This is a picture I took with my camera on timer and mounted on my tripod.
We did alot of the meal prep on Saturday with Tom taking care of the traditional smoked turkey. I fixed a couple types of dressing, one for stuffing and one for baking. I had purchased 2 loaves of french bread a couple weeks ago to make some pumpkin bread pudding for gifting and had a loaf left over. It was pretty dried out so I cubed it up and added chicken broth, onion, fresh oregano and sage from my garden and rosemary from my friend Jennifer. This one went in the turkey once it cooled down and then the turkey went into a cooking bag and into the frig for roasting on Sunday. The second stuffing batch was made from a pre-seasoned bag of cubed bread along with some chopped mushrooms, onion, extra sage, butter, broth from the giblets. This batch I went ahead and baked Saturday. I was already baking scones for gifting and 2 pumpkin pies, so it seemed like the thing to do! Both were a hit with everyone! Yeah!
Oh, I had to improvise with the pies! The recipe called for 2 cans of evaporated milk and 4 beaten eggs. Welllll, I only had 1and 1/4 cans of the milk and 1 whole egg. But, I had some plain Egg Beaters, enough for the recipe, so I was covered there. Now, what to do about the evaporated milk? I checked my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook from 1969 for a substitute. No help. Then, I noticed that I had that carton of eggnog in the frig and it is made with half and half. Sooooo, in it went! The next question was how much pumpkin pie spice equals the amount of individual spices called for in the recipe. I made an educated guess and tossed in 2 1/2 tsps. Mixed it all up, rolled my Pillsbury Ready crust into the two pie plates (yes, I use those and LOVE them!), filled them up and baked them till set. Well, let me tell you! Everyone who tried a piece thought it was delicious!!! I LOVE IT when my improvisations turn out!!! Don't you?!
In the past, after Christmas dinner, we have packaged up some left overs and Tom took them to these two fellows who lived across the lake from us. They're not exactly homeless, but alcohol controls their lives and so they're lifestyle doesn't lead to a nice meal on this Holy day. They would get some of everything along with a whole pie and sometimes pre-dinner snacks. They were always grateful. But, this year they have moved and we're not sure where they are. I've seen one of them walking along the road a couple miles from here, though, so Tom will keep an eye out and if he finds them, we'll get something to them. In the meantime, Tom will have turkey for lunch this week! Lots of turkey!!
Delivered the last of my Christmas goodies today. A bread loaf pan of pumpkin bread pudding and a couple kinds of scones - craisin and eggnog (made with the aforementioned eggnog). No cookies this year. Everyone is watching their weight and we have very few neighbors here to give goodies to. Does make for a more relaxing holiday season!
Got a phone call on Saturday from my oldest grandson, Derric! He graduates from Air Force Boot Camp on the 30th and is looking forward to Tech School. His training group (called a flight) has been doing really well, so they got extra time for calling this weekend. Yeah!! Visited his Mom, my youngest daughter Kellie, later and then Sunday morning I called my oldest daughter, Carman, and her husband Matt to wish them a Merry Christmas. Their kids were watching a movie, so they called us later in the afternoon. Only grans I didn't hear from were Kellie's two youngest who live with their dad. Oh well! Tom's grandsons called and I got to talk with them both. They are all growing up so fast and I'm not getting older at all!!!! How does that happen????!!!!HA!!!
Well, next weekend I'll take the decorations down and maybe work out in the yard a bit if it's not too cold. Will you be making any New Year resolutions? I'll make the same one I make every year - NO, not to lose weight - even though I am trying to do that! I resolve to be the best Christian, person, friend, partner, Mom, Grandma I can be!! That just about covers it!
Wishing you all a Healthy, Happy, Fulfilling and Successful New Year!!!
Till then!
Jackie
