Sunday, November 12, 2017

Random Thoughts: Thanksgiving

The trees are swaying in the breeze and leaves are floating to the ground. I can even  hear them hitting the roof. Yes, with the foam and plastic roof, I can hear everything that hits it. I can even even hear the squirrels run across the roof.

Fall is definitely in the air, but today the temperature is warming. We'll be in the low 70s, though I have a feeling it's going to be more like the upper 70s. About once a week for the past three weeks, we've had a cool weather teaser when the fronts came through, but it didn't last very long.

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away. Sometimes it's hard to believe the holidays are here. We will have friends and family over. I'm starting to plan the menu for the day so I can create a master grocery list. Honestly, I'm not doing anything fancy, just simple home cooking. DH is going to smoke a couple of turkeys. I think he's actually going to smoke more than just two. He's already received some requests for smoked turkeys.

And yes, they are that good. I remember one Thanksgiving, we had family stay the night. The next morning I pulled the turkey out of the refrigerator to use what was left to make a casserole. To my surprise the only thing left in the pan was bones. Someone had picked them clean and put them back into the refrigerator.

I'll make a ham, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, a green bean casserole, yeast rolls, and a couple of pies. When it comes to pies, I cheat. I'll buy a couple of frozen pies to bake. But I will make a homemade banana pudding. I have two versions that I make. For the holidays, I'll make the "rich" version. This version is more decadent then the normal version I make.

I've cooked holiday meals for friends and family for so many years that it's not that much work. On the day before Thanksgiving, I'll bake cornbread for the dressing, the yeast rolls, and the pies. I'll also make the banana pudding that way it has a chance to set up overnight. DH will also smoke the turkeys. Everything else will be cooked on Thanksgiving morning.

I might even make some shortbread cookies. I actually love shortbread cookies. They are perfect with coffee or hot tea.

What are your Thanksgiving plans?