November 27, 2008

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

George Washington wanted Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated on November 26th each year. If he would have gotten his way, we would be celebrating BigSis’ birthday on Thanksgiving Day every year! However, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln asked that all Americans set aside the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

Regardless of which day we celebrate Thanksgiving, we feel it’s important to remember what this day is all about.  We are thankful and grateful for being blessed. On this Thanksgiving Day, we want to share this favorite quote. It says it all.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It turns a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”  Melody Beattie

~LilSis

November 26, 2008

The day started off running across the street in the freezing cold rain to the Tropicana to play BigSis’ new favorite game!

Meowing for Moolah!

Meow meow meow!

Here’s LilSis’ favorite game! She hunts this one down in every casino she visits.

Congratulations Podnah! We're drilling for Oil!

Who knew we would run into Luciano Pavarotti at the Venetian with a birthday greeting for BigSis!

An unexpected birthday greeting from Pavarotti!

After our meeting with one of the great tenors, we had a fabulous lunch on the canal at Taqueria Canonita.

Lunch at Taqueria Canonita

Now at 9 pm, we’re back at our hotel and freshening up to go on to birthday celebration phase 2!  We’re off to the Wynn to have a birthday cocktail at Tryst, and then maybe whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

~BigSis

November 25, 2008

Vegas, here I come! It’s early Tuesday morning and I’m heading to Vegas to meet BigSis and SisMama!  The minute I get on that plane, I’m leaving my worries behind! These next two days are going to be dedicated to celebrating BigSis’ birthday and having a little bit of fun!

~LilSis

November 24, 2008

What the L is Big Sis up to?

• Leaving for Las Vegas, baby!  Adios North Texas, Hola Vegas
• Looking forward to a few days with SisMama and LilSis
• Lunching on Southwest Airlines’ honey roasted peanuts
• Loving my new Relastin Eye Silk

~BigSis

November 23, 2008

Thanks for all the recipes, BigSis! I love the Spinach Artichoke Casserole recipe but since HayHay doesn’t like artichokes, I’m going to do the Crumb-Topped Brocolli Bake for something different.  I might even use the french fried onions on top instead of the crackers. I love the different versions of the Green Bean Casserole, too. They all look yummy! For me, I would really like to have two “green veggie” sides, but I’m trying to simplify this year since it’s only the four of us.

You’re right BigSis, those Turkey Candy Corn Cookies are seriously cute! I love those! And no, I don’t have any candy corn left from Halloween! Since I don’t have SisMama here to make the pies, I’m going to make a couple ahead and freeze them. (My family will actually be in shock. They are so deprived when it comes to dessert.)

Since I’ve been reading some really great food blogs lately, I’m getting inspired to try more baking. I’m really going to make an effort to bake more homemade goodies for the guys!

Both of those desserts from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody look awesome! The Cranberry Streusel Cake from Amanda’s Cookin’ is definitely one that I’m going to try. I love cranberries and I don’t like cakes with loads of frosting so this one looks like a winner to me.  Another from Amanda’s Cookin’ that looks amazing is the  Blushing Pom Holiday Cheescake. I’m really not a big “cake eater”, but man, oh man, cheesecake is another story!

Since I have to freeze my desserts this year, I’m going to try the Eagle Brand Basic Pumpkin Pie recipe that Cookie Madness has in her Thanksgiving Menu. She says it is easy enough for her daughter to make, so I thought it was a good choice for me, being a “novice baker”. And, for my first ever homemade pecan pie, I’m going to make the 2008 Thanksgiving Pecan Pie from Cookie Madness.  She says this recipe freezes well.

My pie baking day was supposed to be today, but HayHay won 2nd place in his surf contest yesterday morning, so now we have to be back down at the beach this morning for finals! I’ll just have to survive on little sleep for the next two nights.

So, here is my Thanksgiving Day Menu.

