The Girl came for a visit last week and decided to surprise her dad with 4 cartons of Almond milk! Can you believe that? No milk for me though… probably because she knows that when I take up a challenge like not buying any food for the rest of the year I’m pretty hard core about it.
The HH is one happy camper though… that’s for sure. 🙂
One of our adventures while she was here was to Moody’s diner for breakfast. She ordered biscuits and gravy {I thought only truckers ate things like biscuits and gravy!} and she said it was the best version she’s ever had.
I guess when you do things like run marathons and stuff you can pack away that much food. Me? If I ate that I’d probably have to lay on the couch for 3 days.
FYI if you are in Mid Coast Maine and don’t feel like cooking this Thanksgiving Moody’s Diner is serving up a full Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings {and pie too!} for $26 a head.
Seems like kind of a bargain for everything you’ll get if you ask me.
Cilantro chicken tacos from The Island Market on Islesboro.
Homemade blueberry muffins in my new “crown” muffin pan. It makes the best muffins I tell you… there’s just the right amount of crispy muffin edge to the muffins. Why didn’t I buy it sooner!?
I made some cornbread muffins too and had then alongside some of Mel’s Drunken Beans that I pulled from the freezer.
Beans and rice, rice and beans {with weenies!}.
Ritz cracker chicken with butternut squash… and rice.
The HH also made a fresh batch of the Panera creamy tomato soup I like as well as a pot of chicken soup to stash away in the freezer.
I made 2 pumpkin pies {and popped them in the freezer} yesterday.
And last but not least… I made a delicious peach tart {using canned peaches} last week as well. Anyone want the recipe?
It was a good week with a great combination of meals.
But now it’s time to get ready for the big Thanksgiving feast, and I couldn’t be more excited. I think I’ll make the cherry cola Jell-O salad today and bring up the potatoes and sweet potatoes up from the basement. Tomorrow I’ll work on the stuffing and pull the turkey breast out of the freezer to thaw.
I LOVE this time of year!
Now, if I could only get it to snow. 🙂
Here’s to a great week {with lots of leftovers!}
~Mavis
P.S. What are YOUR Thanksgiving plans for this year? Staying home? Cooking a big or little feast? Going over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house? Going out to a restaurant? Eating a can of soup? Curious minds want to know.
*****
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home $0
- Total Spent in November on Groceries and Bakery Treats $18.60 {My husband bought rice!}
- Total Spent in October on Groceries and Bakery Treats $0
- Total Spent in September on Groceries and Bakery Treats $1663.58
- Total Spent in August on Groceries and Bakery Treats $675.99
- Total Spent in July on Groceries and Bakery Treats $1037.79
- Total Spent in June on Groceries and Bakery Treats $297.1
- Total Spent in May on Groceries and Bakery Treats $323.38
- Total Spent in April on Groceries and Bakery Treats $352.64
- Total Spent in March on Groceries and Bakery Treats $712.01
- Total Spent in February on Groceries and Bakery Treats $230.98
- Total Spent in January on Groceries and Bakery Treats $128.60
- Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home in 2021 $5500.29
Rosemary Calhoun says
I will be making a 10 lb turkey for the 3 of us. For the sides, we will have corn soufflé, asparagus, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce and stuffing. We bought a pumpkin pie from Costco but it will be all gone by Thanksgiving . . . oh well. We should have lots of leftovers . . . just no pumpkin pie . . . ha ha ha
Carrie says
Locked up at home for a week so we can safely see our family for the first time since all the craziness started… yippee! So excited to have my kids be able to see their grandparents and give them a huge hug.
I’m the only one that will actually bake for the holidays so I’m in charge of fresh rolls and sweet potato biscuits (the recipe you shared a few years back is a huge family favorite) as well as apple pie, because I make my crust from scratch – ha! low standards in my family.
Wishing for snow for you, back in the PNW nothing but cold rain in the forecast.
Wendy Clark says
All my husband’s family are coming here. We are having turkey, ham, dressing, Publix Cranberry-orange sauce (my favorite), green bean casserole, corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese, a cake and some pies. Yes, we are casserole central around here for Thanksgiving. 🙂 All the family are bringing items and I’m in charge of the turkey and ham. There will be leftovers for days!
Susan says
I’ve read your blog for a couple of years now, so Ritz cracker chicken isn’t new to me. I made it for the first time, however, last week. My husband flipped over it! This recipe is now going to make its way into the regular rotation at our house.
We are headed out for a quick 24 hr visit with extended family.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mel says
We’re hosting and cooking, but I’ve had to take Benadryl more or less around the clock for the past week or so due to some kind of allergy/autoimmune issue. Due to the Benadryl, I knew I wouldn’t be able to cook very much on the actual day of Thanksgiving, so I’ve been freezing most parts of the meal so all I have to do is thaw them.
