Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has a great holiday!

I have many things to post...

my homemade marshmallows for starters

so stay tuned

it might be Friday or Saturday before I get to it

off with my pumpkin fudge, corn dip, homemade rosemary bread, artichoke dip, and marshmallows for

a good ol' country bonfire~

Making Pumpkin Fudge

only requires 1/2 cup - so you might want to find something else to make that has pumpkin in it

This is what it looks like with the first 6 ingredients mixed together before it gets to 234 degrees (soft-ball stage)

This is the soft-ball stage - 234 degrees.

Remove from heat & add

The stickiest stuff in the whole wide world.

I didn't take a picture of the toasted pecans.. they aren't as exciting.

Also didn't take a picture of the pan with all these ingredients post soft-ball stage.

It's hard work, and you have to move fast.

I recommend adding EVERYTHING - marshmallow cream, white chocolate chips, pecans, and vanilla all at once.. then, stir stir stir with a heavy wooden spoon until you can't stir anymore.

CLICK HERE for the actual recipe and a picture of the end result.

Oatmeal Scotchies- Finally!

Making cookies

The base of all "Nestle" Tollhouse recipes...

sugar, butter, eggs

(I always use REAL unsalted butter)

Nestle Tollhouse Butterscotch Morsels

(Ok, is it just me, or is "morsels" just a weird word? I feel very uncomfortable typing it let alone saying it out loud.)

 Nestle is the best! Do not attempt with imitators!

Yes, one is missing!

 These are very crumbly. The one in the middle crumbled, and I felt it was my responsibility to "taste test" it.

These are very delicious cookies. I've been making them for YEARS.  Just taking them off the pan to cool takes me to a very "happy" place. They are my son's fav-O-rite! Knowing how happy they make him, makes me feel like the bestest mom in the whole wide world.  So much, I almost can't wait for him to get off work today. I thought I'd take them to him at work, but then he'd have to share.. and I don't think he'll want to. He's been only been asking me to bake cookies for a couple months now.  Finally!

Click the title of this blog post or click here for the complete recipe.

Ree Drummond - The Pioneer Woman

Ree Drummond is going to be in Dallas on Tuesday, 12/1 @ Borders off Preston/Royal promoting her new cookbook.

If you haven't checked out her blog before, click here.  If you have plenty of time on your hands, and you are looking for something to read, check out her Love Story on how she met her Marlboro Man.  I promise you, make sure you have the time, because once you start reading it, YOU WILL NOT WANT TO STOP!
 
For the book tour information, click here!

Thanksgiving 2009 Countdown - 3 Days

I dream of an elegant Thanksgiving - with a glamourous table"scape" ...

like this one from Pottery Barn..

but alas.. that's not how we roll in my family

Ours is a potluck, and because there are so many people, there are a lot of small tables (that do not match) - more like "country" chic, and we typically eat with paper goods similar to these below...

It's still fun and festive, just a little bit "rustic".. you might say.

For those of you who are new to my blog, click here to see how my son and I spend our Thanksgiving festivities.  Or as Jeff Foxworthy might say...

"You might be a REDNECK, if you use a John Deere tractor to get your cooked turkeys out of the oven ground.