Thanksgiving Recap

It was a really nice day.  Only the 3 of us (but that's what it's been the last 3 years).  I cooked everything (but that's also how it's always been with work requirements preventing travel or company).

For us, Thanksgiving didn't look or feel different with the pandemic.  BUT, I changed up some things and here's the scoop.

(1)  No pies.  Slush Cake instead.  Flour/nut crust layer, cream cheese layer, pudding layer and cool whip layer.  Dear lord, it's one of my favorite things.  Make it with almond milk and it's fine for my stomach.  I took an extra step and used GF flour in the crust.  

(2)  Make a lot ahead.  I'm usually organized and do a number of things ahead, but this year I did TONS ahead and it worked.  I might even do most everything next year.

(3)  Clover rolls using frozen dough.  Delicious, easy and felt special.  I had extra left so I made a little fun goodie of monkey bread for the guys that I rose faster so they could have it as a snack.

(4)  Used the "good" china from my parent's wedding.  Over 50 years old.  It's beautiful AND dishwasher safe.  It was fun to use a different dish set.

(5)  Seedlip cocktails.  Remember I bought Seedlip NON alcoholic spirits awhile back?  I've never used them.  Since I'm not drinking right now, I decided to give one a try.  Seedlip 42, lime juice and simple syrup and you have a margarita.  It didn't taste exactly like one, but it tasted like a cocktail and it was YUMMY.  Turns out, the spirits have ZERO calories -- what?!?!  That was a pleasant surprise.  I'll make the Cosmo recipe for Christmas.  Only downside is once opened, they only last 30 days.  Not sure what changes, but it's still good for Christmas.  No drinking was fantastic.  More on this later as I go through the holiday season.  I felt like I had my cake and ate it too -- no downside.  Interesting.

(6)  Holiday shirts SEEMED cute.  "She's My Sweet Potato;" "I Yam"  But they were so unflattering on.  The pictures were HORRIBLE.  Oh well.  My new workout shirt.  Selfie pictures turned the words around -- then my shirt said "May I."  Hubby deleted them all and I'm not unhappy about it LOL.

(7)  BEST turkey I've ever made.  I think the new instant read thermometer prevents me from overcooking.  It was delicious.  Love the prep the day before method too.  

Hope you had a happy day too.  We are still up to our eyeballs in dogs and dog drama, but it's fun.  Two more sleeps (but who's counting).  Today is a little spit shine to the house (especially the kitchen) and that's about that.  Maybe a movie night??  Maybe some extra reading??  Relaxing after a full week in the kitchen.

Stay well.  Later gators.