menu 11.24 - 11.30.

Whew - the leftovers have been demolished - almost all by people - and now the compost gobbled up the last few fractions of servings this evening. 

We had a grand Thanksgiving.  We ate a ton, laughed at a ruined turkey (a full story to come here soon, because, well, not recording it would be a waste), imbibed a bit, and washed up while having a spur of the moment dance party in my kitchen.  Having parents who will help wash the china and dance with you, well, that's something for which to be thankful! 

But, now I never want to cook anything in a 9x13 ever again. Well, not never, but, not this week.  No American food.  Or, well, just a bit, but nothing you'd find on a Turkey Day table.


Saturday 11.24

Breakfast:  We were fed a wonderful farmhouse breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes and sausages doused in syrup. 
Lunch:  Various and sundry paninis
Supper:  Turkey Pot Pie. 


Sunday  11.25

Breakfast:  Sabbath Sugary Cereal Treats
Lunch:  Last of the Leftovers w/ friends
Supper:  Were surprised fed cheeseburgers by my daddy and Caroline.  We meant to grab fast food and stop by for a visit after our tree shopping, but, instead, she caramelized onions and he grilled beef and we were happy and loved. 

Monday 11.26

Breakfast:  Wholesome Spelt Cinnamon Rolls delivered by a dear friend. 
Lunch:  Leftover Cheeseburgers/PB&Js
Supper:  Peanut Chicken,  Salad  (This is a dish we've been enjoying about which I need to blog so I won't forget how to make it....)

Tuesday 11.27

Breakfast:  Same Cinnamon Roll pan - revived by toasting with a bit of butter
Lunch:  ww noodles with sauteed produce (The drawer will be cleaned out - badparts into the compost and stillbreathingparts into the saute pan)
 Supper:  Red Beans and Rice.  There is something about a pot of beans. 

Wednesday 11.28

Breakfast:  Bran Flakes.  Oooh.  So Sexy. 
Lunch:  Leftover Red Beans / PB&Js
Supper:  Church.  I hope it's pizza, but I bet it's forsaken Subway.  Gosh, I hate that place.  I know, I am insane, but cold, super preserved lunch meat and fake cheese just don't make me happy. 

Thursday 11.29

Breakfast:  Scrambled Eggs
Lunch:  Red Bean Quesadillas.  (I'm going to grab a cup of beans out of the red bean pot on Tuesday, continue cooking with cumin and chili powder and then save for Thursday's lunch)
Supper:  Crockpot Marinara (Say a prayer of thanks for my happily-vegetarian-husband.  He helps my budget and his triglycerides) w/ carb of some kind - either homemade spelt cheesy focaccia or noodles, depending on my day. 

Friday 11.30

Breakfast:  Bran Flakes.  The excitement overwhelms. 
Lunch:  Tuna Salad w/ some carb (homemade bread or box o' wheat thins - again, depending on my day)
Supper:  Chicken Tortilla Soup, Cornbread, Pot of homemade hot chocolate, Paul's specialty (only) dish. 


Saturday, we're having a good ol' fashioned fayncee dinner.  I cannot wait.  I'm still finalizing the menu, and well, that makes me quite happy.  I keep playing around with different things.  Can I have shrimp in more than one course? 



Oh, I feel better, friends.  We are settled in our house (87% settled.  This is a good solid B and it counts).  I am fighting off, successfully, I think, a sinus infection.  Both of my Math classes misunderstood a concept today, and then, after a bit of work, every child in both classes got it.  Latin is wonderful.  Advent is five simple days away.  The food is good, the grocery budget for the week came in at 40% under budget, and we are blessed by a gas stove and a family being read-aloud the hobbit right now.  Oh, taste and see.  Taste and see that the Lord is good. 

Gobblin' up a Storm!

How many times did you complete this coloring sheet as a child? 

It's that time again. 

We're almost there.  A measly 9 days from now, I'll be frantically scooping things out of the oven and finding a place to keep them warm and ready. 

And, I get to go it all with one oven instead of two, so that should be fun this year. 

I've not yet worked a schedule of events, but I probably need to do that soon.  And then there is the shopping list.  I'll shop on Monday morning.   Also, there is the table to think on and the personalized place cards that AB has to find pinterest inspiration to complete.  My guest list is modest, as usual -  9 adults and three kids - but that doesn't stop me from being a crazy person with the feasting. 

What we've eaten the last few years:
2009
2010
2011

So, here we go: 

The Pre-Meal Bites
0.  Carrie, my stepmother, is bringing an appetizer and cocktail.  Yay.  

The Bird
1.  Turkey.  I'm going to use a tried and true cooking method in Come on In - I need my oven available on actual T-Day morning.  It's called "Turkey While You Sleep" -  But, their seasonings are a bit bland, so I'm going to spice it up a bit.  I'll google around and see what I can find.  Idears are appreciated

The First Course
2.  Butternut Bisque.  Here is Martha's recipe.  I'm sure I'll mess with it, but not much.   I've never done a soup on Thanksgiving, but why not?  I mean, why the heck not? 

