Then end of another month

 

2025 Thanksgiving is coming to a close and then we enter the Christmas season.  We had our traditional meal all but the cornbread dressing.  I decided not to make it and within 5 minutes of sitting down at the table TBG noticed so I had to promise we would have it at Christmas.  We still had plenty of food.  The turkey turned out really good.  I used about 2 tablespoons of ghee all on the outside of the bird and the skin turned out so crispy.

I tried a new recipe that turned out delicious and I will share the recipe with you soon.  It makes four large dinner rolls, but it is easily doubled.  Soft inside with a good balance of sweet and salt. They were really good the next day without warming them up and that is important to me.  

We are getting all of the decorations out today so we can decorate over the next couple of days.  I really can't believe tomorrow is December 1st.  We will do the tree next Saturday after we get home from our yearly Christmas lunch at Firefly.  We'll be stuffed and likely do appetizers for the evening so that will be fun.

I'm excited to have a baking day with one of my friends next month.  I have all of the supplies ready and am trying to make a list of everything I want to make.  I picked up local pecans this week which is a must every holiday season.  They are so fresh.  

Meals this week...

Big salad

LO Italian beef and Aju on a bun with 'fries'

Sole and a baked potato with a small salad

Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, garlic green beans, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs and dinner rolls.  With a sweet potato pie.

LO turkey warmed with gravy, panfried cheesy potato cakes, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs.

Pizza and a small salad

Tonight, I am making a big pot of Brunswick stew and garlic cheese biscuits. I have a ton of turkey stock so I will use it instead of chicken broth.  I can't wait.  It's cold and a bowl of this will warm your soul.

Culinary Adventures with Lori: Thanksgiving Leftovers

It's going to be a busy week 3 weeks, but I am going to remind myself to live in the moment and that I have two weeks off coming up. 😀

I will leave you with a picture of a vicious panther.  Seriously, look at those teeth and claws.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week as we step in to the last month of the year.  Remind yourself to relax your shoulders and your jaw, take a deep breath and look for all of the joys December has to bring us.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

I am so thankful for all of the friends I have made over the years here in blogland.  I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

How is Thanksgiving in 3 days?

TBG and I discussed the whole beef instead of or with turkey debate for Thanksgiving and I reminded him that we have always had turkey and we rarely eat it any other time of the year, so it was important and he agreed. I think the pot of Brunswick Stew was the key because he does love that.  Our menu this year will be turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, deviled eggs, cranberry sauce and cornbread dressing along with sweet potato pie.  All is now right in my world.

The week was busy but productive.  My dental appointment went well and I'm all good for another six months.  TBG got into the Orthopedic office to treat the SI joint that was bothering him for a good two or three weeks.  He isn't back to baseline, but I think he's on his way which is a relief to both of us. 

We ran our errands and stocked up on most things.  We also found this year's gingerbread creation.  Last year we made a gingerbread house for the first time, and we had so much fun we decided to make it a new tradition.  Culinary Adventures with Lori: My Weekly W's  This was last years and while not fabulous, it was cute and held together well.  This year TBG picked this one and I hope it isn't too much above our skill set but we will see.

This is only a three-day work week so of course I am looking forward to that.  Next weekend, we will make the house all cozy for Christmas with the decorations and tree.  One of my favorite things is to sit by the tree with all the other lights off and just enjoy the silence and the sparkling tree.  Confession...I usually don't start watching Christmas movies until after Thanksgiving, but I've been watching them all month and I am not sorry.  The season is too short and there are too many movies I want to see each year.

There are no appointments or commitments this week and I always love that then Saturday is the family Thanksgiving being held at my brothers this year.

This week we ate.

BIG salad x 2

Maine Red fish with rice and small salad

Lamb meatballs, pasta, salad - I used breadcrumbs, an egg and a cube of pesto I made this summer and they were delicious.

LO shredded beef on buns with au jus and "fries'

Chicken stir fry over rice

Tonight, we're having the leftover meatballs over fresh pasta and a salad.

Monday thru Wednesday this week will be light meals, but I haven't decided exactly what yet.  

Well, I am off to do a few things on my list and then I believe I'm going to take a short nap.  It's in the low 50's but gloomy which is a perfect excuse for one.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their day. I will leave you with a picture of Binx in case you need a smile.

My Week

Happy Sunday everyone!!  I can't believe the weekend is almost over.  Why do they have to go by so quickly?

Last Sunday and Monday we had a taste of winter weather.  It was cold and snowy, but nothing stuck since we still haven't had a freeze yet and then Friday and Saturday were in the 70's.  Talk about weather whiplash.  I went out this morning and cut more rosemary and sage and then added more leaves all around the plants to keep them warm this winter. 

TBG announced last week that he doesn't want turkey for Thanksgiving.  WHAT??  He said he would prefer to have another pot roast like I cooked a few weeks ago.  It was really good but SERIOUSLY??  So, I guess I will make pot roast, a bone in turkey breast or a small 12–13-pound bird with the usual sides.  They should all go well with his pot roast.  Not having turkey is not an option for me. I don't want to miss a Thanksgiving weekend without a cold turkey sandwich and a pot of Brunswick stew.  

This week I have a dental cleaning and TBG needs to get in to his doctor regarding some issues he is having, but other than that, we don't have any commitments which is fine with me since I also have to work all week.  Saturday, we do need to do a bit of shopping since we are very close to the time of year that I protest entering most stores. Our beef bundle will be coming this week too so I reorganized the freezer so there is room.

I've been looking through the last two cookbooks I picked up, and I see a lot of recipes I want to try in both of them.  I am glad I was able to visit The Back in the Day Bakery around 2004 in Savannah and everything we tried was delicious.  I was sad when I heard they had closed.

What we've been eating:

BIG salad x 2

Chicken taco rice bowls

Beef and cheese sliders and 'fries'.  It's been many years since I've actually had a slider because I honestly just never thought about them, but our last beef bundle included a package of premade ones, and they really did hit the spot.  

Chicken sausage with veggies and pasta

LO lamb and potato hand pies with a small salad.  These freeze so well and are so nice to have on a night you don't feel like cooking.  

This morning, I made an apple pie for us to enjoy with some of our bounty of apples. 

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the season.  Thanksgiving will be here before we know it and then BAM...Christmas. So be sure to slow down and enjoy each day.  I remind myself daily.

Hello November

It's November and the start of the Holiday Season.  The next three holidays are barreling towards us and I love it.  My notebook is filling up with lists upon lists of things to do and I love it.  

We had a nice Halloween with our usual chili bar and cocktails while Halloween movies played in the background.  I can't believe I used to enjoy scary movies and now I don't, but I guess we all change. TBG did a simple pumpkin this year because he left it to the last minute, but it still turned out really cute.  Luckily despite the trick or treaters we had a great night because we only had a total of 4 trick or treaters.  We have NEVER had that little and I was especially shocked because it was a Friday and the weather was decent.  I think because of the downtown trick or treat on Wednesday and so many trunk or treats at local churches a lot of people aren't going door to door anymore.  It's a bit sad to me but like I said, things change.

The last few weeks have been unusually chaotic busy at work for me, but I have two weeks off for Christmas to look forward to so I'm trying to focus on that. I am thankful to be able to take that time off every year to enjoy the holiday, family and friends. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year in my opinion.

Saturday, we ran a few errands and had lunch out.  We decided to check out the new Ollie's.  Neither of us had ever been in one before and honestly, we weren't very impressed with ours other than the book section.  I found two cookbooks I've been eyeing for less than I would have paid for one so that was worth going in.  I have to say ours has a really nice book selection for kids and adults.

We haven't had a frost here yet and this week the highs are expected to be in the high 60's low 70's so the herbs are still doing well. I will cut them all back next weekend. I dehydrated the last of the cayenne peppers, so we have enough for a number of months. Everything else has been cleaned up, the garlic and wildflowers are planted so it's all ready for winter.  

Firefly Lane is a really good book by one of my favorite authors, Kristin Hannah.  A couple of years ago Netflix made it into a series.  I started watching it then but only finished one season.  Over the last week or two I finally finished and I highly recommend it.  It makes me cherish my best friend of 40 years even more.  It is funny with long term friendships how they can remind you of so many things you have forgotten.  An old friend truly is priceless.

