11.29.2010

Eat.

We still have several pounds of turkey left over from Thursday, but after last night's dinner the fridge is a bit lighter. I made turkey paninis, quick and easy.

Two slices of bread (anything would probably due, just make sure it can with stand panini pressing)
Cream cheese, though I may use white cheddar next time
Rubbed sage
Turkey leftovers
Cranberry sauce leftovers

Butter one side of the bread and spread cream cheese or cheese slices over the other side. Place buttered side down in grill pan lightly sprayed with olive oil. Spoon cranberry sauce on top of cheese then add turkey slices. Lightly spread second slice of bread with cheese and then top the sandwich.

Since I was not using a panini press, I placed a heavy pan weighted with cans to smush (yes, technicaly term) the sandwiches. As they began to make grill marks on the bottom and melt the cheese I flipped the sandwich for a few minutes to toast the second side.

Thats it!

11.27.2010

Eat.

This was the theme of the weeks as I hosted Thanksgiving for the first time atour house. All went well and all together it was really not as stressful as some make it out to be. Here are a few things that I think made it easy.
1)Shop gradually. I generally knew what out menu would be and what I would need. It meant that I could take advantage of sale items (think turkey for $.39 per lb) when I saw them and shop at a variety of places for what I needed (BJ's, Trader Joe's, HT) just on regular errands during the month.
2) Stash the non perishable Turkey Day goods out of your kitchen as you stock up. My mom always did this and I never really understood why, but it makes it easy to see what you have and what you are missing and ensures that nothing gets used between the time its purchased and the big day.
3)Prep as much as you can as early as you can. I am not advocating cooking/freezing things weeks ahead and using the microwave, but consider what can be completed or partially prepped a day or two before. By the time I hit the sack Wednesday night the table was set, mydesserts were complete, cranberry chutney in the fridge, and sweet potatoes ready for marshmellows then the oven. Before my family arrived, well before our meal time the rest of my veggies were ready for the oven and potatoes diced and waiting on water.
4)I was a tad worried about everything being ready at the same time, something I am not great at the other 364 days out of the year, especially with a 22lb turkey taking up most of the oven. This is what worked for me. All of our side dishes were ready for the oven when the turkey came out to rest. By the time the bird was ready for carving the dishes were also ready for the table. Hopefully it works that well next time:)
I promise I am not a confused as I look. Now what to do with the 15 or so lbs of turkey left in my fridge.

11.23.2010

Live.

Humm, its been a while, but I do have an excuse.

So shortly after we returned from this...








(An amazing 7 days in the San Fran/Sonoma Wine County area).





We found out we needed to start reading this...
.


So the last several months, you see, have been dedicated to sleep (while I can), and strollers searching (not to mention car seats, bottles).