Posts Tagged ‘Thanksgiving’
Tomorrow is the biggest and best holiday of the year, well, at least the biggest eating holiday of the year. A few weeks ago Malik and I were shopping at Walmart and it was packed with people getting their Thanksgiving fixins’.
Their carts were filled with all the ingredients to make the perfect Thanksgiving meal to share with their family and friends.
Many people will overcook and then have leftovers for days so it’s important to find creative ways in which to make those leftovers appetizing. Now I am not saying that a Turkey and Cheese sandwich with mayo and a slice of tomato isn’t appetizing, but there are other options.
As a small family of four, we always have Thanksgiving leftovers so in looking for creative recipes I found this one for a Crock Pot Turkey and Potato Chowder, but of course added a little twist based on my veggie preferences.
Ingredients:
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4-5 cups of Red Potatoes
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3 tsp Minced Garlic
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1 cup Onions, chopped
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1 bag frozen Mixed Veggies (corn, peas and carrots)
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1/2 bag frozen mixed Sweet Peppers
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3 Sprigs of fresh Thyme – remove from stems
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3-4 cups of cooked Turkey
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4 cups of Chicken Broth
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4 tbsp of Corn Starch
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1 cup Heavy Cream
Instructions:
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Wash and chop potatoes into 1-inch chunks. Stir corn starch into chicken broth than add potatoes and remaining ingredients except for the Heavy Cream into Crock Pot. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or until the potatoes are fork tender.
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Stir in Heavy Cream, cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
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Serve with crackers or corn bread.
Do you have a recipe for leftover Thanksgiving turkey?
Enjoy and be safe!
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Get on your Mark, Get Ready, Get Set Go > this is the week that it all begins!
Thanksgiving preparations, Christmas shopping, then New Year’s Eve celebrations. There may be a nip in the air here in the MidAtlantic Area, but there are also some heated emotions and high anxiety brewing the closer we get to the holidays.
Before you begin to get yourself too stressed, check out these 10 Tips to help you de-stress during the holidays. Leave a few of your own in the comments section as we can all benefit from having a happy and stress-free holiday season.
10 Tips to Help You De-Stress During the Holidays
HOT BATH
Take a bath, add some Epsom salts to help ease aches and pains and to soothe your mind and body. Try using a lavender scent salt which will provide a calming aroma.
SLEEP
Sleep is the most important stress reducer to keep us healthy and relaxed. Don’t let your To-Do list cause you to lose sleep, stay in bed a bit later or go to bed a bit earlier then rise and shine rested and less stressed.
ENJOY THE MOMENT
Slow down and enjoy the little moments around you. Enjoy and appreciate God’s Gifts; a sunrise, a sunset, trees blowing in the wind or snow flakes falling, slow down and enjoy the moment.
SAY NO
Learn to say, “no” and don’t try to attend every meeting or event invite that pops into your email box or on your Facebook timeline.
DECLUTTER
Clear your mind by clearing the clutter from your closet, desk or dresser drawers. Pull out a drawer and sit on the sofa or bed to remove and discard old papers, socks or items that you no longer use. You will feel better the next time you open that drawer and are able to find exactly what you need without digging through the mess.
MEDITATION/DEEP BREATHING
Make and take some time alone to re-center yourself. Sit in a quiet dark corner of your home or apartment or even on the floor of your walk-in closet to pray, mediate and breath deeply.
DANCE
Put on your favorite music then dance or jog in place or run around the house or up and down the steps. Dance like no one is looking to boost your endorphins.
LAUGH
Laughter is a great way to reduce stress hormone levels, leaving you recharged and refocused. Turn on the television, your computer or Tablet and watch re-runs of old shows like “Everyone Loves Raymond”, “I Love Lucy” or “Everybody Hates Chris”
READING
Unplug and give your mind a rest from electronic and digital media then pick up a book or a magazine. Curl up and relax with a good story or a “rag mag” that is for “entertainment purposes only” and enjoy the stress-free read.
