Goodbye November!

What a beautiful poem!

  

Goodbye November.

 

Recipe: Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey (The Pioneer Woman)

With the price of oil going through the roof the last couple of years, we decided not to deep fry a turkey.  For the last two years, my husband smoked one turkey and I baked a turkey for our Thanksgiving get-together at my sister's home.  This year, I used Ree Drummond's recipe (The Pioneer Woman).

It had wonderful flavor!  

Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey

*I highly suggest you visit the blog post on her page, watch the video and look at all the photos before following this recipe.  I think it makes the directions more clear and easier to follow.  You can find her blog post HERE.

*Set out your butter for several hours to soften before you begin the turkey.  It will be ready to prepare as soon as you get the turkey in the oven.

Preheat your oven to 275 degrees.

If you brined your turkey, rinse it well under cold water.  Fill the sink with fresh cold water and allow the turkey to soak for 15-20 minutes to remove any saltiness.  Pat the turkey dry and place it on a roasting rack, breast side up.

*If you don't have a roasting rack, you can place it on a bed of vegetables as an alternative.

Cross the legs and tie them together with kitchen twine.  Cover the whole pan with heavy aluminum foil, tucking it underneath the pan.  Roast for the first stage for about 10 minutes per pound.

Using a vegetable peeler, shave off the thick slices of orange peel and slice them very thin.  Combine with butter, rosemary, salt, and pepper.

*I also injected my turkey with a Cajun butter injector for flavor as well as squeezed fresh orange sections over the turkey and left them in the drippings for more flavor as the turkey baked.

After the first stage of cooking, remove the turkey from the oven and remove the foil (the turkey will still be pale).  Smear the butter mixture all over the skin, in crevices, etc. so that it's totally covered.  Insert a meat thermometer into the thigh, increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees and return to the oven, basting every 30 minutes.  Continue roasting the turkey until the thermometer reads 165 to 168, then remove the turkey from the oven.  Cover loosely with clean aluminum foil until you are ready to carve.

Recipe: Delicious, Creamy Mashed Potatoes by Ree Drummond

Here is a mashed potato recipe by Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) that I made to go with our Thanksgiving turkey leftovers on Friday.  You can make it ahead of time as well which is a plus!

Delicious, Creamy Mashed Potatoes

5 lbs. russet or Yukon Gold potatoes

3/4 cup butter

1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup to 3/4 cup half-and-half

1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. Lawry's Seasoned Salt

1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. black pepper

Peel and cut the potatoes into pieces that are generally the same size.  Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes.  Bring to a boil and cook for 30-35 minutes.  When they're cooked through, the fork should easily slide into the potatoes with no resistance, and the potatoes should almost, but not totally fall apart.

Drain the potatoes in a large colander.  When the potatoes have finished draining, place them back into the dry pot and put the pot on the stove.  Mash the potatoes over low heat, allowing all the steam to escape before adding in all the other ingredients.  

Turn off the stove and add 1 1/2 sticks of butter, an 8 oz. package of cream cheese, and about 1/2 cup of half-and-half.  Mash, mash, mash!  Next, add about 1/2 tsp. of Lawry's Seasoning Salt and 1/2 a tsp. of pepper.

Stir well and place in a medium-sized baking dish.  Throw a few pats of butter over the top of potatoes and place them in a 350 degree oven and heat until butter is melted and potatoes are warmed through.

*When making this dish a day or two in advance, take it out of the fridge about 2-3 hours before serving time.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes or until warmed through.

Recipe: Gooey Butter Cake

I thought I would try something a little different for Thanksgiving this year so I made this dessert.  I loved that you can cut it into small pieces and it can be a finger dessert. :)  It is very easy to make.

Gooey Butter Cake

2 1/2 cups flour

1 3/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup butter, melted

1 large egg, room temperature

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Topping:

1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

2 large eggs, beaten, room temperature

2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, egg, and vanilla; add to the flour mixture and stir to combine.  Press into the bottom of a greased 13x9 baking dish.

For the topping, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and eggs until smooth.  Add powdered sugar and stir to combine.  Pour over the crust.  Bake until the center is almost set and the edges start to brown, 40-45 minutes.  Cool for 1 hour on a wire rack.  Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar if desired.

Recipe: Cornmeal Mush

This was one of my favorite foods as a kid.  

I remember that a little local restaurant near my childhood home, The Cabbage Patch, would serve this, and I would always choose it for breakfast. :)

Cornmeal Mush

1 cup yellow corn meal

1 cup cold water

3 cups warm water

1 tsp. salt

Bring 3 cups of warm water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan.

In small bowl, mix corn meal with cold water.

Gradually stir corn meal mixture into salted boiling water.  Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Cover, and continue cooking on low heat 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pour cooked corn meal into loaf pan.  Refrigerate 2-3 hours or until firm.  Remove from pan and cut into 1/4 inch slices.  Roll in flour and pan-fry in a small amount of drippings until golden brown on both sides.  Serve hot with butter and syrup.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving 2022!  

I pray that wherever you are and whatever you do...this day will be full of thanks for you.  

Because God is good...today and every day.

Friday Plans!

Happy Friday!  Today will be a different day.  Our three daughters will be attending a youth conference at Greater Portland Baptist Church.  They will leave the church at 7:30am and won't be back until 10pm or so.  Day off school and work for them!

I also do not have to work today - no Friday care at the school.  I decided to schedule a massage that my husband bought me for Christmas last year.  Better finally use it!  Ha!  And probably get some Chick-Fil-A as a treat!  Will be a nice day out for me. :)

The hubby will be leaving after work today to go camping/hunting with his cousin's husband for the next few days.

Happy Friday!

Slow October Days

Another audiobook finished. :)  Really enjoyed this series.

The rainy season has arrived.  And cooler temps.

Teaching our third daughter to drive.  With the program we use, Road Ready, they give out fun badges.  She earned the First Drive Badge and Rush Hour Badge.

Nothing like a beautiful sunrise to begin your day. :)

My buddy always likes to sit with me.

Nothing is as beautiful as mums and pumpkins in the fall.

Not going to see many blue skies as fall and November hit!

A girl and her dog.

Fall colors showing up more and more.

When you see a little friend...LOL!  Can you see the friend?

A few cool photos that my daughter took. :)

Why do my hoomans do this to me?

Pumpkin bars...soooo good!

Old men can fall asleep anywhere.  Ha!

Fall is for soup!  Ham and bean soup - a classic.

Cats are funny creatures.

A couple new series I started.

Autumn working on her sewing project for one of her elective classes for her senior year.  She made a skirt for this project.

Devotional Thought: Excuses and Provision-Exodus 3:11-4:17

 Exodus 3:11 - 4:17

How do you identify?  Slaves to children of God.

Calling:  God's invitation to His purpose for your life

*Common Calling:  To be adopted into God's family and to then be an ambassador.

*Specific Calling:  Where and how you live out your ambassadorship.

God doesn't give you all you need at once.  He will teach you what you need over time.

What is the theme of this passage?  Reliance on God.

Matthew 21:28-32  Does action follow your yes?

Where do you make excuses or justifications for neglecting your walk with God?  If you were honest, are there aspects of your life with God with which you are totally disinterested, or have even secretly rejected?  Why is that?

Be completely honest with God and ask Him to change your heart.  Admit that you want to be more like Christ, but that part of you is resistant.  Share this insight and struggle with a trusted believer who can pray for you.

Hello November!

Hello November!  

Although I am sad to see October go, it is my favorite month, November holds my favorite holiday - Thanksgiving.  And one of my favorite traditions - putting up the Christmas tree. 

 

So welcome November with its chilly rainy days!