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Thanksgiving Recipe Time!!!!!!

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Here is a template for your grocery shopping:  Thanksgiving Planning Worksheet

If you're hosting, go ahead and decide on your centerpiece now so you can build your tablescape around it.  Here is a way to add some color to your table without spending a lot of money:

Easy and Cheap Fabric Tablecloth (Topper)

Things that will make your cleanup life easier?  

1.  Bake as much as you can in aluminum pans that you can throw away after.

2.  Line baking sheets with Reynolds Wrap.  You can use a knock off brand if you'd like...I guess...wait...no...buy Reynolds Wrap hell.  It's seriously the best.  You'll thank me later.

I normally have my tablescape done the night before or do it right after I put the turkey in the oven early in the morning so it's done.  

Okay...I have a lot to do!  WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!  Headed off to do all my grocery shopping!  So, so, so excited!  Thanksgiving is seriously my most favorite holiday EVER!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving Dinner Family Survival Tips

 

Simple Storage Solutions

I don't have an area for a full entertainment pantry so I'm being as creative as possible.  I was at the hair salon and looked up at the television and saw a commercial for an unfinished wood furniture store.  The pieces are solid wood and really well made (that sucker is HEA-VY!).  I walked through and picked up a few things.  This is the first piece I did.  It's one of those ladder shelves:

I painted it with a white semi-gloss and bolted it to the wall.  Then...I used the pieces I use more often which coordinate with each other and set it up.

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I used white, crystal, wicker, silver, green and gold in all different shapes, heights and sizes.  I like the way it looks.  I'm probably going to add something to the bottom of that utensil thingy so the utensils have more height now that I look at this picture.  I think I'm going to add a plant as soon as I find the right container to put the one in that I like.  It's a maidenhair fern and it makes me smile.  So yeah...totally using it.  I love things that make me smile.  I like it so much that I might do a few more.  GO ME!  Whatcha think?  Cute even though I started with a basic ladder shelf?

Creamed Tomato Soup

Here's my favorite soup in da WORLD!  Don't worry...it's nothing like that crap tomato soup you're accustomed to seeing.  This is a Hungarian recipe.  I'd never been a fan of tomato soup until I tried some at a family owned Hungarian recipe and begged the owner for a recipe.

Creamed Tomato Soup

2 tablespoons of butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 onions, chopped

1/2 teaspoon crushed dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon crushed dried basil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained

5 tablespoons tomato paste

6 cups chicken broth

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar

1 cup whipping cream

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons of butter

Melt two tablespoons of butter with the oil in a deep, heavy pot over low/medium heat. Add onions and sprinkle with thyme, basil, salt, and pepper. Sauté seasoned onions, stirring occasionally, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in tomatoes (with juice) and tomato paste; simmer for 20 minutes, still stirring occasionally.

Gradually combine chicken broth and flour, whisking to mix well. Add broth mixture to the tomato mixture; continue to simmer, covered, over low heat, for about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the soup from sticking to the pan.

Remove from heat and allow to cool. Purée in a food processor or blender (I use this immersion blender right in the pot:  Cuisinart Immersion Blender). Return to the pot, reheat, and stir in sugar, cream and milk. Simmer a few minutes, whisking in remaining butter just before serving.

 

On Blogging or Writing...

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Smooches Beautiful!!!!!!!

I just wanted yall to know that I'll be back to blogging more frequently soon!  I've never finished a book I wanted to write but I was always able to get out major word counts writing on the blog.  When I started writing "Compound,"  I decided to take a break from blogging and, whenever I wanted to write something, focus on writing the book!  Well...it's working!  I'm about 88,000 words into the book and feel like I will complete it soon!  I know how it's going to end, I just have to get it there.  Between writing and moving (YIPPEE!!!!!!  NEW HOUSE! YOU GET A ROOM AND YOU GET A ROOM!!!!!!!!!  YOU TOO!  YOU GET A ROOM TOO!), I've been skipping to my own tune and living inside my head watching these characters grow.

That said, you can read it for free now on Wattpad.  You have to download the app and add it to your reading list so you can get the updates as I go.  It's a part of a contest so, it will be there until at least late Fall when the winners of the contest are announced.  If I don't win, well, I'm snatching it off there.  LOL!  Cuz I'm booty like that.  So yeah...you can read it for free until late Fall.  After then...

GHOST.

If you're reading it, thank you for your votes and comments.  I hope you're really enjoying it and not just saying so because you know or "know" me.  

I've been doing a major transformation on this house and am going to create a lovely retreat.  I'm trying to remember to take pictures as I go so I have something to blog about once this book is finished.  LOL!  This week I'm tackling wallpaper!  I have a feeling that's going to be OODLES of fun, especially since I'm trying to put it along the side of the staircase and well, that means straight cuts at an angle.  JOY.

What's been up with yall?

Ms. Linda's Sweet Potato Pie

I can't believe I've never posted Ms. Linda's Sweet Potato Pie recipe and when one of my little cousin's asked for it today I went to send her a link and it wasn't there.

Lawd...

Here it is getting ready for full Sweet Potato Pie season!  

SWEET POTATO PIE
from Linda Harris

Peel & slice 2 large sweet potatoes or enough to equal 2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes.
Boil until done. Add the following:

1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 egg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix well. Pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees until brown - about 1 hour. 
Be sure the center of the pie is done. Let cool before cutting.