So far I’ve frozen:
-rolls
-bread
-mashed potatoes
-sweet potato casserole
-mac n cheese sauce
-apple pie
-sweet potato pie
-applesauce
-meatballs (for an appetizer)
So, today I’ll start thawing everything and do a bit more prep, and tomorrow I’ll bake the pies and make:
-stuffing
-cranberry sauce
-salad
-gravy
-smoked salmon dip (for another appetizer)
-pecan bars
Then I really just have to heat everything up on Thursday, throw some apple cider in the crockpot, boil some pasta for the mac n cheese, and set out the other appetizers while my husband grills the turkey.
Diane says
I wasn’t planning on doing much this year. Then as I was reading through your recipe list, I got inspired. So I’ll make a turkey, my mixed roasted vegetables. My Mom is diabetic and I have figured out a way to modify your cherry cola jello so it works for her AND it still tastes great. I’ll figure out a couple of other sides.
Best part, is I’ll package up the leftovers for freezer meals.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Amber says
My husband’s job gives them a voucher for a fresh turkey from a local butcher, so we’ll be roasting that up, and hosting some family (our parents, my aunt and two cousins, and my sister and brother-in-law). Having the usual stuff: mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, corn, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, broccoli casserole, a pumpkin pie from Costco, I’m making an apple pie, homemade rolls and a sourdough loaf from a local bakery and snacks. Because obviously this is not enough food as it is, so you need cheese, crackers, sausage, pretzels, and a variety of veggies and dips. Go big or go home, I suppose!
Also, biscuits and gravy are life. I made some Sunday for breakfast while my sister had the kid overnight haha.
Kirsten says
I know this is going to sound nuts, buy my whole family (with the exception of my parents) really dislikes Thanksgiving! I still do a turkey with all the fixings and have them over, but I refuse to cook on the actual day, so we’re eating tomorrow
My mother-in-law, who despises the holiday even more than we do, always makes spaghetti and meatballs the day of, and saves making a turkey dinner for when the first major snowstorm is forecasted. I think the disdain for the holiday stems from me working at a grocery store years ago, and my husband is a butcher, so he rarely has time off to enjoy the holiday; my kids just don’t like turkey!
Cheryl says
We were finally going to my step daughter’s house to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. She thought she had just a sinus infection but was positive for the virus Saturday night. Was double jabbed but didn’t get the booster yet. So I am cooking at my house. Just the 5 of us, crossed fingers this deal ends soon.
Beth says
I agree with you about the biscuits and gravy but I’m sure they are delicious. I’m cooking for Thanksgiving- turkey with all of the fixings. I’m making several desserts- pecan pie bars, cranberry lemon bars, individual apple crisps (I ordered the cutest disposable pans from Amazon), individual pecan pies, and cupcakes (we have the cutest Fall themed sprinkles so I have to make some cupcakes to use them on). We will only have 9 people at our house for dinner but my husband’s mom had emergency surgery last week and his sister is flying in today to care for her when she gets home from hospital today or tomorrow so I will be sending an assortment of desserts over for them.
I ordered a ring jello mold from Amazon so I plan to make a cranberry jello salad- my 20 something daughter informed me that “no one eats jello salad Mom..,it’s not the 70s”…I told her she will be proved wrong!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone- hope your day is full of good food and fun times!
Beth says
I meant to say individual pumpkin pies- I got those little graham cracker crusts so I’m going to try pumpkin pie in graham cracker crusts for the first time.
Mavis Butterfield says
I agree. She will totally be proved wrong. 🙂 Jell-O rules!
Heather says
Enchiladas for dinner! Can’t wait! Every year for Thanksgiving when I make the turkey and sides I always regret it. No one in our family really likes turkey. So, this year I said forget it. I’m making something different.
Rebecca in MD says
There will be seven of us for Thanksgiving at my house, and my 18 year-old grandson is helping me with the cooking.
I am cooking both a 14 pound turkey and a 5 pound turkey breast. The five men who will be here have big appetites, and I give everyone an individual take out container to take home leftovers. Other dishes include:
Mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, dressing, gravy, sauerkraut, homemade bread, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin/cranberry bread. The sauerkraut is a family tradition as is making our dressing in balls (think dumplings) instead of baking it in a pan.
Mary Buzzell says
I love sauerkraut and that sounds delicious.
suzanne says
I’m hosting this year. We have a tight family group of about 25 that always gets together every few months for any reason. I’m the youngest of 5. One of my sisters has 5 and on it goes. We always do a pot luck. My brother in law always does a ham. They all have thier famous dishes and it’s truly a gourmet feast. My Nephew is assigned the rolls, paper plates and whip cream.
Cynthia P says
We are hosting as usual, 10 adults and 3 kids. I do all the cooking, appetizers- sausage balls, charcuterie platter, crab/artichoke dip, 4 different kinds of chip dips; dinner – 4 turkey’s (2 deep friend, 2 oven roasted), dressing, gravy, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, canned cranberry sauce, homemade cranberry sauce, cranberry gelatin salad, green beans; dessert – chocolate cake, bumble berry pie, apple crisp. I will start prepping tomorrow, homemade stock from turkey necks and veggies, boiling eggs, etc.
