cup of tea on a gray day, and a good book
17. Flexible Work Options: Being able to move to the Bay Area and pursue technology and trends in Silicon Valley has been amazing. I love that over the last two years I've been able to work from home as a majority and have flexibility in my work options to find the best work : life balance that I can. It's afforded me so many new opportunities and self growth. 
18. Crafts / DIYs: These make me really happy and help destress my hectic mind and life at times. 
19. My Faith / Church Community: My faith is a big part of who I am and how I approach life. I am so thankful for God's grace and the church community I've experienced in California. It has been only filled with love and radical hospitality and open minds and hearts. To those who supported me in times of need and prayed for me when I couldn't turn anywhere else-thank you.  
20. Blogging Community: Such a rad group of women. These ladies are so talented, fun, and so full of life that they have to blog about. I am thankful to those who encourage and support me and for the help and advise so generously offered. 
21. My Wardrobe: Eek. I know this sounds superficial-but I love my clothes. From a point in my past of not being able to afford any new clothes for five years I am especially thankful I have the capability to cultivate my wardrobe now and express myself through my personal style.  
22. Interior Decor: Again, I love being able to express myself creatively through this outlet and showcase my skills. Thank you to those who have allowed me to become their interior decorator and design their places. I've enjoyed working with you and, hopefully, making your house a home. 
23. Instagram: I wasn't heavily into IG until I started blogging more regularly. It's now become a wonderful marketing tool and opened doors for me within the blogging community. I've been creatively challenged to develop my feed as a personal brand and, in turn, become better at business development. It's also been a fantastic tool to keep up with those I love around the world and feel connected to their lives in a way I wouldn't have had otherwise. 
24. Pinterest: This. Is. My. JAM! I could write pages on how much I love Pinterest and think it's exceptional from a business and personal perspective. I use it for quick breaks when I need to clear my head or for inspiration as I create. It's been an incredible tool for sharpening my imagination and sparking creativity. 
25. Reading / Writing: I struggled with reading early on due to LDs and dyslexia. My mother forced me to read out loud to her everyday for hours until I improved. I slowly came to love reading and saw it for the gift it is. Now, I am an avid reader and can't imagine my life without it. Consequently, I am constantly writing and expressing myself through words while journaling, blogging, writing articles, or short stories. My mind is a complicated, whirling dance of stories and thoughts until I put it down on paper. I think this is one of biggest things in my life I can thank my mother for helping me cultivate and appreciate. 
26. Painting my nails and constantly giving myself a fun, quick new look
27. Photography: Learning a lot of new skills this last year and growing my portfolio as a photographer. I am thankful to be able to look back and see my improvement over the last twelve months, and excited to see what the next twelve will be like. 
28. Mininalism(ish): Having what I need and love and living with less clutter has significantly reduced stress in my life and made it so much easier to enjoy and keeping up with. Thank being said, I still wouldn't say I live fully minimal-but it's a nice goal to work towards. 
29. Having a dependable and nice, new car (come a long way from my '89 Corolla) 
30. Parties + Celebrations!: I love being able to entertain and celebrate things. It's beyond fun to me and I love that we can all come together to have a party and appreciate different times of the year (like Thanksgiving, and what we're thankful for!).