Thanksgiving Menu 2007

I love Thanksgiving! I love seeing family. I love spending the morning (and sometimes even the night before) in the kitchen. And of course, the feast is always fun! I especially love that no matter where we choose to celebrate, it is always pot-luck--so everyone brings their specialties to the table. Hooray for Thanksgiving!

This year, we'll be at my folks' house on Thursday, followed by a second feast with Mom R and Grandmother (they'll be in Dallas on T-day), and anyone else who hasn't gotten their fill of those delicious Thanksgiving temptations that only grace our tables "once a year".

I recently finished taking inventory for Mom G's Thanksgiving Menu. We let everyone vote on their 2 favorite sides and their favorite dessert (we figured the meat was pretty well a done-deal with no voting) and here's what we came up with:

1. Cajun Fried Turkey-- Jason is the king. After growing up eating Gramps' incredibly delicious oven-baked turkey (the traditional, cook it ALL night and toture yourself with the tantilizing smells, way), I didn't think there was any possible way to improve. However, a few years ago Jason got a turkey fryer...and we've never looked back. He injects the bird with his top secret, cajun marinade and fries it up in under an hour. It is moist, and tender, and not at all greasy like fried chicken. (The hot oil immediately sears the turkey, locking in all the delicious juices and locking out all the grease) Gramps' turkey is still scrumptious, but I'll never pass up Jason's fried turkey!
2. Smoked Ham-- because on Thanksgiving, one meat on your plate just isn't enough.
3. Green Bean Casserole-- I don't care who makes it. It's a T-Day staple! Bring on the cream of mushroom and french fried onions! This was the most-requested item on our family's Thanksgiving menu. (I think 5 out of 7 people named it as their "favorite side" when we were planning the menu...and at least one of the 2 who didn't was using a "strategy" because she knew that someone else would pick it and wanted to make sure we had LOTS of food on the table...did I mention she majored in psychology?)
4. Philly Corn Casserole-- I think I owe Meg Knight props for this mouth-watering recipe, which I actually got from Brooke Avery (thanks for sharing). It is delicious! I personally think every Thanksgiving feast should have a little something yellow. And I like corn.
   
5. Dorrito Salad--sure, we have salad just about every night of the year with dinner. But my Thanksgiving plate just seems, somehow incomplete without it. (Maybe it's just my feeble attempt to have some real, non-starch, veggies in the sea of unhealthy, but delicious consumables that is my plate...no wait, I guess the dorritos probably negate the non-starchy qualities of this dish...no, it must just be because it's delicious--not to mention it's fun watching Jason eat a salad with a dressing other than Ranch, since this one is pre-dressed in Catalina) Contents: Lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheddar, nacho cheese doritos, black olives, drained ranch-style beans, and Catalina dressing.
6. Cheesy Broccoli & Rice-- It was requested by AA (and I was glad because I wanted it too!). Even Jason, the self-proclaimed "Broccoli Nazi" will eat those "little green trees" when they're enveloped in cheesy goodness!
   
7. Ramen Strawberry-Broccoli Salad-- Ok, so maybe I just love broccoli. And this sounds really wierd, but Mom G made this a few years ago for Thanksgiving and its been a family favorite, ever since! I couldn't tell you what's in it, but if I had to guess, I'd say a little bit of pixie dust, because how else could broccoli and strawberries taste so good in the same bite?
   
8. Dressing-- I say dressing, cause I'm not a fan of "stuffing" it back inside the turkey cavity. (I had that job one year for Thanksgiving, and it was a little unappetizing) Stuffed or not, I love this delicious mish-mash of cornbread, cooked celery, and whatever else you throw in it. My personal favorite is the Gilmore family dressing recipe, which was bestowed upon me last year, and has been carefully filed into my heirloom recipe book to share with Norah, someday.
   
