Wednesday, November 24, 2010

I need your help

Yesterday afternoon, shortly before heading into the university to teach for 3 hours, I found out we'd be eating spaghetti on Thanksgiving. Not turkey and stuffing, but noodles and sauce. I know. But my very pregnant sister-in-law is cringing at the thought of turkey, and craving marinara.

I can roll with this change in plans, I thought.  I'll just make a Thanksgiving dinner at my house on Wednesday, and then we'll all eat Italian there on Thursday.  Problem solved.


By the time I was done with class and dinner last night, the thought of producing a whole Thanksgiving less than 24 hours later -- I need to go grocery shopping, do some cleaning, cook all the food, and the kids will be home by noon -- overwhelmed me. Plus I have half a day's work to do for Proverbs 31.

When I'm overwhelmed, I sleep.  I went to bed last night at 7:50 PM.

It's now 4:00 AM and I'm up, ready to produce Thanksgiving. Here's the menu:

Turkey - I will do a fresh breast in a crockpot
Cranberry sauce - I like it with whole berries
Butternut squash casserole (got recipe from Williams & Sonoma)
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Stuffing
Sweet Potato casserole
Deviled eggs (as appetizer)
Pumpkin pie
Sparkling cider

You see what's missing from this starch and carbfest?  Yes, a green veggie. Can you help a girl out and offer me a good veggie recipe in the comments below? Maybe something with broccoli or green beans??

And, I want to be polite and recipe-reciprocal, so you can pop over to LeAnn Rice's She Cooks site today and get one of my family's favorite recipes: Glazed Chocolate Chip Sweet Potato BreadMmmmm.

Thanks, girlfriend!

15 comments:

  1. Hi Rachel,

    This is a favorite:

    Green Bean and Corn Casserole

    2 Cans Green Beans
    1 Can White Shoe Peg Corn

    Drain liquid from veggies and line bottom of 9" x 13" pan with them.

    Mix together one can Cream of Celery Soup and with one 8 oz. (pint) of Sour Cream. Pour over veggies.

    Top in layer with:

    1 can Water Chestnuts/chopped
    1/2 cup chopped Onion
    1 cup Cheddar Cheese

    Final layer:
    Crush 1 pkg. stack of Ritz Crackers mixed with 1/2 stick of butter.

    Bake for 40 minutes at 400 degrees.


    This is not a calorie free recipe. We only have it once or twice a year but it is always a hit!!!

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    I meant to write to you way before now. I told you that you would be hearing from me very quickly and then my world got a little crazy!

    Blessings,
    Cheri
    ps. I am still reading your book. Going slow. You have given me much to ponder.

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  2. Your menu sounds delish!!! Rachel...guess what....when I am overwhelmed, I go to bed earlier too! I know, you probably figured that. But I love how a good night's sleep and His mercies the next morning give us joy and energy and perspective!!!

    Check out LeAnn's recipe on She Cooks for a Cream Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. I just added it to our New Year's Day menu!!!!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  3. You could try a traditional curried green bean salad from South Africa? http://mycookbook.all4women.co.za/view/1202/pickled_curry_beans_recipe.html
    Its very yummy.

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  4. Opps, here is the curried bean link
    http://mycookbook.all4women.co.za/view/1202/pickled_curry_beans_recipe.html

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  5. Hey Rachel,
    I got one that is easy and tasty.
    Brocoli Balls

    20 oz package of chopped Brocolli (or as close as you can get)

    2 cups seasoned bread crumbs

    1 cup grated parmesan cheese

    6 eggs lightly beaten

    1/2 cup butter softened

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1/4 teaspoon pepper

    Cook and drain broccoli then add rest of ingredients. Mix well and shape into bite size balls. Place on a cookie sheet sprayed with PAM and cook at 350 for 11-12 minutes or until they start to turn a little golden. It makes a lot but they are extremly delicious!!!!

    Hmmm...I think I may have to make some of those today myself

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  6. I'm not much help- honestly , I'm terrible about veggie dishes! Just wanted to share some encouragement- your menu sounds great, I admire your ability to be flexible, and I have no doubt you will get it all done! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  7. Emily B (emleepc@yahoo.com)November 24, 2010

    Why not just have some green beans---you can ge them frozen, and save yourself some time while you are preparing everything else! Just add some bacon in with them while they are cooking, and you will still get the good flavor (not a big fan of the french style--you need the fat green beans!) Or do the same with broccoli... I think there's nothing better than a green veggie with no extras mixed in. Just add a little salt and VOILA!

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  8. What about a fresh green salad or a broccoli salad? Our family loves this recipe (NOTE: The mayo does not have to be fat free.):
    http://health.state.tn.us/nutrition/cookbook_flash/cookbook_pages/broccoli_salad.pdf

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  9. Get frozen green beans (the long skinny kind). Toss with olive oil, a little water, salt, pepper,and I use seasoning salt or garlic. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for however long the package says...crispy and yum-yum good!
    By the way--my husband's family is roasting a PIG! The whole thing...head and all...for this year!

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  10. I am replacing traditional "green bean casserole" with Broccoli Casserole. Broccoli in place of green beans. Cream of Broccoli soup in place of Cream of Mushroom. Topped with french fried onions. Yum.

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  11. We will be having a greenbean casserole which is tradition with my family and my two daughters know how to make it better than I do so I let them. It's very simple and I think the receipe is on the back of one of the cans of green beans (sorry can't remember which kind). All you really need is 1 can of green beans and 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and a little milk mixed together. Put in the oven until it bubbles. Take it out and sprinkle French fried onion flakes that come in a can and put it back into the oven to brown. You'll have to watch it because it browns quickly. That's it, I think.

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  12. Why stress a recipe? Just steam fresh green beans, broccoli or asparagus for 4-5 minutes, top with a pat of butter and serve! (or be really labor-intensive and sprinkle the broccoli with cheese). Super fast, super good and supper good for you so you can indulge in that extra piece of pie.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  13. soyouwannahitNovember 25, 2010

    Happy Thankgiving Day, I very thankful for what Christ done for me at the cross, my family, friends, enemies, thankful for the Church that I attend, and very thankful that I can share this moment with you, Vernon

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  14. This morning I am more thankful more my health, husband, and children than every before. I accepted Christ into my life almost four months and my life has become more full. I wake up each morning living life to its fullest. My family has experienced severe financial hardships recently, but I have realized all that matters is the love in my family and the love of god. Thanksgiving is a time to truly be blessed for the most important things in life...love, family, health, and friendships, especially one with god.
    --Anonymous

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  15. I am thankful for our loving Savior. I am thankful for a merciful and graceful God who gives us so many second chances. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful that I have my parents still living at age 84 even though they are in other states. I still pray for my dad's salvation. God is faithful to give him more days on earth even with his prostate cancer and we pray until his last breath that he will accept Christ. God blesses us all so richly and I pray and am so thankful for our troops who fight for us and give their lives for our freedom and protection. May God protect their very lives.

    Sweet Blessings to you,
    Donna

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