Looking Back At Thanksgiving

Skillet Apple Pie

This look at our Thanksgiving nearly got lost when I interrupted my blogging to add the paper angel how-to a few days ago. But this recipe is too good and too easy not to share. You'll find the recipe at the end.

We had a revolving door kind of family gathering. But we did get to see everyone but J-Daddy who had to stay home while some home repairs were in progress. Our little girls are becoming big girls.

As soon as they headed home the other set of family arrived. I really think they waved at each other as they were coming and going up and down I-85. This smallest granddaughter is learning all about life at the farm. She is an independent little thing who has learned about opening and closing pasture gates already. And she had a go at driving the tractor with Daddy-O. That's a rite of passage here.

And on our last night of family time we enjoyed a backyard bonfire. We never got to the marshmallow part of this evening, so we will likely have Christmas s'mores in a few weeks. (FYI...this was our first fire in our Solo fire pit. It does indeed work as advertised.)

I promise. I'm getting to the pie recipe. But I wanted to talk about pillowcases for just a minute. The Santa Claus pillow case here was made by my mother many many years ago. Our children, and now our grandchildren look forward to sleeping on them Christmas Eve. I have four of these. It's a family tradition that I'm sure my mother never anticipated would last this long. She really was not a maker in general. Except for these pillow cases that I've had for decades now. 

I've found that the best traditions are the ones that just happen. I've never had much luck with intentional plans to create a tradition. But I treasure these that create themselves.

In that spirit, daughter Jessica wanted a set for her house. I think the plan—in the beginning—was that she was going to make some herself. But along came a baby and a house move and she sent up the mom-style bat signal. And even then I let that fabric sit on my sewing machine for a long time. 

But this Christmas they are in their new old (as in historic) house and it was time. I whipped myself into action just days before they came for Thanksgiving and sent her home with two sets. Two pillow cases for a queen bed and three for the king size bed.

I had let this fabric sit on my sewing machine for a long time. And then I LOVED working with this fabric. It felt so good in my hands. I can imagine how good they will feel at bedtime. Jessica found this cotton Tana Lawn by Liberty online and ordered both colors because she loved the whimsical Christmas print.

Because the fabric was so special I made these pillow cases with French seams that will wear well.  Hopefully Jessica will be tucking in her grandchildren on Christmas Eve years from now and tell about Mimi who made the pillow cases.

 

And now to the pie recipe. Finally. It was the easiest thing to make. And it makes a great presentation in the skillet. I'm sending a big thank you to my friend Missy who texted me the recipe and said, "also made this...a huge hit!" Missy is one of those friends who never steers me wrong in the kitchen. (Notice she said "also." I'll get to her other recipe soon.)

When I started this, I envisioned a sticky, hard-to-clean mess in the bottom of the skillet. But as it baked it turned into a thinner caramel type syrup. Cleaning was no problem. Hang on to this recipe. It's easy enough for a family supper and good enough for a company meal. 

EASY SKILLET APPLE PIE 

4 lbs apples, half Granny Smith & half Braeburn or Macintosh

good squeeze of lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup sugar

pinch of salt

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 box refrigerated pie crust (2 crusts per box)

1 egg white

2 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 350º. Peel and slice apples into 1/2 inch slices. Squeeze a little lemon juice over apples and toss. Then toss apples with cinnamon and 3/4 cup sugar and a pinch of salt.

Melt butter in 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes until sugar is melted. Remove from heat and place one pie crust on top of butter mixture. Spoon apples over pie crust. Top with remaining pie crust. (I didn't try to crimp the edges because the pan is hot. Just tuck in anything that hangs over.) 

Whisk egg white until foamy and brush over crust. Sprinkle with sugar. Cut slits in the top crust so the steam can escape. 

Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly. If the crust is browning too quickly, shield with foil for the last 10 minutes.

Cool for 30 minutes before serving. And y'all...it begged for a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!

I set my skillet on a cookie sheet just in case anything dripped while baking. It did not. But it turned out the pan made it easier to get the skillet into and out of the oven. 

Countdown To Thanksgiving

Macaroni Pie  

One week until Thanksgiving! Made a trip to the grocery store this morning to pick up a few things I knew we needed. And like some of you, I found empty shelves. No cans of cranberry sauce. But I did buy fresh cranberries. I can make my own cranberry sauce. I like both kinds. Cranberry sauce in the shape of the can sometimes sits side by side with the fresh kind. Everybody is happy.

