Thanksgiving Day - Digging up Turkeys

Dad (Pat- not Kenny Rogers) in the tractor, Roger ready in the pit, and Uncle Bill on the sideline.

Here is the footage from Thanksgiving 2008.

That is Uncle Bill with the shovel (want it noted that he NEVER digs out the turkeys. Maybe he wanted to look good for my blog. Oh wait, he doesn't know I have a blog.

We Now Interrupt This Program..

(This is my first video - using my cellphone. I apologize, it's not the highest quality . Click on the arrow to listen )

This is Shawney and Bill. Our own Irish piano bar without the piano. Believe it or not, they weren't even drunk. Shawney doesn't drink..just loves to sing.

I have alot to learn on videotaping - like to NOT TALK while I'm filming. Bare with me, I am new to all of this.

Oops - My Bad.

I thought they were finished. So, you missed the part where Shawney turns around and points to everyone singing names like flanigan, hanigan, sheninagan really fast. (ok, so I may not have the names right..but if you have ever been to a irish pub, you know what I'm talking about).. ok.. so now they are finished.

Back to the Digging...

Aluminum siding - almost to the turkeys
Turkeys look awesome. They are normally squished.
Doesn't everyone transport their turkeys in a golf cart to the table ?

Ready for Carving - where's Ryan ?

Thanksgiving - Carving Turkeys

(Now this is my 2nd attempt of videotaping. Again to listen, click on the arrow)

This is Ryan and Brian (a family friend - new to our Thanksgiving) both carving turkeys for the first time. I am using the video recorder from my Sprint Treo - so it's not the sharpest video or it could be that I'm not a very good videographer. As you will see as I take a bite of turkey and lose focus of the carvers. (Also, I think I had a couple beers already because I found EVERYTHING soooo funny!!! )

Turkey Carving Accomplished!!!

Make A Wish!!!

Our first time turkey carvers finish the job flawlessly.

My Thanksgiving Menu

As you know, my Dad and Bev handle the turkeys so everyone else brings side dishes and desserts. My contribution this year:

Thanksgiving Eve

Addictive Corn Dip

Tortilla Rollups

Pumpkin Fudge

Thanksgiving Day

Tee's Corn Pudding

Classic Green Bean Casserole

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

Addictive Spicy Corn Dip

(Picture to be posted soon)



Ingredients:
2 cans Green Giant Mexicorn
16 ounce Light Sour Cream
1 cup mayo
1/2 bunch chopped cilantro
4-5 chopped green onions
1/2 teaspoon teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
2 cups grated sharp cheddar (or 1 cup sharp cheddar and 1 cup pepper jack cheese)

1/2 fresh lime juice


Directions:
Drain corn; mix sour cream, mayo, cayenne pepper and cumin. Add chopped green onions, cilantro and grated cheese. Chill for a least a hour before serving. Serve with corn chips, lime flavored tostitos, or wheat thin crackers.

(Note - use grated cheese - not finely shredded. Also, to make it less spicy - substitute a cup of sharp cheddar for the pepper jack cheese)

Tortilla Rollups

I used 2 different flavors of wraps (Jalapeno and Spinach). I bought a tub of chive and onion cream cheese for the jalapeno wraps and a tub of jalapeno cream cheese for the spinach wraps.

Sprinkled them with paprika.

Pumpkin Fudge

I got this recipe from Southern Living. I wasn't sure how I'd like pumpkin flavored fudge. OMG!!

It's FABULOUSLY DELICIOUS!!!

Ingredients:

3 cups sugar

3/4 cup melted butter

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 (12-ounce) package white chocolate morsels

1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow creme

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Stir together first 6 ingredients in a 3 1/2 quart saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer registers 234 degrees (soft-ball stage) - about 12 minutes.

Remove pan from heat; stir in remaining ingredients until well blended. Pour into a greased aluminum foil-lined 9-inch square pan. Let stand 2 hours or until completely cool. Cut fudge into squares.

Campbell's Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cans (10 3/4 ounce each) Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 cup milk

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 cans of cut green beans (I used Green Giant)

1 can (6 ounce) French's French Fried Onions ( 2 2/3 cups)

Directions:

Stir soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 1 1/3 cups onions in 3 quart casserole

Bake @ 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until hot. Stir.

Top with remaining onions. Bake 5 minutes more.

Tee's Corn Pudding

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

6 large eggs

2 cups whipping cream

1/2 cup butter, melted

6 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels

Directions:

Combine first 4 ingredients -sugar to salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, whipping cream and butter. Gradually, add sugar mixture, whisking until smooth; stir in corn. Pour mixture in a lightly greased 13X9 inch baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown and set. Let stand 5 minutes.

Makes 8 servings.