Dinners this week...

LO chicken soup and a Baggett with garlic butter

Big Salad 

Chicken Tika Masala with rice and naan

Big Salad with chicken

Chili and ALL the works (why are oyster crackers so good with chili)

Fried chicken sandwich and small salad

I have a pot roast in the crockpot for tonight (it smells SO good) and we'll have potatoes and green beans with it.

The elephant in the room everywhere seems to be the SNAP issue and for good reason. I really don't know how I feel about it. But I think it is about much more than the left or the right, so please don't make this political. Thankfully, I've never needed it and hopefully never will, but a friend of mine did need temporary help probably 30 years ago when her husband cleaned out their accounts and left her with two boys, the house and a car.  She had a job, but she just needed a month or two to help her get ahead.  They offered her $30.00 a month.  She was told that if she needed more, she should sell her house and or car.  Ever since then, I've been a bit bias about that system.  I hope American citizens that need help will receive it whether locally or from the government.

I don't know about you, but I cook dinner on the fly many times every week.  I saw this meme and realized we have had this exact conversation.

I hope everyone is doing well.  Times are a bit harder for a lot of people, and we need to pay extra attention to our friends, family and community to help out when or where we need to. I saw a wonderful commercial last night about paying it forward, but I can't remember the company or organization it was for.  But it was a wonderful reminder.

Enjoy your Sunday!!

Caramel Apple Bundt Cake

I first made this cake last fall after seeing it shared on Barb's blog.  She doesn't blog anymore so thankfully I printed the recipe out because this needs to be made every fall.  The recipe is originally from yourhomebasedmom.com

Ingredients

3 eggs

2 cups of sugar (I only used one cup, and it was plenty for us)

1 1/2 cups of oil (I used 1 cup of unsweet applesauce and 1/2 cup of oil)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

3 cups of apples peeled and chopped (I used gala)

1 cup pecans chopped

Caramel Sauce

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup milk

1 cup brown sugar

pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease and flour a 12 cup bundt pan, set aside

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs until foamy then gradually add sugar, blend in oil and vanilla

Combine flour, salt and baking soda; add to egg mixture

Stir in apples and pecans

Do not over mix. Only stir to combine ingredients.  

Pour into bundt pan and bake for 1 hour until cake test done

In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients for sauce, boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly

Set aside

When cake is done let cool in pan upside down over a wire rack for 10-15 minutes.

Remove cake to a platter and slowly pour caramel topping over the cake. (I poked holes in the cake with a wooden stick so some of the caramel goes inside)

My Weekly W's

What's on my mind: We finally got around an inch or two of rain overnight. Fall weather has arrived and I love it.  It's sunny with highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's which is just perfect in my opinion.  Later today I'm going out to plant garlic for next year along with milkweed, bee mix and bird mix wildflowers.  All of our garden beds are cleaned out except for the thyme, sage and rosemary which is still growing and looking good.  Hopefully they make it through the winter since it's predicted to be colder than normal.

Where I've been: Tuesday TBG had a doctor's appointment in Ofallon, so I tagged along and we enjoyed a great lunch at Drakes (the club is so delicious there) and stopped by Target for all of our Halloween candy for the trick or treaters. We were supposed to go to a bon fire last night, but the rain postponed it.  Honestly, I am glad because it was humid and 80 degrees yesterday.  We will enjoy it a lot more now with the appropriate weather for it.

Where I'm going: I have to work all week, and it will be a bit crazy. I have a new NP starting tomorrow that I have to meet with, Tuesday a new physician that requires a bit of time and then a physician candidate on Thursday. Luckily no appointments or commitments yet because I have a feeling, I'm going to want to hibernate next weekend.

What I'm watching: The Perfect Neighbor on Netflix which was very disturbing.  The fact that people like Susan are living among us is scary.  Carmello also on Netflix was the happy, heartwarming movie we needed to see and I highly recommend it.

What I'm reading: Good Husbandry 

What I'm eating:

BIG salad

BBQ beef sandwiches with zucchini 'fries'

Chicken pesto pasta and a salad

Stromboli and a salad

LO chicken white bean and noodle spicey soup

Lamb cheeseburgers and fries 

Tonight, we're having rice taco bowls

Tuesday, I made maple glazed and cinnamon sugar cake donuts for us and the doctors.  