Lana says
Here in the South biscuits and gravy are a staple for breakfast! No more filling than a pancake breakfast to tell the truth. We keep Pioneer Country Gravy in a canister from Sam’s. Find it with the spices. Brown your sausage then add the water and whisk in the gravy mix. Cook and stir until bubbly. You will love it!
Melinda says
My boys and I go to my parents’ house ever year for Thanksgiving. My mom cooks the turkey, makes gravy, and some of the sides. I bring a spicy sausage cornbread dressing casserole, crockpot creamed corn, twice baked mashed potato casserole, and desserts. This year I’m bringing a key lime yogurt pie.
Stacie says
On Thursday we’re doing a fish fry for my dad, in-laws and another family we’ve invited over. We’ll fry catfish, trout (salt water), shrimp, hushpuppies, onion rings, and oysters. Serving baked potatoes and salad on the side (hope no one goes in for a chloresterol check next week).
On Friday we’ll do a fried turkey, dressing (regular and crawfish), green bean casserole, candied yams, salad and rolls.
I need to remember to set my scale back 10 lbs.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
Jennifer G says
Did Thanksgiving early so now I have the benefit of all the leftovers. We had a 17# brined turkey, bone-in ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, noodles, buttermilk rolls, dressing, green bean casserole, Jiffy corn casserole, broccoli rice casserole, plain green beans, orange fluff, cranberry/apple jello salad, pecan pie, pumpkin pie & a Dairy Queen ice cream cake to celebrate hubs birthday which was the day after.
Katie C says
I’m so glad you posted that muffin tin! I sat on my old cheapy one recently and it’s now old, cheapy AND bent, haha! I’ve been holding out to buy a nice one and I’ll likely get that one you bought in the near future. Thanks and I’ll use your link when I buy!
We’re having pizza and pie for Thanksgiving dinner It’s what my little family wanted and I’m happy to make them!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Deborah says
Mavis, where did you get the containers for your soup? They look awesome.
Mavis Butterfield says
I like the Stack Man brand of deli containers for freezing soups as they are durable and reusable.
Judy says
Recipe for the peach tart, please.
Sue says
Mavis,
Please share that peach tart recipe, looks delicious! I would like to try and make the crust gluten-free.
Thanks,
Sue
Cindy Miller says
Ditto
Pamela Sheppard says
It’s pot-roast for me this year. I cook for my father and its usually turkey/turkey breast and all the trimmings. This year he requested pot-roast. Still yummy and a lot less work!
Jane says
Where did you get the grapes for Carol’s grape salad? Looks delish. Do you used canned grapes? I know you’re not buying groceries…
Annette says
Hubba bubba and I both have Covid, and yes, we got our second vaccine in the spring. So needless to say, we won’t be leaving the house.
Thankful for a very good friend who volunteered to deliver two plates of food to our front porch for Thursday.
Also thankful we are not in the hospital. Local hospitals here are beginning to see fully vaccinated folks coming in. They are getting sick as their immunity wanes.
Julie says
Hope you get well soon we had it last year and it took a long time to get over it. Look after yourselves
Denise B says
Leftover rice tastes great mixed into the tomato soup for a change.
Mavis Butterfield says
Hey, that’s a great idea. Thanks. I have a feeling we’ll have a lot of leftover rice. 🙂
Dana Robinson says
I went to buy a small trailer for family of three .. had to buy a Big 18lb bird. Smallest that that had .. so if you could maybe post a few recipes for left over turkey. But going to have all the fixings. Smashed potatoes, candy yams, gravy, green bean casserole. Pumpkin pie all the yummys. I am thankful for the loved one still with us and the ones who have pasted away this year. i am thankful for your vlog. Your a friend’s from a distance. Have a great Thanksgiving day ❣️
Dana Robinson says
Small Turkey***
Margo says
Looking forward to hosting family this year! 9 of us this year will gather. I’ll provide veggies, small turkey and turkey breast, veggies, and sides and a lentil dish for my vegan relatives. And my daughters-in-laws are bring scalloped potatoes, wines, ham, freshly home baked rolls, and my fave…pumpkin cheesecake. I’m making an apple pie for hubby and a few appetizers. So looking forward to gathering this year!
Naomi C. says
I would love the recipe for the peach tart, please!
Vicki says
No one in my family is really crazy about turkey, but they all insist on having one for Thanksgiving, so that’s what I’m cooking along with many of the traditional sides – dressing (I like the idea of making it in balls in a muffin tin), mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, cranberry sauce, roasted brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, deviled eggs. I forgot to make pies today – guess I’ll be doing that Thanksgiving morning. I’m putting a breakfast dish in the crock pot tonight so that it’s ready in the morning, and we’ll have cinnamon rolls to go with it. I’d really love to make lasagna or something else non-traditional – maybe next year.