Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

  We had a wonderful day!

My mom & dad joined us

in celebrating

Thanksgiving this year.

Following in my grandfather's tradition...

I pulled out my camera

and took table shots!
I miss him...
and I still laugh

when I think of his antics 
over taking pictures!

Thankfully, cameras have

come along way!

We watched them change over the years...

from the old Polaroids, 110, 124,

the ones with the flash bulb that had to be

changed with each picture, the flash cubes,

flip flash, 35 mm and now finally

the digital cameras! He would

have LOVED the digital camera for sure!!

I hope you made some fond
memories during your
Thanksgiving
celebration!

                       

                                                                                                                

Mom's Breakfast Sausage Recipe!! DELICIOUS!

We got the unsmoked portion of our pork back

from the  butcher last week!

                                So far, we've tried the pork chops & ground pork!                                

  Here's my mom's recipe for breakfast sausage!

It is beyond wonderful!

                                  

Using 1 pound of ground pork add:

1 tsp. salt

2/3 tsp. ground sage (I add a little more)

dash of thyme

1/2 tsp. black pepper  (I omit this and add at the table)

dash savory   (summer savory)

(did you know there is both summer & winter savory?)

                           

 

Mix by hand or spoon then form patties and cook!

I add a little water to the pan so it won't stick

and to cook out some of the extra fat.

You can also use this recipe with ground turkey

or chicken and probably with any ground meat!

I ALSO FOUND AND TRIED A RECIPE FOR

SWEET SAUSAGE!!

I won't be buying sweet sausage all prepared anymore!

I'll share that next time I make it.

It was VERY good as a pizza topping!

Prepping For Gravy!!

I've decided to re post this one!! This method makes an incredible gravy!! I looked it up to re-read myself and thought that if you read my blog, perhaps you'd like to read it again too! :) I'm preparing for my Thanksgiving meal today and have decided to make up some browned flour to have on hand in a canning jar! Sounded like a great idea to me! Have a blessed day everyone!

One thing that I'm really excited about.....
is that I've FINALLY learned how to make an AWESOME gravy after all these years! :) I hope that wasn't a huge let down and I know some of you are laughing at me right now, that's ok! You won't be laughing after I explain how I did it!! :)

First I've been having fun looking through a few 'recipe' websites and I happened to stumble onto this gravy recipe. The blog owner (Food In Jars) explained that her father liked to make sure he had enough gravy to last through the ENTIRE turkey leftovers. Well, that intrigued me right away so I watched their video... and viola!

I actually made it this way tonight for a pot roast! Pete was wondering what I was doing.... cooking flour in a pan all by itself! Hmmmm, I told him I was trying an experiment and if it worked, he'd LOVE IT! :) Well it did... and he did... we ALL did... (do you know how hard that feat is in a family of 6!) OK, here goes.....

Start with a cup or two of white flour in a dry pan over medium heat. Keep stirring with a wooden spoon while the heat is on medium.... it doesn't take too long!!

In a short time it is nice and browned! It does have a funny smell while it's cooking, so be sure to continue stirring so it doesn't burn! The shades of flour turn from white to light tan to a darker tan. It is recommended that you let the flour cool, then sift out the larger chunks of flour so the gravy won't be lumpy.

Now is the time to add the juices from your meat! Heat and stir with a whisk until it thickens! (You can also use a canned broth with great results.)

A perfect gravy!! Try it... I bet you'll love it too!

Christmas List Planner

My friend Anne told me of a great idea she was working on and

shared a website that hosted the "how to's" of this

creative little idea!  I took the main concept

and switched it up (or down) just a bit

to fit my own needs and style!

 Here is my completed project, complete with a

ribbon to hold it together!

I tri-folded a piece of cardstock paper and

stamped the outside cover.

Inside: I cut some designed paper to use as dividers

as well as some notebook paper.

Behind the first divider I have 8-9 pieces of paper

to use for notes of who I need to buy or make

gifts for... 
I'll also list ideas and the stores to

visit to make purchases!

I decorated & tucked in the envelope flap and

will use this to hold receipts (all in one place!).

Behind the other divider is note paper for lists of

"Christmas Ingredients",

the food that we have during the Christmas holiday season

and what I'll need to buy to prepare it.

And another envelope for coupons!

I'm sure there are LOTS of things that you can add

to make this work for you. You can decorate

with stickers instead of stamps. You can

change colors, add doilies 

or even buttons to decorate.

Next time, I think I'll adhere a page with

the calender on it to the inside cover!

Bottom line... it was fun
and I only used what I had in the house already!
NOW...  it is in my handbag ready to be used!

Check out Simple Lives Thursday hosted
at Sustainable Eats for more ideas to
simplify your life!

What are you using to keep yourself organized for
the wonders of the Christmas season?