Thanksgiving Plans

After going back and forth on what to serve, we finally decided on a menu for Thanksgiving.

My husband will be cooking up the turkey this year, baking it in the oven in an oven bag, adding lots some herbs and seasonings.  See a great recipe here.  This is how we made it last year and it was terrific!  Baking it in oven bags makes the turkey so flavorful and tender, it literally falls right off the bird!  We're also serving up some of our favorite side dishes:

I also want to try a traditional cranberry sauce-inspired dish, these Cranberry Brie Bites.  They sound so tasty!

As for pie, although I'm not a fan, we will probably be serving the traditional pumpkin pie.  Alongside we may also serve apple pie or peanut butter pie to satisfy my tastes!  For other recipes mentioned on my blog, see my newly created Recipes Page!

We are hosting for the second year in a row.  Last year, we cooked all the dishes (except the turkey) the night before.  About an hour before serving, we popped them in our double ovens on reheat and only had to worry about cooking the turkey the day of.  It worked out so perfectly!  We barely spent any time in the kitchen which left much more time for us to spend socializing and visiting with our guests.

We will have the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on in the background, listening to some Christmas tunes, and visiting with family.  I'm thinking we'll snack on some appetizers, maybe these bacon wrapped smokies or mini-pigs in a blanket (using crescent rolls in a can) while we watch the parade.  And this will be Xavier's first real Thanksgiving Day dinner.  Can't wait to see how he likes it!  He has informed us that he wants to help with the cooking.  He's been practicing!

Off I go to daydream of all the food that's about to come!! :)