last the best of all the game?

OK--here's the last of the turkey day yummies. The apple cranberry relish. I've tasted others--but this is my favorite.

Apple Cranberry Relish

This is great for Thanksgiving! Yummy on turkey or ham.

2 medium navel oranges
2 -12oz bags of fresh or frozen cranberries
2 medium apples, cut into chunks
2 celery ribs, cut into chunks
3 cups sugar

Blend all ingredients in blender. It makes quite a bit—so I usually cut it in half and it’s plenty for 10-12 people.

YUMM!

If I run out of time before the big turkey day--I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner, family, games, shopping preparations, and football.

Turkey Lurkey

mmmmmmmmm

Just thinking about this makes my mouth water. So the turkey is the most important part of the meal right? Yah, so if you want a great turkey--spend a little extra time preparing it and you will have a masterpiece. My mom saw this recipe on a PBS cooking show about 8 years ago. It is fabulous! Definately worth the extra effort. Here goes....

Turkey
If you can afford to buy a fresh turkey--it tastes much better than one that has been frozen.

At least one day before cooking place the bird in a salt water brine. Put 1/2 cup salt in the bottom of a clean 5 gallon bucket. Fill about half way with water or until the water covers the bird. Soak up to 48 hours, but at least 8-10 hours.


Combine:

1 cup olive oil
2 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic

Remove bird from brine and towell off with paper towell. Separate the skin from the breast with your hand and marinate the above all over the turkey, under the skin, inside and outside of the bird. Place fresh sprigs of sage and thyme under the skin of the turkey and a few more inside the cavity. Place turkey (upside down) on a rack in a deep roasting pan. If you place the bird upside down, all of the juices will go down to the breasts and keep them moist. Tuck the wings under to prevent browning and tie the legs together with a string so they don't flop all over.


Bake at 350* for 20 minutes per pound. Remove tender turkey timer and use cooking thermometer for best results. Do not use an oven bag. Baste often during cooking time to replenish the seasonings that are being dripped out. Turkey is done at 180*. Remove turkey from oven at 170* as turkey will continue cooking when you remove it from the oven. (the turkey timer is set to go off at 180* and turkey will be dry if it gets much hotter than that). Remove herbs and discard. This does not produce an attractive bird, but lets face it.....it's the taste that matters.

Gravy

Collect some drippings from the pan (try to get the drippings not just the oil). Strain the drippings and add 1 qt chicken broth or water to make desired amount. Bring to a boil. In separate bowl or cup combine 1 cup water and 1/2 cup flour. Shake or whisk well so there are no lumps. Slowly add to boiling broth & drippings. Bring to boil and boil for about 10 minutes. Season to taste.

I hope this makes sense... if not you know how to contact me :)

The other recipe I wanted to post is for the apple cranberry relish my mom-in-law makes. It was her mother's recipe and it is soooo yummy. My sister has adopted it and her family loves it so much they eat it with a spoon. For some reason....I cannot find it at the moment, actually I've looked all over. So when I have a chance to call Betty and get it I will post it then. If you would like any other recipes...I'm always happy to share.

Thanksgiving Dinner

For several years now my mom and I have gathered our favorite recipes and juggled a few ideas and I do believe we have perfected the Thanksgiving feast. (the way we like it at least) We have had the same menu for 4 years now. Haven't changed a thing. We look forward to it every year. Especially the left overs.

I thought I could share some recipes with you so you too can enjoy what we like.

Menu:
Turkey & gravy (of course)
apple cranberry relish
Dressing
Mashed potatoes
Sweet Potatoe Puff
Green Beans
Rolls
Cranberry Fluff or
Raspberry pretzel salad
relish tray

Desserts:
pumpkin pie
apple pie
banana cream pie
lemon merangue pie
pecan pie
chocolate pie (sometimes)

all with fresh whipped cream lightly sweetened

sounds ordinary enough right. Yup. nothing special, but here's how we do it. I'll probably only post 4-5 recipes tonight, then the rest in the next few days. Enjoy!


