Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanksgiving.

We had a pretty awesome Thanksgiving this year. Tyler's mom, Kim, and step-dad, Kenny, came down and visited us. It was the first time I had made a Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, I have helped my mom make one, but being the one in charge was something new. I had to do all of the shopping (as Tyler's parents did not get here until the night before), pick the recipes, create the menu, make the pies, etc. I got our turkey at Whole Foods. It was a decent price considering it was a free-range turkey grown on a family-owned farm without any added hormones, water, etc. I really wanted to make a tasty turkey and for me quality is more important than quantity (meaning a cheap turkey, with over large pumped up breasts, and a sad life in a cage). Call me a hippie, but I really just want to eat real food that does not harm me, anyone else and most especially Elanor. Sorry for that rant.  Our turkey was delicious. I soaked it in an apple cider brine (recipe from a  book from my aunt)  for 24 hours. They day before I also made three pies, pumpkin, blueberry-cranberry, and Chocolate -Peanut Butter. 
 "Give Thanks" banner that I found here.


 The table all set with food waiting for the turkey to be done!

The menu: Turkey with an Apple Cider Glaze
Bread, Apple, Bacon and Caramelized Onion stuffing
Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Sautéed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Cinnamon
Braised Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
Rolls
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin, Blueberry-Cranberry, and Chocolate-Peanut Butter pies
Freshly whipped cream

Tyler's mom helped out so much! She made the brussels sprouts (it was her recipe), the sweet potatoes, gravy, and we did a combined effort on the stuffing. The meal was a success and so delicious!!!

On Friday, we took them down to Temple Square to see the lights. It was the first night they were turned on, so there were a ton of people down there.





Elanor started saying "Oh, wow" this past weekend. She loved the lights and kept saying it. It was so cute. When I turned on the camera she did not do it quite as much, but you get the idea.

 It was beautiful.


We also went to the park while Tyler's parents were here. The playground was under construction, so the baby swings were not available, but Elanor still had a lot of fun.



We had a great Thanksgiving weekend and we are so glad that Kim/Mom/Mema and Kenny/Papa were able to come visit. It was a lot of fun!

7 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a blast! We will be in Utah around New Years. Maybe we can get together! I will call you when I have details.

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  2. We are going back to Oregon for Christmas but should be back on the 30th or 31st. We would love to see you guys!! I am so excited now!

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  3. I'm seriously impressed with all your cooking!!! I am jealous you guys got to go to temple square, it's so pretty. I want to see you guys over Christmas break too! We'll be in Utah from dec 18-jan 3rd. We should all get together!

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  4. Caitlin--We are going back to Oregon on the 20th and should get back the 30th or 31st. So we can either see you before or after we leave. Just let me know what works for you guys. I know how it is going home (especially with both families in the same town) and trying to find time to see all your family and then trying to squeeze friends in is extra hard. We are pretty open, so whenever works for you! I would love to see you all!!!

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  5. Mackenzie and Caitlin---we should try to have all of get together at the same time. You could all come over to my house or something?

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  6. we were up at temple square on friday night too! too bad we didn't run into you guys!

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