So, What Will Go with the Turkey?

My family (3 children and 7 adults) is coming for Thanksgiving dinner! And while I am excited (very excited), I really haven't started planning the menu. I know we will have turkey, but what else? Laura's ( Looking Towards Heaven ) request for Thanksgiving Day menus has been just the inspiration I needed to decide what we will be eating along with that tasty bird. So, here goes...

Pumpkin Dip (ginger snaps, apple slices, and cinnamon graham sticks for dipping) and cheese and crackers for starters.

"Casa Salad" (If you live in Fort Wayne, Indiana this is as close to the house salad at the Casa restaurants as I've tasted since eating there.)

Mushroom and Sausage Stuffing (Jim is going to make this. He makes it just like Mom did, only better. :) Don't feel obligated to tell her I said that.)

Mashed Potatoes (My plan is to sweet talk Jim into making these, too. I just like his mashed potatoes. You would, too.)

Corn or a Baked Corn Casserole (Sometimes I think we try to make so many fancy dishes at a special dinner that we overlook the simplicity of uncomplicated open-the-bag-and-heat veggies.)

Some Other Vegetable (I might make creamed peas)

Raw Carrots and Dip

Praline Sweet Potatoes

Buns (store bought)

Jellied Cranberry Sauce (Straight from the can, without any bits of real fruit in there)

Turkey and Gravy

Dessert is always the hardest for me to plan because I find it very hard to make a choice! So many good things that I can bake. How to choose; how to choose?! I think I am going to make an apple pie and a gingerbread trifle. I'll also have an assortment of Christmas cookies available. (Mom's thumbprint cookies, Mom's Buttercake, chocolate Rolo cookies, peanut butter kiss cookies, and I'm going to try making the Almond Joy Balls from the Paula Deen show.)

Wine, Kiddie Cocktails (see previous post), and soft drinks

Casa Salad
Assemble a salad using the following ingredients. Use amounts that please you.
lettuce (1/2 iceberg and 1/2 romaine),

chopped red, sweet peppers

chopped green onions

Italian shredded cheese mix

croutons

Dressing:
Place the following ingredients in a blender:

1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 t oregano

3/4 t pepper

1/2 t salt

1/8 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup sugar (This really depends on your taste... start with less and add to your liking.)

3/4 t garlic salt

Blend the ingredients while pouring in 1 cup of oil (I use canola). Drizzle over your salad, toss and enjoy with a piece of crusty bread!

WFMW: Thanksgiving "Kiddie Cocktail"

Last Thanksgiving we were blessed that my brother's family came to visit. His three daughters joined my three sons around the Kids' Table. We tried to make it an afternoon of fun. Kid-friendly crafts, homemade decorations, party plates, and fun food filled the Kids' Table with smiles. One of the exciting things at the Kids' Table was the "Kiddie Cocktails."

To make a "Kiddie Cocktail" I used clear glasses, colored ice cubes and Sprite. (I pre-made the colored ice cubes using water and red, yellow and blue food coloring.) To assemble the cocktail, each child placed two different colored ice cubes in the clear glass. I then muttered a string of magic words while slowly pouring Sprite over the ice. You should've heard the oohs and aahs as the colors mixed! Who would've guessed that a yellow ice cube and a red ice cube would make an orange "Kiddie Cocktail"?!

A preschool science/art lesson and a cool party beverage... that Works for Me! Head on over to Shannon's for more WFMW.

A Boxer, A Villan, and A Dalmation...

These pics were taken at our town's Boo Bash. Just a nice festival that involves trick-or-treating along the downtown shops and then playing carnival games. A fun time, especially when your van hauls a boxing champion, a famous villan,
and a cute pooch.