Today I made a caramel apple bundt cake that is to die for.  Plus, the house smells like fall. I will post the recipe this week.

What is making me smile: Binx.  I caught him across the room staring at me and practicing his scary Halloween look. I just love this crazy, smart, curious cat.

                              I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday and a great week ahead.

I love Fall

 

My Weekly W's

What's on my mind:  My self-imposed deadline to have everything done inside and out before it gets cold is November 1st and I think I will make this deadline.  We're almost finished changing out rooms which took a lot more time than I anticipated but that is always the case. I took quite a bit to the thrift shop that I was finally willing to let go of for sentimental reasons. This clock is an example of something that it's time to let go of.  I've had this since I was probably 7 years old.  Why I still had it I'm not sure. I'm a firm believer that just because you have space doesn't mean you should keep things that you don't like and don't use.

 A bit more cleaning inside and out and we will be good. I also need to make an appointment to have the gutters and the outside of the house cleaned before November.

Where I've been: Work was not pleasant this week but trying to remember my agreement with myself that I give them 8 hours of my time in exchange for money and benefits helps me keep things in prospective. Binx had his yearly checkup and rabies shot and he was such a good boy in the Jeep and at the office. He's maintaining his weight of 11 pounds which makes him the smallest cat we've ever lived with.  I stopped by the farmers market for honey and a few other things.  There still is a lot growing but I know we have only a few weeks left for most of it.  

My favorite farmer had the most gorgeous and delicious strawberries that he grew on his farm.  It is a special variety that produces in the Spring and the Fall.  They are as delicious as they look.

Where I'm going: TBG has a doctor's appointment Tuesday in the city 50 minutes away that we shop in a lot so I'm going too so we can pick a few things up while we are there and have a nice lunch.  Other than that, I don't have any appointments.

What I'm watching: I watched Hocus Pocus one night this week like I do every October.  I also watched the new series on CNN, Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread and really enjoyed it.  We have a few series to catch up on hopefully this weekend.

What I'm reading: I started Good Husbandry by Kristin Kimbell after finishing her first book.

What I'm eating:

Veggie rice bowls with a cheese rollup

BIG salad

Pasta, veggies, ground beef with sauce.  A salad and garlic bread.  You can tell by the bad photo that the days are getting shorter.

Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans

BLT and salad

I have the chicken carcass in the crockpot and tonight we're having chicken noodle soup.  I found Trofie pasta that I can't wait to try in the soup.  

What made me say hmmm? I saw two different women at work this week with bizarre unusual haircuts that made me wonder who the hell is cutting their hair.  One was a very short cut in the back with strands in the front that were shoulder length.  The other had her hair in a ponytail and was telling the woman with her that her hair is so thick she had him hack cut the hair underneath. I don't typically judge or even really notice things like this but these haircuts both looked like Edward Scissorhands did them.

What is making me smile:  Even though we're still in the 70's-80's during the day the cooler nights are enough to make me smile.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and a lovely week ahead.

The first real taste of Fall!

 

My Week

 

Does anyone else love the sound of rustling leaves and wind in the trees?  I know I do.  We have some leaves now, but the great fall (pun intended) will be closer to the end of the month, the beginning of November here. 

The two mums that TBG brought home are gorgeous.  This photo was from a week ago, so they have even more blooms now.  I've decorated the front porch with some fall and Halloween items, and it looks nice, but I really wish I could fit in a couple of mums out there, but I've learned my lesson with the deer.  (I will try to remember to get a picture this week) 

Our local fall festival last weekend was fun.  It was a gorgeous sunny day, a bit warm, but still nice.  12 of TBG's Tae kwon do students held a demonstration that had a really good crowd.  It's always so nice to see them learning and improving and enjoying it.  We walked around for a while then decided to skip the LONG parade and go have lunch at Yellin Helen's.  Sitting at a picnic table under the shade trees was really nice after a long walk.

