A Time to be Thankful

This year was the first year we are in our house so we did a Thanksgiving dinner at our house. With my Dad, grandparents and my great Grandmother. I am so excited to cook my first thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it is not about how much money you spend on people, it isn't about the gifts you received. But it is about family, food and football. But most importantly baking, my favorite hobby! There is nothing better in my opinion then family sitting around eating food with football on.  I am making the usual turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs, green bean casserole, sweet potato's with marshmallow toping, mashed potatoes,  pecan pie, pumpkin pie. and my great Grandmas raspberry Jell-O salad. My grandmother grew up in England and as far as I know she brought this recipe with her. I also do not like canned veggies or fruits. So I have fresh green beans, a bag of fresh cranberries.  Everything I do in the oven is at 350 degrees.

This year I am very thankful. I married my best friend! I have been fortunate enough to stay home and raise my little boy. It is the biggest blessing being home with him everyday. I also watch some friends kids to help bring in some extra money. We bought our first house. It will be our forever home! We added a furry child to our lives and although the dog hair drives me crazy she is perfect for our family. We are expecting a little girl around new years who will complete our family! I am thankful for the constant support of family and friends that are in my life. I am thankful that we are in a house were I can finally host things like thanksgiving and football. I am thankful for my weekly blog, it is on hour a week to myself and I am hopefully helping other moms! And today I am especially thankful for coffee so I can be the best mommy I can be and get the house and pie baking done for thanksgiving. My husband knows I stress myself out to much, so I am doing the pies one day, the cleaning the next and deviled eggs. Then the Thanksgiving morning I will make the potatoes and casserole and such. His words were we don't need decorations we just need food everywhere. However I like centerpieces and pretties everywhere. His job is football watching. I will make sure everything fits on the tables!  I am posting these before thanksgiving so if you would like some recipes here they are!

Raspberry Jell-O Salad

1 large box Raspberry Jell-O,

1 Cup boiling water

In a sauce pan add jello and water. Bring to a boil. Let boil for 2 minutes stirring constantly. Set timer once it starts to boil. Add 1 package of frozen raspberries. And 1 package of thawed frozen raspberries. Stir until dissolved. About 5 minutes. Then stir in 2 cups of original applesauce. Stir for 5 more minutes to insure everything is combined. If you don't it will become a weird texture. Then Pour into a 9x13 pan or I like to put into three 3 cup Pyrex. Because storing is easier. Cover and put into refrigerator until set.

Then for the topping!

1 16 oz. tub of sour cream

about half a bag of small marshmallows. (about 40)

Stir constantly until combined and pour over raspberry mixture. Put into fridge for a couple hours and serve cold. Cut like a cake! This is a family favorite.

 

Cranberry Sauce

from fresh Cranberries

My cranberry sauce is pretty simple I add the cranberries into a saucepan with some sugar, (I never measure I just use my sugar pouring thing. I got it at the dollar store. I put these on low heat about two hours before eating time and stir often enough that it does stick or burn to the pan. so yummy and delicious. The sugar will create liquid and the cranberries melt down. You can add more or less sugar depending how sweet or tart you like it.

Green Bean Casserole

from fresh green beans

I never really a recipe for this one, it always turns out about the same though. I cut the ends off green beans and then cut into thirds. I put into a large bowl, add two cans of cream of chicken soup, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup. (you can mix and match these but I do not like mushrooms so I put 1 in. but 2 cans of cream of something) then I add salt, pepper, onion powder, half of a can of crispy onions, and a tiny splash of water so it is not thick. Stir everything and pour into a 9x13 pan greased pan. Add the rest of the crispy onions on top (enough to cover/ I always add extra because I like the crunch)  sprinkle salt and pepper and through into oven for about 30-45 minutes at  the onions will be crispy and the middle will be warm and delicious.

Sweet Potatoes with marshmallows

This is fairly easy but I understand that some people burn cereal. I peal and then cut into about one inch chunks. and put potatoes into a Paula Dean Dutch Oven with a lid. Then I sprinkle them with cinnamon, add chunks of butter randomly even and into the oven it goes. It takes about 30 minutes to cook. you want the potatoes to be tender that they break with a fork. Then I add big marshmallows all over the top of it. Covering all the potatoes and back into the oven until the marshmallows are brown on top. It does not take very long at all. I have to put my hand on the oven handle and do not let go. they burn really fast. And need checked often to get them just right. If I get distracted they burn.

Here is a picture of the desserts I made! I added a lace around the pecan pie with extra pie crust. And some random leaf shapes around the pumpkin. I also made a couple hearts to put on the pumpkin pie after it was cooked.

