Every family has traditions. In our family, we have quite a few. Whenever we have Thanksgiving dinner, my brother always has to tell the story of my first Thanksgiving turkey. When he is done, then I do the explaining.
You see, my first Thanksgiving turkey was cooked by me - all by myself - at the ripe old age of 18. I was scared to death that the turkey would not be done - so I overcooked it a bit. It came out beautiful, deep golden brown - but it was very dry. However, no one got food poisoning from underdone turkey!
To hear him tell the story, as soon as we punctured the skin with a knife, the whole turkey deflated and turned to dust. And every slice of turkey soaked up a cup of gravy. How we had slices when the turkey had already turned to dust, I have no idea!
I have cooked many turkeys since then and have it perfected now!
Another tradition is going around the table, one-by-one and telling what we are thankful for.
One of my favorite traditional foods for Thanksgiving is sweet potatoes. My mom usually fixes some savory and I fix them sweet. This year she did them with leeks and bacon - ummy yummy! As soon as I get the recipe from her, I will pass it on to you! Today, though, I am going to give you my "recipe" for sweet potatoes. Sorry, no picture as they got left at Mom's!
Sweet Potatoes Raquel
3-4 pounds sweet potatoes, scrubbed and the ends cut off
Bake them in a 350F oven on a cookie sheet lined with foil (for easy cleanup) for about an hour, until good and done.
Take out of oven and let them cool. Slit them open and scrape out the flesh into a bowl. Mash it up good.
To the potatoes add:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or more to taste)
1/4 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup orange juice
Grated rind of one smallish orange
1/3 cup butter, diced
Mix that all up good. Place in a greased 11x7 pan. Cover with mini marshmallows and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or so, until marshmallows are good and brown.
This makes a goodly amount (we ended up with 13 at dinner yesterday) so decrease amounts to suit your taste. Also amounts are approximate as I do not measure - so to your taste! This can be made ahead to the point of adding the marshmallows and refrigerated. Just remember to take it out of the fridge at least an hour before you bake it.
The orange juice and orange rind were new this year and I quite like it!
So what are some of your traditions?
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Sherlock Holmes. Hercule Poirot. Lord Peter Whimsey. Ms. Jane Marple. Nancy Drew. I could go on and on. They all have one thing in common. A knack for discovering mysteries. On this blog, I will be exploring some mysteries in the kitchen as well as (hopefully) exploring some of the mysteries of life.
Simply
To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich, to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never, in a word to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common, this is to be my symphony. - William Henry Channing
my beloved
About Me
- Raquel
- Missouri, United States
- A good book, a cat, a cup of hot cocoa and scone, a nice comfy chair, quiet - bliss. The true pleasures in life are found within your heart.
In Grace
"...I want first of all...to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact - to borrow from the language of the saints - to live "in grace" as much of the time as possible...By grace I mean an inner harmony, essentially spiritual, which can be translated into outward harmony...I would like to achieve a state of inner spiritual grace from which I could function and give as I was meant to in the eye of God..." by Anne Morrow Lindbergh Gift from the Sea
This is my Goal in Life
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Even though my one child is grown now, I live by these words.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Even though my one child is grown now, I live by these words.
These are a few of my favorite things . . .
- Teddy Bears
- Ice Hockey
- The color green
- Really good dark chocolate
- The ocean
- Garfield
- Moonlight
- Candlelight
- Roses - particularly pink ones
- Canning and preserving
- Bobbin lace tatting
- Quilling
- Calligraphy
- Counted cross-stitch
- Anything Victorian
- Cookbooks
- Historical mysteries
- Bonfires
- Fireplaces
- Autumn
- Rainy days
- Christmas music
- Celtic music, harp, bagpipes
- Snow
- Cats
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5 comments:
That sounds delicious, I need to make it for Xmas dinner. We do the same thing, go around the table and say what we are thankful for, and Dad does a really long prayer!
My boss says that it wouldn't be Thanksgiving unless something happened to the turkey. Your yams sound fabulous!!!
Sounds good, Raquel. But as I don't have much of a sweet tooth, I think mum's leek and bacon would have the edge. I'll look forward to seeing her recipe.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Sweet potatoes sound so yummy, I cant eat turkey its one of my food algies i have,
Take care
Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday! I love your recipe for sweet potatoes...you hooked me on the pumpkin pie spice! ;o) Speaking of pumpkin pie...that is my favorite part of the meal...although I love it all but the turkey...LOL! Happy Holidays ((HUGS))
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