The History Quilter: Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Thanksgiving 2.0

Yesterday I hosted Thanksgiving 2.0 with my side of the family. It was an altogether different vibe than the afternoon before as there were young children running through my house - playing "indoor soccer" in my hallway, trying to sneak in a game of Super Smash Bros. on the Wii and playing 21. I love all the laughter, the delight and the surprises when young children are around.

Although they range from five to fifteen in age, all six have a great time together.

A few funny facts about those six:

Three have braces.

Four were not put on this earth to eat.

Two were - bet you can guess who they belong too..

Two are obsessed with video games.

The two girls are the loveliest nieces one could ever have.

The youngest is a carbon copy of his father.

My father with all six of his grandchildren

My brother's and I with our father

My kitchen had the night off from cooking as we brought in wonderful Lebanese food from Open Sesame. We the addition of those leftovers to Thursday night's dinner I think I may not have to cook for three days!

One little quilting tidbit for today...I learned the other day that the Latte Quilt I created for Hoffman Fabrics to display at Quilt Market is now in Minnesota. Apparently a sales rep from Hoffman was travelling to Minnesota after Quilt Market and asked to take it along for display. Reminds me of Flat Stanley...anybody remember him? Unless the Latte Quilt makes another stop somewhere in the U.S., I should be getting it back soon.

With the festivities over I can now pull out my sewing machine and get back to crafting. Yea!
Enjoy your Saturday,
Susan

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Work-In-Progress Wednesday:The Food Edition

No crafty/quilty goodness today therefore there is no WIP Wednesday link up with Lee, but I have been a very busy gal in the kitchen. This is what my Work In Progress: The Food Edition has looked like today:

Two 7 pound Turkey Breasts having a trial run in the roasting pan .

Graham Cracker Crust for Pumpkin Cheesecake

Two pounds of cream cheese. My almost 20 year old mixer almost gave out.

16 qt pot getting ready for potatoes

Gotta have flowers

Pumpkin Cheesecake in the water bath...see the steam?

10 pounds of potatoes boiling

After 3,000 hours in the oven, the cheesecake is done

Cornbread for the dressing

Potatoes all done and SO very good

I've been doing a Thanksgiving Dinner at my home for about five years now and I have never planned ahead until this year. Instead of trying to make all of this tomorrow morning and being completely wiped out the entire day with making most of the food (a few people bring food), cleaning it all up and trying to actually entertain, I am doing most of the prep work today.

For the few family members who read this blog, those potatoes are not the famous S-family Gloppy Potatoes. I like trying new things and honestly do not make many things that my mother used to make as she was the best at them. When I try and replicate the dishes that my mother used to make, they do not taste as good to me so therefore, new potato recipe. I made the Pioneer Woman's Creamy Mashed Potato Recipe and they are to die for. Treated myself to some for lunch even.

Just for my own historical record keeping, this is what we are having:

BBQ Standing Rib Roast

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

Ham

PW Creamy Mashed Potatoes

PW Cornbread Dressing with Sausage and Apples

Cranberries!

Some kind of Green Bean thing the MIL is bringing

Assorted Bread Rolls

Pumpkin Cheesecake plus other assorted desserts

I'll be enjoying all of the sides plus a glass of wine. Oh, and some cheesecake!

Hope you have enjoyed The Food Edition of WIP Wednesday.