The Dog treats are very simple, healthy and way cheaper then store bought ones.  its 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup broth (I alternate between chicken or beef just whatever I have more of) and 1/4 cup applesauce. (I have used original and cinnamon either will do).  Mix all together, I add some more flour if needed so they are not sticky. Then cut into bone shapes and bake at 350 or 20 minutes.  Picture of these are on instagram.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will post again next week about how my first turkey cooking adventure goes. XOXO much Love Whitney

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Sweet tooth recipes

It is true what they say every pregnancy is different. With my first Son all I wanted to eat was avocados, salads and drink tang. I had a garden salad with hard bowled eggs for breakfast and it was the only thing I could keep down for a couple months.  But with this pregnancy I have a very big sweet tooth. This little girl is spoiled before she is even here. I want cherry turnovers, brownies, cake, cookies, cheesecake and ice cream. Any one who knows me knows I do not care for chocolate but this little one loves brownies. My husband is happy because there is always something sweet on our counters. So the old wise tell is true for me that boys like salt and greens while girls like sweets.  Here is a couple of the recipes that have kept me happy!

Cherry Turnovers,

Makes 5 turnovers

 

Great Grandma Linda Pie Crust  

1 1/4 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

4 Tbs water

1/3 cup shortening.

 

and some cherry pie filling!

 

I made the pie crust and rolled it out and used a 4 inch bowl to make circles. Put about a tablespoon right from the can of filling in the middle of each circle. Folded the circles in half and crimped with a fork. then I used my old fashioned egg separator; brushed on the egg whites and sprinkled with cane sugar. Baked at 350 for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

 

Because everything is better with frosting. I made a quick little icing, powder sugar, vanilla and a splash of milk. I have never measured it out but as long as it taste good I drizzle it on the turnovers with a spoon.

 

 

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Makes about 4 dozen

 

3 cups flour

³⁄₄ cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

³⁄₄ cup margarine

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

¹⁄₂ teaspoon baking soda

1 bag white chocolate chips, (they taste the best if you freeze them first)

a couple handfuls of craisins

 

Plop into balls on a greased cookie sheet and

Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown!

 

 

Now if you ask my husband he will say they are not desserts because there is fruit in them. I beg to differ, they make his daughter and pregnant wife happy!

 

 

This mama has been wanting yellow cake too so I make a yellow box cake(I am a busy stay at home mom that watched 3 other kiddos some days. it makes my life a little easier to use box cake..don't judge) and add Great Grandma Barrett's brown sugar frosting on it. which is melted stick of butter on the stove with 3/4 cup brown sugar all melted and dissolved. Bring to a bowl and then a tiny tiny splash of vanilla and powdered sugar. whisked until smooth and you pour on the cake hot. It should be a light tan color that is pretty thick.

 

 

Lincoln loves feeding my baked goodies, he will be an awesome big brother less then 2 months until we meet little sister!!

 

Whitney

 

 

 

Halloween festivites

 

We had a fun Halloween! It is so much more exciting as a parent then a child. Watching Lincoln walk up to his grandparents doors. I bought Lincoln a Mater costume because Mater is his favorite character. But every time I would put it on him he would scream and was not a fan. So we went with skeleton jammies instead. Mommy made chili for dinner, it was a tradition when she was growing up that chili was for Halloween every year. We went to our family houses around town and our neighbors house. Lets face it, the 18 month old does not care to walk door to door and Mama is seven and half months pregnant with swollen feet.  Mommy went has Wilson from Cast Away, Daddy was a Daddy, and Lincoln was a handsome skeleton with spikey hair. It was the first time I got to do anything with his hair because he finally has hair! Great Nana bought him his blue bucket and he carried it around for a week playing with it. Putting his toys in it. Who knew a bucket was so much fun, why do we buy him toys again?

 

He has such a personality when it comes to taking pictures.

 

Walking up to grandmas house with Daddy! Grandma feed him lots of chocolate and gave him a light up football.

 

 He still loves playing with his bucket. It might stay out of the Halloween tot for a while. He also dressed up as a football player to watch the falcons play with Daddy. He filled the bucket with rocks then cried because it was too heavy.

 

I can not believe this was last year, I was one of those parents that put my child in a pumpkin. But it is still so cute! He is turning into a little boy instead of my baby.

 

After going to the grandparents houses, we settled down and watch some football and then went off to bed. But not before he ate Oreos and fruit loops from Great Grandpa. Chocolate from grandma. Played with his little pumpkin from Great Grandma. And his first cell phone from his Aunt Haley.

 

Mommy carved pumpkins this year, Lincoln did not like being sticky. Hopefully he will be more helpful next year.

 

 

It is so fun watching him learn and watch his little mind work.

 

He picked out his pumpkin

 

After touching everyone.

 

It was a very good Holiday.  Next year we will have a Mater costume from Lincoln and a Crab costume for little sister. Holidays are so much fun in our new house. I loved decorating for Halloween. And now my thanksgiving decorations are up. I will need to get a few more since fall is the best time of the year. I am looking forward to watching Lincoln gobble up his thanksgiving meal this year! We are going to enjoy these next few weeks while he is still our only child. Maybe we will come up with a name for little sister soon. Hope everyone had a awesome Halloween.

I have so much fun writing a blog about raising my little pumpkin.

Love Whitney