Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Recap – The Turkey

As I mentioned a few days ago, this year, the Alex and I set out to create our first Thanksgiving dinner at home. I put the Alex in charge of the shopping and selection of the bird.

He returned with a massive 22 pound bird!

For our first time cooking a turkey, we thought we would play it safe so we decided to season the bird with salt and pepper inside and out, stuff with aromatics ( we used 2 large sliced Braeburn apples, 5 small yellow onions quartered, 1/2 lb. carrots, and threw in some sage, tarragon and rosemary) and tied it up. Once the turkey was all tied and situated, we brushed it with lots and lots of butter! From there we covered it with tin foil and baked it in the oven at 350* for 4.5 hours.

Covered in salt, pepper, stuffed and buttered!

And then off to the oven for 4.5 hours.

After baking for 4.5 hours at 350* we basted the turkey with more butter and pan drippings and then put it back in the oven for 45 minutes at 425*

And then we pulled out the most beautiful and juiciest bird EVER!

We let the turkey rest for about 30 minutes after pulling it from the oven and finished off the other dishes for our dinner and then the Alex carved his first turkey!

We had MORE than enough turkey!
This is what came from one breast of our massive bird and we didn’t even devour half of it!

So yes, we have a TON of leftover turkey and I will be busy the rest of the weekend creating meals from it, including soup! Wish me luck!

Be sure to watch for the recipes for all of our side dishes as well!

Hope you had a great turkey day!

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Our First Thanksgiving

Anne Younger Leave a comment

This Thanksgiving, the Alex and I are doing something we have never done. We are preparing our own Thanksgiving dinner for our little family of 5 to enjoy together.

Since my in-laws are off on a Trans-Atlantic cruise for the next 3 weeks, we celebrated Thanksgiving early with them and since they always get us on Thanksgiving and my parents get us the day after, we have found ourselves with the opportunity to do something on our own.

The plan is to make a fabulous meal while we watch the Green Bay Packers kick some Detroit Lion butt and just enjoy the family time together.

On the menu is a massive 22 pound turkey ( I know, 22lbs for 5 people—can we say major leftovers?!!! The Alex was in charge of purchasing the turkey and took advantage of the fact that we got it for $0.44 a pound thanks to our store savings card!) We are going to stuff the turkey with aromatics and roast it while basting and brushing it with butter because really, everything is better with butter!!!

We will also be making cornbread stuffing that involves bacon (YUM!), bacon-cheddar mashed potatoes, baked macaroni and cheese, a broccoli casserole, corn, sweet potatoes, fresh rolls, cranberries and of course homemade gravy!! Plus there will be both pumpkin and apple pie for dessert!

I cannot wait to start cooking!!!

We are super excited to have the opportunity to do this and cannot wait to start cooking! I will be posting pictures and recipes after the holiday so you can see how everything went!

This will be the first time either of us has ever cooked a turkey!!

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The crazy busy emotional week from hell

Anne Younger Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe that week ago today our family spent the day up north with the Alex’s parents, grandma and 2 uncles to enjoy an early Thanksgiving together before my in-laws departs for their 3 week Trans Atlantic cruise. We had a great time, shared some wonderful conversation, there was laughing and playing, kids running to and fro and even nap time for those who had indulged in too much turkey.

24 hours after that wonderful family celebration, we found ourselves in mourning.
One of the uncles that we had enjoyed the holiday with had passed away very unexpectedly.
There we were, in shock, tears flowing and our hearts breaking.

24 hours after learning of the news of Uncle Chet’s passing, we learned that Zack would need to have surgery and have screwed placed in his right hip to stabilize a growth plate that had slipped causing him pain.

24 hours later, I was sitting in a hospital room with Zack helping to comfort him and get through the pain from his surgery.

Less than 24 hours later we were leaving the hospital and bringing Zack hope to start his 8 week recovery.

Yesterday we attended the funeral for Uncle Chet. We shared stories that made us laugh and cry and we remembered a great man. We talked with other family members about what needs to be done, who needs to do what, right down to shipping furniture here and there to ensure that everyone in the family has something to remember Uncle Chet.

In the past week, I have shed more tears than I have in the last 6 months. It has been crazy, busy and emotional but it is a week to give thanks and I will be forever grateful that we spent last Sunday celebrating Thanksgiving early allowing us that last chance to spend time with Uncle Chet before he made his way to heaven.