Holiday Planning Update

I would like to share with you all about my holiday plans so far. I would like to start by sharing a few great websites with you:

 

Holiday Control Journal or11 Steps to Cruise Stress Free Through the Holidays

Fly Lady has some great ideas for year round as well as for the holidays. She has great ideas for setting up for the holidays in advance and not waiting 'til the last minute so you are so stressed that you are unable to enjoy your time with friends and family. 

http://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/

Obviously, like the link says this is a website full of homemade gift ideas. I am considering doing gift baskets this year and I think that this is a great site for ideas. There are also other general gift ideas when you are not looking for the holidays.

Holiday Meal Plan

I'm not sure if we are going to see family for Thanksgiving, but if not I will prepare.

• 1 turkey tenderloin marinated in Italian dressing and roasted
• 1 pan of cornbread dressing
• Homemade Cranberry Apple Sauce--I made this last year for the first time. The DH and I ate it but everyone else ate the canned junk. It was AMAZING so much better than canned.
• Green Beans--I don't care for green bean casserole.
• Mashed Potatoes--I'm sure the DH will not be satisfied until there are potatoes of some sort on the table.
• 1 Light Peanut Butter Pie-I may mix this up a little bit. Maybe add some pumpkin to it and skip the chocolate. Now that sounds good.

I think that is sufficient for our household. We will eat that and not over indulge. I'm sure we will go to family's at some point. For Christmas we may change the meat to a pork sirloin or a small ham and add some different sides.

Check out Holiday Menu 1 (Turkey & Cranberry Sauce). I do aplogize when compiling this I thought I had finished this post, however, I left out my notes on cornbread dressing. I am still working on refining my cornbread dressing recipe. I have not had a batch of dressing turn out just right up until this point. When I tweak it I will let you all know and post accordingly. I want to give you the best recipe possible. Usually with my Green Beans I buy fresh or frozen and saute them in a couple of teaspoons of oil with a handful of finely diced onion or I boil or steam them until warm. My trick to making the best Mashed Potatoes is to boil the potatoes (I generally use Russets or red potatoes) with salt. Drain and return to the pot. Mash by hand or use a handheald mixer. I add about 1-2 spoonfuls of mayonnaise and a splash of milk. I will post the recipe for my light peanut butter pie. I will let you know if I do a pumpkin one or not. I ran it by the DH and he said it didn't sound so great. I think he would eat it though. Who know. I told him that I might do one of each.