I think I'm cursed by San Diego. While I was growing up my mother taught me all of the womanly things that her mother taught had her: how to bake a pie, how to sew a pin cushion, how to heal burn wounds from the oven, the appropriate curse words for the burn wounds, and how to make bread dough rise. And when I learned how to make fresh bread at twelve years old, it became my job at all future Thanksgivings to make the dinner rolls. And they are stinkin' tasty dinner rolls. But ever since I moved to San Diego I have not been able to make bread dough rise. I know, I know, blame it on San Diego! But to this day, I can go back to Idaho and make a tasty, FLUFFY dinner roll within a matter of hours and hours of long hard work... Here, all I get are little brown lumps. Of DOUGH people. I know where Jeff's mind went on that one...
Jeff and I hosted our very first family Thanksgiving dinner at our new house and it was a major success! We made Rachel Ray's Thanksgiving Dinner in 60 Minutes and after two and half hours of cooking and only two mildly serious oven burns on my hand we had the dinner of a lifetime! The recipes, including Pumkin Muffin' Stuffin', were a hit! I'm still smiling over the lump of goodness in my tummy. We had Citrus Smoked Olives as appetizers, Chipotle gravy, Apple Cranberry Sauce....and little lumps of dough for dinner rolls. Seriously. I cannot get a break.
Oh, and I love my Chile apron. Jeff says that it means I'm the HOT cook in the kitchen.
I think my favorite part of the entire affair, however, was putting together the decorations. The dinner part remained an afterthought to me until I had paired together the right napkins and centerpieces. Who needs to eat when the plates are stunning!
When Jeff and I eat dinner, Gracie will always come out and eat with us. We felt that it just wouldn't be the same without a kitty Thanksgiving too.
All of the wonderful appetizers that Jeff's family brought over to munch on!
Mmmmm....
Since Jeff and I were so busy in the kitchen, he let his mom, Gina, carry around his 5D for a while. Not bad!!
Yay for dinner!
The next day, Jeff and I continued our tradition of making Thanksgiving-leftover Paninis. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, and mashed potatoes all on a grilled honey whole wheat slice of heaven. This may be the most genius tradition that ever existed...
I had to laugh when I saw all of these bottles the next morning!
6 comments
Jeff - @ Jackie that’s AWESOME – how funny that we have the same pattern! Have fun using it for the first time!
@ Chris – dude, it totally looks like a 24-70. TOTALLY. I laughed out loud when I went back and looked at the image. Way to see the details, bro
jackie wonders - i’m so excited for you that you got to use your china! i have the same exact set/pattern and i get to use it for the first time on tuesday!!
Chris Humphreys - Ok, am I really strange or does that little wrapper next to all the wine bottles in the last image totally look like a little mini 24-70. Maybe a 135?
Yeah, it’s a little banged up, but it totally looks like it!
Betsy, La Vida Creations - Looks like it was QUITE the hit! Good job, you two. The Thanksgiving meal is not the easiest of tasks. I don’t think we attempted it until year 5 in our marriage
Julia Williams - Ok, so not only do we have the same exact china pattern, we also have several of the same serving dishes. I guess that means we both have good taste
Everything looks delicious!
Dennis - MMM…me like that Panini idea….