More Culinary Delights....

OK I know I'm no where near Martha Stewart (for my american readers) or Nigella Lawson (European readers) (if you live anywhere else, insert name of famous entertaining guru)....here's me getting all big headed like I have readers from all over the world!!!! I digress... as usual.

Anyway, I had fun making all the stuff for Thanksgiving the other day and for about the millionth time Syd asked me if I like cooking... and for the millionth time I answered... "sometimes" and then again for the millionth time she said " you always say that!".  I got to thinking about it and I love to get a new recipe, something delish for a special occasion perhaps, something that's not an everyday mundane boil in the bag type stuff. Here in the South there is good food to be found everywhere you look!! And the recipes are fairly easy but mindbogglingly tastey!

So why do I feel like I have no imagination in the kitchen and I hate to be the daily cook for the family. I wish someone would just give me a weekly menu, I have no creativity in the food department and therefore I don't think we're getting a balanced diet like we should.  My kids are extremely picky eaters which probably is a chicken and egg situation.....did I make them picky 'cos I didn't offer a huge variety or am I feeling stifled because they are so picky???? Either way, there's always a niggling little voice in my head, "what's for dinner, what the heck, can't think of anything different, no imagination, what is good, what's balanced, what will they eat today?????"  Agghhhhhh so maybe if it was Thanksgiving every day I could come up with some good eatin' and we'd all be happy.

I make the turkey in the crock pot, so easy and yet so delicious... I bought a ham and just warmed it in the oven for a couple of hours, mashed potatoes,veggies, cornbread, stuffing (Sydney loved it, btw!!!) and all topped off with Turkey gravy...   we had Apple and Cranberry Pie with Cool Whip for desert. If we'd have had company I would have made a green bean casserole, crunchy spinach casserole and some sweet potatoes but we didn't, so I didn't!!!!

As is the tradition in the blogosphere I took some pictures of my creations and of the girls having a little Thanksgiving toast to share with all my lovely friends out there.  Now it's all behind us and we're back to the hot dogs and mac 'n cheese we're used to!!!!! Bon Apetit Y'all!!!!!

Corn bread muffins..... don't get no easier than this!!!

Apple and Cranberry Pie... I know you're mouth is just a waterin' lookin' at this!!!

They like to have wine glasses when we have a formal dinner, and they always do a Cheers!!!!!

A Very British Thanksgiving.....

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!!!! 

B at Cuttingsonablog asked me to describe Thanksgiving from

a British perspective.  Urgghhh what to say??

It all started a million years ago when the Pilgrims came to America

and they survived the first year with the help of the Indians... then 

at harvest time they all got together and had a yummy 

celebration dinner. 

The tradition continued and each year on a Thursday

in November (either the third or the last or something) we

all get together and give thanks for the superness of 

living this charming American Dream.

I find it hilarious that it was started by the pilgrims... when in the 

heck did the Brits ever give thanks for anything? We just

tend to take it all for granted and expect that we should

have a wonderful life, I mean, puleaseee... we deserve it

right??? We're part of the greatest Empire on Earth! 

These days it's all about the food, yes, delicious, fantastic, once (actually twice) 

a year goodies... turkey, sweet tators, pies beyond all pies and the best

veggies ever!!! Not to mention Grannies Banana Pudding!!! 

Then on the day after Thanksgiving the stores slash their prices and people

everywhere get up at the butt crack of the middle of the night and 

head out to the stores. 

Its HELL ON EARTH!!! they are out there throwing elbows and 

following intricate blue prints of the store to get to that coveted

item they have seen in the sale paper!!! 

I am a bargain hunter, don't get me wrong but I have never, never, 

done the Black Friday shopping thing in all the 12 years

I have been here. It's just not cricket!!!! 

This year we are staying at home, we're not headed to the "family 

shin dig" and they are not headed to us. It just worked out that

way.... so the McGillies are eating, playing Wii, watching movies 

and chillaxing.... that's how we do it!!! 

Here's a sample of the menu....

Turkey breast cooking in the crock pot with a secret marinade...

Sausage balls... a little too big but delish all the same....

Yummm mixture for the Pumpkin bread...

The pumpkin bread baking nicely in the oven..just for the record, it's now done and

actually rose quite nicely... can't be bothered to go and take another pic.

So that about wraps it up, one day a year set aside to

eat a big dinner, tell people what you're thankful for and

let the kids dress up as Indians or Pilgrims and make

little turkeys by drawing around their hands and coloring

the fingers...Marvelous!!!