My Thanksgiving Menu Plan

Since the week of Thanksgiving is mostly prepping for the big day, I thought I would post my Thanksgiving Menu instead as I probably won't have big elaborate meals this week. I hope you find something you might want to try. If not go check out I'm an Organizing Junkie to see other menus.

Thanksgiving Day Menu

Roasted Turkey
Sweet Potato Casserole
Butternut Squash
Fresh Corn w/ Wild Rice
Mashed Potatoes
Homemade Stuffing
Creamed Onions
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Dinner Rolls/ Or Pumpkin Biscuits

Dessert:
Chocolate Cream Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Roll
Pecan Pie

And the winner of the giveaway is.....

.....Jamie from Dear Diary...
Congrats Jamie. I hope you enjoy the Gooseberry Patch Booklets!
Thanks everyone for the recipes. I will be putting the E-book together, hopefully this week!
HUGS!

Tried and True Thanksgiving Recipes! The Memories!

Oh my friends, it's been a fun week! Thank you all for linking up your favorite recipes. I will pick a winner for my giveaway this weekend and post it. Give me a week to put the E-Book together and then I'll have it on my side bar here and probably at my main blog.

Well today you are to link up your favorite Thanksgiving memories and/ or traditions. Just have fun with it.

Well my story is kind of humorous. (Go figure right?)
Growing up I wasn't really interested in learning how to cook. My Mom did it all. She would do all the Thanksgiving Dinner and I wouldn't think twice about all the hard work she put into it. All I knew was when it was ready to eat, I was first at the table. (Not something I'm proud of!)
She did this for as long as I could remember.

Well, my Mom got her payback! The very first Thanksgiving I was married my Mom said, "It's all yours! I'm done. It's your turn to take over. I'm tired."
So I thought "Okay, what's the big deal?" Mind you, I wasn't the best of cooks. YET!
I made a list and set out to the grocery store. No worries, I got this. This is going to be cake. After all Mom always made it look so easy. Did I mention Mom had been cooking for a gazillion years and I had been cooking for about 6 months? LOL! But I was up for the challenge. Have I mentioned I'm competitive? Anyway, the day came and I was up at 6 am ready to get the bird dressed and in the oven. At 6:10 I was in tears calling my Mom because I couldn't get the bird to cooperate! Stupid bird. I finally got everything under control but it didn't help that I could hear my Mom laughing under her breath!

Fast forward 14 years. I actually do have it down. I am also blessed to have my Mom and Dad here during the holidays and because they are staying in our cottage in the back yard, she is a big help to me. It's actually fun being able to make Thanksgiving Dinner together.

What fun memories do you have?
Link them up below or leave them in the comments area!
HUGS TO YOU MY FRIENDS!

Tried and True Thanksgiving Recipes! The Desserts!

Hasn't this week been fun? I have seen some really great recipes. Remember my little giveaway. You are entered for each recipe you link up.

I am so excited about today. I can only imagine the yummy dessert recipes that are going to come in. Because if you are like me you have to make EVERYONE'S favorite dessert on Thanksgiving.

My husbands favorite is Maple Pecan Pie.
My Dad's is Mom's Apple Pie.
Kathy's and Kelsey's is Pumpkin Pie
Mine and Mike's and Kaye's is Chocolate Cream Pie (so I make 2).
I think my Mom likes a little of each.
And the kids will eat whatever! LOL!

I think this year I am going to add a Pumpkin Roll to the mix, because in reality I LOVE cake more than pie. I know I know it's horrible but I just love cake and not so much pies.
So here is the addition to my Thanksgiving Dinner this year.

Pumpkin Roll

Ingredients:
3 Eggs
1 c. sugar or Sucanat
1 can Pumpkin
1 TBS Lemon Juice
3/4 c. White Wheat Flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 c. chopped pecans

Filling:
1 c. plus 2 to 4 TBS powdered sugar, divided
2 3oz packages 1/3 fat cream cheese, softened
4 TBS butter, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Beat eggs on high speed for 5 minutes. Gradually add sugar; stir in pumpkin and lemon juice.
Set aside.
Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt in mixing bowl; fold into pumpkin mixture.
Line a greased jelly roll pan with parchment paper; spray with non-stick spray.
Spread pumpkin mixture over paper and top with nuts.
Bake at 325 degrees for 15 m ins. or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Turn out onto a clean towel sprinkled with 2 to 4 TBS of the powdered sugar; set aside.
Combine 1 cup powdered sugar with remaining ingredients; spread over cake. Gently roll up cake as for a jelly roll. Cool and serve chilled.
Enjoy!!

