Let the holiday magic begin!

Who cares that it was 75 degrees here today? The winter holidays have officially begun! :D

I am SO EXCITED about Thanksgiving tomorrow, and looking forward in general to a long weekend, and getting a bunch of shopping done (online, of course - we’re spending Christmas with my parents and family in Idaho this year, so most of the kids’ packages are going straight there), and generally relaxing with the fam.

Jared just sent me the cutest pic EVER from his iphone, from the movie theater. We all went out to dinner, and then Jared and Rowen went to her very first movie ever while Ele and I hit up Borders. She chose Enchanted. He obviously knows how to hook her up with the good treats as well, and she looks so excited! :D  I love technology. It’s so much fun to see this in near real-time. :)

Disclaimer: not responsible for the Crocs-n-socks action there in the photo. That’s all her.  

I’m excited to make my 2nd ever Thanksgiving dinner. Somehow I made it to 32 and this is only #2 But of course, we’ve forgotten everything we did right last year with the turkey (and what we did wrong with the sweet potatoes… *shudder*). I figure the easiest way for someone like me who’s basically a non-cook to pull off a meal like this is to just pick a few things I’ll do, and let others (Betty Crocker, the Pillsbury dough boy, Sister somebody who makes really great frozen rolls, and so forth) help me with the rest. :)

So we’re doing:

• turkey (breast only - no dark meat lovers here, and Jared and I are both total wimps about picking an animal off its bones)
• mashed potatoes (go Idaho!)
• sweet potatoes (remind me never, ever to follow a recipe that combines sweet potatoes and orange juice concentrate again, okay? okay. This year it’s straight up sweet potato+marshmallow goodness)
  
• green beans (nothing fancy)
• homemade apple pie (except crusts - thank you Dough Boy!)

Also featuring frozen rolls (I would give so much to be able to make yeast rolls from scratch. If anyone wants to come teach me, let me know!), Stovetop Stuffing, canned cranberry sauce, and a pumpkin pie from the Target bakery. :P

Are you having family for Thanksgiving this year? Heading somewhere? Cooking a big shindig? Or (smart) ordering or going out? Whatever your plans, I hope your day is filled with joy, and love, and many, many things to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

Comments

[Rebecca]

your Target has a BAKERY? Whoa! p.s. happy thanksgiving! :)

[Kristy]

Are you from Idaho originally? I am from Idaho originally and my family still lives there--outside of Boise. Small world........

[Heather]

I live in Nampa, a suburb west of Boise. Love it here!

Funny thing about our potatoes: when you walk through a grocery store, at times you'll find *gasp* Washington potatoes! ;)

[Luann]

We do a big family pot luck. This year it will be very small only 12 people. I will be baking a pumpkin pie (store bought gram cracker crust) and a caramel apple cheese cake.

[Julie L.]

That pic of Rowen is adorable! I actually took my 5 year old dd to the movies today too...Mommy wanted to see "Enchanted" but I let Catie choose, so she picked "B Movie!" It was cute. Then when we got home, she said "now, when can we go see Enchanted?"

We're in charge of homemade stuffing for our family Turkey Day...my hubby is making his mom's recipe. (yes, I'm blessed with a DH who enjoys cooking!)

Happy Thanksgiving to your family!

[Richelle F]

I'm from ID too, live in VA though.
I always just make rolls in my bread maker. I love homemade rolls!! (and ID potatoes!)

[Brooke in Oregon]

I just slice and bake the sweet potatoes just like regular ones, yummmm love me some sweet potato goodness!

Yep, I will be making the dinner this year.
Turkey (done in a brine from Martha Stewart!)
Gravy (store bought)
Cranberry sauce (canned)
Green beans (yummy flash frozen freshness)
Mashed potatoes
Creamed corn (ewwww) Yucky stuff that my son loves!
Green Salad
Fruit Salad
Rolls from Great Harvest Bakery
Apple Pie & Cherry cheese torte (I actually do my own desserts, I know big shock)
So that is our menu! My MIL is bringing the pumpkin pies so we have it all covered

Hope you have a wonderfully relaxing and joyful day!

[Christine]

I love the new look - but I almost thought I'd gone to the wrong URL for a minute there! We're doing the huge bird, sweet potatoes, mashed, peas, canned cranberry, and our stuffing (grandma's recipe...the whole reason for the meal!)

And more pies than I need to tell you about.

All I want is a nice meal, a glass of wine, and a 15-minute turkey-induced power nap.

Have a great holiday!

[Dani]

My sister, who conveniently lives next door, is having Thanksgiving this year at her house. I'll be supplying the mashed potatoes, the Pumpkin Pie Squares (a pumpkin pie baked in a 13"x9" dish), Washington Apple cake with cream cheese frosting and buttermilk pie.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

[Joscelyne (Joscie) Cutchens]

Happy Thanksgiving! I love that shot courtesy of the iPhone... We usually have a large buffet with atleast 40 people. hardly any leftovers and eating off paper plates. I wanted to have a sit down meal and use my china this year, so only a few people coming over this year. Turkey, Ham, rice (a staple in hawaii), mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green salad, rolls... and most importantly... pumpkin, custard and chocolate cream pie... I don't know how to make yeast rolls, but if you want to learn how to make pie from scratch... Come on to Hawaii, I'd be glad to teach you!

[Gina]

Happy Thanksgiving! We're living in Germany now, so no canned cranberry sauce for us.:( But we do the rest - I roast the turkey, make homemade cornbread stuffing, homemade gravy, whipped potatoes (nothing beats a German potato for taste and texture), homemade pumpkin and pecan pies (including crust - though I really miss Marie Callendar's), and bakery rolls. Friends are bringing sweet potatoes and green bean casserole and someone will probably steam some very basic, plain corn and peas. Add a bottle of wine and some juice for the kids and we're all set!

