One thing I’m thankful for these days is having BIG kids who can do BIG chores around here! I really don’t know what I would have done without them the last couple of weeks. Last week we hosted a reception here after the burial of a dear one, Josh. I don’t think there have EVER been that many people in my tiny house. Robert was out of town, and so I depended on my kiddos to do a lot of the cleaning and preparing. They were SO helpful. Katie and Taylor, two sweet friends, also came over for the morning and helped me pull off all of the food.
Could. Not. Have. Done. It. Without. Them. Whew!
Could. Not. Have. Done. It. Without. Them. Whew!
Well, my helpers are back at it today in preparation for another houseful of guests tomorrow for Thanksgiving. They don’t even really mind working, because Thanksgiving is one of their favorite holidays. When, in a moment of weariness, I suggested that we go to someone else’s house for Thanksgiving this year, they all but staged a revolt!
So, they’ve been working all morning. Cooper cleaned 2 bathrooms, vacuumed the stairway, and cleaned the windows on our mudroom doors. Kayla made 2 pumpkin pies all by herself, peeled several bags of carrots, made the cider glaze for the turkey, cornbread for dressing, and ran loads of laundry in between! (Oh ~ and she also had a piano lesson somewhere in there!) Kayla invited Cooper to join her in peeling bags of carrots, and a few moments into the job he declared, “This is so satisfying!” And no, he wasn’t joking, so guess what his new all-time kitchen chore will be? Kory set up our second dining room table in the living room, arranged chairs, and brought extras up from the basement. He also dusted some of the wood blinds, and helped Robert get the window unit air conditioners back up to the attic for the winter.
And Robert’s annual Thanksgiving chore is to iron all of the tablecloths and cloth napkins. (We get out the white tablecloths and use the real china on this special day.) He actually likes to iron, so this gives him a little bliss for a good hour or more ~ in the basement with his iTunes cranked up.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned my love for Real Simple magazine before. Well, the November issue had a full Thanksgiving menu, recipes, shopping list, and timeline for preparation. It looked like things we typically serve with a few new things that looked delicious, and nothing that seemed too complicated, so I basically did almost everything that they suggested. Here’s our almost exclusively Real Simple inspired menu, and it’s all gluten free, of course:
Appetizers:
Crudités & Roasted Onion Dip
Cheese & Apple Platter ~ Brie, Goat, and Gouda
Rice & Lentil Crackers
Olive Plate
Main Course:
(Don’t tell my dad, but I’m trying a new cornbread dressing recipe from Eating Well magazine!)
Praline Sweet Potatoes
Popovers
My dear friend Christie is also bringing:
Brisket
Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Cornbread Dressing
Drinks:
Sparkling Cider ~ Apple, Blueberry, Cranberry
Iced Tea
Apple Cider
Mineral Water & Assorted Juices
Champagne
(for the grownups!)
Desserts:
Pecan Pie
(Ruth Rowland’s famous!)
(Ruth Rowland’s famous!)
Cherry Pie
Popsicles
(Requested by Christie’s daughter, 6 year old Mikiah)
Coffee & Tea
Well, there you have it! What about you? What are you making this year?
OK ~ Time to go help Kayla finish peeling potatoes! Hope you and your have a wonderful time celebrating all of your good gifts and blessings together tomorrow…
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?
I shall lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord…
To You I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving…
Psalm 116: 12-17
Happy Thanksgiving to all in the Krumrey household. "For from the fullness of His grace we have all received blessing after blessing." We love you! K&J
That is quite a menu! Sounds so good. Hope you have a wonderful day with friends and family.
Thank you both! Happy Thanksgiving to you! Enjoy the day!