The Side Board
3.  Sweet Potato Casserole.  Traditional.  Non Negotiable.   Last year we striped the different toppings - marshmallow and candied pecans.  This year, I'm thinking polka dots.  Or, maybe a design?  Oh.... I can post it on pinterest.  Wouldn't that be fun!?

4.  Cornbread Dressing.  Again - Traditional.  Non Negotiable.  Filled with celery and onion to the brim. 

5.  Sauteed Apples with Bacon.  I'm feeling Cracker Barrel as my muse here.  I believe fruit gets the short of end of the stick on Turkey Day.  Well, not at my table!   I'll serve the crispy bacon along side for my dear, vegetarian stepmonster.  (Her nickname for herself, not mine.  I find her decidedly non monstrous). 

6.   Mashed Potatoes.  We have usually done scalloped, a favorite of Paul and AB, but this year, we determined we wanted a better vessel for gravy. So, we're going mashed.  Garlicky and Buttery and Full of Half n Half. 


7.  Penne w/ Caramelized Onions, Vodka Sauce and Goat Cheese.   I always try to have a mac-and-cheese ish dish, and this is this year's version.  Having Vodka Sauce, I may be throwing off tradition all together and won't, in fact, get credit for obeying the pasta-dish-rule, however, I care not. 

8.  English Peas Au Gratin - Our green but bad for you dish for the year.

9.  Pear and Green Bean Salad w/ Sorghum Vinaigrette.  Assuming I can find Sorghum.  The recipe is in this year's Southern Living Thanksgiving Issue. 

10.  Braised Carrots.  They're just too pretty to leave out. 

The On-The-Table Condiments

11.  Liquored up Gravy.  We did bourbon last year.  I think we'll do white wine this year.  The bourbon was good, but it strayed from good ol' gravy a bit too far for my sake.  But I like the bite the alcohol gives it, despite being all boiled off. 

12.  Cranberry Apricot Sauce (Also see Southern Living Nov. 2012). 

13.  Our homemade hot/sweet pickles.   (Paul Forster- since  you're obviously reading this - we need to make pickles this Saturday....) 

14.  Spiced Peaches out of a Can.  I won't stop.  You cannot make me.  I think I'm the only one who eats them.  My grandmother taught me.  I cannot help it.  It's not my fault.  Hush! 

15.  Yeast Rolls.  Recipe courtesy of Via Fortier, an old friend who actually gets paid to cook things. 

16.  Foccacia.  What?  Say something. We like bread.  AB insisted. 

The Dessert Cart

17.  Chocolate Pie - Brought by Carrie, the aforementioned non-monstrous step mother.

18.  Buttermilk Chess Pie - a favorite around here.  It's in Square Table.  It's good.  Embrace it. 

19.  Rum Cake.  It's been years since I made my mother's Rum Cake.  Too Many Years. 

20.  Blackberry Crumble.  We don't need four desserts.  But, two things come to mind:  One, we're feasting, so who cares about need, and Two, I was at 19 items.  That wouldn't do. 

Menu 11/11-11/17

I'm all off food schedule, because we were out of town last week for a few days. 

But, we are home, and so I have to just press on! 


Sunday

We were on the road and ate tacobell/kentuckyfriedchicken for lunch.  No, we did not make multiple stops.  They were both in the same restaurant.  Who ever heard of such.  
We ate grilled cheeses for supper.  It's hard to beat a good, buttery grilled cheese.  And homemade spicy pickles.  Yes sir ree bob. 

Monday

For lunch, we cobbled together sandwiches and leftovers and packed for school/work.

For supper, I had thawed some chicken ramano sauce I had frozen and thought to throw it over pasta for an easy evening.  We ended up having an even easier one - some friends had us stop by for a quick afternoon visit and it turned into supper.  Coincidentally, they were having pasta with chicken, tomatoes, cheese and olives on top. 

Tuesday

For lunch, well, I haven't gotten that far yet.

For supper, my mama is coming to celebrate her birthday.  We're having Roasted Red Bell Pepper Soup, salad, angel hair with scallion cream sauce, and sauteed italian shrimp.  Oh, and Amaretto Freezes for dessert.   All are some of her favorites.  Yay! 

Wednesday

For lunch, we'll cobble together leftovers from the feast from the night before. 

For supper, we'll be at church, having yumm-o dominos pizza. 

Thursday

For lunch, I believe we'll be at the Renaissance Festival in Louisiana, but if that falls through, we'll figure something or other out.

For supper, Chili and Cornbread

Friday

For lunch, Chili Dogs
For supper, Bean Burritos

Saturday

For lunch, Bean and Cheese nachos - from the bean burrito filling, of which there is always a bit too much, since I started doing my own beans instead of canned beans. 

For supper, Potato Soup of some kind.  Haven't gotten that far yet. 



Then, to Turkey Week!   

Yay!