Thanksgiving 2013

I had such a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! My husband and I recently moved away from where our families live, but we were lucky enough to have our siblings and one of my closest friends come visit us for the holiday!

We ended up having a total of 8 people over for Thanksgiving dinner this year so I took full advantage having so many people to cook for and made all kinds of things!

I started off Thanksgiving week by making some kolaches, which are traditional Czechoslovakian pastries. They are made of a sweet dough and generally have a fruity filling. I made my brother and my favorite flavor, cherry!

Look how gooey and yummy they were! I will post the recipe for these soon!

Then, my brother helped me make my favorite spinach artichoke dip to snack on during Thanksgiving day!

We even made the bread! I used the crusty bread recipe, but rather than shaping it into a ball I shaped it into a loaf. 

My husband made his favorite Thanksgiving food, dressing!

My husband and I decided that rather than making turkey for Thanksgiving, we wanted to make a ham. Some of our guests on the other hand, decided that they could not have Thanksgiving without a turkey. So one of them volunteered to make a turkey....and then another one volunteered to make a turkey... and then there was a little bit of a miscommunication and we ended up with 2 turkeys!!!

Here is a picture of turkey #1, your classic turkey:

And here is turkey #2, the 'burkey':

And here is the ham that we made:

And here are the sides! We had mashed potatoes, sauteed Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole, potato salad, dressing, green bean casserole, and rolls! Whew! That was a lot of food! And it was all so good!

Here is a picture of the guys trying to figure out how to carve their birds!

And here is my plate! Look at all of that delicious food!

We weren't done yet! Now time for the desserts! My friend and I started off by making Oreo balls! They are super easy to make and so good! They are the perfect dessert for a chocoholic!

And then we made a mini carrot cake using my mother-in-law's recipe! It was so delicious!

Look at that yummy cake!

Welp, that's all! I will be posting some of the recipes for things that we made over the next few weeks. If you have any questions or recipe requests just let me know! Happy Thanksgiving!

Fettuccine Alfredo with Lump Crab Meat & Brussels Sprouts

We had some jumbo lump crab meat left over after making a crab souffle last week when my mom visited so we decided to try something new and came up with fettuccine alfredo with lump crab meat and Brussels sprouts! It turned out really delicious! 

To make it we used:

• 1/4 box FETTUCCINE NOODLES
• 3 Tbs BUTTER
• 1/4 cup HEAVY CREAM
• 1/2 cup PARMESAN CHEESE, grated
• 1/2 cup JUMBO LUMP CRAB MEAT
• 8 oz. BRUSSELS SPROUTS
• 2 Tbs PINE NUTS
• SALT & PEPPER to taste

It will take you longer to cook the pasta than it will to make the sauce, so start boiling water! Once the water is boiling, add the fettuccine noodles and cook them until tender.

Put the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-high heat and toast them for a few minutes. They will start to turn light brown. 

After toasting the pine nuts, clean the Brussels sprouts and chop off the bottoms. Then, depending on how big they are, either cut them in half or in quarters to make them bite sized.

After the Brussels sprouts are all cleaned up, melt a tablespoon of butter in the skillet and then throw the Brussels sprouts in. Add salt and pepper to taste. Saute them in the butter for about 7-10 minutes or until they are tender. Then set aside.

In a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Then mix in 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.

 

Once the sauce is hot and all of the ingredients are well mixed add 1/2 cup crab meat and cook for several minutes.

Hopefully by now your fettuccine is cooked because now you should add it into the pan with the sauce and crab. Then add the Brussels sprouts. Toss the pasta, crab meat, and Brussels sprouts in the alfredo sauce.

Top with the toasted pine nuts and then serve!

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Lump Crab Meat & Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

• 1/4 box FETTUCCINE NOODLES
• 3 Tbs BUTTER
• 1/4 cup HEAVY CREAM
• 1/2 cup PARMESAN CHEESE, grated
• 1/2 cup JUMBO LUMP CRAB MEAT
• 8 oz. BRUSSELS SPROUTS
• 2 Tbs PINE NUTS
• SALT & PEPPER to taste

Directions:

1. It will take you longer to cook the pasta than it will to make the sauce, so start boiling water! Once the water is boiling, add the fettuccine noodles and cook them until tender.
2. Put the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-high heat and toast them for a few minutes. They will start to turn light brown. 
3. Clean the Brussels sprouts and chop off the bottoms. Then, depending on how big they are, either cut them in half or in quarters to make them bite sized.
4. Melt a tablespoon of butter in the skillet and then throw the Brussels sprouts in. Add salt and pepper to taste. Saute them in the butter for about 7-10 minutes or until they are tender. Then set aside.
5. In a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Then mix in 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.
6. Once the sauce is hot and all of the ingredients are well mixed add 1/2 cup crab meat and cook for several minutes.
7. Hopefully by now your fettuccine is cooked because now you should add it into the pan with the sauce and crab. Then add the Brussels sprouts. Toss the pasta, crab meat, and Brussels sprouts in the alfredo sauce.
8. Top with the toasted pine nuts and then serve!

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Alfredo Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Pine Nuts

I know a lot of people don't like Brussels sprouts, but I just don't' get it. I love them! Especially sauteed in some butter and drizzled with Alfredo sauce. Mmm! How could anyone not like that?? 

For this recipe you will need:

• 1 oz. PINE NUTS
• 1 Tbs BUTTER, unsalted
• 8 oz. BRUSSELS SPROUTS
• 1/2 cup HEAVY CREAM
• 1/4 cup PARMESAN CHEESE, grated
• SALT
• PEPPER

Put the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-high heat and toast them for a few minutes. They will start to turn light brown. 

In a small saucepan heat the 1/2 cup heavy cream over medium heat for several minutes in order to reduce it by almost half. Make sure to stir constantly! Once the cream has reduced, mix in 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese and then turn the heat off.

After toasting the pine nuts, clean the Brussels sprouts and chop off the bottoms.

Then, depending on how big they are, either cut them in half or in quarters to make them bite sized.

My mom came for visit and she helped us cook!

After the Brussels sprouts are all cleaned up, melt a tablespoon of butter in the skillet and then throw the Brussels sprouts in. Add salt and pepper to taste. Saute them in the butter for about 7-10 minutes or until they are tender.

Once the Brussels sprouts are cooked, drizzle the Alfredo sauce over the top of them and sprinkle on the toasted pine nuts! Then serve!

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Alfredo Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Pine Nuts

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. PINE NUTS
• 1 Tbs BUTTER, unsalted
• 8 oz. BRUSSELS SPROUTS
• 1/2 cup HEAVY CREAM
• 1/4 cup PARMESAN CHEESE, grated
• SALT
• PEPPER

Directions:

1. Put the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-high heat and toast them for a few minutes. They will start to turn light brown. 
2. In a small saucepan heat the 1/2 cup heavy cream over medium heat for several minutes in order to reduce it by almost half. Make sure to stir constantly! Once the cream has reduced, mix in 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese and then turn the heat off.
3. Clean the Brussels sprouts and chop off the bottoms. Then, depending on how big they are, either cut them in half or in quarters to make them bite sized.
4. Melt a tablespoon of butter in the skillet and then throw the Brussels sprouts in. Add salt and pepper to taste. Saute them in the butter for about 7-10 minutes or until they are tender.
5. Once the Brussels sprouts are cooked, drizzle the Alfredo sauce over the top of them and sprinkle on the toasted pine nuts! Then serve!

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