Potatoes

10 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 cup sour cream
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
6 tablespoons butter (divided)
2 tablespoons dried minced onion (cuz my dad hates real ones)
1/2-1 teaspoon salt
paprika

Boil potatoes for 20-25 min. or until tender. Drain and place in a bowl; mash. Add sour cream, cream cheese, 4 TBL butter, onion, and salt; stir until smooth and the cream cheese and butter are melted. Spread in 13X9 pan. Melt remaining butter; drizzle over potatoes. Sprinkle with paprika. Regrigerate or bake immediately, covered, at 350* for 40 minutes; uncover and bake 20 minutes longer. If potatoes are made ahead and refrigerated, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking. These are sooooo good, you don't even need gravy! (this is from the Taste of Home 1999 cookbook)


Thanksgiving Dressing (Stuffing)

This is a basic recipe but just how we like it. We make it in the crock pot to save room in the oven for the turkey/rolls.

preseasoned dressing (Pepperige Farms crumbled not cubed) Not stove top
1 pkg sage sausage (Jimmy Dean) fried and crumbled
3 carrots
2 stalks celery
onions
poultry seasoning & sage to taste (~1tsp?)
2 cans chicken broth
1/2 cup butter melted

Chop carrots, celery and onion with food chopper or in blender/processer with a little water.
Mix veggies, sausage, bread crumbs together. Combine butter, broth, and seasoning. Pour over crumbs and veggiews til moist. You may not need all the liquid--don't make it too soggy. Don't stir too much or it will make a paste. Spray bottom of crock pot with Pam. Put dressing in and cook on low for 4-6 hours stirring occasionally. Can make up to 1 day ahead.



Sweet Potato Puff



I never really liked sweet potatoes until about 10 years ago. This really should be classified as a dessert it is so good.

3 cups cold mashed sweet potatoes (without added milk or butter)
½ cup sugar
½ cup butter melted
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup coconut

Topping:
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup chopped pecans
2 TBL butter, melted
¼ cup flour

In a mixing bowl, beat sweet potatoes, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla until fluffy. Stir in coconut. Spoon into a greased 2 ½ qt. baking dish. Combine topping ingredients until well blended; sprinkle over sweet potatoes. Bake, uncovered, at 350* for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.




Apple Pie In a Brown Bag



My Grandma Burdett found this recipe in the newspaper about 35 years ago. This pie is great because it always turns out perfect and you don't have to roll out the pie crust. It is baked in a brown paper bag...No don't worry it won't burn. mmmmm perfect with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

1 ½ cup flour
1 ½ tsp. sugar
1 tsp salt
½ cup oil
2 Tbl. Cold milk

4-6 cups peeled, sliced apples
½ cup sugar
2 TBl. Flour
½ tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine 1 ½ cups flour, 1 ½ teaspoons sugar, salt, oil and milk. Pat into pie plate. Do not roll out.

Combine sliced apples, sugar, flour, and spices. Stir together until the apples are coated. Put into pie shell. Sprinkle with topping.

Toppping:

¼ cup flour
¼ cup butter
½ cup sugar

Combine and mix until crumbly like pie crust. Sprinkle on top of pie. Place in a brown paper bag. Seal with staples or paper clips. Place on cookie sheet to bake. Do not peek! Bake at 350˚ for 1 ½ hours. Let cool slightly before attempting to cut.




Rolls


For rolls when we remember, we usually go to Neighborhood Bakery (now at Gardner Village) and get their frozen dough balls. The butterflakes are delicious and the orange butterflake are to die for!! when we don't get rolls from here, I have been making Jen Monson's sunbeam rolls. Here's her recipe (I hope it's ok to share--I think everyone in the ward has it anyway)


3/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons yeast
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cup milk
5 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
6 cups flour (divided) I ususally use about 7
1/2 cup melted butter

Dissolve yeast and 1 1/2 TBL sugar in warm water & set aside. Scald together butter and milk (I put in microwave til really hot and it gets a little skin on the top). Mix together eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, salt, and 3 cups flour together. then add milk/butter, then add yeast. Add 3 more cups of flour (I add another cup usually so it's not so sticky). Let rise until double in size. Divide into 4 pieces. Using a floured surface, roll each piece into a large circle. Brush with melted butter. With pizza cutter, cut like pizza into 16 pieces. Roll up into crescent shapes starting with wide end. place on cookie sheet, brush with butter and let rise again for about 10 minutes. Bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes or until light brown.

This whole process takes about 3 hours--so start early! Rolls are much better if made the same day.




Whew! I'm tired. I'll post more tomorrow.

