Organize Simplify Create Design

It is perpetual, living life and keeping it simple. Peace of mind comes from having a place for things. As I watched "Horton Hears a Who", with my grandchildren I thought about no matter how "tiny" the thing, it deserves a home. So I live by the old adage, a place for everything and everything in its respective place...

About Me

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Houston, Texas, United States
Ten things I am or have been: 1 Wife, 2 Mother of five, 3 Grandmother of 16, 4 Hair Dresser, 5 Bookkeeper 6 Bank Teller, 7 Scrapbook Store Owner, 8 Reporter, 9 Gardener, 10 Photographer,

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving Dinner Tips

Timeline and Tips for Stress free Thanksgiving

Three days prior: Shop for groceries and buy turkey now if frozen, it takes 3 days to defrost in refrigerator.

Things you can do the Day before:
Bake Cornbread
Chop onion, celery and mushrooms for gravy, dressing etc.
Bake pies


Prepare Mac Cheese
Cook macaroni, layer pasta, alternating with butter slices, Velveeta and cheddar cheese soup mixed with milk.




Shoot up turkey; fold his wings underneath him so he stands pretty. Cook breast down for juicy breast. (Warning: might not look as pretty for picture.)

If making Por-Tur-Chick (my own "Cajun" invention), debone turkey breast, pound to flatten slightly, layer Owens hot sausage on top, pound chicken breasts, probably need two depending on size, lay on top and roll the layers around the Chapel Hill jalapeno smoked sausage. Secure with string ties and inject with butter, seasonings, Worchestershire sauce, +. (make up as you go :)

Take your cool whip out of the freezer

Day of:
Check to see how long your bird needs to cook and figure out what time you plan to eat.
If you are cooking a large turkey you need to get him in first, especially if you only have one oven.
Assemble Dressing


Begin Rolls or biscuits ( yeast rolls take longer)










Put yams on to boil
Boil taters



Assemble green bean casserole directions are on can















Assemble Green Stuff


Cut fruit for fruit salad, apples, pineapple tidbits, bananas (just before serving), fruit cocktail drained, chopped pecans, colored marshmallows. Add cool whip as served.

Slice yams, layer with slices of butter, sprinkle brown sugar and broken pecans, top with marshmallows, butter, pecans and brown sugar.
Bake 30 minutes at 350ยบ






Assemble relish tray





















Check your bird each hour and baste with drippings and check more often toward end of cooking. His legs should move very easy if he is close to done. Insert meat thermometer to be sure. Remove foil to brown last 30 minutes. Turkey needs to rest before carving.
Remove juice with turkey baster, put some in dressing and make gravy with the rest.



Jackies Southern Macaroni and Cheese
 Grease baking dish, layer cooked macaroni, dotted with butter, Campbells Cheddar Cheese soup mixed with milk and slices of Velveeta. End with cheese. Mac cheese should take about 30-35 minutes to bake, as it bakes, stir and add milk to make it creamy, (every 10 minutes)  Add shredded cheddar about half way through and keep it stirred adding milk as needed. About 10 minutes before it is done add shredded cheese to top. (Tip: if you slightly undercook your macaroni when boiling, your mac and cheese won't be mushy :)


Green beans, rolls, mac cheese and yams can all cook together.
Heat the corn, go on add butter its Thanksgiving.




Gravy

Begin browning flour in oil for gravy. Stir slowly over medium heat to desired brownness. Add cool water or broth quickly while stirring followed by hot broth. (I add turkey drippings) A can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup can be added for added flavor. Add mushrooms and taste for need of seasoning.

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Mash potatoes with a stick of butter, a cup of sour cream, salt, pepper and Pet milk.


Chipped Beef Ball and Ham Roll Ups and Shrimp Dip are family favorites!





Serve, bless and eat! At our house we take turns sharing the special things we are thankful for!
This blog post was for the Crowley family Thanksgiving, you can easily substitute in your family favorites and enjoy a stress free Thanksgiving.



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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Last minute Thanksgiving Help!

Thanksgiving Menu for our house

Turkey
Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Rice
Gravy
Green Stuff
Fruit Salad
Macaroni & Cheese
Rolls
Green Bean Casserole
Vegetable Tray/Dip
Shrimp Dip 
Sweet Potatoes
Chocolate Chip Pie
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Corn
Cranberries

Shopping List
The list has little letters out to the side of each item.
Legend as follows:
B: Baking Isle
Ca: Canned Goods
D: Dairy
F: Frozen
M: Miscellaneous
Me: Meat
Co: Condiments
P: Produce



B: Brown Sugar
B: Chocolate Chips
B: Cinnamon
B: Clove
B: Coconut 
B: Cornmeal or Cornbread Mix
B: Dark Corn Syrup
B: Flour
B: Garlic Power
B: Garlic Salt
B: Nutmeg
B: Oil
B: Onion Salt 
B: Pecans (Fruit Salad, Pie)
B: Pepper
B: Poultry Seasoning
B: Sage
B: Salt 
B: Self Rising Flour
B: Shortening
B: Sugar
B: Yeast
Ca: Cranberries
Ca: Crushed Pineapple
Ca: Dry Onion Soup
Ca: Eagle Brand Milk
Ca: Green Beans Fr. Cut
Ca: Mandarin Oranges
Ca: Mushroom Soup, Cream of Chicken, Cream of Celery, Chicken Broth, Chicken & Rice, Cheddar Cheese
Ca: Olives
Ca: Pears, Peaches, Fruit Cocktail
Ca: Pet Milk
Ca: Pickles
Ca: Pineapple Crushed, Tidbits
Ca: Pumpkin
Ca: Shrimp
Co: Hot Sauce
Co: Party Dip
Co: Worcestershire Sauce
D Goods: Rice
D Goods: Macaroni
D: Cheese Shredded
D: Cream Cheese (4)
D: Eggs
D: Butter (3 pounds)
D: Milk
D: Pie Crusts (6)
D: Sour Cream (Potatoes, Dip)
F: Cool Whip(Green Stuff, Fruit Salad, Pie)
F: Corn
M: Crackers
M: Fried Onion
M: Koolaid
M: Mini Marshmallows (S. Potatoes, Green Stuff)
M: Pepperidge Farm Stuffing Mix
M: Picante`
M: Pickles for relish tray
M: Pimiento Cheese for Celery
M: Pistachio Pudding
M: Velveeta
Me: Turkey or Turkey Breast
Me: Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Me: Owens Hot Sausage
Me: Smoked Sausage
P:  Carrots, Celery, 
P: Apples
P: Bananas
P: Cauliflower
P: Mushrooms
P: Onion
P: Parsley
P: Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes


Monday, November 1, 2010

Shopping made easy

As the holidays approach we need all the help we can get! Right?
I'm planning to order this nifty trunk organizer (the one featureed all the way to the left) to keep things from rolling from one end of the trunk to another. I think it will be great for corralling groceries, holding anything you need to return or keeping those purchases together you made while out shopping.
Anyone have any brilliant ideas to share about this? What about the other two listed from Amazon? Do you have anything to share about them?