9. Ultra Creamy Potatoes-- Usually one of the sides I choose to bring because I can not do without potatoes! And its Thanksgiving, so I'm always careful to load them up with all the good stuff-- sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, milk, and butter (guess my taters aren't for the lactose intolerant) and maybe some chives just for a little color.
10. Texas Rolls-- the super, jumbo yeast rolls (I like Rhodes) that rise for 6 hours prior to the feast. Perfect for soaking up any left-over gravy or mashed potatoes that may have clung to your plate. (What can I say, I like to do my part helping clean up the dishes.)
11. Neiman Marcus Bars-- Jason's personal request for dessert, which I must say, surprised me. Maybe he chose them because I haven't made them in a while, or maybe because he knows they're one of my brother's favorites...but I think they'll compliment the dessert table well.
12. Peanut Brittle--because for me, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it. I'm working up the courage to ask Uncle Wayne for his famous recipe (he's been making it and bringing it to Thanksgiving and Christmas for as long as I can remember!)
    
13. Banana Pudding--AA's contribution to the feast spread. Last year she brought the McAnn Family's Secret Recipe Banana Pudding (which must not be TOO secret since they were willing to share even before she had the ring). I'm looking forward to a second sampling this year.
    
14. Pumpkin Pie--Perhaps I should mention that the desserts are never lacking at our family's Thanksgiving table. This was my little brother's pick for Thanksgiving dessert. I've never tried it (it just looks unappetizing to me), but I've decided this is my year. I made tons of pumpkin bread this fall and LOVED it, so I figure, the pie's gotta be good too.
    

Mmmmm...I can't wait! Next job on the agenda? Set the menu for Saturday's feast!

Family Date Night

Friday night, we decided to take a family trip to Marble Slab. It's always overpriced, but I still think it's the best ice cream in town, and since we've made it nearly 2 years without ever taking Norah, we thought we could splurge a little. Here she is tasting her first bite of Daddy's plain, strawberry ice cream...









Which was quickly followed by her second (more enthusiastic) sampling of Daddy's strawberry ice cream. She liked Daddy's pretty, pink ice cream so much that she refused for quite a while to try mommy's less attractive (but far tastier, at least in mommy' opinion) double dark chocolate ice cream with fresh strawberries. Finally, after a great deal of encouraging, she did give mommy' s concoction a whirl, and didn't go back to daddy's boring ice cream again.




"Bear, you've gotta try this!!"










Her favorite discovery from this new experience? "SPRINKLES"!! (a word she quickly picked up on, and exclaimed periodically, thereafter) Mommy agrees, Norah...sprinkles always make the ice cream taste better!

More Fun at the Park

Who ever said that the kids have to outnumber the grown-ups for a successful play-date? Last week Aunt Paige called and scheduled a lunch with Norah and me and our good friend, Amy. We met at one of our favorite parks for a picnic lunch, and of course, lots of swinging and sliding!





Amy even took a turn on the swing. Norah, apparently saw this as opportunity to try something new and exciting, so when she saw Amy swinging beside her, she began exclaiming, "Amy, hand! Amy, hand!" After a couple of times, Amy got it.
















She grabbed Norah's outstretched hand, synchronized her swing-speed to match Norah's, and they were off! Norah thought this was about the coolest thing ever!


Norah went down the single slide...















And the double slide...

















And even the big, tunnel slide! (This was Norah's first-ever trip down the tunnel slide, alone.) I was surprised at how fearlessly she climbed up to it's mouth, and then proceeded into it's dark entrance, without any hesitation.









I think her expression makes it pretty evident that she loved it.








It was a great play-date, and we left the park being thankful to be blessed by such sweet (grown-up) friends who were willing to use their one hour lunches at work to play with one very appreciative little toddler who thinks the world of them both.

Uncle Grant's Surprise

Uncle Grant came by our house earlier this week to let us know that two of his goats had given birth to twins (Twins are very common for goats)! By the time we made it out to the farm last night, another two mother goats had delivered, leaving Uncle Grant with a total of seven new babies!