I'm loosing it!

What is wrong with me!!?

I have had a serious problem the last 5-6 years with forgetting things. I forget conversations, appointments, forget to take things places, return items I've borrowed, etc... Now I know everybody says they forget things-----I really and truly do. In my home everyday, I go downstairs and realize I forgot why I'm there. I go upstairs, click. I remember. Go downstairs. Forget. Holy cow! There are times when I drive off in my car and forget where I'm going.... oh yeah... to the bank, I'll have to turn around and go the other way. Crazy! This week has been particularly horrible.

• Sunday, after getting everybody in the car to go to my mom's house, I locked myself out of the house..which wouldn't normally be horrible, but the keys to the car were in there too and Russell was at work. Thank goodness my trusty ol' neighbor always keeps an extra key for us, (we use this key quite a lot)
• 6 am Monday morning Russell asks me, "why is there a gallon of milk in the cupboard?" Um.....I dunno. I used some yesterday making pumkin squares. I thought I put it away. But no, I put the empty sugar canister on the cupboard, and of course then I had to put the milk away, I think it was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
• Monday at work....Oh yeah, I told Sandy I would make her some cover pages for her photo albums...oops.
• Tuesday. How old am I?? How many years have I been having my period?? OK--I totally forgot to put a plug in before going walking. Now there is only so much a panty liner can hold.....not enough I say! Thank goodness for black excercise pants and leather car seats. Gross!!
• Wednesday. Running late in the am as usual. Made oatmeal to eat on the way to work. Left it sitting on the shelf by where my purse is. Anybody need a cinnamon raisin doorstop?
• Wednesday. forgot the cover pages....again. Sorry Sandy.
• Wednesday, forgot to wear mascara to work. Eeeek!
• Thursday. Went to get clean garments only to find I forgot to put the last load of laundry in the dryer------Tuesday morning. Yuck! Sour clothes. Wash again
• Forgot visiting teaching appointment. and the fact I was supposed to bring a treat. I'm glad I freeze cookies sometimes. Came in handy today.

What in the world am I going to forget next?? The pecan pie or sweet potatoes for thanksgiving?? Oh I hope not!

Hopefully you all will be forgiving if it is you I forget :(

nothing to blog....

hmmmmm don't you hate it when your life is either so busy or so boring you can't think of a thing to blog about? Probably not. No haven't been much in the mood myself sooooo, Tiff--you tagged me so here it goes:

8 TV shows I love to watch:
So I'm really not into TV so much anymore. I don't have access to food network (if I did, I wouldn't be blogging at all--just watching all the fabulous things to cook and eat) So this is what I end up watching for the only reason I have dropped into bed exhausted. (or walked into the room when my kids are watching the tube)
CSI NY & Miami (gotta love Horacio--ungh!)
Law and Order SVU
10 o'clock news
Seinfield reruns
Little House on the Prairie
The Brady bunch
Everybody loves Raymond
2 And a Half Men

8 Favorite Restaurants: I can only think of 7. Sad but true. We rarely go out to eat.
Cafe Rio
TheMandarin
Panda Express
Texas Roadhouse
Trio
Olive Garden
My mom's house- (does this count?)

8 Things That Happened Yesterday:
Excercised
Preschool carpool and ran errands-Target, the bank, Lowes, Walmart
Went to an Awards Assembly to see Kaden get an award for Honor roll
Met with Speech therapist for Karson
laughed, talked, hugged, and played with my kids
Made Chicken chunks, rice a roni, and broccoli for dinner
went to Young Women in Excellence program. snore.
prepared for a fun weekend

8 Things I Am Looking Forward To:
a finished bathroom. no we still don't have a sink, counter top, or shower
an organized house--Thank you Zalia for jump starting me
Skiing. skiing. and more skiing.
becoming more healthy
a gym membership
the Twilight movie
Reading my next good book
beating Noelle's scramble score


8 People I tag:
do I have to??

Whoever wants to do this??...

aaaahhhh bliss

So this weekend we decided to take a brake from our worldy cares (and stake conference) and escape to our favorite mountain get-away......the cabin. Love it. Wow. I read the entire Saturday--well, I did take a brake to prepare food and throw snowballs off the deck, and maybe a few games with the kiddos. But I read most of the day in front of the stove and the picture windows......yah, it was good. I know you are jealous!!

