Thanksgiving Dinner Menu Plan and tablescape preview

Thanksgiving Menu Plan:

Appetizers:
Salami/cheese/cracker tray
Crudites and dip

Dinner:
Turkey
Stuffing w/ golden raisins and walnuts
Mashed potatoes w/ gravy
Sweet potatoes
Green bean casserole
Corn
Cranberry sauce
Cranberry Fluff
Rolls

Drinks:
Wine
Sparkling grape juice

Dessert:
Pumpkin pie w/ homemade vanilla bean ice cream
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Twinkie Dessert


A little preview of the tablescape.  Greg and I decided that we are going to use our formal china and flatware for Thanksgiving dinner this year.  We got most of this for wedding gifts and rarely use them (we do use the crystal often).  Please ignore the wrinkled tablecloth, I was just testing out the color combo.  The table linens have been washed and will be pressed for Thursday.

 Noritake Chandon Gold China

 Noritake Vendomme Crystal

Yamazaki Ariana Gold Flatware

I will post a photo of the complete tabslescape later.  I just wanted to give you all a sneak peak.  I hope all your Thanksgiving preparations are going well.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because I love the food and hanging out with my family, without all the stress some other holidays bring.  A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is also my favorite show of all the Charlie Brown movies.  :)

I bought the movie The Long Way Home for us to watch together as a family.

I am back with a recipe review Barefoot Contessa's "Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with warm cider vinaigrette"

I have to apologize to all of you for neglecting this blog for so long.  The simple fact of the matter is that I teach 7th grade math full time, have three very active young boys (two of which played tackle football and fall baseball this fall).  That means we had two football every Saturday and two baseball games every Sunday until late October.  We had a wedding in Chicago the second last weekend of October and then we spent three nights in Door County the last weekend of October.  I spent the day shopping in Chicago the first Sat of November and last weekend we visited our beautiful brand new (one week old) niece Josie.  That pretty much brings you up to speed of where I am at.  My dh and oldest son are hunting this weekend and it is honestly the first weekend since last Spring that we I have no plans!

I promise you I have been spending loads of time cleaning, organizing, menu planning, doing laundry (some things never change), shopping, decorating, and getting us ready for the holidays.  I also planned a birthday party in Sept for my youngest, and two parties for my middle in October (which included a sleepover and taking five third grade boys and my oldest two to the HS homecoming game... yeah I am either the best mom EVER or just plain crazy).  I have had the opportunity to try out several new recipes and I will be sharing my feedback with you.  I am anxiously awaiting my copy of my new book:

I love Ina and dream of the day that she invites me over to her house for a delicious home cooked meal.  Until then I will have to settle for cooking her recipes myself.  ;)  I recently made a new recipe from Ina Garten.

Recipe review  Roasted butternut squash salad with warm cider vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 1 (1 1/2-pound) butternut squash, peeled and 3/4-inch) diced
• Good olive oil
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons dried cranberries
• 3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons minced shallots
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 4 ounces baby arugula, washed and spun dry
• 1/2 cup walnuts halves, toasted
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the butternut squash on a sheet pan. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss. Roast the squash for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until tender. Add the cranberries to the pan for the last 5 minutes.

While the squash is roasting, combine the apple cider, vinegar, and shallots in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the cider is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Off the heat, whisk in the mustard, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.

Place the arugula in a large salad bowl and add the roasted squash mixture, the walnuts, and the grated Parmesan. Spoon just enoughvinaigrette over the salad to moisten and toss well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve immediately.    -Source Food Network

A photo I took with my iPhone of the finished salad.

The salad was delicious and I will definitely make it again.  The flavors really seemed to work well together.   It was a bit labor intensive for a salad, but we were eating it as our main course.  I used cubed butternut squash from Trader Joe's which did save some time.  If you decide to make the salad let me know what you think.

Twenty Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Sunday

The following comes from the blog  Marc and Angel Hack Life.  As a very goal oriented person I think these questions would definitely keep me living my life in concert with my goals.

If you would like to maximize the benefits of self reflection, I have 20 questions for you.  These questions should be reviewed every Sunday morning or sometime during the weekend when you have some quiet time to think.  Remember, reflection is the key to progression.

