Thanksgiving 2019

Happy Thanksgiving!

I started preparation on Tuesday and followed my list each day.  It made things so easy doing a little each day instead of a marathon on the day of. The big guy, aka my husband, doesn't cook much but loves food and makes a pretty good sous chef.  It was fun spending time in the kitchen together.

Everything turned out delicious.  We ate around 1 pm and now I have the rest of the holiday weekend to spend as I wish.

Tomorrow we will have turkey sandwiches and Saturday I will make Brunswick Stew which is one of my favorites. I think I have enough turkey to make a few turkey pot pies as well.

I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving however you decided to celebrate.

                                                      Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Pies

                                                                         
                                                                            Turkey

                                    The big guys plate.  I don't know how he can eat so much.

Icewine from Canada.  It has a really nice flavor.

Thanksgiving Day preperations

We are going very traditional this year for our Thanksgiving Dinner.

Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Cranberries
Cornbread Dressing
Stand up Deviled Eggs
Bacon Brussel Sprouts
Yeast Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Sweet Potato Pie

I finished my last minute shopping today and I've worked out my timeline.

Tuesday:

Make pie dough for the two pies, wrap and store in the fridge.
Bake the sweet potato for the pie. Wrap and store at room temperature.
Cut up carrots, onions and celery.  Store in the fridge.

Wednesday:

Make and bake sweet potato pie.
Make and bake pumpkin pie.
Make a pan of cornbread for the dressing.
Make the cranberry sauce.  Store in the fridge.
Clean the turkey and store in the fridge.

Thursday:

Boil eggs and make stand up deviled eggs.
Put together cornbread dressing. Cooking in the crock pot to save oven space.
Put turkey in the oven.
Set out yeast roll dough to rise.
Bacon Brussel Sprouts.
Mashed Potatoes.

It is going to be a very busy week.  Looking at this list, I'm really questioning why I didn't plan to take off work Wednesday.
I am going to wish every one a very Happy Thanksgiving now.  I will post pictures on Friday and share my recipe for Brunswick Stew that uses up left over turkey and warms you up on these cold days.

Things That Make Me Smile

My husband loves grits and eggs so this morning I fried the egg in a heart shaped cookie cutter.  It came out pretty well and put a smile on his face.

Happy Saturday!

Stuffed Shells

It was a super crazy, stressful week at work.  On top of that we broke all kinds of record low temperatures and had a snow storm that dropped a few inches of snow.

I decided I needed comfort food.  Stuffed shells are my winter weather go to when my weary soul needs soothing.  Along with a salad and some warm delicous bread, this dinner will warm you up.

For the meat sauce...

In a sauce pan heat olive oil (1-2 tablespoons)

Add 1 diced onion and saute for about 3 minutes

Add 2-3 garlic cloves diced 

Add1 pound ground beef

When the ground beef is fully cooked add 3 cups of your favorite sauce.  I've used my own homemade and I've used my favorite jarred sauce. Both were great.

Season with basil, pepper, salt, oregano to taste

Let simmer on low for around 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Shell filling...

2 cups of ricotta cheese

1 cup of mozarrella cheese

2-3 garlice cloves pressed

1 egg

Season with basil, pepper, salt, oregano to taste

Combine ingredients and chill for about 30 minutes.

Pre heat oven to 350. Cook shells just until aldente and let cool.

Cover the bottom of the pan ( I used 13x9 glass pan) with some of the meat sauce.

Fill cooled shells with shell filling and add to the pan.

Spoon remaining meat sauce on top of the filled shells.

Top with mozzarrella cheese.

Sprinkle with a little oregano and pepper.

Bake for around 30 minutes covered and then another 10 uncovered or until the cheese is bubbly.

These freeze and reheat wonderfully!

The Holdiay Season Is Here!

Here in the Midwest the weather has been breaking all kinds of records in October.  The first week of October we had record highs in the high 90's, we've had record rainfall throughout the month and now for Halloween we  hit a record low of  25 degrees.  I think the cold kept the trick or treaters away. I know when I was a kid (many moons ago) no amount of rain, snow or cold would keep us from trick or treating. My husband and I always dress up (somewhat) and enjoy handing out treats to the little goblins.  We ended up with about 35 kiddos showing up.






For as long as I can remember I have made a big pot of beef chili and an appetizer or two for dinner on Halloween.   Last night was no different.  We had chili and stuffed jalapeno peppers.  It was delicious and helped warm us up a little.  Last night was the first time we had to turn on the furnace.  It's funny we had a fireplace when we lived in Florida but we do not have one here.  I don't know what we were thinking buying a house without a fireplace in the Midwest.


I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween.




It's now November and I can't believe it.  Why does time seem to go by so much more quickly the older you get?  I'm going to start working on my many lists for the holiday season.  Thanksgiving dinner, marathon cookie making, Christmas dinner, New Years Eve and New Years Day.  I will be doing so much cooking and baking for the next two months and I am so excited.




What are some of your holiday traditions?  'Tis the season.