Yesterday we decided to go about an hour north of us to the fall festival they were having.  There were so many different vendors to check out it was a nice late morning walking around.  We passed on all of the food truck options and went to a BBQ place to sit and relax instead.  It really is a fun atmosphere, and the food was really good too. I really enjoyed my beef brisket sandwich. 

TBG had one of his military veteran hats on so the owner came and asked him if he would sign the Wall of Heroes which he was happy to do.  We all talked a bit and found out he had a food truck for 7 years and also did catering and just opened the brick and mortar 3 months ago.  You can tell they put a lot of thought and time into it.  It all looks really good.  The poxy floor is gorgeous; a local artist did all of the murals and they have great details even in the bathroom.  

Other meals this week...

Big salad x2

LO chicken and bean soup with garlic bread

Moroccan lamb meatballs with rice and naan Culinary Adventures with Lori: Moroccan Lamb Meatballs

BLT and zucchini fries

Beef taco bowls

Tonight, we're having Cod with spicey coleslaw 

I have a pumpkin pie in the oven and later this afternoon I want to try a new recipe for Reece's peanut butter cups.  I have two recipes but am leaning towards one specific one. I'll fill you in on how they turn out.  I want to tweak this in time for Halloween treats for friends.

I went to the salon this week to get my hair trimmed and while we were talking, we both realized I had him blend my hair color so I could stop coloring my hair almost exactly 4 years ago.  I don't regret that at all.  My hair is curly, but he enjoys blowing it and straightening it. I like it but it takes so much time and doesn't last, so I don't do it myself anymore.  If you're thinking about letting the gray grow in, do it.  

I had a lot of smiles this week, but this loaf of bread was the best.  Not only did it turn out delicious, but it had a little heart in it.  

                                                Enjoy your Sunday and the next week ahead.  

5 Favorite Summer Veggies

Fall is officially here and Summer 2025 gardens in our area will be done in a few short weeks. We have eaten very well this summer and savored all of our favorite seasonal treats. I don't like to buy many veggies from the grocery store because the flavor is just not there so I always stock up on the ones I can by either canning, freezing or dehydrating.  The things that do not store well will be missed until next year.  

In no particular order, here are my 5 favorite summer vegetables.

1. Tomatoes.  I love them sliced as a side, in salads, BLT's, pizza, sauce, salsa...SO many ways to eat them and so delicious.  

Tomato, basil and mozzarella with a bit of olive oil and baked or grilled on a good piece of bread or a pizza is heaven.

I have eaten my weight in BLT's this summer (well every summer) and I'm not sorry about that at all.  This is one sandwich that I am most excited for every summer.

2. Zucchini.  I love it roasted, made into 'fries', fritters, zucchini bread and of course tomato pasta sauce, and so many other ways. 

 

3. Cucumbers.  Cucumbers are such a great side by themselves, but they also pair very well with tomatoes, red onions and peppers.  They are delicious in a salad and who doesn't love pickles.  Every year I make a few batches of dill pickles and bread and butter pickles to enjoy during the fall and winter. 

This dill pickle appetizer is an all-time favorite.  Culinary Adventures with Lori: An appetizer and a score at the farmers market

4.  Peppers of every kind.  I always grow entirely too many peppers and too many different varieties, but I just can't help it.  Cutting into a garden pepper versus a store pepper is a huge difference in the smell and the taste. This year the tabasco peppers went wild.  This is one plant.

Bell peppers I like to slice up and freeze for various dishes through the season.  Jalapeno peppers I freeze whole for poppers or to dice up in dishes.  I also dehydrate a LOT of peppers.  One of my favorite things is making jalapeno pepper jelly.  A little cream cheese, pepper jelly and crackers and you have a really good appetizer.

5. Summer squash.  I love roasting it by itself or with zucchini with parmesan cheese. It's a great dish.

So there are my 5 favorite summer vegetables.  What is your favorite summer vegetable?  

Past posts of various 5 favorites...

https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/01/5-favorite-kitchen-helpers.html

https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/07/5-favorite-salad-dressings.html

https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/01/5-favorite-cookbooks.html

https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/03/5-favorite-sandwiches.html

https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2022/12/5-favorite-pies.html

https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/02/5-favorite-restaurants.html

https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2024/11/my-top-5-food-nos.html