We’re not traveling this Thanksgiving, so I will be entirely in charge of this Thursday’s menu preparation. The grocery shopping has been completed, my Wednesday Prep Schedule is hanging on the refrigerator and I seriously can’t wait for a full day of cocktails, grub and football. I’ll be serving:
Turkey/Gravy – This will be handled by the lovely folks at Whole Foods. I just really don’t see the point in cooking one for the 3 of us.
Great-Grandmother’s Stuffing/Dressing – You know the drill. Tell you, have to kill you, so on and so forth…
Hash Brown Casserole – the ULTIMATE in comfort/unhealthy food.
1 lb frozen hash browns
1/2 cup chopped onions
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can mushroom soup
1/2 lb. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted (1/2 stick)
Mix all together, put in casserole dish, bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Enjoy the clogged arteries.
Dinner Rolls/Biscuits – haven’t decided on which recipe exactly. Any good ones?
Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Whiskey Whipped Cream
1 8 ounce baguette, sliced into ½ inch slices
4 eggs
1 quart half and half
1 15 ounce can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon coarse salt
cooking spray
1 cup heavy cream, very cold
2 to 3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons whiskey
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
1. Toast the bread on a rimmed baking sheet until lightly browned, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes.
2. In a large bowl combine eggs, half and half, pumpkin, brown sugar, spices, vanilla, and salt. Add toasted bread slices, cover with plastic wrap, pressing down. Place a plate that fits inside bowl on the plastic wrap and weight with a canned good. The bread must be completely submerged. Let soak until the bread is saturated about 30 minutes.
3. Transfer to a 2 quart baking dish that has been coated with non stick cooking spray. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes
until set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Store, covered in refrigerator.
4. To make whiskey whipped cream, combine heavy cream, sugar and whiskey. Mix immediately on high speed with mixer for about 4 minutes, until fluffy. Spoon over bread pudding.
Of course, I will be cooking all of this food while sipping on a spicy Bloody Mary with pickles, olives and celery. Mmmm.
What are you making for Thanksgiving? More importantly, are you trying out any special cocktail recipes?
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I saw Twilight on Sunday night with my good friend Lisa. This might not seem like a huge deal to most of you snazzy moviegoers, but let me tell you a little something about myself. In the past 8 years, I have seen 3 movies* in the theater. (For those of you keeping track, that would be since Y2K. Y2K, PEOPLE.) I simply do not see movies in the theater, mainly because my husband has some sort of bizarre movie-induced narcolepsy, and let’s face it, it’s no fun watching a movie while your +1 is dozing. ALSO, it’s no fun when someone sitting behind you sneezes half-chewed Twizzlers in your hair. Just sayin’.
Before seeing Twilight, I didn’t think my obsession with Edward Cullen could grow. I was wrong.
I am seeing the movie again this weekend. With my good friend Lisa.
(GOOD GOD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH US.)
On a related note, anyone interested in stalking Robert Pattinson with me? My lovely cousins are providing the crazy stalker van, so we’re all set to go.
*The Royal Tenenbaums, The Squid and the Whale, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Rebecca (Bearca)
November 25, 2008 at 3:46 pmWe are hosting Thanksgiving at our house, and my grocery shopping expedition will begin in about 15 minutes! My husband will be making the turkey (because I do not handle fourteen pounds of raw poultry, ewww) and I will make all the side dishes.
No exciting cocktails, but we have a couple of bottles of really good wine that we plan to open.
I love holidays planned around food and drinks. :)
Rebecca (Bearca)
November 25, 2008 at 3:46 pmOh! And I am seeing Twilight on Sunday.
The_New_Dots
November 25, 2008 at 3:51 pmCount me in for stalking. I’m OBSESSED. Well, at least with the character that he plays and I’m just deluded enough to convince myself Rob Pattinson is actually a vampire.
Carrisa
November 25, 2008 at 3:52 pmOklahoma will miss you.
I am making a turkey, dressing, cream cheese corn, sauteed southern green beans, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, and crescent rolls. Oh and a cherry blueberry pie.
I recommend Tomolives to you. They are tiny little pickled tomatoes that look like olives. They are great for martinis and blood mary cocktails. And for stalking.
OMGEDWARDLOLZLOVEYOU4EVA!!!!!1
Tomolives? YUM.
Miguelina
November 25, 2008 at 3:53 pmI love a homemade mojito, but my favorite cocktail of all time is a Tanqueray 10 martini with a big-ass olive. Have one for me – I’ll be at work.
*grumble, grumble*
Jennifer
November 25, 2008 at 3:56 pmI patiently waiting to see Twilight. Soon, very soon….
gorillabuns
November 25, 2008 at 3:57 pm2 things:
1) Who the hell is Rob Pattinson?
2) How soon in advance are you making your Pumpkin thing along with other dishes? Don’t tell me you are making all of this the day of? I so need my Grandmother to tell me when I can start making this stuff!
3) Okay, I didn’t say there were going to be three things but I’m trying out Paula Deen’s Pecan Toffee Tassies. Wish me luck in not burning down the house!
I just emailed you.
Kristabella
November 25, 2008 at 4:00 pmWe call Hash Brown casserole Cheesy Potatoes and we have them at EVERY famly gathering! YUM!
I’m in the Edward Pattinson stalking!
And seriously, I wasn’t convinced he was Edward because he didn’t match the image in my head. But he is SO Edward and I so have a growing unhealthy obsession with him!
Kaleigha
November 25, 2008 at 4:02 pmYUMS. Can I come? :)
Of course!
Rhi
November 25, 2008 at 4:06 pmI made that bread pudding last year. YUM.
Kerri Anne
November 25, 2008 at 4:18 pmYou already know I’m going to see it again this weekend, too, with a cousin who has not yet seen the movie, but read the books.
Stalk is so definitely ON.
(Have I mentioned that when I was a freshman in high school I saw Titanic 5! (or maybe 6?) times in the theaters? I still have the ticket stubs. See also: yikes. Chris nearly cried from laughing so hard when I told him that. He also thought about rescinding his marriage proposal for a few minutes, too.)
Tera Stephens
November 25, 2008 at 4:23 pmGet the biscuits in the frozen section at Trader Joe’s. They are fantastic, taste homemade, and have 6 in a box. Perfect for a party of 3! I’m baking 3 dozen as we speak, they are for my Biscuit and Bacon stuffing. Recipe compliments of Williams-Sonoma.
Lori
November 25, 2008 at 4:31 pmBEST DINNER ROLL RECIPE EVER! (Yes, that did require all caps, it’s that easy, er I mean good.) http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-Dinner-Rolls/Detail.aspx?prop31=7
I was toying with making a similar hashbrown casserole but I just can’t forgo the mashed potatoes. I considered making both, is that wrong? As a vegetarian, Thanksgiving really all about the potatoes.
kat
November 25, 2008 at 4:38 pmOMG. hasbrown cassrole?! i am SO MAKING THIS! plus your recipe sounds super easy! i’m making kat’s famous mashed potatoes. the secret part is butter and more butter.
regan
November 25, 2008 at 4:52 pmYou guys are going to have a really hard time stalking him since I have already laid claim to the good stalker spots.
SPILL IT, REGAN.