You Roasted Your Turkey in What???!!!

What a lovely Thanksgiving we had here in Virginia. Our little nuclear family played host to no one this year and really enjoyed out time together. Waking slowly and unrushed. The boys and I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for a while, then because they are my sons, they went out to ride bikes in our back woods. Of course that ended when the younger somehow flattened his tire. I knew there was a reason that people usually ride bikes on dirt paths or roads. Ah, to be a kid again.

Because it was a special day for me personally (birthday), I was allowed to lounge about guilt-free whilst husband prepared an absolutely delicious traditional Thankgiving Dinner. The menu included - Waldorf Salad (my only homemade contribution - I used Craisins instead of grapes), green bean french fried onion casserole, fresh mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, collard greens, cornbread-french baguette-sausage stuffing, jellied cranberry sauce, parkerhouse rolls (I put the Sister Schubert's pan in the oven), giblet gravy and a perfectly seasonally seasoned Turkey cooked in a Schlemmertopf Classic Glazed Clay Cooker. It was INSANELY DELICIOUS! And, for dessert we had old-fashioned apple pie and a Mrs. Smith's Peach Cobbler. For beverages, we mixed Diet Ginger Ale with Diet Blueberry-Pomegranate Juice for one choice. Other choices included Water, Ocean Spray White-Cran & Peach Juice, Sprite, 1% Milk and TruMoo. I have to say again that it was soooooo good.

Now about the Schlemmertopf Classic Glazed Clay Cooker, we'd never used it before but instinctively knew that it would work for our family. Our bird was about 9 lbs and fit comfortably in the cooker. Husband had prepared it with fresh herbs, chopped onions, carrot and celery, and fresh lemon wedges all drizzled with olive oil. It was beautiful and tender and delicious - everything a turkey should be on Thanksgiving Day. 

So, if you ever come across one of these old fashioned clay cookers - which are not very expensive but are not so very common here in the good old U.S.A. - I recommend that you buy it and try it. We picked up ours second hand. It had never been used. Still I washed it, poured boiling water over it, baked it, and washed it again before using it.The food was so flavorful and pretty healthful. It is absolutely going to give my little honey of a Crock-pot a run for it's proverbial money.

I can't wait to do more experimenting with it in the coming weeks as we fully embrace the winter season. I wonder what Martha has to say about them.

Image of a Schlemmertopf Clay Baker courtesy of Wayfair.com.

If you love simple, flavorful, tender food that doesn't take tons of time to prepare, you still have time to acquire one for your family in time for the upcoming holiday season.

Today I'll pull out the Christmas decorations - Yay!

~ Sylvie

Note - As usual, I was not compensated in any way for this post.

I Love Christmas!

I do. I love Christmas. So what's so great about Christmas?
1. The reminder of Christ's beginning and what his life was all about.
2. The time to really connect with family and (real live lifelong) friends and hearing about what is most important and interesting to them at this moment of their lives.
3. Gaining inspiration from my (virtual) friends who do lovely things at this time of year.
4. The stronger desire and efforts to perform community service to those in need as well as for our favorite neighbors.
5. Trying new festive recipes and decorations specific to the season.
6. Too many more to mention.

As I type this,  "Happy Birthday to Jesus" has been sung, gifts have been opened and I have a Breakfast Casserole in the oven which smells delish. My sons have expressed disappointment that there were to be no "Christmas Pancakes." So, yes, I am about to prepare a pancake or two. After all, it's Christmas and they will need the extra energy for those "thank you" phone calls and notes.

Wishing you a happy and festive holiday

season filled with traditions old and new!