Thanksgiving....the Saturday Before

At this time it's hard to think about anything else but food, isn't it?

Helen Mirren was on Jimmy Fallon last night and said,

 "of course, we celebrate Thanksgiving, I'm married to an American."  

Then she described how it took her husband 3 days to make the cornbread dressing. 

 I'm smiling right along with her as she tells the story.  

It seems the "dressing" just continues to grow as you make it and finally consumes

many different bowls and pans, and as she said you end up with enough to last until

next Thanksgviving.

We make cornbread dressing too, it's so good everyone actually looks forward to

taking leftovers home...hence the need for great quantities of the stuff. 

Always make fresh cranberry sauce too...I use oranges or Mandarine oranges

in mine, along with pecans.  Just so so good.

The other thing that is a must do is our version of

Sweet Potatoes,

and, yes, I use the canned ones because it's quicker (don't condemn me, please), but after that the real process begins.  brown sugar, orange juice, molassas all cooked down until thickened,

kinda smash up the potatoes, add lots of real butter, and

put tiny marshmallows all over the top...pop into the oven at 400 and bake until

marshmallows are browned.  Heavenly, that's all there is to it !

Pumpkin Chiffon Pie,

my recipe appeared here a couple of weeks ago

But,  for now, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the shopping at all the various

stores and markets begins. Whole Foods, Central Market, Rice Epicurean,

we now have a new Trader Joe's, and Kroger...

the wines, the spirits, the appetizers, the other side dishes and the desserts in abundance.

 looking at these holiday tables and beautiful photos of food preparations

certainly gets one in the mood for the big day don't they?

imagine how much fun for the little ones to make these little leaf place cards

fruit as centerpieces, along with the moss, is just lovely

ok, now out the door for the basics of this wonderful festive meal....

more tomorrow on the countdown.

xx's