Thanksgiving recap . . . a little late.

a little late for Thanksgiving but there were only eight of us for dinner.  My sister and her husband and youngest daughter plus Lindsey's boyfriend.  Sarah, Kyle and the girls came over later for dessert and to visit.

Real basic stuff for Thanksgiving dinner, but my hubby (32 years and counting) said it was the best turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes he has ever had.

I didn't stuff the bird, but roasted it breast side down after rinsing it off and sprinkling with poultry seasoning inside and out.  That baby fell apart.  The stuffing is how my Dad always made it:  3 loaves of bread (one each: white, wheat and rye) - cubed and tossed with poultry seasoning, a whole thing of celery chopped but not fine; one large onion pulverized so that my brother-in-law doesn't know that there is onion in the stuffing, one quart of mushrooms sliced and two sticks of butter (not oleo, not olive oil, not unsalted butter . . . just the real stuff), dumped in a huge casserole (or two) with the water from giblets poured over; then we also had corn casserole (my kids request):  corn muffin mix, 1 can each: regular corn (drained) and cream corn (not drained), butter, sour cream and bake.  And the best roasted sweet potatoes (3 slices bacon, cut up and fried crisp), toss with cubed sweet potatoes (2 pounds minimum) and 1 Tbs each of nutmeg and cinnamon and 1/4 tsp each of fresh ground pepper and sea salt.  Roast.

Since I put the turkey in the roaster, everything else goes in the oven (I have six burner stove so I have an awesomely sized oven).  I make my kids help.  We always had to help.  so my 11 year old was grossed out about pulling the giblet bag and neck out of the turkey.  I should have taken a video of his pulling the neck out.  He also had great fun tucking bits of butter under the skin of the bird and doing some of the basting.   The 18 year old was tasked with the corn casserole (her request, she gets to do it).  She also made brownies with a pretzel crust bottom.

Thanks for letting me share.  It reminded me of the fun and laughter we had on Thanksgiving.

For Christmas, we are doing appetizers at noon.  Everyone can then go off and visit with their other families and we put our feet up, pop in a movie or two and doze off.