That’s right people, I’m talking turkey. Turkey Day. Thanksgiving. Like Christmas, but with all the food and none of the present buying stress.
Can ya’ll see a trend here? I love food, and as sure as grits is groceries I am a happy girl when my belly is full. Thanksgiving for me as a child meant dinner at my Grandmomma Hart’s house and then supper at my Granny’s. Friends, I am here to tell you these God fearing southern women could cook, and I mean change your life and the size of your britches cook! These wonderful women have since gone home to be with the Lord but the memories I have of them, my own wonderful mommma and a host of aunts in the kitchen have shaped not just the way I cook but the person I am. If I can feed you and make you feel at home my work is done.
Since moving to Kentucky we don’t make it home for Thanksgiving very often. We have begun staying home and occasionally we may have company but lately its just been my little party of five. The first year it was just us I cried in the shower (because that’s where those fall apart moments belong, so it all goes down the drain) but I fixed that big ol dinner, got all fat ‘n sassy then took a nap on my couch. Yup, on my very own couch with no where else to be and ya’ll it was niiiiccce. So now I’m spoiled to my post dinner tryptophan induced couch coma. Please do not get me wrong I miss my family, A LOT especially on Thanksgiving but my couch is really good.
In an effort to channel all the good cooks and fabulous ladies that taught me so well I like family favorites for the holidays. Since we’re friends now I’d like to share these dishes with you. So here is the menu at our dinner for Thanksgiving 2018…..
Turkey (well duh?!?), but since it will be just us I’ve opted for a large turkey breast. This works well for us since we like the white meat and the kiddos aren’t fighting over a leg. Ya’ll guess what, I cook that sucker in the cock pot! I do love me a crock pot! It really does keep it juicy and frees up the oven because we surely need that for other things. Well you may be asking “Dianna, how do you cook up that bird in the old crock?” Butter. Butter, is the answer for about everything and Jesus is the answer to everything that butter is not. So there’s your life lesson Jesus and butter are all you need. Salt, pepper, butter, a little garlic powder, butter, maybe some thyme if you’re feeling fancy, and lastly butter just coat that bird up good. You know, its your bird dress it how you like it and then give the crock 5-7 hours on low to do the work for you.
Dressing (not stuffing and yes there’s a ginormous difference), we will be having my Father in laws dressing this year as usual. He was kind enough to share it with me on our first solo Kentucky Thanksgiving and I will now share with you good people here.
Macaroni and Cheese Ya’ll know I consider that a vegetable right?
Green Beans These are my sweet friend Darla’s fancy green beans and have become staple at our table.
Sweet Potato Casserole This is like dessert to me and I love it. I will say there are 2 camps on this, the pecan people and the marshmallow people, and this is a house divided so I just put marshmallows on half and pecans on the other. Problem solved.
For dessert we are trying our hand at pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate pie. If we don’t make to big a mess I’ll share those with you soon.
Well friends that was a long one! I hope your table is filled with good food and surrounded by those you love. At Thanksgiving we pause to be grateful for all our blessings, to remember those who are no longer at our tables and to hug those who are there a little tighter. I am thankful for each of you, for taking a moment to read my crazy words and overlook my grammar ((SMILE)).
Happy Thanksgiving!
one last thought…..
This is one of my favorite ways to get a special meal on the table. I count back from when I need to be done and figure out the time I need to start cooking everything, this let’s me see what overlaps and what may not work with my limited oven space (Double ovens, double ovens, my kingdom for double ovens!!). I also write this out so I can stay on tract for dinnertime. It’s all in the planning.
