Deck the halls as per usual!
It might be usual as in the same decorations, in the same spots at the same time – post Thanksgiving … BUT, it is always special with many remembrances and much hope.
Archive for ‘November, 2016’
If you wash your car it will rain … or the cat will walk on it
Saturday, November 26.
Sunny and warm and decidedly NOT late November-like.
I cleaned the garage and the Jeep and even snuck off by myself (Bear HATES the car wash) and got the Jeep washed.
Right.
Our Thanksgiving Day
I don’t know why Auggie is giving me the evil eye. He had a beautiful sun spot and the doors open to a beautiful day: 45F with sun and blue skies. I had the windows open while cooking. It didn’t feel as holiday-like as it does when it is cold-cloudy-snowy, but no complaints from us!
Cranberry Chutney was first on the agenda – yes 6:45 a.m. in the dark of the morning … so it had time to meld all the flavors.
I made a new recipe: leek bread pudding, in place of dressing. I used my own sourdough for the bread – this turned out to be my favorite side dish.
The bird!!!
A full plate: turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry chutney, green beans in mushroom gravy with a bread crumb/onion/parmesan top crust, steamed carrots and the leek bread pudding.
A few spoons of pumpkin spice ice cream rounded out the meal.
Bear and Auggie had some turkey with just a wee-little bit of gravy.
I believe we were all very thankful for the gorgeous day, the delicious food and a relaxing day together.
I was very thankful to get this last load of dishes done – I think that was about the 8th sinkful of the day.
Our Thanksgiving Day.
’twas the night before Thanksgiving…
…and all through the house…
…not a creature was stirring except for a mouse.
WHAT???
If there is a mouse stirring, Auggie has some explaining to do!
Got ahead of myself.
No mouse stirring, just me. Prepping for Thanksgiving dinner…
Dessert in the making: pumpkin ice cream is turning!
Other deliciousness in process.
And a cozy fire in the woodstove.
’twas the night before Thanksgiving.
Reflections of Auggie
Mel’s Buttery Fluffy Cornmeal rolls: my way
Another Mel’s Kitchen Cafe recipe! If you are in need of a wonderful dinner roll – homemade – for your Thanksgiving dinner, I say look no further.
Mel’s Kitchen Café: Buttery Fluffy Cornmeal Dinner Roll recipe is everything the title says and there are a mountain of her readers who agree.
The recipe was originally posted as a crescent roll and I passed it over. I am not a huge fan of flaky crescent rolls and instead of paying attention to the recipe, I just moved on. My mistake!
Yesterday, Mel posted the Buttery Fluffy Cornmeal Dinner Roll recipe in the shape of dinner rolls and I paid attention.
This morning, in the dark of the very early morning, I mixed the dough. A few modifications: I always sub Masa Harina for cornmeal. I buy Masa made in Mexico from Mexican grown corn that doesn’t have all of the corn flavor GMO’d out of it! So, Masa in place of cornmeal in this recipe. Mel noted that she sometimes makes these rolls with 1/2 white whole wheat and 1/2 white flour so I did that and also added some vital wheat gluten to add back any fluffiness the whole wheat might take away. AND, I had some discard sourdough starter (unfed starter) so threw that in as well.
Oh, boy! These are soft, fluffy, lovely, lovely dinner rolls, perfect for both sopping up that turkey gravy AND for day after turkey sandwiches.
I made 1/3 of the recipe: 8 rolls. I hope a few make it to Thanksgiving Day.
I imagine I will be making this recipe again before Thanksgiving Day – maybe the whole recipe! Mel notes that these freeze beautifully.
Even if you’ve never made homemade rolls, this is a great recipe to start with – simple, easy to work with dream dough and the BEST dinner rolls!!