A Thanksgiving Conversation

A conversation last night in the car...

Me: "Do you know what happens this week, Sydney?"

Delaney: " It's Thanksgiving this week."

Me: "Do you kow what Thanksgiving is?"

Sydney: "I know! I know! It's when we give hearts to each other."

Me: "No, sweetie, that's Valentine's Day. Thanksgiving is when we talk about what we're thankful for."

Sydney: "What's thankful?"

Delaney: "That means the things we really love."

McKenna: "Like friends and boys."

Delaney: "And cheesecake and ice cream."

Sydney: "I'm thankful for my spinny toy."

Me: "And thanksgiving is also when we get together with family, and eat lots of food. I think that's my favorite part of the holiday."

Sydney: "Oh, that's what I'm talking about! I'm thankful for that!"

Just a little part of my world for you on this Tuesday-two-days-before-Thanksgiving. As Sydney so eloquently put in that conversation, "that's what I'm talking about!" I am SO excited about Thanksgiving and, especially, for the food we're gonna be enjoying!

We always do A LOT of eating during this week. The highlight of our first Thanksgiving meal on Thursday is the amazing dressing that Gary's Gan Gan makes. I was never a fan of dressing, but then I tried hers and then I was a converted fan! And then on Friday, we will have another meal at my parents' house and my Mom always outdoes herself. She always sets a beautiful, formal table covered with the most delicious food--usually smoked brisket, turkey, the most delicious pies, and all the trimmings.

(By the way, the closest I've found to anything looking like Gan Gan's dressing is THIS RECIPE from Paula Deen. Gan Gan either doesn't put sage, or puts very little sage in hers though. The Food Network site and Paula D's site are both just chock-full of all sorts of great recipes if you like her style! I do, ya'll!!)

I always like to contribute something to the cause, and have been putting some thought into what I'm preparing for this year's meals. Gan Gan called me last week and asked me to make a dessert (for some reason, I'm known as a dessert-maker and baker for the family, which is fine with me. Because I love to make cakes and pies and such!). I asked everyone what I should make and Delaney quickly answered, "Cheesecake!"

So, I will be making cheesecake! It will be a traditional cheesecake with a strawberry topping. I'm going to go with THIS recipe that I found at KraftFoods.com. It sounds just about right!

And then I really wanted to make a side dish, but what to make? A green bean or vegetable casserole? Some sort of salad? I flipped through my new December issue of Southern Living that arrived in the mail yesterday (THAT just made my day; I love looking through those gorgeous pages!) and found a potato casserole idea I liked. Then, I decided to see what other recipes I could find at the SL website. So I found THIS yummy-looking Potato Casserole. Doesn't that look good?

(And, by the way, while I was checking out Paula's newest recipes on her site, I found THIS recipe that I just could not believe!!! A bread pudding made out of Krispy Kreme doughnuts? Could there possibly be anything better? Two of my favorite things!! That may have to be done in few more weeks for the Christmas season!)

So...I am SO looking forward to doing some cooking and baking in the next couple of days. I totally anticipate waking up on Thursday morning, making me a Mimosa to get the day started, and then getting my baking-on!

And so...my questions for you today on Random Tuesday (you didn't think I'd forget what today is, did you?) are these...

~ What foods do you traditionally serve or eat on Thanskgiving? (I love to live vicariously through your experiences!)

and

~ Do you have any specific recipes you'd recommend? (I LOVE to try new recipes out!)

I will be thinking of all of you on Thanksgiving, as I stuff myself into oblivion (and then try and figure out how to lose 5 pounds before Christmas!). Nothing better than food, friends, family, and fun!!