Thanksgiving Feast

Today is the day before Thanksgiving and we are getting ready to cook up a storm for tomorrow, literally.  The weather outside is forcast to be stormy but inside we are going to have a blessed day with family and delicious food.  I am in Magnolia for Thanksgiving.  Tonight I am going to make my cornbread for the dressing I am going to fix tomorrow.  I learned to make dressing from my Mama Lola, who taught my Mama and I learned from both of them.  I make a traditional Southern cornbread dressing.  I always cook my onions and celery in my cornbread to make sure they are tender and the dressing is full of flavor.  My broth will be homemade too because the richer the broth the better the dressing.  In the morning I am going to make a German potato salad.  We are having Thanksgiving at Mary's, my oldest daughter's house.  She is going to smoke a ham and a turkey.  There will be so many side dishes and desserts to devour.  Ummmmmmmmmm!  We will all be together except for Michael, Kylie, Katie, Stone, and Kaiden.  Michael and Kylie are going to Dallas to see the Saints kick butt.  We will miss them being with us but I know they are going to have a blast.  Mary mentioned this morning that I make some homemade dumplings, hmmmmmm, maybe.  I usually make such a mess but they sure would be good.  It took me a long time to perfect that one.  Another thing I learned from Mama Lola.  She made the best dumplings in the world.  I do have to say that Mamaw Addie made great dumplings too. She was Mary, Michael and Liz's paternal grandmother.  I found this recipe online for the potato salad.  I have made it before but had forgot and all my cookbooks are boxed up.  Here is the recipe.  It is soooooooo good.  Much better than regular potato salad.

Prep Time:
10 Min

Cook Time:
45 Min

Ready In:
55 Min

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes
• 4 slices bacon
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and chop.
2. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. Reserve bacon fat.
3. Add the flour, sugar, water and vinegar to skillet and cook in reserved bacon fat over medium heat until dressing is thick.
4. Add bacon, potatoes and green onions to skillet and stir until coated. Cook until heated and season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

I can not wait for tomorrow.  Thanksgiving food is just the best.  Especially when you share it with those you love so much!  I will probably gain a few tomorrow but hey, it is soooooooooo worth it.........  I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and let's just remember before we sit down to eat all that great food what the day is all about and to give thanks for all our blessings. 


The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts.  No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.  ~H.U. Westermayer


There is one day that is ours.  There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat saleratus biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to.  Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.  ~O. Henry


God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.  ~Izaak Walton

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

And I had to add this quote I found just for fun because you see the Saints are playing the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day, 2010.
So here it is.....................

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! 


 On Thanksgiving Day, all over America, families sit down to dinner at the same moment - halftime.  ~Author Unknown