Tried and True Thanksgiving Recipes! Main Dish!

I am loving all the recipes that you all are sharing already. This is going to be a loaded E-Book by the time we are done this week.

Today we are talking about the Main Dish!
Now I have to be honest with you, I'm hoping to benefit from this today because I really don't have anything to offer.
My main dish goes something like this

Ingredients:
Extremely LARGE Turkey

Directions:
Stick in bag until popper pops out of turkey!
Enjoy!

Yeah, I know! YAWN....Boring! What do you all do? I admit that we won't stray from having turkey for our main but I'm all for kicking it up a bit.
Do you have ham?
Do you have a roast?
Do you kick up your turkey?
PLEASE SHARE!!

Don't forget, you can always go back and link up your recipes if you missed the last couple of days. The more the better!
And remember each recipe linked is an entry to my giveaway. So link on up!
HUGS!

Tried and True Thanksgiving Recipes! Side Dishes

Okay we are into day two and I want your side dishes. I'll be honest with you. I could eat sides and pie and call it a day on Thanksgiving. LOL. To me, sides make it or break it.

Here are is a tried and true side that we have made every year since I can remember. My Mom used to make it and now I do. It may sound weird but these are soooo good.

Creamed Onions

Ingredients:
1- 3lb. bag of small sweet or yellow onions (if you can afford the pearl onions it's even better)
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 -1 cup of half and half

Directions:
Peel onions and cut in half. Place in a pot and fill with water just enough to boil without drying out. Cover with lid and bring to a low boil. Keep a watch out to make sure you don't cook up all your water, you don't want burnt onions. Cook until fork tender.
Drain off excess water and put back over low heat.
Add your butter and stir to melt.
Add enough half and half that you don't quite cover your onions.
Add a bit of salt and pepper to taste.
Heat through and enjoy.

Okay and I couldn't leave without posting this one again. It's my Grandmother's recipe that she made all the time up until she passed away. It's just not Thanksgiving without it!

Mamie's Cranberry Mold

1 Package of cranberry gelatin
1 c. of hot water
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 sm. can crushed pineapple, drained
1 small package of cream cheese 4 oz.
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. finely chopped walnuts

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in fruit and nuts.
Pour half of mixture into your mold or pretty dish. Place in fridge until firm.
Blend cream cheese and sour cream.
Spread over chilled gelatin.
Add remaining gelatin and chill until firm.
Enjoy!

And don't forget that each recipe you link is going to be included in the FREE E-Book that I put together when this is all over. And each recipe enters you for my giveaway too!

Two Gooseberry Patch Booklets with recipes for the over abundance of apples and canned pumpkin you have!Bring on the recipes!
HUGS!!

Tried and True Thanksgiving Recipes Week! APPETIZERS!

I have to tell you that I am really excited about this week. Be sure to read this too the end as I have a surprise for you. I think it's going to be fun and I'm sure we are going to see some wonderful recipes on here. If you need to update yourself on the breakdown of what recipes to post each day, go here!

Today we are sharing our APPETIZERS!
What's the little something something you snack on while the bird is cooking. If you're like me you don't like to eat a whole lot right before you have your Thanksgiving dinner, so share that snack, dip, finger food or whatever it is that holds you over while you wait for the most wonderful meal of the year!
I usually like to snack on chips and dip while I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner. It's usually either homemade salsa or hummus of some sort. But this year I'm going to try a new recipe. Yes I know it's not tried and true yet but it sounds so good that I can already tell it's going to be yummy. I also like simple and easy since I'm going to be super busy.

Baked Feta with Marinara

Ingredients:

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, drained
1 4oz. package of crumbled feta cheese. (It's cheaper to buy the block and crumble it yourself)

32-1/2 inch thick slices of French Bread baguette, cut diagonally, toasted

Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Sprinkle feta evenly into a small shallow baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with tomato mixture.
Bake for 20 mins.
Serves as a spread with bread slices.
Enjoy!

I plan on throwing this in right before I throw the turkey in the oven so I have something to snack on while I get all the other things ready to go. That way you're only heating up your oven once.

Oh and just for fun I'm having a little giveaway. I'm going to give away two Gooseberry Patch booklets at the end of the week. They are perfect for this time of year.

Each recipe you enter is an entry. So go get those scrumptious, go to Thanksgiving recipes and link them up to share with all!
Spread the word and share the fun!