From Autumn Décor to the Menu

 

Don’t throw away those pumpkins that you used indoors for Autumn decorating. Roast them! Cooked pumpkin freezes well and can be used to make pies, quick breads and pumpkin soup (though that is one thing I’ve never tried!)….or any recipe that calls for canned pumpkin.

The hardest part of roasting a pumpkin is cutting it in half; but even that isn’t too bad if you use a really good, sharp knife!

So here goes:

Wash your pumpkin to remove any debris…perhaps a little dust? Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Now place the pumpkin on a cutting board and slice it in half. BE CAREFUL!!! Then take a spoon and start scraping out the seeds.

(You can save the seeds for roasting.) Now your pumpkin is ready to roast. Put it face down in a shallow roasting pan. You can use two small pans, if your pumpkin won’t fit in one. Or you can cut your pumpkin in smaller pieces.

Pour in just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Cover with aluminum foil. Roast for 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours, or until fork tender. The time will vary with the size of the pumpkin. Just start checking it at 45 minutes.

Once the pumpkin is done, take it out of the oven and let it cool in the pan.

Mine is in the oven…so no photo of it, but here are a couple of pie pumpkins that I roasted a few weeks ago.

Once it is cool, take a large spoon and scoop out the cooked pumpkin and throw away or compost the skin. You can mash the pumpkin with a potato masher or even give it a quick spin in the food processor.

You can store it in the refrigerator for about 5 days or freeze it for later use. I usually freeze it in “recipe sized” portions. Check your favorite recipe to see how much that is.

Have a blessed day!

The Day AFTER Thanksgiving…

First of all, I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was rather cold here. Other than that, it was a nice day. My husband always smokes the turkey, and this year, he really had a masterpiece. When it came in, I tented it with foil to rest and told myself that I would take a photo of it before it was carved….then I promptly forgot all about it. Just believe me when I tell you it was a beautiful bird!

But today is a new day and I want to share a couple of my day after Thanksgiving traditions. The first one causes my husband to gag. He dreads this day. He doesn’t understand how the kids and I could eat this:

What is it? Well, the kids and I call it a GLOB (Gobbler Left-Over Bowl). In a bowl, you add a little cornbread dressing, some mashed potatoes, some peas (bought JUST for this dish), a little chopped turkey, and gravy. Cover and heat in the microwave. Then enjoy! While I like Thanksgiving dinner, I LOVE my next day GLOB! My hubby says really not nice things about it and absolutely refuses to try it. He doesn’t know what he is missing!

Tradition #2:

Now this one Man likes! A LOT!!! The carcass from our bird starts the process of becoming Turkey Noodle Soup.

Just throw the carcass in a LARGE stock pot. Toss in some celery stalks, a medium onion that has been cut into large chunks, a bay leaf, and some thyme (dried or fresh). Pour 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of water into the pot. Turn the heat onto medium and wait a heavenly aroma to fill your kitchen. After a few hours, remove the carcass (it has usually fallen apart) and strain the broth into another, not quite as large, stockpot. Pick the meat from the bones and/or from the strainer and put it aside. Chop some celery stalks and carrots and add to the stock. Season the stock, as desired. Some suggestions: salt, pepper, more thyme, parsley…even a little leftover poultry seasoning. Bring the stock to a boil and throw in a couple of handfuls of egg noodles (or even rice….that sounds good…may do rice myself instead of noodles)…I “guesstimate” the amount of noodles based on how much stock I end up with; stir and reduce heat slightly. You want to keep it at a low boil. Once the noodles are almost done to your taste, put the turkey meat into the pot. Continue cooking until the noodles (or rice) are done and serve.

Even if you don’t want soup today or tomorrow…go ahead and make stock. It can be frozen for later use.

Well..I better go check on my own stock.

Have a great day!!!

Giving Thanks

 

1828 Definition (from Noah Webster’s dictionary)

 

THANKSGIV'ING, n. The act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies.

Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if received with thanksgiving. 1 Tim.4.

1. A public celebration of divine goodness; also, a day set apart for religious services, specially to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties. The practice of appointing an annual thanksgiving originated in New England.