So why do I like my kids to watch tv, cartoons, and movies when it works to my advantage?? You know to keep them occupied while I do something for me.... but when I want them to do something else and they don't--well it's a struggle. I guess it is all about me, and my being in control. hmmmmm. Can I tell you know how sick I am of football, sponge bob, and icarly?
Oh my!! Back to the real world with time limits on tv/computers and such.

NowI need a new book to read. I just finished Subterranean by James Rollins. Pretty good book. Similar to the Journey to the Center of the Earth, very action packed, adventurous, and entertaining. Yes Noelle, it is another "boy" book--Abe might like it..

Well I must go and enjoy the last bit of weedend I have left....starting laundry. Good thing is--the boys only wore 1 change of clothes the entire weekend.

It is finally over!

I didn't know how out of control it really was...

I found myself defending a person I didn't vote for nor do I know much about, but I must find out because he is our next POTUS. Yesterday Karson (7) came home from school wondering who I voted for. Well--I didn't tell him at first, then he said, "I know you voted for McCain because you love babies." I didn't quite understand what he was talking about--so I had him explain. It is curious how things spread around elementary schools.....Apparently word has exploded that Obama is a bad person because he kills little babies. What?? I had some education to give to my school age boys. No we don't listen to crazy stories like that, and Obama really is a good man. Kaden was really disturbed--frightened I think when he went to bed thinking that the next POTUS would take away our guns and kill babies.

I am guilty--I have made comments like "this country is going to go to pot if he/she is elected", "He is going to ruin our coutnry". and "I would never vote for him."

The media--well I don't even need to say anything here. This is where horrible rumors and bad stories come from. The devil himself????

I feel sad for our kids who believe everything they hear from adults--even if it is not true. They are too trusting. We must watch what we say and talk to our children about today's issues. Educate them about our government and our freedoms.

I watched John McCain's concession speech last night and thought WOW--if everyone would listen to this, then maybe--just maybe, we as a country could come together, work together, pray together, and live together and be a better people. It is going to take more than we can do alone. We must have help from the heavens above. We must have hope. And faith.

I am so glad this election is over. No more phone calls, no more strangers at your door asking to put a sign in your yard. No more throwing away glossy finished, color printed fliers urging you to vote for some person or another. I am so glad America has spoken and we can hopefully make this place a brighter and better place to live.

seasons change

And thank goodness they do!!
I don't have a favorite season. I know that sounds weird. But I enjoy every season.

I love faLL. The colors. The brisk air. Crunchy leaves. The getting ready for winter time. The thrill of spending time outside in the warm enough for a jacket but not bundled yet afternoon. Soups, stews, pumpkin or apple filled recipes. Piles of leaves to jump in over and over before stuffing them into a bag. The warmth of the heater kicking on a chilly afternoon.

I love WiNteR. There is nothing quite so amazing as a fresh coating of snow. Clean. White. Serene. Softness. The best place is in the mountains--high up on a ski trail--with no one around to marr the beauty. The exhilarating swoosh in knee deep powder---Freshies!! Snowmen & angles. Snow forts, sledding, skiing, and sliding. Hot chocolate every afternoon-with marshmallows or candy canes. Snowflakes landing on your eyelashes. Cold cheeks and noses, eyes bright with excitement. All bundled up for a walk to the park--to swing on the frozen swings. Just one more storm before spring--please?!

I love SpRiNg. Snow covered dandelions, crocuses, and tulips. Leaves budding. Sprigs of green squeezing up through the brown undergrowth. Everything is alive. Chirping. buzzing. Laughing. puddles to splash in. Walking in the rain. Soccer games. planting flower beds. Vowing to keep the weeds down to a minimum this year--but failing. The first camping trip in the trailer. Neighbors coming out of hibernation. Break out the porch monkey chairs--we're out to stay.

I love sUmMeR. Warm days and nights. The smell of fresh cut grass. Flowers, green, and color everywhere. Camping trips, Lake Powell, and barbecues. American Flags, potatoe salad, dutch oven cooking, ice cream. The chirping of crickets, splashing in the pool, reading in the shade, looking at the stars. Bike rides and then cool relief from the heat standing under the swamp cooler. summer vacation, movie days, and water parks. Ahhh summer.

I'm so glad I live where I do--to experience all these seasons. Love IT!!