#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Thanksgiving Planning 2011

November 21, 2011 · Narrative

I am doing this all for YOU GUYS, ’cause I’m not hosting Thanksgiving this year.  I am, however, having a bloggers’ after-Thanksgiving feast this weekend, so I expect my Sweetnicks’ readers to pony up their MOST FAVORITE feast-like recipes ever.  You just MIGHT find your recipe the subject of a future blog post here, or on Joanne’s site, or Patsy’s, or Sarah’s.  Cool, yeah?

Alright, so back to the plain old, Thursday Thanksgiving planning… you all know my favorite centerpiece by now, the Gratitude Tree.  Tonight, the kids and I were talking about it.  Madeline asked if everyone had a Thanksgiving Gratitude tree.

“No, honey, they don’t.”  I had to make sure to break the news to her gently.

“Well they should!” she shouted.

And, of course, I completely agree.

I asked her what she was thankful for this year.  “You and my brudder, Nick.”  Of course, I could not be more proud.  And I also happen to love the way she says brother.  I hope she never stops.

Now placecards.  Do you need them?  I don’t care how many people you’re having at your table, I think it makes a really nice touch, and these turkey ones I made a few years back are still in rotation.  Love them!  (And as a side note, completely unrelated, I still adore that dress Madeline wore that year, and it still fits!).  I also made a different version of the placecards for the folks at Disney last year, which you can see right here.

Need a little more in the way of Thanksgiving decorations?  How about this banner I made two years ago, which I just dug out this past weekend and hung?  Still la-la-love it!

Spinach Cheese Squares

And now the food…

Appetizers:
Spinach Cheese Squares, Cheese Delights and Sausage Cheese Balls are always of our starting line-up, along with a Brown Sugar Almond Brie.  The Spinach Cheese Squares and Cheese Delights are recipes that my Mom made for us growing up, and they never fail to disappoint.  I love that our kids (mine and my sister’s) are eating things that we ate as kids ourselves.  The recipes are easy, and delicious and take just a few minutes of prep, exactly what you need on the big day.  You can also make the Cheese Delights ahead of time, and freeze them.  When it’s go-time, they just need a few more minutes in the oven.  Just be sure to watch ’em.

Sides:
The appetizers and side dishes on the Thanksgiving table are always my favorite parts.  We have Cranberry Conserve (if you like cranberries, you’ll love this one, and if you don’t, I can almost guarantee it will make you a convert), Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Broccoli Salad and, of course, stuffing.  I’m a fan of an Emeril version, though I leave the oysters out when making it for my family.  We had our Thanksgiving feast at work today, and the stuffing we got was delish.  Real nice hint of salt, and I’m going to try and get the recipe for you me us.  Luckily I know the owner of the restaurant.

Dessert:
I am a huge fan of the pumpkin pie from Costco (the best bargain for $5.99 and delish), so dessert is uber-simple.  An old favorite, if you need another suggestion, is Paula Deen’s Gingerbread Pumpkin Trifle, one of her few recipes that don’t contain a stick of butter or cup of mayo.  It looks so pretty in a clear glass trifle dish and is perfect for both kids and adults alike.  I just may make it over the weekend for our bloggers’ After Thanksgiving Feast just to get our trifle fix on, since it’s not hitting the holiday table.

Oh right.  The turkey.  The Overnight Turkey was one of The Ex’s specialties and I do miss waking up Thanksgiving morning to the smell of roast turkey.

Now if you need cranberry recipes, and more to the point, more cranberry recipes after you realize you overbought cranberries and have no idea what to do with the extra, check out this post – lots of good links in it.  Yeah, I’m too lazy to go relink everything here, but it’s all good.

And an easy take on what to do with your Thanksgiving Day leftovers?  This stromboli recipe I wrote about a few years back was delish.

Now, it’s YOUR turn… share your favorite Thanksgiving recipe with the class. 

Until tomorrow… xoxo

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Thanksgiving

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    November 22, 2011 at 7:24 am

    I am SO excited…way more excited than about Thanksgiving with my family. Our food is just going to be a gazillion times better. And it’s all about the food, yeah? :P

    My most favorite Thanksgiving recipes are my ginger pomegranate cranberry sauce, smashed sweet potatoes and butternut squash with five spice marshmallows, and caramel apple cake. All.So.Good.

    Reply
  2. bridget says

    November 22, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Hi Cate,

    I am planning on making your ex’s turkey this year since you have mentioned more than once how good it is! You mentoin that it is ready by 7 or 8….what time does it start cooking? What time do you eat it? If you eat it later in the day what do you do with it in the meantime and how do you heat it up?

    Thanks in advance!!

    As for recipes that we love for Thanksgiving… here a a recipe that has been made since my dad was young.

    Cornflakes crushed by hand 1 large box
    Saltine crackers 1 box
    mix together
    6 onions chopped
    6 packs farmer john sausage
    cook sausage and onions together, 1 pack of sausage with one onion slowly until all of the packs are cooked. Pour contents of pan into the mixed cornflakes and crackers. Stuff half of the mixture into the bird and cook. Once the bird s done add the dry stuffing to the wet and bake until heated through.
    It sounds weird but tastes amazing..

    Reply
  3. Claire says

    November 23, 2011 at 12:38 am

    Hmmm, we do tacos on Wednesday night. Then Thursday we have the works: smoked and baked turkey, dressing, potatoes, green beans, broccoli casserole, squash casserole, brussels sprouts, rolls, gravy, and anything else you can think of that is classing thanksgiving…sweet potato casserole. Friday, however, we have my favorite part….gumbo!!!! I love that we have started this tradition. And it’s a “low fat” gumbo, meaning the roux is not made with butter/oil and flour, it’s just toasted flour. Works quite well. It’s not really as thick as traditional gumbo but it is still fantastic! Check it out here: http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/2006/12/louisiana-gumbo.html. Did I REALLY post that five years ago? WOW! Maybe a repost is in order. :-)

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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