Tag Archives | Thanksgiving

Pumpkin Cookies with brown-butter icing

pumpkin cookies

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This is one of those cookies that you can’t eat just one.  Pumpkin Cookies with brown-butter icing is a favorite fall cookie for our family.  They are soft and tender with a nice balance of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg spices mixed in.  Each cookie is topped with a layer of sweet browned butter icing. I discovered this recipe about ten years ago in a Martha Stewart Living magazine. Over the years I have changed and adapted the recipe just the slightest to suite my taste.

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Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Apples

Whipped Sweet Potatoes with caramelized apples

{the sweet potato recipe was doubled in the pic above}

Whipped sweet potatoes with caramelized apples is a delicious side dish for this time of year. It’s not too sweet and the combination of creamy and chunky mixed with sweet and tart all in one dish is just right.

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Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Apples

{Martha Stewart Living magazine, November 1995}

I was introduced to whipped sweet potato recipe in 1995 when my November issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine {above pic} arrived in the mail.  I have used many wonderful recipes from it and especially the “Turkey 101” section that had the step by step guide on how to prepare and cook a turkey.  I followed the instructions and cooked my first turkey that year.  I was so thrilled that I actually did it {and made gravy too}. The whole process was not as complicated or intimidating as I had envisioned it.

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Cranberry Relish with Pear and Orange {Canning} {Packaging}

Cranberry Relish

Cranberry relish is not just for Thanksgiving dinner in our family.  My two daughters will take a bowl like this one and eat all of it up {I will too}.  This recipe is full of “Stuff”; the combination of sweet/tart and soft/chunky in every bite.   It’s a great side dish with turkey or warm it up and spoon it over chicken or pork.  This cranberry relish with pear and orange is a twist on the classic cranberry sauce.

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Cranberry relish

{print  recipe Here}

Ingredients

1 1/2   cups sugar
1/2      cup fresh orange juice
3-4      oranges, segmented {without pith and membranes}
2          Bartlett pears {firm and slightly green}, peeled and cubed to bite size
1          pound fresh cranberries {one 12 oz bag of cranberries will work fine}
1/2      cup water
zest of one orange

{makes 4 cups}

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Tips & How to’s

Cranberry relish orange zest

Orange Zest
Use a microplane to grate the thin outer layer of an orange, careful not to scrape the white bitter part of the rind.

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segmented oranges

Segmented Oranges

steps 1 & 2
Cut the top and bottom of the orange to expose the inner flesh.  Set it down on one end and with a knife start from the top, cut the rind downwards just inside the pith.  Repeat this procedure all the way around the orange until the flesh is completely exposed.

step 3
Hold orange over a bowl, slice the knife into the orange along the membranes to separate the segments.  Continue around the orange and place each segment into the bowl below.

step 4
After all the segments are removed, squeeze the orange to extract the last bit of the juice.

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Cooking Instructions

Cranberry relish step 1

1.   Combine sugar, orange juice, water and cranberries in a medium saucepan.  Cook over medium heat until the berries pop open {about 10-15 minutes}.

Cranberry relish step 2

2.   Add pears and cook for 5 minutes.

Cranberry relish step 3

3.   Turn heat off and add orange zest and segments and stir.

Cranberry relish step 4

4.   Start the canning process or let it cool to room temperature and refrigerate.

Cranberry relish

The canning process can be done with equipment you probably already have, but the one canning tool I recommend as a must have is a jar lifter.  It makes the process much easier and safer when transfering a jar in and out of the hot water without it slipping.

1.  Sanitize canning jars and keep them warm.  Prepare the lids according to the package directions.

2.  Fill a large pot with water enough to cover the jars by 1 inch.  Heat the water up to a broil {not roaring boil}

3.  Ladle the relish into warm jars, leaving approximately 1/2 inch of space at the top.

canning ~ Cranberry Relish

4.  Wipe the rim of the jar with a clean, damp paper towel.

5.  Place the lid and ring on the jar.  Hand-tighten the canning ring.

6.  Place a rack for the jars to stand on in the pot {the jars should not be touching the bottom of the pot}

canning ~ Cranberry Relish

7.  Place the jars into the hot water bath making sure they are not touching each other or the bottom of the pot.  Add more water if needed to cover the jars by 1 inch.