• Roasted Turkey from Tip Top Meats

• Refrigerator Potatoes (Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes)

• Crumb-Topped Broccoli Bake

• All Recipes Creamed Corn Like No Other

• Canned Jellied Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce (I prefer homemade, but my family prefers canned)

• Eagle Brand Basic Pumpkin Pie

• 2008 Thanksgiving Pecan Pie

I know, I know; there’s no stuffing on the menu.  If SirHoney wants stuffing, he’s going to have to pick it up at TipTop when he picks up the turkey.  Not only do I not have time, but I can’t make it the way his Mom does, so I don’t even try anymore.

We’ll have a big relish tray full of giant green olives, black olives, and sweet pickles.  And I’m sure I’ll end up baking some “store bought rolls”.  No time for homemade rolls either!

I also didn’t include a gravy.  I LOVE SisMama’s giblet gravy.  Again, I don’t have time to make it, but my guys “drench” their potatoes with creamed corn anyway. They won’t miss the gravy, but I’ll sure miss it! Hey, SisMama, wanna freeze some and bring it with you to Vegas for me? (tee hee)

~LilSis

November 22, 2008

Since I’ve been vegetarian for over 14 years, you won’t find any turkey tips here today.  I’ll have to leave that up to LilSis or SisMama.  What you will find are a few quick links that might give you an idea for something a little out of the ordinary this Thanksgiving.  LilSis, these first 2 links and photos are for you and your candy corn obsession!  Do you have any left from Halloween?  No, I didn’t think so.

Turkey Candy Corn Cookies from Pillsbury start with refrigerated sugar cookie dough and are seriously cute!

Thanksgiving Turkey Candy Corn Cookies

Turkey Pops from Bakerella are adorable and beyond imaginative!

Bakerella's Turkey Pops

Pumpkin Butterscotch Cake from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody looks scrumptious!

Mini Pumpkin Turtle Cheesecakes are also from Peabody…she’s got this pumpkin thing DOWN!

Cranberry Streusel Cake from Amanda’s Cookin’ looks like a fabulous use of the berries.

Gramma’s Woozie Cake from BetterRecipes is made with sweet potatoes in a cake instead of pie.  Grand Marnier puts the “Woozie” in the cake!

Chef’s versions of Green Bean Casserole from DallasNews take a classic and add a twist.  The Green Bean Tempura with Cream of Mushroom Mousse and Fried Onion Praline from Anthony Bombaci at Nana sounds amazing!

~BigSis

November 21, 2008

LilSis, I hear that you put a call out for easy Thanksgiving recipes, and I have one for you.  I’m not a huge expert on what is freezable and what is not, so I can’t make any promises about that.  I can tell you that this Spinach Artichoke Casserole is so so easy, that it’s almost as quick as a made-ahead frozen dish.  The hardest part is cooking the onions, and I bet Big T will do that for you!  Most casseroles with these two vegetables have cream cheese, heavy cream and/or canned soup.  This one does have small amounts of Parmesan and sour cream, but I think it’s lower in fat than the others, and the flavor is fantastic.  I’ve made this a couple of times.

Spinach Artichoke Casserole

2 (14 ounce) cans artichoke hearts, drained and halved
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup butter (or olive oil)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I use more!)
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp pepper
Dash of cayenne pepper
2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese

Cook onions in butter or oil until tender.  Meanwhile, arrange artichokes in bottom of a greased casserole dish.  Drain spinach very thoroughly, pressing out as much water as you can.  I like to just pick up a handful with clean hands, and squeeze it completely dry.  To the cooked onions, add the spinach, sour cream, 1/4 cup Parmesan, salt and peppers.  Spoon spinach mixture over artichokes and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Bake uncovered at 350º for 25 to 30 minutes or until completely heated throughout.

