Post-Thanksgiving

Well...I was so busy enjoying my multiple Thanksgiving festivities that I did not have the opportunity to write today's post.

I'm sorry. Forgive me?

To help ease the pain of this loss, I figured I'd share a link from last year which includes a roundup of some great ways to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers!!

Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes Round Up

Thanksgiving is coming up! It'll be here before we know it, and I know a lot of us are scouring the internets for inspiration for what desserts we're going to make and serve this year! Sooo...I compiled a little list with some inspiration. I think any/all of these would be the perfect way to end your Thanksgiving feast!

(these are all listed as you see in the picture above--left to right, top to bottom)

Salted Caramel Pecan Pie

This is a delicious twist on a Thanksgiving favorite--it's gooey and rich and salty and sweet!

French Silk Brownie Pie
3 layers of delicious--brownie, mousse, and homemade whipped cream.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Sometimes it's nice to have something that's easy to grab on Thanksgiving, and these cookies allow you to enjoy the classic pumpkin flavors without needing a fork!

Mini Apple Pies
Classic apple pie in individual (portable) serving sizes! This is one of Michael's faves.

Pumpkin Pie with Whole Wheat Crust and Cinnamon Caramel Whipped Cream
A healthier, somewhat gourmet, twist on my favorite Thanksgiving pie!

Chocolate Shoofly Pie with Pecan Whole Wheat Pie Crust
Shoofly pies are totally perfect for Thanksgiving! And this chocolate pecan version is even better!

Chocolate Decadence
One of my all time favorite desserts--decadent, dense, flourless chocolate cake. Sure to impress!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Another one of my favorites-this is the pie version of a chocolate chip cookie. Incredibly gooey and rich and delicious!

Pumpkin Cookie Bars with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
Another way to experience all the flavors of pumpkin pie but in the form of a cookie bar!

Peanut Butter Caramel Pie
If you like gooey caramel and peanut butter...then you'll love this pie.

Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
The perfect, foolproof, recipe for decadent chocolate lava cakes! They're always impressive but SO easy to make (and you can make them ahead of time and then bake when needed!)

Vanilla Honey Shortbread Pie
This pie is pure comfort.

Recipes for Thanksgiving and Post-Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! And, for the first time in 4 years, I'm home! Which means my days of making Thanksgiving dinner are over-for awhile, at least (I just get to choose between a minimum of 4 different places to go---we're going to Michael's stepmom's family and then his mom's family later on. Then on Sunday is my mom's family.) Instead, this year I've been tasked with making cookies. Apparently my cookie reputation precedes me. So-I'll be making cookies. But maybe you're making some of the actual Thanksgiving things? And perhaps you're still looking for inspiration? Lucky for you, I have rounded up my favorites--and included some awesome recipes for you to use up any leftovers you end up with! Hooray!

And if you're reeeally looking for even more Thanksgiving options, check out this post from last year.

Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is less than a week away. Maybe you're looking for some ideas? Look no further, you've come to the right place! Here's a list of all the Thanksgiving worthy recipes that have found their way onto the blog, so far. (Yes...there are many potatoes.)

Sides
Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Kale
Crispy Parmesan Potato Puffs
Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
Baked Cheddar and Scallion Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potato, Cheddar, and Scallion Waffles
Michael's Applesauce (in a crockpot)
Potato Cake
Perfectly Imperfect Mashed Potatoes
Pan Roasted Potatoes
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Gravy Cheese Fries Poutine
Stoemp (Mashed Potatoes with Leeks)
Spinach and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Smashed Potatoes
Scalloped Potato Leek Gratin
Roasted Skillet Potatoes
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Crock Pot Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Broccoli and Garlic
Homemade, Baked, Tater Tots

Breads
Whole Wheat Double Corn Cornbread
Roxana's Dinner Rolls
Soft 100% Whole Wheat Rolls
No Knead Dinner Rolls
Parmesan Breadsticks (Pizza Hut Copy Cat)
Goat Cheese Drop Biscuits
Fluffy, Buttery, Rolls (Texas Roadhouse Copy Cat)
Cheddar Biscuits