1. What did I learn last week? – If you have trouble answering this question, it’s time for a change.  It doesn’t matter how old you are, you should learn something new every week.
2. What was my greatest accomplishment over the past week? – Reflecting on your accomplishments is a healthy way to raise self confidence and contentment.  It’s also an effective way to track your progress.
3. Which moment from last week was the most memorable and why? – It may open up your mind to new passions and goals, or simple pastimes worth revisiting.
4. What’s the #1 thing I need to accomplish this week? – Everything else is secondary, and should be treated as such.  Nevertheless, this question will also shine light on other noteworthy tasks.
5. What can I do right now to make the week less stressful? – Set reminders in your calendar, get your laundry done, fill the car with gas… organize yourself.
6. What have I struggled with in the past that might also affect the upcoming week? – The idea here is to learn from your struggles and better equip yourself for future encounters.
7. What was last week’s biggest time sink? – Steer clear of this in the future.  Setup physical barriers against distractions if you have to.
8. Am I carrying any excess baggage into the week that can be dropped? – Physical clutter, mental clutter… eliminate the unnecessary so the necessary may shine bright.
9. What have I been avoiding that needs to get done? – Pencil in a time to get these things done.  For any 2-minute or less tasks, consider scheduling them first thing Monday morning.
10. What opportunities are still on the table? – If it’s still available and you want it, make a concrete plan to go after it this week.
11. Is there anyone I’ve been meaning to talk to? – Regular communication can solve problems before they fester.  Always keep an open line of communication to those around you.
12. Is there anyone that deserves a big ‘Thank You’? – Take time each week to thank the people who have helped you.  Your kind gesture will not go unnoticed.
13. How can I help someone else this coming week? – The easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want.  If you help them, they will remember you when you need help.
14. What are my top 3 goals for the next 3 years? – You’ll never make any progress in life if you don’t setup realistic goals for yourself.
15. Have any of my recent actions moved me closer to my goals? – If the answer is no, something needs to change.
16. What’s the next step for each goal? – Knowing the next step is the key to accomplishing the whole.
17. What am I looking forward to during the upcoming week? – The answer can act as a great source of motivation.  If nothing exists, schedule something to look forward to.
18. What are my fears? – Consciously address your fears each week and slowly work on resolving them.  It’s all about taking baby steps.
19. What am I most grateful for? – It’s a smart way to keep things in perspective, and something you should never lose sight of.
20. If I knew I only had one week to live, who would I spend my time with? – Another helpful reminder… Life is short.  Spend more time with the people you care about.

Gazpacho

If you follow my blog you probably already know about my obsession this summer with gazpacho.  Just as I was obsessed with shrimp ceviche last summer, it seems to be gazpacho this summer.  The good news is that this is so very easy, fresh, and healthy!  It is a great way to get your veggies in.  I cannot sing the praises of my gazpacho enough.

I have made three batches this summer and it is just so yummy! The first time I made it I used a food processor, the second time I only did a couple of the veggies in the processor, the third batch I chopped everything by hand. It is so chunky and delicious and a great way to get some veggies in. I was able to use cucumber, green pepper, tomato, and tarragon from our garden.

This is the original recipe I use with a few modifications. Gazpacho

I use two 11.5 oz cans of V-8 vegetable juice in place of tomato juice. I use a red onion, two or three cloves of garlic, no sugar, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper, I sub cilantro (because I LOVE it) for the parsley, and I have been using fresh tarragon and basil.

My gazpacho:

Ingredients

• 2 11.5 ounce cans V-8 juice
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cucumber, chopped
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon (I use fresh)
• 1 teaspoon dried basil (I use fresh)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (I use cilantro)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The amazing cast of characters

You can see the coarse chop of the veggies.

With the herbs added in.

Fresh healthy fabulousness in a bowl!

If this sounds good to you I strongly urge you to make it.  I need to make myself another bowl this weekend (it only lasts a few days).

Pantry Organization

Well the family reunion/50th anniversary party was a raging success!  We had such a great time and everything went so well.  All the hard work and effort Greg and I have been putting in to getting the house and everything else ready was well worth it.  People were completely impressed with the house and extremely grateful for us agreeing to host.  My boys met their cousins from NY and MN and all got along fabulously.

I We did manage to get several organization/home decor projects taken care of this summer.  I will be posting photos of several of the things we accomplished this summer so keep checking back for new posts.

Now on to the pantry!  This project took took less than a day.  I started by going through all the Tupperware storage containers and throwing things out that were outdated and consolidating things into the proper sized containers.  The blue bins (I am not a fan, but my dh bought them and they work for now) hold snacks, baking supplies, granola bars, pudding and applesauce containers.  We keep them accessible so the boys can grab snacks when we need them.  Sorry for the quality of the photos as I used my iPhone, but you can get the idea of what the pantry looks like.

