Pre-Planning

Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday it combines my 2 greatest loves, food & family. I love hanging out with the people I love and smelling the wonderful scent of a big turkey roasting in my oven. The key to doing all that hanging out is to, plan ahead & cook ahead.

I have spent the past few years perfecting that. It has been trial and error along the way; we have eaten many a noon dinner well past 5pm. Timing has never been a super strong point for me. The first few years I had some complainers but when they figured out noon to me is actually late afternoon to them, we were fine. I have impressed myself with impeccable timing the past 2 years and have learned some tricks to help me along the way.

Costs-Thanksgiving dinner can get a bit spendy if you do not plan a few weeks ahead. Make a list of the items you wish to serve that day. Our typical feast is:


Olive & Relish Tray
Cheese & Crackers
Peanuts
Harvest Bread


Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Homemade Gravy
Sweet Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Corn
Dinner Rolls


Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Cheesecake

Wines
Prairie Berry- Pumpkin Bog
Prairie Berry- Red Ass Rhubarb

With this menu I know that starting in Oct each trip I make to the grocery store I pick up a few items from the list. I then just check them off as I go. It breaks up the costs over a few weeks and saves me from the sticker shock of spending 150-200 on food for one day. Adding 10-20 extra dollars each week makes the costs seem like a lot less.

Homework for you all start making your lists.

Next time we are talking Turkey!

What next?

I am wondering what I should add next is anyone interested in Halloween stuff or shall I skip to the good stuff and start planning a Yummy Thanksgiving dinner? I will tell you that I am a Thanksgiving EXPERT I have been cooking this meal for the entire family for the past 8 years and damn I am gooooood at it. Let me know what you think!

Smells Like Fall!!

My favorite time of the year is fall. I love the changing of the leaves and all the wonderful fall colors. One of the best things is the smells that come with fall apples & cinnamon, pumpkin pies and vanilla. I am not sure why but those scents just remind me of the harvest season.

In my house fall is marked by the pot that is placed on the stove and filled with yummy good smelling stuff. My kids call it making the "scenter" for fall.

Here is the receipe:

Small Saucepan

1 Apple Sliced-like you are making apple chips

1 Orange Sliced-same as apple

1/4 tsp. clove

1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice or all spice

1 or 2 cinnamon sticks

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

Layer the apple & orange slices on the bottom of saucepan. Add all spices. Fill the pan to the top with water and simmer.

When simmered this mixture makes your entire house smell fabulous!!! This pot can be used for 1 week before needing to be restarted with fresh ingredients.

Each day add more water simmer and enjoy!

Welcome

It is that time of year again. I know alot of us are going to be trying to stretch our dollars this Christmas season so I created this site to share low cost ideas and fun ways to save money.