Have a Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a good Thanksgiving. As we reflect on our blessings, let us look for ways to help others.

All the best,
Maggie

Make Thanksgiving Dinner Easy on YOU

So if you have turkey, gravy, sweet potato casserole/OR mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie & one other dessert, it's probably enough. You don't really have to have mashed potatoes too. If you really think you need more, open a couple of cans of olives, put out some baby carrots & dip, & maybe a dish of applesauce. It's enough already! Or ask people to bring already prepared foods in their serving dishes.

Many of the traditional Thanksgiving recipes are on this blog. Use the Search This Blog widget to find them. You can always do your own recipes for traditional or non-traditional dishes too. It's your party.

Dishes that can be done ahead of time: gravy, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pie, other dessert, green bean casserole. So, that pretty much leaves the turkey & the rolls. Turkey could be done the day before, but most like to do it the day of.

If the rolls have to go in the oven, they pretty much have to go in after the turkey comes out. Maybe make one person be in charge of doing the rolls & getting them in at the right time. Or buy rolls that are already baked & keep them warm in a crockpot.

Then you can focus on the turkey. Assign other people to reheat the made ahead items. Then you carve the turkey, & supervise getting all the foods on the table or buffet. Or carve the turkey at the table if you like.

As I posted earlier get one person (can be a teen) to find out what each person wants to drink & put those drinks by the correct place. Younger kids can have rolled up the silverware in napkins for the buffet or put them at the place settings.

So then you become the ring master making sure that everything gets on the table. Be sure to assign someone to give the blessing far enough ahead of time for them to be prepared

Choose carefully who you ask to help with clean-up. You know them best.

Lastly, enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving. We all have a lot to be grateful for.

Make Ahead Turkey Gravy

This is a very delicious gravy that you can use on many items on your Thanksgiving table. If the turkey turns out a little dry, you can serve slices of turkey with some gravy on top. It's also good on dressing/stuffing and of course on mashed potatoes. Yum.

This can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container. If you make it closer to when you will serve it I'd still freeze it since it has turkey meat in it. That meat will not stay good beyond about 3 days. Be safe & freeze it.

One reviewer used turkey legs instead of turkey wings for better flavor. You could even leave out the meat altogether & make it easier to keep without it spoiling.

However you make it, if the gravy is made ahead of time it will make your Thanksgiving Day go soooooo much easier. Trust me on this one. Or else get some jars of gravy & use those.

Click title for link at AllRecipes.

Turkey Breast with Gravy

This is great when you don't need/want a whole turkey. It's also great if you only want white meat. You can even do 2 turkey breasts in the oven if you want more meat.

Most reviewers added a can of chicken broth to this.

Click title for link at AllRecipes.

Crib Recalls after 4 Infant Deaths

The problem is with the side of the crib that can be lowered. The mechanism makes that side weaker & can malfunction.

My son has a crib with a side that can be lowered. He's going to bolt that side so that it can no longer be lowered.

Click title for link at the LA Times.

Quick Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

This is made with canned yams or sweet potatoes, but you could also use fresh yams/sweet potatoes. Fresh tastes better in my opinion, but they take longer. I'd cook them in the microwave or boil them on the stove or bake them in the oven a day or two ahead. Then follow the recipe using them.

Some people have to have marshmallows on their sweet potatoes. I don't. If you do, be sure to watch them carefully so they don't burn.

Click title for this highly-rated recipe at AllRecipes.

Easiest Apple Crisp Ever

This frugal dish is delicious & quick to make. It's a great alternative to pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving & seems to go with any menu.

Click title for link at AllRecipes.

Fantastic Mashed Potatoes

Even if you've never made homemade mashed potatoes before these will turn out great for you.

One reviewer wrote that she followed the suggestions or others: "I doubled the butter and milk and salt to make them creamier and tastier (yes, and unhealthier.) I also took the "Betty Crocker" tip and returned the potatoes to the hot pan after draining to evaporate leftover water. Worked great!"

I find the potatoes turn out creamier by adding the milk & blending it in thoroughly before I add the butter. Also I don't warm the milk or the butter before adding as some do. I just try to make the potatoes kind of at the last minute so they are plenty hot.

If they are done & you are not quite ready to eat, you can put them in the microwave oven, close the door, & do NOT turn on the microwave. The microwave is kind of like an insulating box, so it'll keep the potatoes from cooling off too much. Or you could put them in a pre-heated crockpot set to medium or high with the lid on. Check on them sometimes & adjust the temperature setting if need be.

Perhaps the best option for a busy day like Thanksgiving is to just make the mashed potatoes a day or two before & then zap them in the microwave for serving.

If you have any leftover the best way to reheat them is in the microwave.

Click title for link at AllReciipes.

Cranberry Gelatin Salad--Not Tart

This is a great recipe for those who find most cranberry sauces too tart. This is delicious & even kids like it. I love it so much that I'll take a flour tortilla to mop up the juices left on the plate from it.

Thanks, Renee, for introducing me to this recipe!

Click title for link at AllRecipes.

Easy Classic Cranberry Sauce

You cook a bag of cranberries with some sugar & orange juice. That's it. Done. Tastes wonderful. You can make it several days ahead & just keep in the fridge.

Click title for link at AllRecipies.

Food for Thought: Stop Trying to Impress Other People

This is the root of a lot of financial troubles. It's also a hard root to root out.

Many purchases are made to keep up with the Joneses even though we have all heard that things don't make you happy.

It's not clear in every situation if we are buying things to impress others, but ask yourself next time if that has crept into your decision making.

Click title for link to a very thought-provoking article by Trent Ham at the Simple Dollar.

Getting Your Best Deals on Black Friday

I saw a statistic that 22% of Americans buy things on Black Friday. That's amazing to me, but if you are one of those shoppers you need to maximize your luck in getting the deals.

These are tips from WiseBread that seem to work year after year.
Click title for link to article by Linsey Knerl.

Best 5 Minute Face

You can do your make up in 5 minutes if you get in a routine. Here are tips and products to help you get out the door with a fresh face.

Click title for link at 15 Minute Fashion.

Existing Home Sales Surge on Cheap Condo Prices

While many are happy that existing home sales were up about 10%. However, this article says those sales are mainly for condominiums that are down in price about 10% since a year ago. At least that's good news for condo owners looking to sell.

Click title for link at Ritholtz.com.