SERVE UP FAMILY, FOOD AND FUN
Buffet and Potluck meals are more fun and social than traditional sit-down meals. Ask family and friends to bring a dish and purchase pre-made items to cut down on your time in the kitchen. Let everyone relax and eat as they please then tell some jokes, play games or just catnap the rest of the day away.
How do you reduce stress during the holidays?
Cut down on time and stress in the kitchen with a Jennie-O frozen, No Thaw Turkey. It goes from freezer to oven to perfect on your table!
Disclosure: I am a member of the Jennie-O Switch Circle. All opinions are my own.
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Happy Veteran’s Day to all who served
and are continuing to serve
for the
freedom of this country.
I don’t know about you, but as we get closer to Thanksgiving, I begin to focus more on clearing out my pantry and freezer in anticipation of preparing the biggest meal of the year. I tend to grocery shop less but still love to cook delicious meals for my husband and son. The Crock Pot is always on the counter and the oven is used less often.
As you know, chicken is a staple in my house and it is always on the menu several times per week. However, last month hubby went to the Dominican Republic for a mini vacation so it was just Tayair and myself. Instead of having chicken he suggested we try Smoked Turkey Sausage, so that is what we had for dinner the night hubby returned home.
Using the Smoked Turkey Sausage gave this meal more flavor than using plain chicken.
Ingredients:
1 – Package fully cooked Smoked Turkey Sausage – Diced
1 – 14.5 oz can of Petite Diced Tomatoes
1 – Jar Alfredo Sauce
2 – Cups Penne Pasta (uncooked)
Italian Seasoning
Options: Minced Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes
Most people don’t realize that you can put uncooked pasta in the Crock Pot, but for my money, it’s much better as it doesn’t get mushy and cooks up well.
Instructions:
Spray the inside of the Crock Pot with Cooking Spray, add Pasta, Diced Tomatoes and Smoked Turkey Sausage. Sprinkle on a little Italian Seasoning and pour in Alfredo Sauce. Add 1/4 cup of water to the jar, shake and then pour remaining sauce into Crock Pot.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. If you prefer to use a red sauce like Marinara or spaghetti sauce as it works just as well.
Do you use Smoked Turkey Sausage in your meals?
11 Comments
Hello friends, and Happy Friday eve. It feels like this week dragged by, I guess with the Thanksgiving holiday it spoiled me for not having to work 5 days which was a great mini-vacation. Oh well, I am getting back into the swing of things because December is going to be a very busy month.
Last Thursday I, like many others were thankful for the opportunity to spend time with my family and especially for having our son home from college. This Thursday, I am thankful that he is back in school studying hard for finals (yea, I said it…don’t laugh) and for also having an opportunity to be the Social Media Manager for B.O.S.S., which I will tell you more about next week.
Today, I am also thankful for being invited by FashionPlateKc, to participate in a special holiday fashion series, and this week the first post is entitled Mad for Holiday Plaid.
Plaid is a classic pattern, but most times you think of it being worn only by girls in school uniforms. I have several plaid blazers in my closet but they are black and grey and I wanted something more festive. I kinda lucked out when I found this green plaid blazer at Goodwill last week.
Even after removing the shoulder pads and pushing up the sleeves it was still too snug so I’ll have to re-donate it. The sleeveless turtleneck and skirt as well as the Nine West purse were also thrifted.
The beads were a great find from a Flea Market Vendor and the brown colorblock shoes are from Rugged Wearhouse.
Fortunately, I also found another plaid blazer and if you didn’t know, Goodwill is the best place to find a large assortment of blazers, most have shoulder pads, but hey, you can always cut them out.
I am calling this outfit Plaid and Pearls which I paired with fur trimmed grey booties and purse. All I needed was a fur hat and I would have been ready for old man winter!
The last outfit is with a plaid blazer which I bought well over 20 years ago but I still love it. The blouse is thrifted and the pencil skirt is from JC. Penney. Time for the tights and booties because Jack Frost has been getting nippy!