This is a Southern Living recipe. This was my first time to make a corn pudding. It turned out great, and it was delicious for such a simple dish.

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

I got the recipe from Paula Deen. Most recipes I've tried of hers have been awesome. This one was a little disappointing. While the trifle turned out pretty, the taste was a little flat. Definitely not "decadent" which is what I expect of a Paula Deen recipe.

I might make it again, but if I do - I am changing the recipe. Instead of using vanilla pudding mix, I am going to use cheesecake pudding or even Philadephia's cheesecake filling mix. I am also going to add caramel and nuts... because c'mon, ALL awesome trifles have caramel.

If you'd like the recipe, just goggle it. I'll post it when once I've found the right flavor combo. Of course, this will probably be around this time next year. I'm done with pumpkin for a while.

Ok, so now for some tv trivia.

So, who thinks of Rachel on "Friends" when they heard the word "trifle"? When she added the ground beef, I just died. It was classic.

Happy Thanksgiving

I saw this tree yesterday in a shopping center parking lot.

It was all I could do to not take some limbs for a Thanksgiving centerpiece. This picture doesn't do the berries justice - they are a gorgeous orange color.

Pass the "ground" turkey, please...

For the last 15 years or so, Ryan and I have spent Thanksgiving at Dad and Bev's. They live on about 15 acres in the country. Thanksgiving at their place is buffet style with tables set up outside to accommodate about 30 people. (It gets a little tricky when it's cold and rainy - thankfully, it's a gorgeous day today - sun is shining - and I think it's going to be in the 70's)

On the Thanksgiving Eve, Dad digs a hole (pit) in the ground - starts a huge fire, and once the coals are burned down - gets the John Deere Tractor , moves the coals, places a piece of aluminum siding down - puts 2 big 28 pounder turkeys wrapped with many rolls of heavy duty aluminum foil on top - then puts another piece of aluminum siding on top... then gets back in the tractor and puts the coals back on top. Then 12 hours later - back in the John Deere Tractor to dig up the turkeys. This is quite an event EVERY year. I have many pictures that I will post soon. Here is a picture of the fire from last night.

(Did you think I was going "healthy" on Turkey day - Heck No!!!)

Graduation Countdown - 20 days

Dec 13th will be here before we know it. It seems like once Thanksgiving hits - the rest of year is a blur with all the holiday activities, and this is a BIG activity right smack in the middle of it all.

I can't believe 4 and 1/2 years have gone by. It seems like it was literally just yesterday when I drove him to Lubbock his Freshman year.

I'm feeling very introspective and weepy today. Probably because he is coming home tonight for Thanksgiving. It's funny, when you raise your kids - doing laundry, cleaning up after them, cooking dinner, etc. are chores every parent dreads doing. When your kid goes off to college, it's like you can't wait for them to come home so you can do their laundry, clean up after them, and cook all their favorite foods. What's up with that? Ryan won't be home until almost midnight, but I plan on having cheese and corn enchiladas ready and waiting - fresh out of the oven. Isn't that what any normal mom would do?

Sweet Nothings

Here is a new cupcake place that just opened in Frisco. Check out the website below.


http://www.thecupcakery.com/

Surfer Kate

Isn't she a doll???

True Blood - Season Finale

I'm sad. Tonight is the last night of the first season. Good news- there will be a 2nd season starting in Summer 2009. (Which seems so FAR away). While the interpretation of the Charlaine Harris books were a little "over acted" in the first season, I still couldn't help being excited about watching this show on Sunday nights. What will I do now? I guess I could get caught up on "Desperate Housewives".

Banana Fudge Supreme

I was skeptical at first when I saw "Trainer Bob" recommending it on Biggest Loser.

Oh my GAH...................

With a little squirt of whipped cream in a can (15 calories), this is an awesome dessert.

So awesome, I even thought for a minute how I can serve this on Thanksgiving - but "low calorie" is not appropriate table talk at our Thanksgiving.

Weekend in Sports

Tech lost to Oklahoma - 65-21. What a hard game to watch. I couldn't believe this was the same team I watched play Texas and Oklahoma State.

While Tech was playing, the Dallas Stars lost to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks 2-1. Poor Stars - just can't seem to rally this season.

On the other hand, my 'boys won today beating San Francisco. The Cowboys were favored to win, but 1st quarter looked a little shaky. They pulled it out during 2nd quarter... beating the 49ers 35-22.

The Giants and the Redskins won today. Giants leading the division with the Cowboys tied with Washington. The Eagles seemed to have lost their mojo.. so not really worried about them.

Cowboys play Seattle on Thanksgiving. They should win -but they are still very unpredictable. The Giants and the Redskins play next Sunday. Next week will be one step closer for the Cowboys to make the playoffs - depending the outcome of these games.