Yesterday my Zoom knitting group spent our hour talking about Thanksgiving instead of knitting. Our group has knitters from NYC, Tennessee, Maryland, Texas, Georgia, Washington state, and South Carolina. It was interesting to hear what is "always" on the table in different parts of the country.

Here in our house possibly the most important dish—besides the turkey—is macaroni and cheese. We called  it "macaroni pie" all of my life. At least until I was grown. And somehow that morphed into a more standard name. But macaroni pie is probably more accurate. This recipe has been handed down in our family for several generations.

You might make it with a cheese sauce. But here in our little corner of the state, it's the "pie" version that reigns supreme. Some of the knitters were surprised that mac and cheese was considered a Thanksgiving item. 

They didn't understand. ALL meals here include macaroni and cheese. It's a standard for Sunday dinners and church covered dish dinners. It's comfort food at funeral meals. It sits beside the picnic food on the 4th of July. And it's a side dish in BBQ restaurants. I've even seen macaroni cheese bites as a appetizer.

People wonder about our "no cheese sauce" mac and cheese. But it's the only one I know. I was surprised and delighted when we watched the Netflix documentary High On The Hog and heard about George Washington's chef making his specialty—macaroni pie—at Mount Vernon. The historian told how it was made. And it was really close to our recipe. Even here, there are variations of the basics. I've seen as many as nine oblong dishes of macaroni and cheese lined up on a table in the church fellowship hall. I doubt anyone makes it exactly the same. But the end result is nearly identical.

Here is our recipe. I often put it together the night before and get a head start on my prep. Layer the macaroni and cheese, cover, then refrigerate until the next day. When it's time to bake it, mix the milk and eggs and pour over. 

MACARONI PIE

16-oz. box elbow macaroni (we like the small elbows)

16-oz. sharp Cheddar cheese (NY sharp when I can find it)

4 cups milk (any kind from fat-free to whole)

4 eggs

1 teaspoon salt

a sprinkle of black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook macaroni according to directions on the box. Drain. While macaroni cooks, grate the cheese. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with PAM. Put half the macaroni in the baking dish, layer half the cheese over it, add the rest of macaroni and then the remaining cheese.

Mix the milk, eggs, salt and pepper. Pour over the macaroni and cheese. Use just enough to cover the macaroni.  (Sometimes I don’t use quite all of the milk/egg mixture. And I have been known to add a little bit more milk if the 4-cups didn't cover it.)

Bake, uncovered, for 35-45 minutes, until lightly browned on top.  Let rest for about 15 minutes before serving so that it "sets."

Y'ALL!!!! I'm sitting here writing this, with a Hallmark Christmas movie playing to keep me company. The grandma and mother just decided "it's time to share the family mac and cheese recipe" with the daughter They put it together while singing Christmas music. It looked like they make it t like I do. The movie was A Holiday In Harlem.

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And should your store also be sold out of cranberry sauce, have no fear. If you can find fresh cranberries, make this. It's easy. It's delicious. Thanks to Mommy who made this it first. Hang on the this recipe just in case.

CRANBERRY SAUCE

1 lb. fresh cranberries, washed
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 orange, zested and juiced

Combine berries, sugar and water in a medium saucepan and stir together. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and stir in cinnamon stick and ground spices. Simmer for another 5 to 7 minutes. Some of the berries will burst. Some will remain whole. Add orange juice and zest and stir. Cool before serving.

The Season Of Hope

Today was the first Sunday of Advent. It's been a while since we had a wreath at home but this year we really needed one. When our girls were small we had a special breakfast each of the four Advent Sundays and lit a candle when we sat down to eat. (Then went to church to see another one lit.) This year it was just coffee in a Christmas mug but that was enough.

I didn't grow up in a liturgical church. (Although I think many non-liturgical churches now observe some seasons like Advent and Lent.) But I have come to love the traditional observances, the changing colors of altar linens that reflect the liturgical calendar, and the creeds that we say together. It's how we feel connected. 

