From the category archives:

thanksgiving

I’m thankful…

November 26, 2009 in thanksgiving

I’m a very blessed woman and have a lot to be thankful for.

I could make a very long list, but I’ll try to sum it up for you.

I’m very thankful for these two girls:

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And, I’m even more thankful to the man who was pretty integral to their being here!

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I’m also very thankful for all of my bloggy friends.  Your comments and sweet words make  my day more than you know!

Hope you all had a very wonderful Thanksgiving.

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**CLOSED** Winner:

Here are your random numbers:8

Timestamp: 2009-11-12 03:53:01 UTC

8. Lauren said…

My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is the after dinner nap! There is nothing like a turkey induced coma!

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We already love Kikkoman’s soy sauce, lite soy sauce and teriyaki sauce. And, of course, the Serious family loves their turkey, so when Daphne asked me if I wanted to do a Thanksgiving practice turkey, I was all “yes, please!”

Here’s the savory turkey brine recipe that I used.

Savory Turkey Brine: Recipe is for a 16-24 pound fresh turkey

Ingredients

2 gallons cold water
10 ounces Kikkoman Soy Sauce
½ cup kosher salt
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons dried sage
2 tablespoons dried celery seed
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Directions

The night before roasting, remove giblets and turkey neck; rinse turkey inside and out. In a large stockpot, or 5-gallon bucket, mix water with remaining ingredients. Stir well until all the salt is dissolved. Place turkey in the pot, cover with a lid and refrigerate overnight, or at least 8 hours. Remove turkey from the brine, rinse well.

I mixed the dry ingredients together, and then the wet. I didn’t have a pot big enough, so we cleaned our cooler out really well, and put the turkey in for it’s soaking overnight. And we added lots of ice to make sure it was cold enough. (The bottle in there is full of water to displace everything to cover the turkey). And, of course, we cleaned the cooler really well after, too.

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The next early afternoon, I took the turkey out and roasted it the same way I always do. I think it looked quite delicious if I do say so myself.

Serious Tested: Upon cutting into the turkey, it seemed a juicier than normal. Once we carved it and ate it, it wasn’t so easy to tell a difference in the flavor within the meat. The turkey was good, but I couldn’t really tell the difference between brining it and not (of course, I didn’t have a non-brined turkey to compare it to).

We aren’t typically skin eaters, but I did scrape the fat off a piece and give the skin a try. Wow. The skin was quite savory. It had a lot of flavor.

I think next time, I will poke holes into the flesh of the turkey and the skin so the flavor from the brine ingredients will really be able to soak into the entire bird.

Our leftovers were used for sandwiches for lunch during the week and gobbled up before I could try any of the other recipes. (Mr. Serious really loves a turkey sandwich). But, Kikkoman also has their recipes, turkey tips and a buy one get one free coupon online. There you will also find these recipes to use with your left over Thanksgiving turkey (if you have any, of course):

  • Quick Chinese Turkey Salad
  • Terrific Turkey Tetrazzini
  • Elegant Creamed Turkey
  • Spanish Turkey Ole
  • Turkey Fried Rice
    Win it: One lucky Really, Are You Serious? winner will receive 2 bottles of different Kikkoman’s sauces to turn your leftovers into deliciousness.

For your first entry: Tell me your favorite thing about Thanksgiving.

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I received an assortment of sauces and a gift pack as well as a gift card with which to purchase the turkey from Kikkoman’s to facilitate my review. My opinions are my honest, and thoughtful views and were not influenced by any source. I was not compensated monetarily for this review and giveaway.

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Yesterday, I was overwhelmed.

Yesterday, I got two kids ready for daycare…I was overwhelmed.
Yesterday, I went to work…I was overwhelmed.
Yesterday, I had a meeting with my administrator for my yearly review…she asked me some tough questions…I was overwhelmed.
Yesterday, I picked two kids up from school…I was overwhelmed.
Yesterday, I nursed a baby, cooked dinner, fed a toddler, fed a baby and ate dinner all by myself…and I was overwhelmed.
Yesterday, I did not want to go to Bible Study…I was overwhelmed.
Yesterday, I went to Bible Study…and I was thankful.

Today, I am thankful that I have to healthy, wonderful kids to get ready for daycare.
Today, I am thankful that I have a safe, loving, nurturing place to take my girls while I work.
Today, I am thankful that I have a job.
Today, I am thankful that I have another opportunity to talk with my administrator again.
Today, I am thankful that I will pick up two healthy, wonderful kids from school.
Today, I am thankful that I will nurse a baby, cook dinner, feed a toddler, and feed a baby.
Today, I am thankful that my hubby will be home to help out.
Today, I am thankful that I have an amazing group of women that can help me appreciate what I have.
Today, I am thankful for my hubby and my family.
Today, I am thankful.

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I’ll bring the pie

November 24, 2008 in baking, pie, thanksgiving

We’re headed to a friends’ house for Thanksgiving. They are doing the dinner, so I said I’d bring the pies.

Originally, it was just a pecan pie. But, dear Matt wants pumpkin, too. Of course, after a trip to the grocery store for all of the ingredients.

I’ve never done pumpkin pie, so I pull out my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook and find the recipe. I have to get some spices and the pumpkin, but I see that it calls for evaporated milk.

I think to myself…I’m pretty sure I just saw a can of evaporated milk in the cabinet.

I go and look and I find it. Woo hoo! One less thing to buy.

Then, I look for the expiration date. July 31, 2006!!!!!

How has this been around this long? And, even more troubling…we’ve moved twice in that time. What does that say about me.

Don’t worry. I threw the can out, and added it to my list.

I’ll be bringing the pie with the freshest ingredients!!

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PhotoStory Friday

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek
We were invited to come share Thanksgiving dinner with Izzy at school.

Can you tell she was excited we were there?

We were hoping for Pilgrim hats, but the Indian hats were pretty cute, too!

They made placemats, too!

And, Sunday at church, Izzy made a turkey from her hand print. When asked what to write on her turkey stating “I’m thankful to Jesus for…” She answered “Daddy!”

They really have a special relationship, and I’m sooo happy!

“Look, daddy, a cornucopia!”

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