Turkey Stroganoff, A Movie Review, and the Weekly Menu #Movies&Munchies

Our Movies & Munchies film for November was Hannah and Her Sisters, A Woody Allen film released in 1986, starring Mia Farrow, Dianne Wiest, and Barbara Hershey.

 

Gratefully Sharing my Weekly Menu including Thanksgiving Day

Here we are at Thanksgiving Week.  I have so much for which to be Grateful.  God has blessed us abundantly.   Last night we enjoyed Friendsgiving with our neighbors.  Having good neighbors is definitely something we are grateful for.

Wondering whether to serve Red or White for Thanksgiving? How about Orange? #WinePW

When our administrator, David of Cooking Chat, suggested we share Creative Thanksgiving Wine Pairings this month, I immediately knew I would share an orange wine.  I mean, what is more fall-like and unusual than an orange wine?

Sourdough Pumpkin Bread and a Book Review #BreadBakers

This fun bread uses both sourdough starter and instant yeast.  It is flavored with pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices, flecked with candied ginger, and then shaped into a pumpkin before being baked.

The Bread Bakers are sharing Pumpkin Breads today......

Our Thanksgiving, The First Thanksgiving and the Weekly Menu starting with Leftovers #LitHappens

We had a very nice Thanksgiving with a large gathering of Family and Friends.  It was a festive, casual affair filled with love and laughter.  And some tears....for those we love who could not share the day with us due to work, distance, or other commitments and for those who are watching down from Heaven whom we miss more during the holidays, it seems.

The holidays are always bittersweet as you reminisce about days of yore and create new memories that will be shared long after you are no longer present except in spirit.  

Cranberry Squash Muffins #MuffinMonday

These savory muffins contain all the flavors of Thanksgiving.  They would be a perfect addition to your table or you could use up leftovers making them for breakfast the following day.

It's time for Muffin Monday.......

For These Things I am Grateful and the Weekly Menu including Thanksgiving.

Last night we celebrated Friendsgiving with a casual dinner and game night.  The Angel Face joined in the fun as her Parents were out having a date night.  Friends and Family are always first on my list of things for which I am thankful.

Sourdough Cloverleaf Rolls #BreadBakers

These tender, delicious, pull-apart, cloverleaf rolls start with sourdough and make a perfect addition to your holiday meal.

The Bread Bakers are sharing Thanksgiving Breads today .......

Quick and Healthy Butternut Squash Soup and the Weekly Menu including Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving #SoupSaturdaySwappers

 Holidays can be very busy.  This quick and healthy Butternut Squash Soup starting with frozen squash is a time and stress saver.  It takes only a few minutes of hands on time and half an hour cooking time.  It can be made ahead and rewarmed so there is zero soup stress on the big day.

It is time for the Soup Saturday Swappers.......

Countries United Through Food and Wine #Winophiles

France and the USA have long been friends.  They provided us with the Statue of Liberty in 1886.  They sent the Friendship Train in 1949 and now French Winemakers have come to Oregon, USA to open wineries and share their knowledge with us.

I received a bottle of Resonance Pinot Noir as a gift for this event.  All opinions and writings are my own.

Join the Winophiles as we visit Oregon + Bourgogne Tied Houses................

Turkey Shepherd's Pie; Starting with Leftovers

Layer upon layer of Thanksgiving flavors.  Bottom layer is stuffing, topped by turkey and vegetables drenched in gravy and topped with mashed potatoes.

 A perfect way to serve up those Holiday Leftovers.......

Skillet Rolls #HolidaySideDishes #BakingBloggers

These wonderful rolls are formed, placed into a cast iron skillet to rise and then baked in the same skillet to a perfect golden brown.

They are the perfect addition to your Holiday table........

Thanksgiving Recipe Round-Up and a #Giveaway

Welcome to the November Recipe Round-Up! This months round-up brings you Thanksgiving and Fall themed recipes with pumpkin recipes galore! Our bloggers are sharing their favorite Thanksgiving inspired recipes with you, including breakfast, side dishes, main dishes and ((of course)) dessert...because what's Thanksgiving without some pumpkin pie?! Come check out what we are bringing you this month!. Plus we have another amazing GIVEAWAY that you don't want to miss!!

For these Lord, I am grateful......

I am, each year so extremely grateful for my loving, supportive, caring family and friends.  I know that not everyone is as blessed as I and I thank the Lord each day for surrounding me with so much love and warmth.

On this day, I will look beyond my family and friends to see 10 other events, occurrences and things for which I have to be Thankful this year.

1. Another cancer free year for Frank.
2. Financial stability
3. Settling into our new home.
4. 4 rambunctious, crazy mutts
5. Scuba diving in the Carribean
6. Cruising in Alaska
7. Strolling in Vegas
8. Outings to Theaters, Operas and Plays
9. Successful works of Charity
10. Over 30 books read or enjoyed audibly

I hope that this past year has been abundantly wonderful to you and yours.  May God bless and keep us in the coming year.

