Chef Christian Shaffer prepares mushroom bread pudding. (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)
Chef Christian Shaffer’s wild rice stuffing. (Mel Melcon / LAT)
Bryce Asay, father-in-law of Chef Christian Shaffer, has a glass of California sparkling wine, during gathering at the home of Mitchell Sonners in Topanga. (Mel Melcon / LAT)
Piper Shaffer digs into a molasses tart while prepared by her father Christian Shaffer. (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)
Chef Christian Shaffer spoons wild rice stuffing into a serving dish. (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)
A party setting may not necessarily derail a diet. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
TK (Bob Fila / Chicago Tribune)
The advantages of brining: the turkey stays moist, slices in neat sheets and comes out of the oven looking like a ‘50s starlet. (RICK MEYER / Los Angeles Times)
A variation of the recipe-on-the-can produces a real American pumpkin pie. (ROBERT GAUTHIER / Los Angeles Times)
Homemade Thanksgiving bread lends a warmth to the holiday. (WALLY SKALIJ / Los Angeles Times)
Thanksgiving illustration -- promo (JANET DREW / For The Times)
la-111401thanksgiving1-gmk9dhke (JANET DREW / For The Times)
Viennese Hazelnut Chocolate Raspberry Bars (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Spaghetti Squash “Pasta” with a Zucchini, Garlic and Tomato Sauce. (WALLY SKALIJ / Los Angeles Times)
A thick rum orange icing tops persimmon cake, an inspired dessert for the fall holiday table. (ROBERT GAUTHIER / Los Angeles Times)
Lynn Holmes’ Thanksgiving setting for four (AL SEIB / Los Angeles Times)
la-112101thanksgiving1-gn2ebike (REUBEN MUÑOZ / Los Angeles Times)
A woodsy theme: wooden charger, bamboo silverware, a pomegranate card holder (ANACLETO RAPPING / Los Angeles Times)
Heirloom tablecloth, thrift store chargers (AL SEIB / Los Angeles Times)
Walter Huber’s warm, seasonal modern setting with moderately priced furnishings. (ANACLETO RAPPING / Los Angeles Times)
Pumpkin Tart’s rectangular shape means less crust, more filling. (WALLY SKALIJ / Los Angeles Times)
Here’s a pecan pie for everybody who thinks the usual version is too sugary. It’s sweetened with honey. Read the recipe
(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)
Wild Rice and Broccoli Salad would be a great Thanksgiving starter. (KEN HIVELY / Los Angeles Times)
Relatives of Chef Christian Shaffer gather around the Thanksgiving table. In foreground, right is Chef Christian Shaffer’s shaved turnups and rutabaga. (Mel Melcon / LAT)
Chef Christian Shaffer pours chateau pesquie’ southern rhone wine, as relatives gather around the Thanksgiving table. (Mel Melcon / LAT)
Chef Christian Shaffer serves his Heritage turkey with blistered pears and parsnips to relatives gathered around the Thanksgiving table at the home of his cousin, Mitchell Sonners. At right is his nephew, Dylan Shaffer, 17 months. (Mel Melcon / LAT)
Chef Christian Shaffer, right, carves Heritage turkey with wife Tedde. (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)
Yankee cranberry-apple crisp is sure-fire. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Chef Christian Shaffer’s nephew Dylan Shaffer, 17 months, eats wild rice stuffing, while sitting around the Thanksgiving table at Topanga home of Mitchell Sonners. (Mel Melcon / LAT)
Chef Christian Shaffer rolls out dough for a molasses tart using an olive oil bottle as he prepares Thanksgiving fare. (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)
Chef Christian Shaffer slices mushrooms for mushroom bread pudding while making Thanksgiving fare at the Topanga Canyon home of cousin Mitchell Sonners. (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)
Chef Christian Shaffer removes pomegranate seeds from shell for wild rice stuffing. (Brian VanderBrug / LAT)
