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
Lyndsay
November 25, 2008 at 9:36 pmI will be seeing Twilight again, as well. Perhaps two more times. And…I love that you went to see The Royal Tenenbaums. It makes my top ten movies of all time list. It’s pretty to watch and f-ing crazy.
Backpacking Dad
November 25, 2008 at 9:46 pmSo, we meet at last. My opposite; my nemesis.
It is I, See Everything In the Theater Man! I always knew you were out there, Never Go to the Movies Woman, but I never thought you’d be hiding in plain sight.
I really ought to have recognized you. I mean, you don’t look THAT different with your glasses on. I feel kind of stupid now, actually.
Angella
November 25, 2008 at 10:33 pmWe make the EXACT SAME hashbrown casserole. It is so bad…but so very, very good…
Grace
November 26, 2008 at 7:22 amMovie induced narcolepsy? My Mom so has that!!! The only movie she’s ever stayed awake for was Nanny McPhee (she sobbed and called all her kids to tell us how special we were. lol)
I’ll totally Edward stalk with you. Did you see him on Ellen? ADORABLE! I’ll find it. hang on.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=G1gknk8gxCQ
Heather
November 26, 2008 at 8:06 amOh Robert. *swoon* I bought the People hottest dude edition yesterday just for his pic. I seriously had the urge to rip out the picture of him and hang it on my wall, a la pictures of Abercrombie models in my bedroom 10 years ago. However, I don’t think my husband would appreciate Edward on his bedroom wall. We saw the movie this weekend (our first theater trip since “Dude where’s my car?” I’m ashamed to even admit that). I wasn’t that impressed :( They just left out too much stuff!
Robert is on Jay Leno tonight, so you can’t miss that. And robertpattinson.org seriously almost stalks him (they post tons of pics and interviews). Not that I, uh, googled him and am obsessed or anything.
Janssen
November 26, 2008 at 8:20 amSQUEE! Can’t wait to see Twilight again today. Because I’m just totally obsessed.
Trenches of Mommyhood
November 26, 2008 at 9:18 amWe do that exact same hashbrown casserole!
The in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving dinner in the Trenches. I plan on being inebriated accordingly.
zizi
November 26, 2008 at 9:47 amDon’t forget on top of the hash brown casserole I put a box of croutons, crushed, mixed with 1/4 to 1/2 stick of butter. Adds some crunch. Also, Sister Schubert(not sure of spelling) rolls are great. They are in the freezer section and come in a pan or individual rolls, both equally good. Wish you were here for Thanksgiving. xoxo
Oh, yes! How could I forget! Thanks, mom. Miss you. xoxo
Mary
November 26, 2008 at 10:12 amWord on Thanksgiving. Best holiday by far.
And what IS it about Twilight?? I gulped those damn books down. Now I get to see the film to feed the addiction…. Sigh. Maybe something about making a 34-year-old feel 17 again? ;-)
ali
November 26, 2008 at 11:08 ammmm….edward….
:)
erika
November 26, 2008 at 7:30 pmnow i have jay leno set to record, thank you fellow stalkers. rowr to edward :)
Amanda Boyce
November 26, 2008 at 9:07 pmI think that we’ve got quite a stalking group here. We should make us some shirts. Stalkers United, or something :) I can see it now haha!! Man, Leno needs to come on now….
Karen
November 27, 2008 at 7:12 amHappy holidays… we only watch kids movies in theatres, so I don’t know if that’s better/worse than DVDs at home. I figure worse.
The Over-Thinker
November 28, 2008 at 12:46 pmIf I get to Robert before you, I promise I’ll tell him all about your fabulous hair.
Kim Yamaguchi
November 28, 2008 at 7:01 pmThe hashbrown casserole sounds heavenly, thanks for posting the recipe!
And you are sooooo not alone on the Twilight front *or* the husband falling asleep front. Though we take all the kids with us to the movies (all 7 of them) and so the youngest ones end up falling alseep along with my husband. But it’s that or me NEVER seeing a movie.