 

No, Thanksgiving isn’t about football, overstuffing OURSELVES (and sometimes the turkey), or even Charlie Brown….although there is nothing wrong with those things. Thanksgiving is about GRATITUDE to our Lord for his favors and mercies….thankfulness for the people in our lives that also show us favor and mercy….a time to reflect on how WE can show favor and mercy to others….EVERY day!

Have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving!!!

 

P.S. Jump on over to Stormy Hen Holidays to see how I prep for a less busy….less stressful Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Recipes

I've posted some of my family's favorite Thanksgiving recipes. Just click on the Recipes tab at the top of this page. Then scroll down to find the links.


Enjoy!

Atmosphere of Home…Aromas

What does your home smell like? Baking bread? Your favorite perfume? Lemony-fresh furniture polish? Trash? If it smells like trash, go empty the can and come back!!!
We live in a world full of scented candles, potpourri, and Febreze. Turn on the television and you will see numerous advertisements for them. Why are we willing to spend so much money on those items? Because scents can be powerful determiners of the atmosphere in your home….and the makers of memories! The aroma of apples cooking reminds me of my maternal grandfather. I couldn’t tell you how many times I walked into his kitchen to find it FULL of pies. Each time I bake an apple pie (I only bake one or two at a time…and marvel at how my grandfather could fill the kitchen with them!), I go back in time to my grandparents’ kitchen. I don’t think he went about TRYING to build a memory, but he did! And oh how glad I am that he did!!! My grandfather has been gone for over 27 years…but every time I bake an apple pie, a little piece of him is here with me.
What memories are being created by the aromas in your home? Candles and potpourri will do in a pinch, but don’t forget those scents that YOU create.

Wish someone had created smell-a-blog….because my house smells WONDERFUL! Apples and cinnamon….

Blessings,

“Why should I buy expensive art when I can make my own.” ~Piero Milani

Domestic Goddess Gene

Today my want-to-be a domestic goddess gene is dominant! It often kicks in fiercely as the holidays approach. There are a lot of WANT-to’s on my list and a few have-to’s.
First the have-to’s:

• LAUNDRY
• LAUNDRY
• LAUNDRY
• laminate a document for hubby

Now…the things I WANT to do….

• Make pies!!! I have lots of apples and a couple of pie pumpkins that are begging to be made into something yummy.
• Finish stripping wallpaper from bathroom so I can paint.
• Work on some more Christmas Stockings.
• Also working on some curtain panels for the living room.
• Have an apron design in my head that has been pleading to become a reality.
• Clean the floors.
• Plan a Christmas party.
• On a smaller scale…plan some menus for those crazy, busy days ahead!
• Start making cones for another wreath….LOVED how this one turned out.

(To see more of my recent projects, check out my other blog: Stormy Hen Creations)
So I am off to rotate the laundry, laminate that doc for hubby, and to finish doing a quick tidy throughout the house. Then to start on my want-to’s and hope that my energy level stays up today!
Also a quick update on my friend’s son and daughter-in-law: Her son went back to the ER for additional treatment AFTER he got his wife transferred to the other hospital. He had to have over 30 stitches in his face. His wife is still in critical condition. However, she is responding…gripping hands, wriggling toes, etc….AND she recognizes all those that have been able to visit her. This is good news; but, obviously, she is NOT out of the woods yet! So please continue to pray for her. The police have still not found the man responsible for this SENSELESS act. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!!!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

Please pray for a dear friend's son and daughter-in-law....They were shot earlier tonight in an armed robbery. Each was shot multiple times. Thank you!!!







UPDATE: November 2, 2010 (noon)
Friend's son was able to check himself out of the hospital very early this morning. He was hit at least twice that I know of...but fortunately, the wounds were mainly superficial. His wife is in serious condition. She has had to undergo surgery and is being kept sedated. She was also moved to another hospital. I know that hospital has a trauma center, but I am not sure if she was moved there for that reason or if it was just the family's preference. The details of her injuries have not been released.
Despite the fact that at least 3 police depts (city, county, and state) were called to the scene....with bloodhounds and helicopters, the shooter has not been found. Please also pray that this dangerous man is found soon.