Preparing for Thanksgiving

We are coming out of a really lovely weekend where we spent time with family and friends, sat by the fire as the wind whistled outside and chatted with a dear friend who, no matter how long it's been, it feels like just yesterday that we were teaching together and laughing at the antics all around us! 

Today, I am preparing to host Thanksgiving and I'm super excited that all of my immediate family will be together this year for the first time in a long while!  I'm having a small procedure done tomorrow to hopefully take care of a rather pesky and painful vein on my leg, so I want to be totally prepared by the end of today!  Our turkey is ordered, our traditional menu is set, a few kid projects are in the works, the silver is being polished and I picked up these sweet cards to pass out to everyone.

Our menu is basically the same year after year.  We've had the delicious and coveted sweet potato souffle for as long as I can remember; it's a treat that we look forward to all year long.  We've also always had an amazing sage dressing but we can longer have it due to Harris' corn allergy (the base is cornbread) so I'm trying a new one this year.  I'm really hoping that it can be "the one."  

Thanksgiving Menu

Cider

Sweet Tea

Turkey

Sage stuffing

Gravy

Cranberry Sauce

Sweet Potato Souffle

Green Beans

Deviled Eggs

Rolls

Apple Tart w/ Cinnamon Ice Cream

Salted Caramel Cheesecake

A Moonlit Tea Party

For Family Night last night we had a stargazing tea party. While we were in Maine we did some stargazing and I was amazed by all that we could see (I had never seen the Milky Way!). While the stargazing was not nearly of the same quality here it was still something fun to do together as a family. Add to that the fun of having an outdoor tea party and it was a great way to spend the evening!

To get ready for the tea party, Harris made Moon Scones, the children each made a night sky placemat and I warmed up the Milky Way Tea (milk, honey and vanilla), which was perfect right before bedtime! We spread out a quilt on the lawn, gazed upward and marveled at the night sky!

A Moonlit Tea Party Menu

Moon Scones with jam

Cheese stars and crescent moon apple slices

Milky way Tea

P.S. I got the idea for this tea party from The Tea Party Book by Lucille Recht Penner. Funny, I've had this book for years and have never used it. Now I want to host all of these little tea parties!

Christmas menus

I've just finished finalizing the menus for the two meals that I am making this Christmas! Years ago our family started a tradition of having seafood on Christmas Eve. We began with lobster which was delicious but a logistical nightmare. All dressed up for a church service and trying to claw open a lobster does not really go hand in hand. Also, lobster can't really be made ahead of time and therefore makes for a less relaxing Christmas Eve. (Just ask my family - when I first started cooking everything took me SO long!) We've had plenty of rushed/late dinners. Thankfully, I've gotten a lot better! Over the years we have tried several different kinds of seafood dishes but haven't found THE one yet. So this year I'm trying something new (although something is tugging at the back of my mind that perhaps we've made this before). I believe my sister is trying a lobster bisque so I hope we can compare notes (we are not together this year for Christmas). Everything on the Christmas Breakfast menu is tried and true and delicious!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Peppermint Eggnog

Clams Casino

Christmas Soup (a really delicious broccoli soup)

Seafood Gratins

Salad with champagne vinaigrette

Gingerbread cupcakes with chocolate glaze and meringue buttercream

Christmas Morning Breakfast

Egg Strata with goat cheese and herbs

Gingerbread waffles with Christmas spice butter and berry preserves

Candied Bacon

Fruit

Juice

Coffee

By the way, the picture above has nothing whatsoever to do with menus. I just thought he was cute. He's been fun to look at all season!

Painted Easter Eggs and a Carrot Menu

Remember our Easter tree?  Last night we had our annual Easter egg painting extravaganza.  It was extra fun this year because Al and Marilyn were here to participate.  

You might not know how hard it can be to paint on a fragile, blown out egg but it involves...

Concentration...

Laughter...

and a blow dryer.

The final results were magnificant.  I can't decide which are my favorites.  I love the Colorado mountains because it is a reminder that Al and Marilyn were here for Easter.   I also love Grace's fairy and Harris' camouflage egg.

In honor of the bunny that comes to visit on Easter night we also had our all carrot meal.  We started doing this a few years ago and we added to the menu this year.  I think we have gotten it just right!  Everything is surprisingly good (not to mention just plain fun). 

All Carrot Menu

Carrot Soup

Carrot burgers with lettuce

Carrot Cheesecake

When I saw this carrot cheesecake in MS Living this month, I knew that I had to make it for our meal.  It was easy to make and really good.  The carrots are fondant!  

P.S. The children left the Easter bunny some nibbles.  We made carrot muffins and Grace thought he would appreciate some carrot juice.