Thanksgiving Day!!

Thanksgiving morning began with cinnamon rolls!! They were practically perfect this year! It seems the recipe we like best for cinnamon rolls is the one out of my bread machine cookbook. It is actually a caramel cinnamon roll recipe -- but this year I also made frosting to top them with. That made them over the edge yummy!!

Next Miranda and I made the bacon townhouse crackers. we were short on bacon. I think because I usually use 1/3 piece of bacon for each cracker -- but this year I used half. They were extra yummy -- and with the extra crackers I topped them with tomato and mozzarella -- Terry's suggestion and they were yummy. Once we put those in the over (they take 2 hours to cook) it was time to begin stuffing production.

This year I decided to add sausage to the stuffing. I took a family poll -- and everyone was willing to try it. The verdict -- next year no sausage. It really did not add much -- and I think it actually took away from the flavor I love so much. Now I know. During stuffing production I realized there were several things I need from the store -- so Terry went out for whipped cream -- lime-- eggs and milk. He went to Dominick's as Jewel closed this year. He claimed it was the best shopping experience of his life!!

We finished with the stuffing around 10:30 -- to early to actually stuff the bird. So we whipped up some artichoke dip so it would be ready to go in the oven later in the day. We stuffed the bird from 11:30 - 12:00. It was nice a blue coming out of the brine -- Miranda and I got it stuffed and wrapped in the cheese cloth when I checked the blog from last year and realized that I had forgotten to put butter under the skin. So we unwrapped parts and added the butter. Note to self -- read the blog from the previous year -- before beginning food production!! We put the bird in the 325 degree oven at Noon -- we were hoping for a 4:00pm dinnertime

Just before putting the bird in the townhouse crackers came out -- they were yummy as usual!! Next the artichoke sip went into the oven. I also began work on the mashed potatoes from the Pioneer Woman cookbook. These are some of the most luscious mashed potatos I have ever had. Could be the amount of butter, the cream cheese, or the half and half -- hard to tell!!

Next we made a new appetizer -- Apricot sweet and spicy meatballs. The meatballs are made from turkey and pork -- with bits of dried apricot in them -- baked in the oven. The sauce was meant to be mostly apricot nectar -- but I added apricot jam and barbeque sauce as well. They were quite a hit!! I see myself making them again for Super Bowl Sunday!! Along with the meatballs we had some cheeses and salamis. (This was in case Terry did not like the meatballs!!)

Now I informed the family -- no more snacks till dinner time!!

Next Miranda and I were set to work on sweet potato casserole, cornbread casserole, and green bean casserole -- but wait -- we forgot the creamed corn. So Miranda was off to Dominick's. This is a first this year -- trips to the store on Thanksgiving -- I need to be more careful with my shopping lists next year!!

So while Miranda picked up creamed corn -- I got the sweet potatoes in the oven. When she came home she mixed up green bean casserole while I mixed up the corn bread casserole. Next it was time for sweet potato casserole. Since we could not choose between crunchy topping and marshmallows -- we alternated them diagonally across the top. Now since this was the first time for sweet potato casserole we just HAD to taste it before it went into the oven. WOW was it good!!! I said to Miranda -- it's gonna be a close call between the mashed potatoes and the sweet. She responded -- Mom -- the mashed potatoes are great -- but this sweet potato casserole is HEAVEN!! Another new addition that will be around for a while.

Next we tidied up the kitchen -- set the table -- changed clothes -- check facebook. We found out that a friend of ours was without a table for Thanksgiving -- so we invited her to join us -- Miranda texted directions and she was on her way.

We took the turkey out of the over at 3:50 -- let it rest for 20 minutes and Terry began to carve. I quickly became apparent that some of the dark meat was not quite done -- so back into the oven it went -- Terry continued carving -- but now a small portion of the white was a bit under done. So back in that went -- just in time for the dark to be done. It all worked out fine -- and was great tasting -- but next year -- just a bit longer in the oven -- and I must be more careful with my placement of the meat thermometer.

We sat down to a fabulous meal -- and out friend Mel arrived only minutes after we began. It was wonderful to be able to share our meal with someone new -- and Mel was glad to be with us. My Mogan David wine was a bit soupy this year -- no idea why -- but all agreed it still tasted great!!

After a meal that put us all into food induced comas -- we cleaned the kitchen and then visited until about 7:45 -- when Mel needed to leave and Miranda had to head to Sandy's to house sit. I sent leftovers home with Mel, pumpkin roll with Miranda and we sat down to watch some Christmas light shows on you tube.

The rest of the might is a blur as I was too full and tired to do anything expect be glad that I was not working at 4:00am!!!