And on this holiday weekend when we were without family here, we figured out that we could still be together. One afternoon the little girls and I had a zoom visit while their parents worked on their outside decorations. Little Sister taught me how to cut paper snowflakes. And then she led me in a dance class. Even Daddy-O got involved in that. It's been a while since he and I danced and it was fun. 

It was all so much fun that we decided to do it again the next day. Then I thought, "Why stop with a couple of days? Let's do the 12 days of Christmas!" They have been out of (virtual) school this week so we got three of the days in. So far they have been in charge of planning what we do. And we have a time limit of about an hour. 

We also spent some time this weekend pulling out Christmas decorations. Daddy-O told me that I've decorated more this year than I have in ages. Maybe ever. It's partly because I've been home more. No road trips to see school Christmas programs or choir cantatas. No weekend in the mountains. Just home. And it's partly because we, like everyone else, needs some extra cheer this year. Our house looks like I'm aiming for a "Festival of Lights." Nothing is fancy, but there are little pre-lit trees in multiple corners and on the porches. I'm waiting on a new wreath with lights for the front door. And then I'll declare it finished.

On our 2nd day of zoom Christmas we drew portraits of each other. We had the 3rd day of Zoom Christmas this afternoon. If you haven't zoomed, it's pretty easy. (Is there anyone who hasn't zoomed yet?) Today they taught me some new zoom skills. We did a screen share where we could both draw on the screen. And we could still see each other and chat—see the small windows on the right?—while we were working. We drew the four seasons today. 

Going clockwise from top left we drew Spring, Fall, Winter and Summer. This was so much fun once I found the buttons to click so that I could change colors and line sizes. And erase. They are patient teachers.

Today's 12 days of Christmas zoom also included tic tac toe. Baby Girl and I are pretty evenly matched so we had a lot of no winner games. And then she led me in a stretch class. Thank goodness, for many months now I've been faithfully doing an online fitness class (Grow Young Fitness) so I was totally able do all that this six year old asked for. Now, my form didn't quite look like hers, but I was close enough considering there's over a half century between our ages! I'm glad there are no photos of that activity.

We have ended each of our Zoom visits with a joke session. After three days we might have told all the winter/Christmas jokes we know. Can't wait to see what they have planned next. 

Daddy-O got into the decorating spirit this weekend, too. When you have a red barn in the pasture beside the house, it begs for a big wreath. There is a wreath on the other barn, too. And it won't be long before there is one on the tractor. 

So all in all, it was a good Thanksgiving weekend. Even though this year has been different, some things always stay the same. The advent candle we lit this morning was the candle of hope. This year in particular, we need that. And we need a candle that reminds us to keep hoping.

One For The Books

Pumpkin Crunch

As I searched through the recipes here on my blog to find some of the traditional Thanksgiving foods, like cranberry sauce and pumpkin crunch, I found the recipes attached to photos of previous Thanksgivings where the table(s) groaned under the weight of the dishes. More than once, another surface had to be quickly cleared to find a place for more dishes as the last families arrived with their contribution to the meal.

Like so many of you this year is not going to be that kind of day. We will be having turkey for two. And we surely won't have that many choices of casseroles to fill our plate. I am working on the basics today. Fingers crossed the turkey turns out okay tomorrow. It's a little one. I am never the one cooking the turkey so we hope it will be edible. 

Yesterday I heard from friends and family whose plans were still changing. Plans were aborted at the last minute when people thought really hard about traveling, or sharing a restaurant meal. And one sweet friend planned a celebration of life service this week instead of a Thanksgiving dinner. So what is there to be thankful about this year? 

One of the tables at last year's feast.

For me, high on the list is the huge store of Thanksgiving memories of large gatherings with so much food you never tasted it all. Decades of Thanksgiving memories like that are in my head. And I'm thankful for Zoom so that we can share dessert tomorrow with the littles. Am I thankful that I won't have as many dishes to wash in the morning? Maybe a tiny bit. It was always a lot of work to get the food cooked, packed up and make it to the destination by noon. But it was great fun. 

Maybe you are still having a big gathering. Maybe you are home alone. Maybe it's a small group sitting around tables outside. Maybe some new traditions will be started. I, for one, am just thankful for another day.

If you have never tried this recipe I'm posting it again. It isn't new. We've been making it for years. But I took it to my book club last fall and it was the surprise hit that made it to several Thanksgiving tables last year. Even the non-pumpkin lovers enjoy this one. It's easy. Can be made the day ahead. 