The Thanksgiving Week Menu

Wow.....where did this year go?!  I blinked and it is the start of the Christmas season.  It is mind boggling to me.  I don't have one single Christmas gift bought yet!!  Oh well, it will wait until after Thanksgiving.  Perhaps that's as it should be.

Thanksgiving Day is normally the first day of my Christmas Holidays but this year we are starting early.  Tomorrow we are taking our Little Miss, her Mama and Charlie, her Aunt Amy and Uncle Doug and heading to the Fox Theater for How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  We are very excited.  I am even more excited that our Lili is meeting us for dinner while we are downtown.

Monday we are doing our Thanksgiving Basket Distributions for the Food Pantry. Tuesday and Wednesday I will have the Angel Face here to help me with my Thanksgiving Preparations.

Thanksgiving Dinner will be celebrated later in the evening allowing the kids to see the other side of their families during the day.

Friday morning we are heading up north.  We will be spending the afternoon and night with our TC family.  Saturday morning we are meeting up with our friends, Bob and Cathy, and 4 other couples for the Great Mac and Cheese Bake Off sponsored by the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula.  It should be a lot of fun.

I am sharing our Weekly Menu including the Thanksgiving Feast.  Please stop by and visit so I can wish you and yours a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving Day.  My blogging friends and readers are one of the things for which I will be giving thanks this year.

Saturday
Meatballs in Mushroom Gravy
Egg Noodles
Glazed Carrots

Sunday
Dinner out after Grinch

Monday
Order in Pizzas or Subs for Food Pantry workers

Taco Tuesday
Tacos, of course

Wednesday
Stew over Biscuits

Thanksgiving Day
Crab and Crimini Bisque
Salad with Beets, Dill and Feta
Roast Turkey
Roast Fresh Kielbasa
Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Buttered Corn
Crescent Rolls
Cranberry Sauce
Gravy
Pumpkin Pie
Persimmon and Chestnut Cookies

Friday
Heading North, See you Sunday

Pumpkin Dump Cake with Cranberries for the Final Day of #CranberryWeek

I hope that you have all enjoyed this week as much as I.  I am overwhelmed by all the great cranberry recipes that have been shared and cannot wait to try so many of them.  I don't know which recipe to try first...that is a good problem to face.

I am serving up dessert today.  A perfect ending to a perfect Cranberry Feast.  This recipe was sent to me by my friend, Linda, and I adapted it to fit in with our Cranberry theme.  I made this quite a while back and took it to a church function for which I provided dinner.  It was a huge hit and not a bite was left.  This easy and tasty cake would be a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving dessert menu.

The tartness of the cranberries complement the rich spiciness of this pumpkin cake perfectly.  It is moist with a tender crumb.  It contains all the wonderful Fall flavors that you associate with Thanksgiving and this time of year.

It takes less time to throw this cake together than it does to preheat the oven.  Within an hour your cake is cooling and awaiting dinner to be served.

Search #CranberryWeek to keep up to date and follow the #CranberryWeek Pinterest board for more cranberry inspiration. But first, see all the other cranberry recipes being shared today, following below mine.

Pumpkin Dump Cake with Cranberries

adapted from Linda Tye

1 (29 oz) can pumpkin puree

1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 c. sugar

1 t. salt

3 t. cinnamon

1 boxed yellow cake mix

1 c. fresh cranberries

3/4 c. butter, melted

Combine pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, salt, cinnamon and cake mix in a large bowl.  Stir in fresh cranberries.  Pour into a 9x13" baking pan that has been treated with baking spray.  Drizzle with the melted butter and bake in a preheated 350* oven for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center, removes cleanly.  Print Recipe

Thank you for joining us this week.  It was fun. Now let's see what the others brought today!

• Cranberry Apple Sauce from Cooking With Carlee
• Cranberry Bliss Bars from Palatable Pastime
• Cranberry Cheesecake Brownies by The Bitter Side of Sweet
• Cranberry Cheesecake Dream Bars from Life Currents
• Cranberry Grains Power Bowl from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Cranberry Streusel Bread from Hostess At Heart
• Maple Cranberry Sauce from Cricket's Confections
• Pumpkin Dump Cake with Cranberries from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Roasted Cranberry Bourbon Crush from Take Two Tapas
• Savory Cranberry and Cheese Tart from Caroline’s Cooking
• Tuna Salad with Cranberries from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Thanksgiving Menu 2016

The Menu 2016

Silky Fennel Soup with Crab

Fall Harvest Salad

Mixed Berry Sorbet

Roast Turkey

Fresh Kielbasa

Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans Almondine

Buttered Corn

Cranberry Sauce

Herb and Cheese Rolls

Pumpkin Pie

Whipped Cream

Dessert by Sue

We will be having ten gathered around our dinner table this year. That is smaller than in years past. A lot of empty seats will surround us this Holiday Season but the spirits of those we have love and lost will be filling the room with love, laughter and good cheer.

Here is what I served in 2014 and 2015 for our Thanksgiving Feast. Hoping you all have a very Happy and Peaceful Thanksgiving this year.