Happy Thanksgiving 2017

I hope everyone was able to spend their day with friends and family!

We certainly did. The yearly pilgrimage to my aunt & uncles with food in tow!
It was wonderful, it was one of those alternative years where we got most everyone who has to make the rounds with in laws.

So many different personalities meshing, no arguing, just enjoying.
Football and food comas.

Once again, we had way too much food, but, leftovers are always welcome!

This year I made

Deviled Eggs
Mashed Potato
Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms
Corn Casserole (in the interest of full disclosure, the girl child took this over this year!)
Pecan Pie
Key Lime Pie


What did you make?
What happened to make this year memorable?

Ghosts of Thanksgiving Past
2012
2013
Anti-Thanksgiving
2016

Happy Thanksgiving 2016

Happy Happy Turkey Day to you all!

I hope everyone got to spend quality time with friends and family today, I sure did!

Today started off with a bang...woke up with the start of a migraine. Panic mode!
Fortunately, I was able to stave it off to be able to make what I needed to make what I needed to make and get through the day. Hubby and the girl child pulled all the prep work together for me in order to keep me back on my track.

As the years go by, and the kids get older (not to mention losing the ones we love) and have their own families to celebrate with, the group gets smaller.
This year, we were about 50% of our normal. Very quiet.
Though, my aunts and I have yet to master the art of COOKING for 50% less people.

Oh...my...word...the food.

We had everything one could ask for in front of us. The abundance was a slight bit shameful.

My contributions this year were:
Deviled Eggs
Mashed Potato
Dill Salad
Carrots
Sweet Potato
Corn Casserole
Pecan Pie
Key Lime Pie


I was bringing the mashed potato.
Could you imagine if my head prevented me from going today?
It's one thing if you tell the host that "oops, the carrots can't make it" but the mashed potato isn't making it? That's Thanksgiving sacrilege!

I could go on and on about cute things that happened, or funny moments...but I know you all had your own!

I am thankful for everyone around me.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

The Anti-Thanksgiving Post

At some point on Thursday or Friday...after everything a whole bunch of cleaning and digesting...I will discuss how fantabulous my Thanksgiving was.
How could it not be?
It will truly be epic. It always is!

But in the meantime...let me let you peek in a little bit on my private life.

My name is Jay and I am a picky eater.
Not just a little picky: massive, annoy all my family and friends kind of picky.
Amazingly, it just seems to get worse as I get older.
Yay me. (please note the deadpan obvious sarcasm)

An article popped up in my FB feed from thekitchn.com and it hit home oh-so-much.
5 reasons why (someone other than me!) hates pumpkin.
This article started my spark. I had to fill people in on why Thanksgiving is one of my least favorite food holidays.

My co-workers actually had me run down the list of Thanksgiving foods and my thoughts on all of them. They are also amazed at the amount of stuff I bring to my own Thanksgiving...but, this is the only way to ensure I actually will eat something, (my dishes will be in red)

Turkey: I do not like turkey. I do not eat meat on the bone, Strike 1 and 2 all wrapped up into one featherless friend. At Thanksgiving I will have 1 bite of skin. Done.
Stuffing: Do not eat
Gravy: I like gravy, but not all gravies.
Bread: If they are not burnt, I will eat this.
Carrots: Simply spiced
Stuffed Celery: YUM!
Pumpkin Bread: See link to article above
Deviled Eggs: I would eat them...if I could get to one before they are gone!
Mashed Potato: Forget the turkey, to me, this is the star of the day (but only if I make them)
Sweet Potato: Never tried one. I make them every year, but have never eaten any, My dad has been critically allergic forever, so, we just avoid them.
Relish Tray: No olives for me, I can live without pickles.
Corn Casserole: love love love
Green Bean Casserole: only like this if it is actually made with french cut green beans
Turnip: why, oh why, do people eat this?
Squash: I eat no squash of any kind
Creamed Onions: only if sliced, and not in a glue like gravy.
Dill Salad: mmmmmm
Apple Pie: not a huge fan, but I avoid it for the most part (as I do most desserts not made by me) due to my own artificial sweetner allergy. Easier not to eat it than hope people remember if they used real sugar or not.
Key Lime Pie: No citrus for me
Pecan Pie: The one time of the year I actually get a piece
Pumpkin Pie: see article above

Do you all feel enlightened now?
What is your most fave and/or least fave part of Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving 2013

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I hope everyone enjoyed their turkey day with friends and family! We "gobbled 'till we wobbled" as is the grand tradition.

We have a lot to be thankful for this year, outside of the usual health and wellness factor.

1. My parents were able to visit for the first time (both of them) in a lot of years and spend the holiday. (we also celebrated Christmas amongst us on Thanksgiving)

2. A young family member had a horrible accident a few days prior. After a big scare, and a lot of surgeries, pins, and plates later, he is alive and well. Recovery will be a long haul, but we still have him!

3. There has been a new birth, and another on the way this year in the extended family

Being able to prepare my portion of Thanksgiving with my mother by my side makes my heart sing.

We made: 

(* will link when posted)

Deviled Eggs

Candied Yams

Scalloped Sweet Potato*

Dill Salad
Mashed Potato
Carrots
Orzo Italiano*
Corn Casserole
Pecan Pie
Key Lime Pie

And my mom made her brownies (yum!)

I hope your Thanksgiving was as memorable as mine...

Now we are headed out on, as is tradition to do the only "Black Friday" shopping we need... our Christmas tree!!!

This post was shared on: Your Homebased Mom and Simply Gloria

Thanksgiving 2012

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by a large, wonderful family that looks for ANY reason to get together. Thanksgiving is just a GREAT reason!
Included are aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, and even the extended family (my Auntie Vicki's family is there, and they might as well be blood!). It's great watching the kids grow and forge the tight bonds I have with my own cousins.

We had way too much food...per usual. Auntie Vicki was chasing people down with take home containers; begging and pleading for people to share in the leftover bounty.
Not that anyone minds, we are (once again) very fortunate to be surrounded by awesome, creative cooks. Everything is delicious, and we all eat entirely too much. Yes, there was some of the proverbial "after dinner naps" going on. It's tradition! (It might be a law...yes, I think it might be)

What did I bring?
I brought mucho food-o!
Lucky duck me had my mother up from NC, and between her, my daughter, and myself, we whipped it up between last night and this morning. Yay for kitchen helpers!

I post this now, in order to keep with the timing of the season.
As these recipes post to the blog, I will link them so there will be easy access for you!

I made:

1. BLT Bites
2. Deviled Eggs
3. Mashed Potato
4. Carrots
5. Macaroni and Cheese
6. Pecan Pie
7. Chocolate Toffee Creme Pie
8. Key Lime Pie
9. Corn Casserole


This Thanksgiving, as always, I am beyond thankful for all my amazing friends and family. I very much think about those who are no longer with us, and keep them in my heart always.

Do you have some awesome, go-to, everyone L-O-V-E-S Thanksgiving recipes you want to share with me? Please do!