Desserts
Perfect, All Butter, Pie Crust
Mini Apple Pies
Pumpkin Pie with Whole Wheat Crust and Cinnamon Caramel Whipped Cream
French Silk Brownie Pie
Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding
Chocolate Truffle Tart
Chocolate Raspberry Ganache Pie
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Yoder's Peanut Butter Pie
Vanilla Honey Shortbread Pie
Nutella Crack Pie
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Nutella Lava Cakes
Molten Chocolate Lava Cake
Salted Caramel Sauce

I'll be making:

Fluffy, Buttery, Rolls

Michael's Applesauce

Some kind of mashed potatoes

Corn
A jar of cranberry jelly business for Michael

Turkey breast

aaaand...I dunno? Lol

What are you making for Thanksgiving this year?

Something Saturdays (11/24/12)

My Thanksgiving.

Ahh! OMG you guys Thanksgiving is OVER. Do you know what this means??!! CHRISTMAS IS COMING! OMG OMG OMG OMG. I love Christmas...like...you don't even know. I go batty for the holiday. I'm so excited...I'm not sure if you can tell. :D

Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

Where is the time going? It's like one second it's October, then it's my birthday, and now Thanksgiving is coming up!! For those of you looking for a little inspiration for your Thanksgiving menus (I'll post mine sometime later), you should definitely check out some of these options:

Smashed Potatoes

And it's over! My first time hosting my own Thanksgiving and it is done. And I can't wait to do it again next year :D. I'll be sharing, every now and then, the recipes I used, and I decided to start it off with these smashed potatoes. The difference (to my understanding) between "smashed" and "mashed" potatoes is you leave skins on and just use a masher and leave it kind of lumpy for smashed potatoes, whereas for mashed they are skinless and you use a mixer to get them creamy. Anyway, these were great. They were simple to make, especially with my boy helping with the mashing:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Me, in my amazing apron I got for my birthday from Mama Maria. Ready to start cooking!

One of the mini apple pies I made for Michael (recipe to follow)

My 3 pumpkin pies (1 has a homemade crust...guess which?  Homemade crust recipe to follow as well.)

I've had like....a lot of these. And that's a piece with the homemade crust, for the record.

Butter Baked Chicken-Take 2:Holiday Recipe Exchange:Week 10 (Butter)

Note: None of what I am about to write about pertains to this recipe. It's good-go try it. Now listen to me ramble:

As this post is another submission for The Holiday Recipe Exchange (view Week 1 Parts 1 and 2, Week 3, Week Six, Week Seven, Week Nine , and Part 1 Week 10) let's talk about the upcoming holiday, shall we? Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. This is the first Thanksgiving I have ever hosted, or even got close to hosting. Growing up, we always spent Thanksgiving day at my paternal grandparents' house (which oftentimes meant we had spaghetti for Thanksgiving dinner--NO COMPLAINTS!) and we celebrated with my mom's side on the following Sunday. My mom has never hosted it. So I've never seen the full of thing up close. All I know is that she made Pumpkin Pie (and I am doing the same-even using the same recipe!....Yes...it's the one from the back of the can...shut up I love it.). Last year I wasn't able to go home, but I worked that day (as Michael was still in Ohio)-so...obviously...no real effort there. This year I'm hosting a "small" dinner at our apartment with me, Michael, and my friends Brandon and (maybe) Trish. I say "small" because, although it is very few guests....I'm making a lot of food. What are we having? Well....

Main Course: 

Turkey, duh. But, specifically, as I am a little nervous to make a whole one (and since there are only a few of us) my mom gave us two Butterball Turkey breasts. I'm still kind of nervous...

Side Dishes: 

Rolls (brought by Brandon)

Cranberry sauce (also brought by Brandon. I don't like it. Him and Michael do, so, whatever)

Gravy (there are packets that came with the turkey)

Applesauce

Corn (frozen corn of the cob...I just need to cook it a little. Then I'll cut it off the cob, just because it's easier)

How Sweet's Smashed Potatoes

Dessert:

Pumpkin Pie (previously mentioned)

Mini apple pies (for Michael-he doesn't like pumpkin pie-, and maybe Brandon too.)