It is amazing how well the clutter can be hidden behind the pantry doors.

Ben wondered why on Earth I was taking photos of the nasty pantry and wanted to be in the photo.  

Scary, I know!

Much bettter!

I love my tupperware containers!  Yes we have an absolutely ridiculous amount of cereal (not all of those have cereal in them, but most do).

Look at those fabulous potatoes we got at the farmers' market.  That empty shelf is where we keep our bread (as you can see we it was time for a trip to the grocery store).

It was such a necessity to get the pantry organized prior to having all our relatives descend on our home. That empty shelf was soon filled up after a trip to Sam's club and a major purchase for feeding all our company.

I am so thrilled that the pantry is looking so great.  I love getting everything organized before school starts.  Greg put up a nail so we can hang our plastic grocery bags that we end up using for all sorts of things.  It is so nice to have them neatly organized instead of shoved in on the side.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of the newly improved pantry!  :)

Menu Plan Monday 8-2

Monday:  Butternut squash ravioli with brown butter sage sauce (cheese ravioli for the boys), garlic sauteed spinach (beans for the boys),  chopped salad, french bread

Tuesday:  (GNO for me) Venison roast in the crockpot, mashed potatoes, wax beans

Wednesday:  Garlic lime chicken, brown rice, corn, fresh fruit

Thursday:  Dinner out before church

Friday:  Frozen pizza, salad

Saturday:  Grilled shrimp, grilled veggies, grilled potatoes, fire and ice salad

Sunday:  Spaghetti and meatballs, italian flat beans w/ garlic, salad, french bread


Desserts:
Chocolate chip cookies
Homemade ice cream

Why does it take hosting a major event to get your house in order?

The fun and games are over ladies.  I start back to work in 24 days and the thought of it makes me want to cry!  ;)  It has been a wonderful summer here and we have accomplished quite a bit.  I have also made sure to have lots of fun with the boys.


We are hosting a family reunion for my hubby's family as well as his parents' 50th wedding anniversary party.  We will have *GASP* twelve houseguests for six days (as well as five others that will be joining us for meals, but staying in a hotel). Lucky them! ;)  There will be between 40-50 people for a casual Friday night gathering and then the party on Saturday.  The chorus that keeps running through my brain right now is Y'all gon' make me lose my mind up in HERE, up in here.   Hosting this event is definitely stressing me out at this point.  It's hard because this is my husband's family and he has three sisters, so even though the events are at our house, they are helping to plan them long distance.  I have no doubt I could totally pull this off on my own (and it might be easier than getting so many different ideas), but I am walking a fine line here.  Needless to say, the next week as we get ready for all of this is going to be a ton of work.  The good news is that our house will look better than it ever has by the time we are ready.


Some major things we have done:
~Painted the den
~Bought new couches for the living room and den
~Bought new decor for the console in the foyer
~Bought new bedding for our oldest ds's room (he really needed it)
~Organized the boys' bedrooms and closets (God Bless Greg he did this)
~Organized the basement (well Greg and Drew did this, I don't do basements ;))
~The cleaning lady came Thurs so the house is clean and she will be back the day before everyone arrives


Work in progress:
~Paint touch ups
~Grocery shopping and menu planning for the meals and party
~Organizing the kitchen pantry- I have been doing that today and it's been SO not fun! ;)
~Organizing all kitchen drawers
~Getting all laundry done and prior to guests arriving


What we plan on still doing:
~Buying a new blender (ours broke)
~Buying some new pillows for the boys' rooms
~Buying new fingertip towels for the powder room
~Changing the bedding in Drew's room back to PB football
~Painting oldest ds's bedroom
~I am negotiating getting the other two boys' bedrooms painted because they desperately need it.  They still have the craptastic flat builder's beige paint that shows EVERYTHING!
~Organizing the clutter corner of the master bedroom
~Organizing the master closet
~Organizing the office
~Iron and put back up the shower curtain in the boys bathroom
~Put up the valence in the boys' bathroom
~Frame the adorable prints for the boys' bathroom that I got YEARS ago.  
~A ton of baking before people get here and a MAJOR Sam's club run for food.


Things that I wanted done that just are not gonna happen:
~Painting the white doors on the main level
~Painting the white trim on the main level
~Painting the master bathroom
~Painting the powder room (this actually has been painted, but I would like to choose a color instead of beige)
~Curtains for the living room and den
~New office furniture and painting that room (that seems to be at the bottom of the priority list).




I have been taking photos of some of my decorating/organizing projects and promise to post them sometime soon.