Yummy!

Andrew and I did the Thanksgiving Day cooking this year at our house for our families.
Hence the picture above, the table before all the craziness began, and not a picture of the whole family eating together. Eating a hot, flavorful meal took precedence over picture taking-all do better next year. 

We tried to update some old favorites with some new recipes.
Plus we were trying to test our new culinary abilities since cooking class.

All went very well and the timing of the food came together extremely well. 

Our Menu:

Smoked Turkey
(pre bought from Rudy's-I'm not Martha Stewart, although I did watch her on T.V prep one and cook it with a cheese cloth-sooooo Martha!!!!!!)

Ham
(brought to Austin from Houston-Thanks GeeGee)

Apple Sweet Potato Saute
(see recipe below)

French Bean Casserole with Toasted Almonds

Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Two of the new recipes we absolutely LOVED!
They will definitely be making an appearance throughout the year, not just on Thanksgiving.
If you don't know about "The Pioneer Woman" you need to visit her blog regularly. She did a Throwdown with Bobby Flay at her ranch in Oklahoma-that's where we learned of the cream cheese mashed potatoes. Her blog his hilarious on so many levels...plus she gives away free stuff from Kitchen Aid mixers to Nikon Cameras...I'm still waiting to be a WINNER!

In the meantime here is the Apple Sweet Potato Saute...

On a cold night this is a perfect side dish.

Serving Size (4)

2 Tbsp. butter

2 Golden Delicious Apples-Diced

1 Medium Onion-diced

2 (15oz) Cans of Sweet Potatoes-drained and diced

1/2 c. Apple Juice

1 1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 tsp. Cider Vinegar

1/4 tsp. Kosher Salt

In a skillet melt butter over medium-high heat. Add apples and onions to skillet; cook and stir about 5 minutes, or until tender. Stir in diced sweet potatoes, apple juice, pumpkin pie spice, vinegar, and salt. Bring to a boil and reduce heat, simmer about 10 minutes.