Thanksgiving Fiesta Ware

Thanksgiving 2011 Part 2

Usually when making a pot pie we make it with chicken breast and store-bought gravy. Thanksgiving leftovers allow us to make it with turkey and homemade gravy. Our regular pot pie is always great but the one after Thanksgiving is fantastic. We made the one shown above last night.

Thanksgiving 2011

Today turned out to be a beautiful, 59 degree, sunny day. Dale and I took the turkey out around 10:30 and got the neck and giblets out. That damn metal hook thing is always a bugger (you have to push down, not up, on it to get it out). Rinsed it all off and patted it dry. We let it sit for a couple of hours to bring it up to room temperature. Dale had the turkey patted down again, buttered, seasoned and in the oven by 12:30. Basted it every half hour. Made the cranberries at around 2:00. Got the giblets boiling at 2:15 to use in the gravy. Turned the turkey at 2:30. The turkey came out of the oven close to 3:00 so it could rest for an hour. Mom made green bean casserole and sweet potatoes. We ate around 4:00 and it was all delicious. I think it was our best turkey ever. Watched The Bishop's Wife later with Mom and ate pumpkin pie and had coffee. It was a beautiful, relaxing day.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

I always get a kick out of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and have to watch at least a part of it every year. It always brings to mind the movie Miracle on 34th Street which Dale and I have watched during Thanksgivings past as the turkey bakes and fills the house with its intoxicating aroma.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Turkey Coloring Contest

This turkey, or a least a version of it, has appeared in the Star Tribune for at least 35 years. I think I did a pretty good job coloring it this year.

Thanksgiving 2011 - The New Roasting Pan

Dale and I bought this new roasting pan from Macy's about a month ago. This one worked beautifully. It also came with a couple of spears for turning the turkey and a baster too.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Basting the Bird

Basting the Bird

Thanksgiving 2011 - Cranberries

Cranberries

Top photo: Just after being put in a cup of water mixed with about 2/3 cups sugar.

Middle: Cranberries with breaking skin as they heat up.

Bottom: The finished product (which, by the way, we forgot to set on the table).

Thanksgiving 2011 - The Bird

The Turkey

It was divine. For the last few years we've used the recipe from Nigella Lawson's book Feast.

Thanksgiving 2011 - The Gravy

Mom always provides coaching when it comes time to make the gravy.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Stuffing

Stuffing. Yes, it was Stove Top and it was delicious, especially with gravy.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Corn

Corn. It's one of my Thanksgiving favorites.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Green Bean Casserole

It's a holiday favorite. Made by Mom.

Thanksgiving 2011 - Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes. Yum. Made by Mom. I've always liked marshmallows but this is about the only time I ever eat them anymore.

Thanksgiving 2011 - The Pumpkin Pie

Yes, the whipped cream was fresh.

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving 2011

Dale and I hit Kowalski's at around 9:00 a.m. this morning and it wasn't crowded at all. We got all the food we need for tomorrow's Thanksgiving dinner. Pictured on the stove is the food we bought. We forgot to add the dinner rolls to the display. Tomorrow Mom will bring the green bean casserole and the sweet potatoes.

Pumpkin Pie

Tonight marked a first for the season. It's the first time we've had pumpkin pie this fall. It came from our good friend Mrs. Kowalski and I love how she offers just half a pie. Dale whipped up some cream for the topping. He actually cut himself a quarter of what we bought. I had to make a bit of fun of him because I knew he should have just taken half as I did. Of course he went back for more pie after he finished! I know him so well!

Chicken Pot Pie

Tonight called for comfort food and pot pie is just what the doctor ordered. For the pot pie we used the same recipe that's in the February 9, 2011 post but this time I added a little sage. Dale found a new recipe for green beans amandine that he made for a dinner party we hosted not too long ago. The recipe is from allrecipes.com and was submitted by Brenda DuFresne.

Green Beans Amandine

Ingredients:

1 pound fresh or frozen green beans, cut into 2 inch pieces

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup slivered almonds

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

In a saucepan, bring beans and water to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the beans are crisp-tender; drain and set aside. In a large skillet, cook almonds in butter over low heat. Stir in lemon juice and seasoned salt if desired. Add beans and heat through.

Everything was very delicious and also very comforting.

Meet Me in St. Louis

While eating our quiche this past Saturday night, Dale and I watched Meet Me in St. Louis. It's one of our fall favorites.

Quiche

On Saturday night I made a quiche for me and Dale. It was delicious. Here's the recipe we use. I got it from Mom.

Quiche

1/2 cup mayo

2 beaten eggs

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup milk

Mix the above ingredients together and then flake in one can of albacore tuna, 2 cups shredded swiss cheese and 1/2 cup diced green onion. Add the finished mixture to a pie crust (we use Pillsbury's refrigerated pie crust) and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Test to make sure it is done - knife should come out clean from the middle.