Oddly enough, I've made the sweet potatoes with orange juice (substituted it for the butter) and they've turned out really well. I still added lots of brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, though. I don't actually eat them (can't stand anything that sweet) but everyone says my sweet potatoes are fantastic.

[janmary N Ireland]

Happy Thanksgiving from N Ireland. Sweet potato and marshmallow? finding it hard to imagine! enjoy :)

[dawns]

Jessica...Hope you have a wonderful Turkey Day!
When I make a list of things that I'm thankful for this year, you, Jared & the rest of my friends on the JS playground are at the top of the list. If you get a chance, check out my extemely new blog (I can't believe I have a blog!) for a little thanksgiving treat.

[dawns]

Sorry about that... our blog link didn't work. Here it is... http://tadadigidesigns.wordpress.com

[Sharon Dale]

Don't you just love the crocs and socks look! My two boys (under 4 1/2) won't go anywhere without crocs and socks! Here in Australia I call that the 'bogan' look! They would wear those crocs to bed if I let them. We don't celebrate thanksgiving down here but you all sound like you'll have a wonderful time this weekend. All that yummy homecooked food! Don't know how you do Thanksgiving so close to Christmas. One big day of food a year is enough for my tummy!

[Vanessa]

Thanksgiving is, by far, my favorite holiday!! We spent our day at my parent's home with the usual turkey, mashed potatoes, grandma's homemade stuffing, green bean casserole, canned cranberries, cookie salad (yummy!), and store-bought rolls. We also had some apple & pumpkin pies! (Homemade by my mom!!)

The best part of the day is our tradition of kicking off the Christmas season! My mom buys each of us a new ornament (usually a Hallmark collectible), wraps them up and we open them after our dessert on Thanksgiving. I buy one for my parents to open too!! The kids love it and it really has become a cherished part of this holiday for our family. Then we toast the upcoming holiday with some frosty Grasshoppers, blended up by my dad. And plan our Black Friday shopping expedition (I'm not going this year though.)

Have to say it again: I love this holiday!

[Lee]

Hi-
I know it's after Thanksgiving, but I have a truly easy recipe for "Two Day Rolls" over on my blog. We've used it for years with great success. Hope it helps!
Here's the direct address:
http://pinkgranite.blogspot.com/2007/11/grandma-jennys-rolls-as-promised.html
Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
- Lee

[Damon Crawley]

Canned cranberry sauce?!?! Sorry no. Not at this house. 1 1/2 cup water & 1 1/2 cup sugar brought up to a low boil then drop in a bag of whole cranberrys. While cooking until the mixture reduces by 1/3 then use a potato masher (or immersion blender) to to mash and break them down and put in 1/2 - 1 tsp cinnamon. Yum!

Also made dressing using 2 medium zuccini's, 2 medium apples, and 5 ribs of celery (all shredded with the food processor) and cooked with a little butter, poultry seasoning and a bay leaf. Then mixed in with dried out pumpkin bread (1 box mix) and 2 sleaves Ritz crackers. So good.

[Joanie]

Hey... crocs & socks is what is all about in cold climates...either that or birks and socks!

[Carol in NC]

Jessica, you totally ROCK!! I love a woman that admits to including the necessities to her menu: Stove top stuffing, Sister S yeast dinner rolls (YUM)...Mrs. S makes the most fantastic pies, so why try to invent the wheel?? These modern day marvels allow us more time to scrap -- plus they taste GREAT!!! If you ever want a out of this world recipe for sweet potato casserole (no marshmallows or oj included) that even the little ones will love, drop me a line! :o)

[Kari Holt]

I would *love* to teach you how to make rolls ... that is my favorite part of holiday cooking!! I've been using the recipe from the Lion House (in SLC - we had our wedding luncheon there) for years! I even posted pics of the ones I made this year over on my blog if you want to take a look :) http://karistamps.blogspot.com Have a wonderful and blessed holiday season!! This is my absolute favorite time of year!! You have made it possible for me to create a wonderful album for our parents this year using my digi skills ... I can't wait to give it to them!

[Colleen E.]

I'd be happy to teach you to make bread...after all it's so therapeutic and you've certainly helped me with the grunge frame, etc. So you can either come to L.A., or we can email each other - your choice. And we can make the quick way (in the bread machine on dough cycle...then you take it out and finish it by hand) or the old-fash. way. All works...all good.

[Colleen E.]

Forgot to mention, I have a wonderful sweet potato roll recipe. I start it in the bread machine, take it out when it's done making the dough, then roll the dough into balls, let rise, bake...total yum. xo

[Gayle]

Cover Yourself With Glory Company Rolls
(adapted from Joy of Cooking)
Dissolve 1 pkg yeast in 1/4 C warm water; set aside.
Pour 1 C hot water over 1/4 C butter,1 1/4 tsp salt, 2 Tbsp sugar and stir till dissolved.
When cooled to lukewarm, stir in yeast mix.
Beat in 1 egg.
Stir in 2 3/4 -3 C flour and beat till blended (make a soft dough). Cover and chill 2-12 hours.
Punch down, shape into greased muffin cups (about 1/3 full). Let rise till doubled in bulk.
Pop into 425 oven as your company pulls into the driveway. Bake 15-18 min. Serve right away.
I get 1 dozen regular and 1 dozen rolls baked in mini muffin pans.
These freeze OK but do not keep well otherwise.