More Thanksgiving PrepI cannot believe Thanksgiving is one day away!!! Good news is that most everything is complete. Yes, I have a few last minute things to do like setting the table and preparing a few more food items last minute tomorrow. But, overall, I'm in very good shape for the day before! 
Homemade bread cubes for our stuffing
Bowls and Bowls of homemade bread cubes
After a full day of cooking, Tanya and I welcomed Denise last night to join the cook-fest. The three of us continued all evening until well past 11:30PM! We really went all out this year by making our own fresh bread cubes for the stuffing! Tanya gets the credit for cutting up 12 loaves of italian bread! After we cut them up, we dried them out in the oven. They really did turn out perfect!! We divided the break cubes among the three of us making four batches - Vegan Stuffing, Non-Vegan for baking for me, Non-Vegan for Denise and a non-vegan bowl for stuffing the turkey. I normally don't stuff the turkey but Danielle does, so to please everyone coming to dinner, we will stuff the bird as well. Next, we attacked the yams together and decided to follow Denise's family recipe by combing yams with Comstock Apple Pie Filling, Brown sugar and butter (vegan and non-vegan) for a change up in the usual yam recipe. Marshmallows will be added at the last minute of baking on Thanksgiving day. Finally, we made some kickin' vegan Mushroom gravy!!! So delish!!! Tanya got some great pics from last night - check them out! Fun, fun night!! ----->>>>>>-------->>>>>>>> So, that's the good news. The bad news is that Kelsey has been sick all week with fever and what seemed like a cold. Her fever finally broke yesterday which I was thrilled about. But, then in the middle of the night, she woke up a few times complaining of a bad cough and no voice. Our plans were to go to the Bronx later today to the New York Botanical Gardens to see the Holiday Train Show. Looks like that won't be happening from this cousin's end because of little Miss Kelsey's health status :-( So disappointed! Considering the bad weather, I'm content with my choice not to go, but still disappointed since this was going to be the start of the week's festivities. Haven't seen Dave yet, though he arrived early this morning off the red-eye from CA and is sleeping up in my attic. These guys will be leaving in a few hours to head into the NYC, where they will be staying through the weekend. Well, off to start my day! Hope your pre-Thanksgiving Day is great! -E 
| Heading into the Big Apple!Happy Day before Thanksgiving! We actually have little to no chores to do today!!! Gosh, I can't remember the last time that I had a "Free" day on the day before Thanksgiving!!! I think I'm kinda jealous of myself over here...just a little bit! lol But... I'll tell ya what, I am gonna appreciate every minute of it!!! Us gals - Elisa, Denise and Your's Truly chopped, mixed, stirred, cooked, and gabbed up a storm last night! 
Between the assortment of veggie dishes, the stuffing, the gravy, the list goes on... We banged it all out and we got so much work accomplished! It feels sooooo darn GOOD! And everything came out DE-freakin-LISH!!! Can't wait to stuff myself tomorrow! 
Denise working the Yams!
Cubing the dozen loaves of bread for the stuffing!
Taking break and having a meal between all the cooking!
Mixing the Stuffing!
What a great night! And as for today, Birdwald Ponypants arrived from SoCal early this morning and we are heading into the city with the kids. I want to settle, check our bags in, and get everything in order before heading over the the NYBG Holiday Train Show - which was discussed further in Elisa's Where to go Wednesdays (last week)! 
Mushroom gravy
The original plan was for a group of us cousins to meet there to kick off the holidays, but as you know - life happens, and poor little Kelsey hasn't been feeling well since we arrive. Her fever broke and we thought she was on the mend, but she woke up with an awful cough this morning. So, as it turns out Elisa and her gang will skip tonight's events and we'll be back here to catch up with everyone (and EAT) tomorrow, after standing in the cold for hours in the early morning so that we can grab a good spot to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! 
Since I've gotta get my butt in action, I'll say farewell. Until we meet again... -T |
