Happy Turkey day!! Mom started the day early and got the cornbread going. It is a really neat skillet cornbread that I will have to get her to put in the ORC when she has time- it always turns out perfect! By the time I got up, the cornbread was all done and Mom was working on the dressing. This year we followed The Best Recipe and dried out the slices of bread for two days- They made great cubes for the dressing. We also go the turkey going in our bran new roaster from Mom which cooked in just 2 hours. This year we put pats of butter under the skin and ended up with a wonderfully tender and juicy bird :)

Next I worked on the cherry pie with a lattice top- a fiesty by fun experience. There was also a pumpkin pie and fresh cranberries cooling in the fridge. We also made my favorite deviled eggs and some punch for the festive occasion. Mom put a twist on her usual yams and mashed them with toasted marshmallows for a combination even I ate happily! My favorite- baked beans made Mom's way were added tool. Instead of mashed potatoes we diced and boiled Idaho and Yukon gold spuds for a colorful combination and added butter and sour cream when they were done- it was really yummy! With some more veggies- green beans, lima beans, and a wonderful brocolli casserolle from Matt and we were all set to eat- need to ask him to add that to the ORC too. It was our first meal on our fancy china that has been in Mark's family for generations, so it took a little bit of looking at the etiquette book to decide how all the place-settings should go. Dad added some french and rye bread to the table and Mark pulled out a nice red wine to top off the meal and we all ate to our hearts content.

Afterwards, while the parents were sleeping :) the kids (Mark, Matt and I) played a game of Citadels, one of Matt's favorites - I don't know what it was about that game- but I won which rather surprised me- must have been the spirit of Thanksgiving! What a wonderful day spent with family and friends!