November 23, 2012

• Busy Day For Me

  TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

  Today I was busier and on my feet more than normal.  I can really tell, too, because my back is screaming at me now.  Since we are having our Thanksgiving late (but early tomorrow since Johnnycakes has to work), I spent today putting together all the ingredients for our turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole along with our mashed potatoes and gravy.  I also made two pumpkin pies (which smell wonderful, by the way).  I am a real idiot, however, because I forgot to get whipped cream.  I also realized that I forgot (of all things) dinner rolls.  I don't know about you but I love my Brown n' Serve rolls.  Especially later in the day when I can make myself a little sandwich or two.  **Grin**
  

  Some of the bread I was going to use to make the stuffing was too soft so I spent over an hour drying out the bread in the oven with it turned on low.  Took forever.  I found out that the moisture seems to just drift from side to side.  The upper part (not on the tray) will feel dried enough but when you turn it over, it's moist.  So I flipped the bread over and the partly dried side becomes moist!  It was infuriating and frustrating, I'll tell you.  But, I finally did get it to dry enough and got my stuffing made.
  

  Baron was salivating while waiting for the innards (liver and heart), which I cooked for him.  He had eaten earlier but gobbled those down in a heartbeat.  I had already diced and sliced the onions and celery for the stuffing and I used a bit of the liquid from cooking the neck and innards to moisten the bread.  I also used some good chicken broth along with the eggs to get everything just right.  Add a little sage, salt and pepper and ... perfect. 
  

  My sweet potato casserole recipe is an old family one passed down from some of the Beast's relatives who lived on the farms they had in southern Illinois.  I've had several different versions of it but my family prefers the one I always make.  They all have one thing in common besides the use of sweet potatoes or yams.  That's the marshmallows that you use for the final topping.  I've only had one (which I kind of liked) that had a nut/brown sugar/butter topping that formed a kind of crust during baking.  It was different but very tasty.
  

  Normally, I make a green bean casserole, too.  However, this year, I am serving corn for a change.  The Princess has been to two other Thanksgiving gatherings already and I think even she might be tired of it.  She brought over some leftovers she had that hadn't been eaten while at Johnnycake's grandmother's gathering for us and we had some with our dinner on Thursday (before we had all our unexpected company).  I meant to tell them they were welcome to come by and help us eat our turkey but forgot in all the commotion.  Oh well, c'est la vie!
  

  So, now I sit here with my turkey stuffed (and extra in a casserole dish) and all the other things ready for the oven at the proper time.  I just have to peel  potatoes in the morning and we will be ready to stuff OURSELVES by noon at the latest.  I hope that Chewlee is feeling better (she has a cold).  I think perhaps the Princess will leave her here with me after Johnnycakes goes to work and start on her Christmas shopping.  I'm going to have Chewlee help me with the little Christmas tree that I will be setting up in my computer room.  I've pretty much cleared it off to get it ready.  I think she will love that because the lights on it are purple, and the tree is a pretty pastel orchid.  She loved it last year but didn't get to do much as far as decorating.  We will have to go out to the cottage to forage for some other Christmas things and she will definitely love that part.
  

  Well, I'm just hoping to sleep well tonight although I have to get up early to tuck the bird into the oven.  Love you all and I wish you a wonderful weekend. 
  

  • 11:39 pm
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