Thanksgiving 2013 - San Juan Bautista, CA

My mom and I started prepping our small Thanksgiving meal the day before the actual holiday. She always wanted to try making her own cranberry sauce so we worked on that. The color was beautiful!

The taste was not so much! The canned stuff is just the best!

We cleaned and prepped the acorn squash for stuffing...

Set the table for 6 and called it a day!

Thanksgiving Day...

We stuffed the squash with spinach, rice, cheese and various spices... check!

Put the bird the in the oven to sun bathe...check!

Took a well earned sip of soda to get my energy going... check!

Chopped onions for a fabulous Corn Souffle... check!

My Mom made one of my Dad's old school favorites... Antipasto with tuna. My Grandma made it at various parties and it brought a lot of great memories back for my Dad. That was a sweet thing of my Mom to do!

Our pies were made the day before by my Mom...

And a few extra for stranglers.

Now this was the best part of the day, I got to watch my Mom teach Kate how to make her famous Lemon Meringue Pie. Kate was so excited! She learned how to make a perfect, flaky pie crust...

Put together the wonderful lemon curd...

Whip the egg whites for a mile high meringue...

And win Grand Champion with her very own Lemon Meringue Pie!

Great job Kate!

I made the mashed potatoes,a personal favorite. Cream cheese, sour cream, butter, chives, salt and pepper all made their way to the bowl. Delicious!

James helped with the gravy...

...and sliced up the turkey.

It was perfectly moist and juicy.

 I would have to say one of the best years of cooking a turkey.

Our buddy, Frank's plate. It looked so good, I took a picture!

Frank and my Dad, happily waiting to be served!

The serving line... Starting from the top: Kate's Sweet Poatoes, Stuffing (we did not cook it in the bird this year, it could be why the turkey was so moist! We just filled him with fruit), the corn souffle, and stuffed squash.

My plate, complete with a glass of Martinelli's sparkling cider!

Mickey was already in a turkey coma...

I cleaned my plate!

My mom brought out dessert way too quickly after finishing dinner. I was stuffed!

And then we started on a Lobster Bisque for tomorrow's feast... 

WE LOVE GOOD FOOD!

I was so thankful for this Thanksgiving visit. I was home sick, missed my family and really was appreciative of the short vacation. It was a great time and I cannot wait for Christmas!

My Real Thanksgiving 2012

I went up north to visit my family on Thanksgiving Day and a few days after that. Our holiday was a little different this year as we had our meal at my brother's house because my parent's house is under going a huge remodel. My brother has a little ranch house so seating for twelve was quite tricky. We made it work though and just squeezed in a little tighter than normal at dinner. 

After we put the turkey in we had some time to nibble on cheese and crackers and visit. We didn't do much in way of appetizers this year, we wanted everyone to have an appetite for dinner.

In between bites of cheese I couldn't help but document just how col my boots were. 

The Thanksgiving Day Parade is always a must in our family. We have it on while we cook and socialize but mostly because it is just tradition.

 I was put in charge of the gravy and let me just express on how important this job is. I love gravy and a lot of it so if I didn't pull it off it may have ruined the day. It turned out fine despite that the turkey did not give out as much pan juices as we would have liked. my mom cooked in my brother's new ovens and probably didn't have them figured out as well as she had hoped.

I will label this photo the "Three Amigos". Frank is a family friend and has been enjoying holidays with my family as long as I can remember. 

My plate of gravy with some food on the side! The turkey was moist and delicious! The mashed potatoes were packed with rutabagas and parsnips for an extra amount of nutrition for our healthy bodies! The stuffing and cranberry sauce were solid. And my sister really came through with excellent sides of caramelized brussel sprouts and a sweet potato cassarolle.

My cousin's daughter turned two so we celebrated a birthday n the house too! 

Berry tart was the ending to this meal for me.

I was so proud of my Mom for pulling off another holiday. She has hosted a wonderful holiday for my whole family to enjoy year after year without complaint. I think it is a tradition that has been passed on to me because I have a craving to host it next year. Stay tuned for that extravaganza!

Thanksgiving For Two - Ojai, CA

Scott and I are not going to be together on Thanksgiving this year so I decided to do a pre-Thanksgiving last night so we could enjoy a meal of turkey together. He looked very suprised when I told him as I was cooking in the kitchen last night that we were having Thanksgiving dinner. When I asked him what he was thankful for he said for me (of course, duh), his health, for our ranch and our two little dogs. I couldn't have agreed more.

I have never cooked a Thanksgiving dinner before and I only made the things I enjoy on the big day. White meat turkey, lots of gravy (over everything), mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry out of a can. I didn't cook a whole bird just roasted a turkey breast, it yielded plenty of leftovers too. Scott is going to be home alone for a couple days so he will have lots of food to eat now while i am gone. I was most impressed with my gravy, it was delicious!

I cheated and bought the pecan pie. I decided last minute to do this Thanksgiving dinner so I really was running out of time. A local bakery made it though and once heated up and topped with soft gelato it was just fine.

We had an after dinner cocktail and it was the perfect ending to a lovely meal. I made a Nutty Russian, a play on a White Russian - Vodka, Frangelico and cream served over ice. Almost like a second dessert!

I have to admit I was quite proud of myself for pulling off a Thanksgiving meal in two hours and having no real experience ever doing so. I have to keep in mind cooking for two is much easier than cooking for 25 like my mom does but still I guess you have to start somewhere. I am very excited to head home and visit my parents, brother and sister today. Happy Thanksgiving to you all and safe travels!

Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving! 

 Spending time on the phone with Scott - Happy Thanksgiving to you in Texas!

Shannon and I enjoying the afternoon. 

Aunt Tricia, Nanny, Cousin John and his son, Aideyn 

Cousins Robert, Allan and Charles carving the turkeys. 

 Rebecca and Shannon making the gravy.

 Cousin Charles, Aunt Kathy, Cousin Rebecca

Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn and cauliflower with cheese.  

I cleaned my plate. 

Eleanor's 1st Birthday 

Holiday Pies - Pumpking, Lemon Meriguine, Berry, Mince Meat