Menu Plan Monday, Thanksgiving Edition

Especially with the economy being weak, I know I am blessed. My husband has a good job, we have a beautiful, warm home and plenty to eat. My family is healthy, I have a bounty of friends and family, my life is full of love and good things. Mostly, I have a Savior who knows me and loves me -- not only despite my many shortcomings, but He loves me just the way I am. I hope that, no matter what your circumstances this year, you too can rest in His abundant love.

~ Don't forget about my Saturday carnival "Soup's On!Saturday. You can now take my SOS button (scroll down in right side bar for code)

~ You can also put my Tiara Button on your blog (code also in sidebar)!

~ And tomorrow (afternoon) is Pantry Raid: Refrigerator Edition

Now for my menu...

I will be preparing for Thanksgiving most of the week, so have purchased a couple pre-made Costco meals. I know it's scandalous, but I do it on occasion:)

Monday: Hubby and 4 boys to Blazer game. It will be just Mimmers, Little Man and Moi. I think I will pick up sushi on my way home from doctor's appointment.

Tuesday: Costco Meat Pizza (these huge pizzas are only $9.99 each)

Wednesday: Costco Chicken Fettucine

Thursday: See below for Thanksgiving menu

Friday- leftovers, make bread for sandwiches

Saturday- Nacho Spuds (if there aren't enough leftovers)

Sunday - White Chili with Fixins (use turkey broth in place of chicken broth)

Thursday: Thanksgiving!!! Most years I make the dinner and we have friends and family come share the day with us. Many times they are friends or acquaintances who don't have anywhere else to go because family is busy or out of town. We wanted to make sure there is always a place where our kids can invite friends, where people we know (or don't know) have a place to go to share this special day. This year, many of our own families are busy with their own children or out of town. So we will get to enjoy four or five of my single siblings, some friends -- and whomever else drops in, of course!

On the proposed menu:

Homemade Cranberry Salsa served over cream cheese with crackers (Made Monday)

Hot Artichoke Dip with Tortillas (Make Monday)

Baked Brie in Puff Pastry with fresh northwest apple and pear slices (Make on Thanksgiving Day)

Buttermilk Brined Turkey (started to brine Tuesday night)(bird in at 7:30)

Turkey with rub, brined, stuffed with citrus peels, smoked on Traeger Grill (smoking instructions here) (put in to brine Wednesday night)(bird in grill at 7am)

Cranberry Sauce from Trader Joes (YUM)

A token and traditional little dish of olives

A token and traditional little dish of pickles

Parmesan and Black Pepper No Knead Bread (made Tuesday, baked Wednesday. Doubled and cooked in 8 quart Le Creuset French Oven)

and

Dilly Rolls - I make these every year (Make Thursday)

Sparkling Juice

Mulled Cider

Layered Basil Salad - This is one of my favorite salads. Have I mentioned that I love basil? I will not include the ham (made Wednesday)

Green Bean casserole (I use the good ole Durkee Fried Onion recipe)

Broccoli Salad - Will omit mushrooms and substitute cranberries for raisins. (Made Wednesday)

Awesome Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing (I have made this for several years and my family loves it. In fact this is what my sons say is the most important part of the meal for them! I usually use pork sausage) (make Thursday)

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy DUH! -- My mashed potatoes are made from real potatoes. I mash them and add butter, sour cream, cream cheese and then fresh cream to desired consistency. Then season with sea salt. Yu-Hum. (make Thursday)

Dessert: I just love cookies dipped in coffee. That's the "me" in the dessert menu:)

Caramel Apple and Pecan Pie (hubby's choice) with fresh northwest organic apples (using Tyler's recipe, but adding toasted pecans with each layer) Served with farm fresh whipped cream (made Wednesday)

Peanut Butter Pie (my sons and brothers love this)

Frostbite Cookies (find basic recipe here, I have adapted it)

Toffee Studded Snickerdoodles (Skor or Heath toffee bits with no chocolate is very hard to find around here the past few years. I have one bag set aside which my sister brought to me from California) Not making. Will make at Christmas. Too much dessert planned!

Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip - These are the very best gingerbread type cookies I have ever had. Moist and chewy. I have made this every year for probably 8 or 9 years. I make the dough and put in fridge overnight. Then, it has become a tradition for my husband to make it into balls rolled in sugar with the kids. It is a fun way to mark the start of all of our holiday festivities -- it also takes a fairly time consuming task off of my hands:) (made dough Wednesday morning)

Fresh Coffee brewed in a French Press served with real, fresh cream
(Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce syrup added if you want:)

May your heart be reminded this week of your many blessings,