To Brine or Not to Brine?

 photo from Food Network

Well, if you have never brined your turkey, you will probably answer “No brine”.  HOWEVER, we found out last year that we will never NOT brine our turkey again!!  Can we say YUMMO??!!

We use Food Network’s Alton Brown’s recipe for making our turkey brine.   Brining is merely soaking your turkey in a seasoned brine to increase moisture and flavor.  It does that indeed.  This year we are also making some sage butter to put between the skin and the meat for some additional flavor.

Sage Butter:

2 sticks butter
1/4 c. chopped sage
dash of salt and pepper

Mix ingredients and place pats of butter between skin and breast meat. Be gentle so the skin doesn’t get broken.

I am making my own vegetable stock for the brine, and oh how I wish you could smell the wonderful aroma!!  It is just filling every nook and cranny of my home, and just screams out “The holidays are here!! The holidays are here!!” 

So what’s cooking at your home?

Cleaning today here, and tomorrow pies, and prep for all of our other dishes!  I will also be sharing an amazing recipe for a new twist on salsa!!  You will LOVE this!!!

C’mon and get your “THANKS” on gals, and know that I love ya and am thankful for the blessing of YOU!!!

HUGS,

Becky

Now This Will Warm You Up!!

This is for all of my lovely bloggy friends out there who are already having to cozy up to the fire for warmth!  Maybe this will help!!  ENJOY!!

We ventured out to the beach last week, and I must tell you it was absolutely DIVINE!!!

Look at this collage of cloud photos.  Doesn’t it look like a cloud trail that some of God’s mighty angel’s wings would make if we could see it??  Too cool!!!

 

When it is high tide, no cars can drive on the beach.  There was hardly anyone there (just how I like it) and mild enough that we never broke a sweat.  Ahhhh….LIFE IS GOOD!!

The surf was a bit rough, so no boogy boarding today!  :o(     Meh!!!!!

Even the lifeguard was just soaking it all in since no one was in the water nearby.

Little Miss Em!!

I just love this shot!!! 

 Sam pointed out this pelican to me that was just riding the surf in.  In all of my almost 31 years of beachin’ it here, I have never seen a pelican do this.

He just stood on the beach for almost 30 minutes and let me get within about 15 feet of him.  I think he is the old, wise one that is the head honcho, ya know!

Two little sandpipers came for a visit!!  You can get an idea of his size by looking at them.  He was very big!

My in-laws used to own a beach house on New Smyrna Beach, and all we had to do was walk down steps like these to the shore.  Those were the days!!

A lone seagull just gazing about

I love that I caught the action of this little guy’s trot!  They are SO much fun to watch with their fast little walks!!  And this one is especially pretty!

A couple of sailboats in the distance.  Do you see the little line of sandpipers along the shore?  Too cute!!!

Thanks for coming along today, friends!!

Sure wish you could have been there with us!!

If I don’t get the opportunity again,  I’d like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving full of praises to God for all of His blessings in your lives. 

You each are a blessing I am giving thanks for!!

Love you,
Becky

I’m Working On it!!

It is the Friday before Thanksgiving, ya’ll!!!  Can you believe it??

I am steadily working towards that day so I can eliminate the stress I sometimes encounter with preparations.

FINALLY got to work on my place cards.  I really like them, even though they are not exactly what I pictured in my mind’s eye.  I had such a difficult time finding the papers that I imagined I would find easily.

I still have several to make but here are the finished ones.  What do ya think?

The paper with the name printed on it was a bit too bright so I toned it down by sponging on some antique gold ink.  I just couldn’t find a paper that went better…kind of frustrating, but I think they will look so pretty on the table.  They are pictured here on the tablecloth I will be using for our dinner.

I LOVE the background paper which isn’t really paper at all…it is more like cardboard, so I should be able to use these for a couple of years.  It came scalloped and with the holes punched in it!  A little pricey at $1.99 per sheet, but because they are SO sturdy, I think I will get what I paid back out of them!

Ribbon was also difficult.  And believe me when I say that I have a substantial ribbon stash already!!  Right size in right color…this was the ONLY one!!  But I do like it!!

At this point I don’t think I am going to do a menu.  I think instead I will have either a poem or a list of a few things I am thankful for in each person placed on the plates.

So how are your preparations going? 

Hope you have an absolutely FAB Friday, my friends!

Be a blessing!!
Becky

 

Pretty Thanksgiving Menu and Place Cards!

 

Happee Wednesday, Gals!!

Hope your day started off with a Thank You, Lord, and that the rest of it will be filled with sunshine!!

After scouring the internet for Thanksgiving place card ideas I finally found one that just fit into my simple elegance theme. 

The cool thing is that the idea is one from the second blog I had ever been on and found by accident.  That would be Kelli’s blog There is No Place Like Home!!
If you aren’t familiar with her blog you simply must go visit!!  It is a feast for those who desire the simple loveliness of life, and a great resource for ideas and recipes!  Her blog is so warm and welcoming…just like home should be!  She didn’t know it, but her blog was one of the two I stumbled on that inspired me to start mine!

Here are the place cards and menus I will be making.  I have to go to JoAnn in a little bit to see if I can find the right papers…Michael’s didn’t have them.  The link for this post is here.  There were more fancy ones, whimsical ones, but these are just perfectly lovely and understated in their simplicity. 

 
I will probably add some ribbon or dried embellishments to the place cards, and will use fallish colored papers.  I can’t wait to get them done!

I really love these menus, too!!

Thanks, Kelli, for adding to our Thanksgiving celebration with the ideas you have shared!! 

I should make mine tonight, and will post them tomorrow!

Have a blessed day and share the song in your heart with someone today, ok?

Love,

Becky

GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS!

Today I think that nasty ol’ devil is really trying to get to me!  I spent almost an hour on a post for you today and I lost it because my computer froze up.

I am going to rewrite it and post it because I know God wants me to.  Just don’t have time today!

I have missed you all very much, and thank each of you for your precious friendships!

I do have an unspoken need you could beseech our Lord for in my behalf,  if you would, but as a whole all here is really good!!

FOR TODAY…. SMILE!!!

And CHOOSE JOY!  Then see how God fills your heart with delightful loveliness!!!

YAY!!!  I found a simple, elegant idea for my Thanksgiving place cards that I will share tomorrow!

I will visit with all of you later in the day!!

Love and hugs,
Becky