We have a full day planned today. It’s going to start off with me heading to Meijer in a little while to pick up the fresh turkey I put on hold. 22 pounder. After Meijer, I’m bringing the turkey back home and putting him into the bath brine I’ve prepared for him. Breanna, Isaac, and I were busy yesterday making pumpkin puree for pumpkin shakes and pumpkin cream pie and the brine for our Turkey. I’m using the Pioneer Woman’s recipe for brining in case you’d like to give it a try. Brining works best with a fresh turkey. This is our second time using The Pioneer Woman’s recipe since I made a “practice” turkey on Sunday. Why a “practice” turkey? Because for one, I have never brined a turkey before and two, this is my first time hosting Thanksgiving! 🙂 I want to impress our guests. 😉
I really liked her recipe, though, so we are using it for turkey number two. Yay brining!
After I get turkey situated in his bath and bucket and placed in a very cold location, Ruben is going to take the three boys out for a few hours while I stay home with my favorite girl and do some pre-Thanksgiving cooking for the big day tomorrow. Here’s what we’ve got planned:
Pumpkin Cream Pie (Using Pioneer Woman’s recipe. I love that woman. She has a great sense of humor, recipes, and writing skills.)
Chocolate Mousse (Breanna’s request. We’re using a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. My favorite.)
Cornbread for stuffing (Pioneer Woman)
Cornbread in cast iron skillet (Using a recipe from allrecipes.com. I’ve made this numerous times, and it’s the best!)
Honey butter (Allrecipes.com. Nothing to it. Honey and butter. Love it.)
Mashed Potatoes (Similar to Pioneer Woman’s recipe.)
Potato Salad (Using my mom’s recipe. It’s the best.)
Stuffing? Maybe. (Pioneer Woman)
If we can get all of this accomplished, I’ll be sooo happy! Then on Thanksgiving, I can focus on everything thing else still to be made:
Turkey
Ham
Pot Roast w/carrots (for our non-turkey/ham lovers)
Sweet Potato Dish (Pioneer Woman)
Deviled eggs (What is Thanksgiving without these babies? Using a recipe from the America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook.)
Pumpkin Shakes (Using a recipe I found in a magazine. Cross your fingers! These may become “vanilla” shakes knowing my kids.)
Stuffing (if I don’t get this made on Wednesday)
Corn
Dinner Rolls
Fruit Salad
Pistachio Salad
And anything else I decide to add.
Ruben’s mom is bring pies from Baker’s Square so that’s why I’m not making a bunch of those. I can’t wait to try the pumpkin cream pie I’m making, though. It’s going to be deliciously different from traditional pumpkin pie. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!
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