Thanksgiving Menu

It's early morning on the day before Thanksgiving and I am in the kitchen! Since I am a list maker I have been planning my strategy for weeks. My cleaning is done (except for the floors) and I've already spilled at least 1/2 cup of flour on the floor. How does this happen anyway? The buns are rising, 4 pie crusts are chilling and I am looking forward to spending most of my morning in the kitchen. After the baking and cooking is done, my daughter has gifted me a wood floor cleaning (I'm blessed, I know). And just like Mom always says, "set the table the night before to avoid unnecessary stress tomorrow." 

I'll be posting my homemade pies recipes soon (the pies aren't done yet so I don't have any pretty pictures).

So here is what my 13 guests will be eating tomorrow. I pretty sure I'm more excited than the children!!

My Thanksgiving Menu:

Turkey (20 pounds)

Ham

Mashed Potatoes

Turkey Gravy Simply the Best Homemade Gravy (bottom of the post, replace chicken with turkey broth)

Stuffing

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Corn

Sweet Homemade Buns Simply Sweet Homemade Buns

Cinnamon Butter - 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature, 1/4 cup honey, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 2/3 cup powdered sugar. Mix all ingredients together and beat on low speed with mixer until everything is combined and smooth. Serve immediately on warm buns or refrigerate until needed. If you serve the buns warm, the butter will melt a little right into the buns. Yummy-licious!

Lettuce Salad and Dressing Simply Homemade Italian Dressing

Fresh Fruit Salad Simply Fruit Salad

Cranberry Sauce (no one likes it but it looks so pretty)

Homemade Pies - Pumpkin, Apple, Peach and Chocolate Cream Pie

Gluten-free Peach Cobbler Simply Dad's Homemade Peach Cobbler

Whipped Cream

Blessings from us to you for a Happy Thanksgiving and hearts filled with gratitude!

Love and peace,

~ Simply Tammi and Angie

Cleaning Your Microwave

Not sure if this ever happens to you but I open the microwave door to find a food explosion has occurred! Just sayin' that I always use a paper towel to cover my food in the microwave but some people in the house do not! A quick and simple way to clean your microwave without scrubbing your fingers to the bone is to use vinegar and water.

Here are the super simple steps:

1. Using a 4 cup glass measuring cup, add 1/2 c white vinegar and about 3 c water.
2. Place the cup in the microwave and turn on the microwave to high for about 4 minutes, I usually wait for the water to boil.
3. Let sit, without opening the door for about 5 minutes.
4. Using a wet rag, wipe out the inside of the microwave.
5. Enjoy your sparkling, clean microwave until the next food explosion occurs!

 

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Lemon Curd Muffins

Yes, they are as wonderful as they look! We have some lemon lovin' people in our family, so I used my favorite muffin recipe, added some lemon curd to the middle and tops and they are now the favorites! I must admit I had to bend a homemade rule and bought the lemon curd in a jar. These only take a few minutes to put together but they will disappear rather quickly!
Ingredients:
2 c flour
3/4 c sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 c butter, melted (I let it cool for about 10 minutes)
3/4 c milk or half-n-half
1 tsp vanilla extract
fresh lemon juice from 1/2 lemon, squeezed
1/2 jar lemon curd
Directions:

• Whisk dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. 
• Add eggs, butter and milk. Stir with a spatula or I use a wooden spoon. 
• Add vanilla and lemon juice. You don't need to use an electric mixer so stir together with your wooden spoon.
• I use a muffin-cupcake baking pan and paper liners and fill them about 1/2 full (using a cookie dough scoop).
• Add about a teaspoon of lemon curd to each individual muffin in the middle of the batter.

• Using your cookie scoop, place another scoop of batter over the lemon curd. Your muffins will be about 3/4 full, fairly close to the top. This makes 12 muffins.

 

•  Place in preheated 350F oven and bake for about 22 minutes, depending on your oven it might be a couple of minutes longer or shorter time.
• When the muffins are baked, place them on a cooling rack for about 5 minutes.
• Melt about 1/4 c lemon curd in a glass measuring cup.
• Pour about 1/4 c sugar in a dish.
• Remove the muffins from the pan and dip the muffin top into the warm lemon curd then dip the top into the sugar for a light dusting.

Don't they look simply beautiful? Now, be prepared for them to disappear! Enjoy!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Roasted Chicken the Easy Way

Running out of ideas for a home cooked meal? Roasted chicken is a favorite at our house. There is only a little preparation time and if you're lucky enough to have left-overs, you can actually get a couple meals out of one chicken.
Ingredients:
1 whole chicken
1 T rosemary
olive oil or butter
salt and pepper if you like
Directions:

• Rinse the chicken with water, inside and out (don't forget to take the inside parts out!)
• Preheat oven to 400F
• Pat chicken dry with paper towels
• Mix rosemary with as much olive oil or butter you want (I usually use about 1/4 cup) and rub the mixture over the chicken (use your hands or a pastry brush)
• Place the chicken, uncovered, in a roasting pan (mine has a rack), in the oven
• Bake for about 1-1/2 hours, depending on the size of the chicken
• I place a piece of foil to cover most of the chicken for the last 15 minutes
• Remove chicken from oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes
• Slice the chicken, I remove the legs and wings first then slice the breast into pieces

Serve with your favorite side dishes. Our favorites are mashed potatoes and veggies! Enjoy!
Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi