Thanksgiving

Cornucopia

We had a nice Thanksgiving. We had the four of us and my parents here. I ended up taking a plate of food to my brother in the evening since he had to work. He works the night shift at the hospital as a Respiratory Therapist.

Since our kitchen is still a work in progress our menu wasn't as big as it has been in years past. But, we still had an abundant amount of food.

I roasted a turkey in my new oven. I used the convection roast feature and it produced a moist, golden brown turkey that could have graced any magazine cover. ;0) We had oyster stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, green bean bundles, mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, and homemade rolls. For dessert we had pumpkin pie, chocolate pie, chocolate mint pie, and a sugar free lemon pie for my mom who is diabetic. Also for my mom we used splenda brand brown sugar for the green bundles.

All in all it was a nice day spent with my parents. Once they left I took food to my brother and visited him for about an hour or so before he went to work. My oldest daughter and I went. We took our toy poodle to meet his new doberman puppy! His name is Titan and he is soooo cute! His coat is as smooth as silk. He is very nippy, though. My brother will have to break that habit before he gets too much bigger! :0) Gabbie (our poodle) established her dominance right away by barking and backing the puppy into a corner! We allowed her to do that so he will not bully her or possibly hurt her when he is a grown doberman! Once they established who was who and who was in charge (Gabbie ;0)) they played with each other. There's just something relaxing about watching dogs romp around and play together.

After we got home from my brothers house we were going to watch Fred Clause. We put it in and started it, but everyone was too exhausted to watch it. Dh always gets up on Black Friday and heads out to hunt all the bargains. Me? No thanks. I stay in bed! LOL

Youngest daughter had to get up at 3:30 to be at work by 5:30! She is working at Bath and Body Works in the mall. I feel bad for her trying to fight all that traffic to get out of the mall when she gets off at 3:00!

My mother-in-law had to have emergency open heart surgery on Wednesday. It was really a shock that they did a major surgery like that the day before Thanksgiving. It wasn't a scheduled operation. The doctor said if they hadn't found her blockages and she had a heart attack she would have surely died. By the time any lifesaving measures were taken, it would have been too late! Praise the Lord they found out!

We will be leaving on Sunday to go to Maine to see her. It's a 15 plus hour drive when the traffic isn't bad. I'm hoping it's not longer since we are traveling on a holiday weekend.

Here in a bit I will be starting clean up from yesterday and maybe putting out a few Christmas things before we leave on Sunday. I have laundry to do and packing to start. I keep waiting for a few days where we can let down and relax, but it isn't happening anytime soon! Probably not until after Christmas now!

I hope you all had a special time with your families yesterday. I also hope you will enjoy the upcoming CHRISTmas season. Don't get so bogged down with the commercialism that you forget what Christmas is really about. Don't get so busy that you forget to enjoy your family. Don't miss the forest for the trees! :0)
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Some Thanksgiving Recipes

Sweet Potato Casserole

• 4 or 5 sweet potatoes baked and peeled
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 to 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• nutmeg

Topping

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup butter

Mash sweet potatoes and add brown sugar, milk, eggs, and nutmeg. Mix well and put into a casserole. For topping mix all ingredients together with a fork and sprinkle on top of casserole. Bake in a 400 degree over for 25 minutes or until topping is bubbly. You can also add nuts to the topping.

Oyster Stuffing

• 1 container of oysters (size depends on how much stuffing you are making)
• 1 Bag of seasoned stuffing bread crumbs
• 2 cans of chicken broth (or homemade if you have it)
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 or 3 ribs of celery chopped

Saute onion and celery until translucent. Mix oysters (with juice), bread crumbs, broth, onions and celery and place into a buttered casserole dish. Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes.

Green Bean Bundles

• 3 cans of whole green beans
• 1 pound package of bacon
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder

Cut bacon in half and wrap bacon around 5 or 6 green beans, securing with a tooth pick. Place bundles in a casserole or baking dish. Melt butter and add brown sugar and garlic. Cook until thick and bubbly. Pour brown sugar mixture over green bean bundles. Bake in 400 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until bacon is done.