Norah loved meeting all of the new baby goats. (And I have to say, that I now have a new favorite "baby animal") They were all so tiny and soft, and kept making their sweet, baby goat noises. (Norah thought it was her fault, so every time a baby goat would cry, she'd sweetly tell it, "I saw-wee baby dote" )

It was fun watching her in the animal stalls with her Uncle Grant. She reminded me of a little Fern (from Charlotte's Web...which I can't wait to read together)


Because of the time change, it was completely dark by the time we made it out to the goat's pens. I knew as we were approaching them that we were in for a treat. Uncle Grant (U.G.) had done SO much work to make it look great. It's hard to see it in the picture, but over to the left, there is (a hand-built by U.G.) hay-feeder, that looks a lot like the manger baby Jesus might have slept in. Uncle Grant had plenty of lights (this picture was taken after he had turned a few off) to keep the babies warm, and to help us see them better. We felt very privileged getting to see something so special in the dark of night.

These were the first goats we saw. I think they were my favorites, but it's hard to choose because they were all so cute! They were much smaller than I expected them to be, which of course, made them that much cuter!



Norah even got to witness a baby goat drinking some of its momma goat's milk. We explained to her what was going on, and I think she understood, because as she was looking over my shoulder at the pictures this morning, when we came to this one, she pointed and said, "Drinkin' milk!" with enthusiasm.


The brown and black twins were the newest babies to the herd, born only a few hours before our arrival. I was amazed, thinking that they were already walking around with ease, and very comfortable with people.

I also felt a little ripped off when I learned that the gestation of a baby goat is a mere 5 months, so these goats were pregnant a little over half the amount of time that I have been, and they're done! (Of course, Grant reminded me that most goats DO have twins...but even with that, their labor lasts only about 30 minutes!)



It looks like Norah is ignoring the baby goat in this picture, but that's because she's listening to what Uncle Grant is telling her. The corner where she's looking is where the momma goat was. This particular mother goat was a little skiddish, so U.G. was explaining to Norah that she needed to stay close to him and the baby and leave the momma goat alone. (And that her horns were very sharp!) Thankfully, she paid attention and obeyed.

It was another great trip to the farm, and Norah left in tears, reluctant to leave Uncle Grant and his animal menagerie behind. He sweetly reminded her that she could come back to see the baby goats any time, and I'm pretty sure she will very soon! (He has at least one more momma goat who is likely to deliver soon, so there may be even more babies the next time we go)

Our Lucky Week...

Kailani, over at an Island Life emailed a couple of days ago to congratulate us on our 1st place finish in her Halloween Costume Contest! Thanks so much to all of you who took time to stop over and vote for "Madame Peacock".

Then, just this morning, I got another email from Kailani, telling me that we had won one of her give-aways, so we'll be receiving a copy of a new children's book called "I Love You More" shortly. I can't wait to read it with Norah!

What a lucky week! If I were a gambling woman, it might be time to buy a lotto ticket...but I think we'll just be thankful, and quit while we're ahead.

Fun at Grammy & Grandpa's

Norah always has fun when she visits Grammy & Grandpa (or "Mimi & Peepaw", as she's recently taken to calling them). Almost every time we go to visit I wish I would have brought my camera because it seems like she always manages to get into something funny.

Any trip to Grammy & Grandpa's has to include at least one ride on the horsey....





Trying on whatever new headgear she can muster (This one was a random hat box she found in Grammy's sewing room) ...












and driving the car (she had just been pulled over for a repeat speeding offense at the time of this picture, hence the solemn look on her face).













High-security procedures were implemented to detain her after she failed to comply with a standard driver's license check. As you may be able to tell by the look on her face, she was very upset about the whole ordeal.

Norah for President!

Ok, so I'm not really campaigning for Norah's future presidency...but she is entered into an Island Life's annual costume contest, and voting starts today. Make sure you vote for Robinson County Post, not Robison Family Ramblings--I know they look a lot alike, but we still maintain the "N" in the middle of our last name. If you've got a couple extra seconds, please click over and give Norah your vote in the best kids's costume category...that is, if you like 21 month old peacocks...if not, you can vote for one of the other kids--I wont know the difference :)

UPDATE: The contest poll buttons aren't working (a lot of people have been having trouble with cookies), so just scroll down leave a comment voting for Robinson County Post for best kid's costume on the Halloween Contest post at an Island Life. Only one vote per person, so we can use every one we can get! Thanks, guys!