Mine is cooling right now. This year I only put nuts on half of it. (Daddy-O and nuts do not get along well.)  

PUMPKIN CRUNCH

15-oz. can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
12-oz. can evaporated milk
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 box yellow cake mix
1 and 1/2 sticks butter, melted
1 to 1-1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, and cinnamon thoroughly and pour into a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
Sprinkle dry cake mix (straight out of the box) over pumpkin mixture. Pour melted butter over cake mix. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake 1 hour at 350º. Let cool completely

Topping:
1 8-oz block cream cheese, softened
1 box powdered sugar
1 8-oz container Cool Whip

Using a hand mixer, blend cream cheese until fluffy. Mix in powdered sugar. Then mix in whipped topping. Spread over cooled pumpkin cake. Refrigerate. Cut into squares to serve. Can sprinkle lightly with cinnamon or chopped pecans to garnish. (I never do this part.) 

One For The Road

This certainly is not an original idea. I've seen it done several times before as you likely have, too. But in this year of accelerated online shopping, it seemed appropriate to put this box beside our front door for drivers who are working long hours. Sometimes it's after dark when a package is dropped off, like the box delivered last night.

Goodness knows there were plenty of empty pasteboard boxes here to hold the goodies. This one happened to be the exact size I needed. And it works as well as a nice basket. Which I didn't have. Doubt the drivers care one bit.

You could fill a box with anything. (Have any Halloween candy left over?) But I ordered something special because I loved these labels. And we selfishly hope plan to eat some of them. They are delicious. I saw someone on Instagram use these particular treats for a box like this. And I instantly recognized them as ones we loved to buy at a local gift store where Mommy lives. She would use them for teacher gifts. Or a tiny surprise for her little girls. And I may or may not have stopped by that lovely shop more than once and picked up a little bag to enjoy on my drive home.

That shop sadly has closed its doors. We still miss the gift shop...and the cookies. I didn't realize that the cookies are available online until I saw the Instagram story. You can use the search box on the website.  I just discovered stores near me that sell these when I was finding the link for this blog post. If you order, you can choose from many, many labels. There's something for every occasion. Party favors. Thank You. Get Well. Holidays. Stocking stuffers. They also come in bigger packages and large containers if a 2-oz bag isn't enough. 

If I hadn't come across these cute little cookie bags, I would have bought individual packaged cookies from the grocery store. Why not homemade goodies? I do love baking, but in today's world a prepackaged treat is just the safest. It certainly is the easiest. And many people feel more comfortable with a wrapped item. 

Why am I even telling you about this? Not at all to say what a nice person I am. (I do try.)  But I wanted to say that this has been so much fun for us. When Daddy-O comes in near dusk, he asks, "Any more gone today?" "Hey! Another water bottle was taken." And that makes us happy. This little box doesn't hold many at a time, so it's easy to see when one or two have disappeared.

Some of these treats will go to other people—the ones who do helpful things but don't come to our front door. It's just a tiny way to say "I see you. I appreciate what you do." During this season of thanksgiving in a year where so much has been upended, it feels good to say "thank you." 

Disclaimer: I am not advertising at all. But someone is sure to ask about the cookies...

These cute cookie bags came from Oh Sugar! You can order them online (shipping is a little pricey) and get the labels you want. But there are many retail locations that carry them. You can do a search on their website for stores in your area. 

 

I Am Thankful

Look at your calendar. Or, maybe you'd better not. Thanksgiving is two weeks from today. TWO. WEEKS. I don't know about you but this weekend I need to be making lists, doing some freezer cooking, getting things ready.  Besides "THE dinner" I'll be feeding family for that whole week. I need to jump on the list making .

But let me keep my priorities straight. Before I get lost in grocery list making and cleaning and cooking, let me stop and make a list of what I am thankful for. It's a very long list.

Top item on my list? I am beyond thankful that the family will be home. All of them. These days, it's rare to have the entire family together. For us, it won't happen again during this year. So we will enjoy those few days together.

I'll pop in here when I can between now and then. Maybe post a recipe as I make things. (This blog has become my own personal recipe box. It's easy to keep recipes here so that I can find them again.) But if you don't see me here, chances are you'll find me in the kitchen.