Okay, now it’s your turn, to participate in this link up so just follow these three simple rules:
At least one item must be thrifted.
At least one item must be plaid.
You must display your personal thrift style.
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
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Disclosure Statement: I was provided a sample product from Mirassou Wines in order to facilitate this review, however, opinions are 100% my own.
‘Tis the season to reflect and take stock of all our blessings, to share good times with family and friends and to simply enjoy the wonderful life that we have been given. Too often we get caught up in the day to day activities, stuck and struck with stress and anxiety, so when that happens, remember this motto, “Have a glass of wine and you’ll be fine!”
That’s exactly what my girls and I did on Sunday afternoon, we kicked off the week with fun, food, laughter and of course a couple bottles of wine thanks to Mirassou Winery.
The last time we were all together we had such a good time that we decided to have a day of fun at least once per month. We all live in close proximity so it makes for an easy commute or walk in case we have too much fun!
Our hostess, Carol, had a spread with more than enough food to keep our bellies full and the pairing of the Brie Cheese and Fig Preserves on a Crostini was a perfect compliment to the Mirassou Chardonnay.
This was our first time drinking a Chardonnay and I normally drink Sweet Reds, however, the California Chardonnay was a light and refreshing wine which turned out to be our favorite. The Pinot Noir was a bit too dry for us but we didn’t allow it to go to waste – lol.
To celebrate the season and commemorate the occasion, the bottom of each glass was painted with chalkboard paint so that we could write what we were thankful for using a white permanent paint marker.
The glasses were a gift and to make the day even more special I shot this short video which was supposed to be the outtakes. It was too funny not to show it just the way it was so enjoy our antics #memoriesofgoodtimes.
If you are looking for wines to serve or give as a gift this holiday season, check out the many varieties of Mirassou Wines.
Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato and Sunset Red, all reasonable priced as to not break your budget and can be paired with a variety of foods.
This was Shawn’s favorite, what is your favorite wine to serve for the holidays or when entertaining at home?
For more entertaining tips and recipes, visit Mirassou on Pinterest, Facebook or www.Mirassou.com
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!
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Hello Friends and Happy Hump Day Wednesday
I trust you all had a safe and enjoyable long Thanksgiving weekend with an opportunity to do something special. Everyday I am thankful for the little things that God blesses me with and even more so when I can share those blessings with others.
On Friday fellow thriftanista and BLMGirl, Whitney Nic James embarked on a Thrift with Nic Weekend Tour (#twntour) sponsored by Kia Motors and her first stop was in Delaware. I honestly had no plans of going out or even getting dressed but when she texted I knew I couldn’t let her visit my state without seeing her. It wasn’t just because we are fellow bloggers but because I’ve adopted her as my “lil sis”, and you know that I lost my real ‘lil sis in a car accident in 1992.
I quickly dressed and drove to meet her at the Goodwill Outlet in New Castle. The outlet wasn’t originally on her agenda but one of the consignment shops that she chose was closed and thankfully the outlet was closer to me.
I had never been to a Goodwill Outlet and from the looks of things it was obvious that it’s the “early birds that get all the worms”. Somewhat disappointed but not defeated, I suggested we head further south down to Smyrna, to one of my favorite Goodwill locations. Her husband, Darrius was the driver and also a native Delawarean, however, he had never been to the Smyrna store and was eager to go.
Whitney and her new hubby Darrius are a thrifting duo!
Can’t leave a Delaware Goodwill without buying a
“I Love Thrifting” t-shirt!
It was the day before Goodwill’s 50% off Saturday Sale but there were a few items that I just couldn’t pass up.
If you read my profile you know that I am a big supporter of Goodwill, not just because I love to thrift but because it was the last place my sister worked before her untimely death. She is the first thought that comes to mind when I enter a Goodwill but on this trip she was more than just a passing thought.
