…simply about g

I give to you, Outdoors with T.K. and Mike…

Yep, we are T minus 2 days till Turkey Day, which just happens to be my favorite holiday. I love the fall colors and the cool ( not cold) weather, the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg and apple cider, and of course the food.  If you know me, you know I love to cook and I love to host, so at Thanksgiving, I get to do both. So this year, instead of posting what we ate, ( after the big day), I thought I’d post what we’re going to eat and share some of my recipes.

I won’t have quite as big a crown this year as last, so I decided to cheat a bit and get one of those fabulous boneless, stuffed turkeys from Chris’ Specialty Meats, but the last few years I have prepared my turkey from frozen status using this great recipe.  It is delicious and very easy to follow.

When it comes time to carve that bird, check out some “How to” videos on youtube.

As for sides, I make the Mac & Cheese, but I have a tiny oven, so my mom makes her wonderful dressing, and sweet potatoes and also this Cranberry Jello salad that is out of this world good. If I had the recipe I’d share it. I also make a basic chocolate pie, ( Cook and Serve chocolate pudding in a Graham cracker crust) But that’s not all, here is a recipe for French Silk Pie. I only make it once or twice a year because I would eat the entire thing. Yeah, it’s that good.

Crust
1 refrigerated pie crust (softened as directed on box)

Filling
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, cut into pieces
1 cup butter, softened (do not use margarine)
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4  eggs

Topping
1/2 cup sweetened whipped cream
Chocolate curls, if desired

Directions:

1 .      Heat oven to 450°F. Make pie crust as directed on box for One-Crust Baked Shell using 9-inch glass pie pan. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
2 .      In 1-quart saucepan, melt chocolate over low heat; cool. In small bowl with electric mixer, beat butter on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in cooled chocolate and vanilla until well blended.
3 .      Add eggs 1 at a time, beating on high speed 2 minutes after each addition; beat until mixture is smooth and fluffy. Pour into cooled baked shell. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls. Store in refrigerator.

So anyway, Thanksgiving is not all bout the food, it’s about being thankful, and I am very thankful for my family and friends, health and happiness and everything else I’v been blessed with.I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

We took Kayla out to the pumpkin patch and let her pick a pumpkin. She was too cute in her Pirate costume, she picked it out herself by the way.

Kayla got to spend Halloween with Maw Maw and Paw Paw. This is where Wes and I spent Halloween

Annette and Daniel had some extra tickets and thought of us We had a great time even though it was COLD!

time to Elf yourself!!!

Just wanted to give a little shout out to the hubby. Today is our 6 year wedding anniversary. It’s been a great day and a great 6 years. Love ya babe, Happy Anniversary

For most, the holiday weekend has already begun. As we prepare for our ritual BBQ and potato salad and spend time with our family playing baseball and watching fireworks, I hope we all take the time to remember the reason we celebrate in the first place. We celebrate because 233 years ago 380,000 men fought and 25,700 of those gave their life for our freedom. So long ago, and yet we still fight today. Not because we have to, but because we are a blessed nation and fight for the freedom and justice of others.I am so proud to be an American. It’s a privilege to live in the greatest country in the world.

I’ve plugged Soldier Angels several times on here and, it’s my blog, I’ll do it again. Please consider showing your appreciation to the men and women fighting so far from home, away from their families, by joining this great organization. If you can’t commit to writing letters, you can go their website and purchase a care package or coffee for $20-$30, they’ll send it for you. Or next time you see a uniformed soldier at the gas station or Chic-fil-a, go shake their hand, tell them how much you appreciate them.

I wish everyone a safe and happy July 4th. Celebrate your independence, but remember, it wasn’t free.

I realize I’m 2 days behind on this, but I am still dealing with the aftermath of the birthday party. It was a fun day all around. We rented a spacewalk, mainly for the adults to play in, but hoped Kayla would enjoy it too. She did indeed, she played in it all day. It was difficult to tear her away from it for cake and presents.

We were worried about the weather since it had been so bad the previous days, the yard was a little wet, but not bad. And it was chilly Saturday, but still a beautiful day. Wes grilled burgers and hot dogs, and I made Blues Clues Cupcakes, Lemon and Chocolate. I still haven’t tried a chocolate one, but I think the lemon cupcakes might have been my best cupcakes ever. I’ll definitely be making those again.

Kayla got lots of goodies. This was the fist time she’s really opened presents. There was tissue flying and cards being thrown and stuff was mixed up. So, I hope I get the thank you cards right. She’s been playing with all her toys and she got some really cute clothes, but I have to say, the Magna-doodle is a hit. She has been doodling like crazy. So thank you Dat She also loves her table set from Nana. It’s just her size. She can sit and eat or color or whatever. We have to watch Prissy though, she likes to steal Kayla’s food.

The Pinata was a one man show, since there weren’t any little kids there to pull a string. We let Kayla take a couple wacks at it, then pulled all the candy out. Then Hannah and Dave finished it off with a baseball bat. Poor Blue, hope Kayla doesn’t have nightmares about that, lol.

But anyway, it was a lot of fun. And I’m just floored that my little Kayla is 2 years old. Time really flies by. It seems like we just had her 1st birthday party. She’s definitely growing up fast. It’s going to be a fun year though. Lots of milestones ahead. I just hope these “Terrible Two’s”, are just a myth.  I guess that’s it, I need to get back to cleaning what I can while she is taking a nap.

A year older a year wiser, ok, maybe not. I turned 26 today, which also happens to be my favorite number, so I am expecting this to be a very good year I had a great day. My BFF Annette took me out to lunch and showered me with gifts. Then shopping and dinner with Wes and Kayla. By the way, this was the #1 song on the day I was born, March 10, 1983.

March 10,1876 – Alexander Graham Bell makes the first successful telephone call by saying “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.”

Just for fun, here are some other people that were born on March 10th:

Chuck Norris  1940

Osama Bin laden 1957

Carrie Underwood 1983 ( Same day, woohoo!)

So, I got a 2009 calendar today and as I sit here transferring  birthdays and anniversaries and special events into these blank squares, I can’t help but ask myself, where did the time go?  I’m not going to say that 2008 was a bad year, it really wasn’t for me. It kind of just breezed by me nonchalantly without interruption. And as I fill my life into these tiny boxes, it makes me realize that it is my fault. It makes me sad to think of all the missed oppertunities and wasted time. I am tired of living this passive day to day life. I can truthfully say that I hid in the background in 2008, I don’t want to do that in 2009. I’m ready to live outside the box. My biggest goal in 2009 is going to be a personal relationship with Jesus. That has really been missing in my life. I have fallen away to a lukewarm relationship and Christianity has become just a title. I’m kind of embarrassed to admit that in such a public way, but to whom it matters, He already knows.  I plan to strive for everything God has for me.  Here is to a blessed and prosperous New Year.