~ 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.

~ Thanksgiving Menu: Sweet Potato Crisp ~

Save those marshmallows for your hot chocolate or s'mores.  Once you taste this creamy and sweet potato crisp recipe you will want to make this without the sticky (and messy) "candied" version.

This is what you will need....go ahead an double your shopping list, because this is one dish you are going to want to make again, soon:
2 Sweet Potatoes
4 Tablespoons Butter
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ginger
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon whipping cream
1/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon pepper (yes, pepper)

Peel and dice the sweet potatoes, place in pot and fill with water.  Boil until tender.

While the potatoes are cooking, mix the remainder of ingredients together with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. 

Drain and mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher.

With a hand mixer, mix all the ingredients together until light and fluffy.
Place the sweet potato mixture in a baking dish.

~ The Crisp ~

Mix together:
2 Tablespoons cold butter
3/4 cups pecans
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
If you use a food processor, pulse just a few times.

Place the crisp ingredients on top of the sweet potatoes.


Ready for the oven...

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

For the complete Thanksgiving Menu & Recipes, click HERE.

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Guest Room Edition

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

 and
Joining Catholic Bloggers Networks ~ Monthly Link Up Blitz
{Family Journal}
 

{pretty}

Hospitality.

 

 

Having my guests feel at home...

Treating my guests with warmth...

 

surrounding them with loveliness...

 

 

finding the perfect setting, in simplicity...

where peace can be found.

 

Using what I have, or sharing things that were given to me...

 

 Making my guests feel welcome...that's Hospitality.

The perfect nook to read a book.

 

 

{happy}

 

A visit to a book sale at my local library...happy!

There is no question, we hit the MOTHER LODE.  I could hardly contain myself as I scooped up all these beauties.  And among all my new found treasures was my very favorite, in rare vintage, preserved so well...

Someone had gifted it, Christmas 1900.  1900! 

We came home with bags and bags of lovely vintage books.  Oh yes, HAPPY.

More, happy.

Some vintage, some not.  All make me happy.

 

 

{funny}
HEAVEN or HELL?

 

A converted Corn Hole game...throwing the seven deadly sins into HELL.

And then there is the HEAVENLY game of Halos on the Saints...

 A lot of creative parents; the children had lots of fun!
Of course, the Saints Jars were also played...

 

{real}

 

Butterfly shared a prayer card that she found while cleaning out her closet.

On one side is a picture of All Saints in Heaven.

On the other side of the card, reads:

 

SURPRISE IN HEAVEN

 

I dreamt death came, the other night

 

And Heaven's gate swung wide,

An Angel with halo bright

Ushered me inside.

 

And there!  To my astonishment.

Stood folks I'd judged and labeled;

As "quite unfit", "of little worth";

And "spiritually disabled".

 

Indignant words rose to my lips,

But never were set free,

For every face showed stunned surprise ---

 

Not one expected ME!

 

Speaking of saints...my children and I were privileged to view and venerate 165 relics through Treasures of the Church. 

What are relics?  Read about it, here.

I will share this one picture:

A Fragment of Mary's Veil
De Velo (from the Veil)

OK, this one too:

Which other relics did we see?

All of these, here.

What a perfect experience, so close to All Saints Feast Day.

 

Go to Like Mother Like Daughter to find more contentment...

and
visit Catholic Bloggers Networks ~ Monthly Link Up Blitz
{Family Journal}

{pretty, happy, funny, real} : Sweet Saints Edition

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

Equipping Catholic Families Saints Cele-Linky,

and Catholic Bloggers Network
+ Family Journal +

{pretty}

 Butterfly's Collections.

She arranges them just so...pretty.

{happy}

I save boxes and containers, just in case. 

So I was {happy} to find a good use for these empty gelato containers (that have been taking up space in my pantry closet). 


Thanks to Jennifer at Catholic Inspired for the idea, the labels and, of course, the inspiration!

Each Jar named a saint...and the contents had saint themed goodies inside.  Check our her ideas, and get her label printouts, here.

Thank you, Jennifer for sharing this wonderful idea!

{funny}

As our homeschool groups new First Friday Mass Coordinator, I organized an Ice Cream Social, which took place right after the Mass.  Fun.  We also made "saints" for the All Saints Party.  The children traced each other, and then painted in a saint.  This was Little Lambs contribution...

Everyone had fun making their saint...there were some really talented artists!

They will be added to all the previously painted saints.

{real}

Working on schoolwork, activities, organizing clubs, events...my desk is a perpetual mess.
I actually have layers of stuff...sometimes things (my ipad) teetering on top of books and things.  Thank goodness for little helpers...

She's ready to help..."as an American Heritage Girl, I promise to be: 
Compassionate, Helpful, Honest,
Loyal, Perseverant, Pure,
Resourceful, Respectful, Responsible, and Reverent."  ~ The AHG creed

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

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and don't forget to

Visit Equipping Catholic Families to find more saintly activities!