My sister had a best friend named Darlene, they were inseparable until she left to join the United States Air Force, and it was during that time they became separated forever. Darlene was in Boot Camp when Gloria was killed in a car accident and unfortunately wasn’t able to attend the funeral. Darlene and I spoke briefly afterwards but never saw each other again … not until Friday and at all places… Goodwill.
Between the hugs and tears, I discovered that she now lives in Smyrna and works in Middletown, and is also newly married. How amazing was it that thanks to my adopted ‘lil sis, I was reunited with my real ‘lil sis’ best friend at a Goodwill! #blessed
What started out as a Black Friday turned into a Blessed Friday!
I am linking up with Whitney’s Personal Style Wednesday so come on over and meet some other thrifting fashionistas.
Have a fantabulous day – Smooches!
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Hello Friends and Happy Thanksgiving Eve!
Okay, the countdown is officially on…if you haven’t thawed that turkey or baked those pies you are definitely in a tizzy…right…nope!
Take a deep breath, check your list and then get to it because tomorrow is Thanksgiving!
This is no time to be sitting around stylin’ and profiln’ … bloggin’ or vloggin’ – get to it!
Hey you, yes you, I’m talking to you, turn around and get in that kitchen!
Kick it into high gear and get to steppin….
Who me…not stressin’
Just chillaxin’ in my jazzy socks and scarf!
Today I am linking up with my girl Whitney over at her Personal Style Wednesday Linky Party.
Take a break, pour a glass of wine and come on over for a visit to see what’s happening in her neck of the woods!
Happy Thanksgiving Eve – Smooches!
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Hello Friends and Happy
This week I am Thankful For:
positive results from my last medical exam #blessed
finding some great thrifted items for the Goodwill 2014 Runway Show (check my Instagram pics) #winning
Thanksgiving is next week – 3 day work week #relaxing
meeting some fantastic people in town last Saturday #friendly
of course, family, friends and faith #love
Pants and Top – Boscov’s // Scarf – Burlington Coat Factory
Now it’s your turn, what are you thankful for this week?
Have a fantabulous day – Smooches!
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Hello Friends and Happy Veteran’s Day
I trust you all had a wonderful weekend and if you are off today honoring a Vet I do hope that you are enjoying the day, unfortunately for me I have to work.
Happy Veteran’s Day in our neighborhood.
The month is already flying by, can you believe that we have less than 18 days until it’s Thanksgiving 2013?
This is what I wore on the first casual Friday of the month which was by far the best beginning to November that I can remember. After an early morning mini downpour, the temps rose to 78 degrees with bright sunshine, it was almost summer like.
Do you remember this pink suede jacket that I thrifted last year from GW Boutique? The sleeveless tank was thrifted earlier in the year also at Goodwill.
I found these “pink bottom” loafers at Rugged Wearhouse – aren’t they cute?
Have you started planning your Turkey Day meal or will you be eating at a relative’s home instead?
We haven’t made any plans and I am not looking forward to asking hubby because it will be the first one without his mother….maybe we’ll just stay home and have a quiet dinner.
Thank You Vets for all you have done for this country – Stay Blessed!
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Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!
Friday’s Foodie Feature
Slow Cooked Cranberry Turkey
Ingredients:
Turkey Breast Tenderloin
1 small onion diced*
1 can Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
1 cup Barbeque Sauce
Salt and Pepper to season (optional)
Spray Crock Pot with Cooking Spray
Add Turkey Tenderloin and sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired
Add diced onions, cranberry and barbeque sauce.
Cover and cook on LOW 4 hours
When I got home I could smell it, but it wasn’t a good aroma, it was the smell of burning meat, my son turned the Crock Pot on HIGH!!!! “Waste Not Want Not” so we ate it anyway with Stovetop Stuffing and String Beans!
Hopefully our Thanksgiving turkey won’t suffer the same fate!
*tip
cut onions on stovetop with exhaust fan running – no more tears
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