Filed under: Uncategorized
Yes, there was way too much food. Yes, I will scale it way back next year…but hey, it was my first time and I wanted to make sure there was enough.
Appetizers:
Pumpkin Pie Dip with Cinnamon Graham Crackers
Pimento Celery (Kraft pimento cheese and celery sticks)
Vegetable Tray with Dip
Gingerbread (Williams Sonoma-recipe coming)
Pumpkin Walnut Bread (recipe coming)
Cheese Balls and crackers (store bought cheese rolled in nuts)
Main:
Turkey (my sister-in-law’s recipe, hopefully coming soon!)
Precooked spiral cut ham
Sides:
Cranberry Vinaigrette (a splurge, but yummy!)
Baby Carrots Glazed with Balsamic Vinegar and Honey (not worth repeating yuck!)
Roasted Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan (recipe coming)
Cornflake and Hashbrown Casserole
Cornbread Dressing (my grandma’s recipe, homefully coming!)
Buttermilk mashed potatoes (recipe coming)
Desserts:
Pecan Pie (MIL’s recipe, coming soon)
Pumpkin Pie (mom’s recipe, coming soon)
Raisin Pie (grandma’s recipe, coming soon)
Cheesecake with Blueberry Compote (Williams Sonoma)
Fruit Salad (grandma’s recipe, coming soon)
Other:
Dripping Gravy (SIL recipe, coming soon)
Fresh Cranberry-Orange Relish (grandma’s recipe, coming soon)
Raisin Sauce (grandma’s recipe, coming soon)
Rolls
Mulled Cider (organic, unprocessed apple juice, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1/4 t nutmeg, 1 t cloves brought to a boil and left to simmer)
Tea
Coffee
Water
Evidently, I have two recipes for red beans and rice. I wonder which is better…we’ll find out tonight.
MamaJo’s Red Beans and Rice Deux
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 c water
- 1 beef sausage link (we use Chappel Hill)
- 1# small red beans, soaked and drained
- 1 c fresh chopped onion
- 3 stalks celery heart, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 sm can tomato sauce
- 1/2 t red pepper flakes
- 1/2 t chili powder
- 1/2 t paprika
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in crock pot, stir until mixed well.
- Cook on low for 10 hours. Mash some of the beans with a fork to thicken.
Filed under: Drinks
This lemonade tastes *almost* just like fresh squeezed and it’s a lot less work! It’s way better, and cheaper than its store-bought counterpart.
MamaJo’s *Almost* Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
Ingredients:
- 1 cup lemon juice concentrate
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions:
- Pour all ingredients into a small saucepan and turn heat to high.
- Stir until sugar is melted.
- Allow to simmer for a few minutes stirring occassionally.
- Dilute with cool water to taste (I use about 4 cups of water).
This is a easy, and VERY tasty simple syrup to infuse into drinks. It can be used with teas, lemonades, or diluted in water as a raspberry juice all by itself.
And if you’re feeling extra daring…you can always give it a little adults-only kick ;0)
MamaJo’s Raspberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
- 2 cups frozen raspberries
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions:
- Heat water in small saucepan over high.
- Add sugar and raspberries.
- Heat to a slightly bubbly simmer, mashing raspberries with a fork or potato masher while heating.
- Pour through a fine strainer to strain out seeds and skins.
- Infuse into your favorite drink or dilute in water. Can also be used in iced tea if syrup is poured into tea before the tea is diluted.
Enjoy!