~ Thanksgiving Feast & Recipe Links ~

This is a re-post of my new favorite Thanksgiving Recipes:

~ The Thankful Feast ~

LAST YEAR...
We had my husband's extended family, my family and some of our friends from our church for dinner.  Our home was full!  :o)  Nice!!
 
THIS YEAR...
I cooked for my little family of five.  So I had the luxury of snapping photos; no worries about time constraints and walking around in my pj's all day.  :o)  Nice!!
 
EVERY YEAR...
My husband and I try different recipes for our Thanksgiving Turkey.
 
Traditionally, we always cook a turkey, but we don't use the same recipe every year.
We may tweak some, but I can't remember ever cooking a turkey using the same recipe twice...not in the 22 years that we have been married.
 
ONE YEAR...
We came up with the idea of using bacon as a self-baster.  We covered the skin of the turkey with bacon; skewering the bacon to the entire outside of the turkey.  Don't laugh.  It was delicious (but fattening).
 
RECENTLY...
I took on A Challenge of making one thing useful/beautiful in the Master Bedroom, and just last week I decided to take a NEW CHALLENGE...to try this new recipe and change my turkey-baking-ways.  I took Stephanie (over at Sweet Boutique), up on her challenge...and then some...I tried (basically) her entire Fabulous Menu.

Words cannot describe and my pictures do not do it justice...
But, Hands down, this was the all time favorite and BEST tasting bird (and Thanksgiving Dinner) in our family history.

 

I think we have found our tradition.  :o)

I have posted (3 sub-posts) on each of the dishes that I tried, so as not to have such a terribly long post...Here is the Menu:  (click on dish to find pictured posts)

~ Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes ~

 

~ Harvest Stuffing ~

 

~ Sweet Potato Crisp ~

 

~ Roasted Asparagus ~

~ Cranberry Sauce ~

 

~ Roasted Turkey ~

~ Apple Pie ~

~ Egg Nog & Hot Apple Cider ~

The calm, after the storm

 

My table decorations were very simple this year.  I used fresh Cuties California Mandarins surrounding a 3-wick candle (which I actually removed to make way for all the food) and placed it on the Lazy Susan.  My topaz harvest linen with burgundy napkins.  Super simple.