I also found a couple of recipes from AllRecipes that I thought sounded really good for Thanksgiving.  How about Carrot Broccoli Casserole with cheese, but without rice or canned soup? I love carrots and broccoli together, and cheese would just make the combo even tastier!  Crumb-Topped Broccoli Bake sounds delicious too.  Again, no rice since you have those scrumptious mashed potatoes for your starch.  It has crushed Ritz crackers on the top, and calls for a can of process cheese sauce.  I think that means Cheez Whiz! 😀

I hope you like one of those.  Maybe someone will have an idea we haven’t thought of yet!

~BigSis

November 20, 2008

I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is next week! And, guess what else that means? Vegas, Baby!  SisMama, BigSis, and I will be in Vegas for BigSis’ birthday celebration! They will be flying from Dallas to Vegas on Monday; then I’ll join them on Tuesday. We will celebrate BigSis’ birthday, which is on Wednesday, then we’ll fly back home on Thanksgiving Day! It will be a quick trip but fun, fun, fun!  We’re staying at one of our favorites, MGM Grand.

MGM Grand

We’re SO bummed that Elton isn’t going to be in Vegas while we’re there this time. I was just thinking about the last time we saw him. It was Summer, 2006 and SisMama treated us to the Elton John Red Piano show, which we all LOVED!

I’ve seen him three times and still haven’t managed to get on stage when he sings “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”. And believe me, I’ve tried!

Before the show, we took Daddy and Sis Mama to the Toby Keith I Love This Bar and Grill at Harrahs. Daddy loved that place. He tried their famous chicken fried steak and he said that it was the best chicken fried steak that he’d ever eaten. Good Ole Comfort Food!

Toby Keith's Famous Chicken Fried Steak and Country Gravy

Sorry, I got a little sidetracked; I get excited talking about Vegas. Back to Thanksgiving…I’m feeling a little guilty about going to Vegas right at the holiday and leaving SirHoney and BigT in charge of the food!  Don’t feel too sorry for them, though. SirHoney will pick up the “cooked” turkey from our favorite spot, Tip Top Meats in Carlsbad, on his way home from golfing. They do a great job at roasting a turkey so I won’t feel too guilty that I didn’t cook it myself.

I’ll make these Refrigerator Potatoes before I leave on Tuesday so they will be all ready to heat up on Thursday.  I know, I know, make ahead mashed potatoes? Don’t knock it til you try it. My family LOVES them! (If you’re trying to watch your fat and calorie intake; run far, far away from these potatoes!) They are really hard to resist! The men in my family love these so much that I have to double the recipe and make ten pounds.

That leads me to the other side dishes.  If anyone knows of a couple of good side dishes that freeze easily so I can make them ahead this weekend, please leave a comment.  I probably won’t make stuffing this year and we aren’t big sweet potato eaters, so I’m drawing a blank! I would like something green; maybe some type of spinach dish instead of the traditional green bean casserole.

Thanksgiving Day, I will arrive back in San Diego at noon and home by 1:00.  I can’t wait to see if dinner is all ready for me when I walk in the door!

~LilSis

November 19, 2008

Here is another example of what TomTom does when he doesn’t get what he wants.

Usually, it’s a body part that he bites, instead of a file folder!  I was working at my laptop and happened to have my camera handy so I was able to snap this shot. He decided to “chomp” down on my files because I told him to get off my desk.  Again, he was mad because he didn’t get to go “exploring” in the garage.

You can’t say that he doesn’t have personality, and attitude!

~LilSis

November 18, 2008

Can you ever get enough of cats in hats?  I can’t!  So I’m bringing you more of what cracks me up.  These furkids own one of my coworkers, K, and her sister, L.  May I present Beau, Brady and Bruschi (Patriots fans, ya think?) in alphabetical order to avoid any hurt kitty feelers:

Beau in his favorite baseball cap

Another pose from the handsome Beau

Brady may be hissed off, but his whiskers are gorgeous!

Brady working those gold peepers

Adorable Bruschi loves the chicken hat...

...can't you tell??

Thanks for sharing the photos of your cats in hats, K and L!  We love them!

~BigSis