8  Process the jars for 15 minutes, keeping the water at a gentle boil for the entire time.

9.  Remove the jars from the water and allow them to sit undisturbed for 24 hours.  As the jars cool down, a popping sound will occur from the lid as an indicator of a good seal.

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Cranberry relish packaging with cello bags

Packaging Supplies
 brown paper / paper bags
  rubber bands
  white crinkled shredded paper/grass 
  cello bags {5″x3″x11″}
•  ribbon
•  double-sided tape
 cardboard pieces {2 1/2″ x 4″}
  white café au lait bowls, 8 oz capacity {BIA Cordon Bleu or Apilco}
 labels {print Here}
•  template for the jar cover  {print Here}

Instructions
Use the template provided Here and trace out the jar lid cover on brown paper/paper bag. Stick  a piece of double sided tape to the top of the jar lid at the center and attach a brown paper circle cutout.  Stick another piece of double sided tape on top of the paper cover and attach a label {print Here}.  Fold the edges of the paper and label down and over the sides of the lid. Stretch a rubber band around the sides of the lid to secure the paper cover and label in place.

Packaing Cranberry Relish

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Cranberry Relish

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Packaging Cranberry Relish

Gift Wrapping
The last few steps to wrap the gift.  Place a piece of cardboard inside the cello bag for the bowl to stand on.  Add crinkled paper grass inside the bowl then a jar of cranberry relish.  Tie the cello bag with a ribbon and that is it.

Instead of a jar of cranberry relish, substituting it with jam, cookies or pastries will be just as wonderful to give this Christmas.

{print  recipe Here}

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posted by: Kay

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Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, Give Thanks

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Thanksgiving

We always look forward to getting together at Thanksgiving with friends and family.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

There will be more than enough delicious homemade food for this crowd.

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Thanksgiving ~ desserts

And too many desserts to choose from to end the meal.
We are truly blessed

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Thanksgiving, Give Thanks

We hope you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

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posted by: Kay

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Thankful Thoughts & God

November ~ I am Thankful

It’s wonderful to see on Pinterest, Facebook, Tumblr, and other websites of what people are thankful for.  Somedays are harder than others, but like one quote I’ve seen again and again, “There is Always something to be Thankful for.” So true.  This is my November inspiration board with pictures, quotes and found objects that I’ve gathered  together to remind me of the wonderful things in my life.

November ~ I am Thankful

Have fun using these printables of thankful thoughts, quotes and Bible verses.  Post them on a bulletin board/ refrigerator, hang it on the wall  or attach the little tags onto packages.

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November, I am Thankful
{I am Thankful, print HERE}

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Joy of Thanksgiving

{Joy of Thanksgiving, print HERE}

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Thanksgiving ~ come before His presence…, Psalm 95:2-3

 {Let us come…, print HERE}

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Thanksgiving, Psalm 69:30

{I will praise God’s name…, print HERE}

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It is well with my soul

{it is well with my soul, print HERE}

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 Thankfulness, Colossians 2:7

{Let our hearts…, print HERE}

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Give Thanks to the Lord… Psalm 107:1

{Give Thanks…, print HERE}

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Thankful ~ printable tags/cards

{Thankful printable tags/cards, print HERE}

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November ~ I am Thankful

Pretty little corner on my little desk.

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November ~ words & quotes

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November ~ Thankful words & quotes

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November ~ inspiration board, words & quotes

I find myself here at my desk almost everyday filing things, updating the family calendar, or sorting through mail.  And every now and then I will glance up at the bulletin board and be reminded of what I am thankful for.

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November ~Thankful

I am thankful for my loving, unchanging mighty God, my Counselor, and above all He is my heavenly Father.

Share with us what you are Thankful for!

* all printables for personal use only*

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posted by: Kay

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