Vashon Thanksgiving 2014

This year I spent the day at Brandon and Lauren's house with their 3 boys and new baby girl, our friends Andrew and Rita, and Lauren's sister Kate.  We had a late breakfast of oven pancakes before getting started on cooking for the big meal.  No pictures again, but here is a list of what was on our menu:

Dinner

-Barbecued Turkey that Brandon got from a slaughter job, stuffed with Rita and Andrew's kimchi and a pomegranate

-Gravy that Brandon made by reducing turkey stock, with a little Cornerstone buttermilk added

-Lauren's Stuffing, which had beef bacon in it this year, and more mashed potatoes than in past years

-Brussels Sprouts grown and cooked by Rita, sauteed with beef bacon

-Green Bean Mushroom Casserole from the November 2014 Food Network Magazine, with Rita's onions fried in beef tallow

-Cabbage Gratin with Rita's cabbage, using a recipe from the November 2013 Bon Appetit magazine as a guide, featuring Cornerstone's cheese, Lauren's bread used for the bread crumbs, and Farmstead Meatsmith prosciutto

-Roasted Squash with Lemon-Tahini Sauce from the December 2012 Bon Appetit and made with Rita's winter squash

-Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes with Rita's potatoes and Cornerstone buttermilk

Dessert

-Buttermilk Pumpkin Pie from the November 2014 Food Network Magazine, with Cornerstone's pumpkin and buttermilk

-Maple Pecan Pie from Jeanette's maple cookbook

-Cranberry Cake that Rita made using her mom's recipe

-Apple Crisp that was dropped off by Brandon and Lauren's friends the Dalys

-Maple Whipped Cream - sadly, not from Cornerstone since we didn't have extra milk, but made with the help of Wallace

2014 Thanksgiving In Phoenix with "Pop"

This year we did Thanksgiving on the day before since Ian had to work on Thanksgiving and we got to enjoy it with Harry this year here in sunny Phoenix!

Here is what I made for the big meal, which I started preparing for a few days before.
For the Turkey I made a whole roasted turkey using Ina's Roast Turkey and Turkey Gravy with Onions and Sage from November 2014 Food Network Magazine.

Classic Cranberry Sauce from the November 2014 Food Network Magazine booklet insert.

Easy Duchess Potatoes from Whole Foods Market recipe card.

Cornbread-Bacon Stuffing from November 2014 Food Network Magazine made with Jalapeno-Bacon Skillet Cornbread and Potato Rolls that are Food Network Recipes as well, which I made the day before.

The Potato Rolls were Wesley's favorite, that is all he wanted to eat and could probably have eaten most of them if I let him!

Ranch Salad with Pecans from Food Network November 2014 Magazine again. Sorry for the blurry picture, I was in a rush to eat it :-)  Wesley dives in and helps himself after waiting all day watching me cook...... finally can eat Thanksgiving now!

Green Bean Mushroom Casserole and Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Honey from Food Network Magazine November 2014.

Now for Dessert!  Apple Brown-Butter Tart and Upside-Down Pear Cranberry Tart both recipes from Food Network's website.  Both Delicious and served with homemade ice cream that I put the extra Brown-Butter filling in, from the Apple Tart, to sweeten and flavor along with maple syrup and vanilla, so good! Yes there is also store bought vanilla ice cream too in the picture, that was before I bought my $6 Cuisinart Ice Cream maker from Goodwill:-)  "Pop" liked my ice cream better.