Tuesday Tidbits #301 Are You Ready?

~ Nancy

Fall in the Desert

It feels like fall here in the desert. The temperatures are in the 70s, and I love how some trees are turning a beautiful golden yellow, even here in our backyard. It’s such a lovely time of year!

This tree turns all yellow by December. It drops all its leaves in January, and then by the end of February, all the leaves return.

A view of the desert in Cave Creek, AZ last fall.

Here in the United States, we are planning for our Thanksgiving Dinner this Thursday. Are you ready for the big meal? Dorothy from The New Vintage Kitchen shared some fantastic meal prep tips for each day this week. She encourages us to get as much done as we can to ensure a relaxing and stress-free Thanksgiving. Thanks, Dorothy, for helping us make the holiday a breeze!

Love It? or Hate It?

We love Cranberry Sauce and I will be making it this Wednesday so it’s ready for Thanksgiving Day.

I love my green depression glass refrigerator container.

Here is my recipe that is adapted from Paula Deen. I now add a tablespoon of Orange Zest and a 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts.

Appetizer

While I am preparing the meal we have Football on in the background. I plan on serving delicious stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer while we wait for dinner and watch the game.

I saute diced mushroom stems with diced celery and season with salt and pepper and garlic powder. I then add shredded cheddar cheese and some bread crumbs to bind the mixture. I place the mixture into the mushrooms and top each one with more shredded cheddar cheese and bake in a 350 oven until heated through. They take about 15-20 minutes depending on your oven.

Salad

A small spinach salad which is topped with strawberries, pecans, mandarin oranges and poppyseed dressing starts our meal.

Side Dish

This year we are having Green Beans with sauteed bacon. It is always a crowd pleaser. We usually have roasted Brussels sprouts but we just had those at a friends house so they are not on the menu this year.

Along with the green beans, we will have turkey, dressing, corn casserole, mashed potatoes, corn muffins and gravy. We will be pleasantly full, but I am sure dessert will be served within the hour. Homemade Pumpkin Pie will be served. However, here is another dessert that you can add to your big meal.

Pumpkin Mousse

After savoring and enjoying the big meal, and once the cleanup is complete, we can venture to the back patio, light the fire, and delight in a cocktail and the warmth of the fire. We will gather around and count our blessings. We are so grateful for each and every one of them.

“When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.” ~Kristin Armstrong

We want to wish all of you a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

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Published by Nancy

Two Trails become One Road in Arizona. Read All About the Adventures of this Arizonian.

51 thoughts on “Tuesday Tidbits #301 Are You Ready?”

  5. Nancy, Your decorations are beautiful and the food all sounds delicious! Thanks for the recipes. I love that you use Paula Deen’s recipe for the cranberries! I’ve never made her recipe but it sounds delicious. I have several of her books. How did I miss this recipe?? I love the depression glass refrigerator container. I have a clear glass one. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  7. Sounds like you’re ready Nancy! Your menu sounds perfect, and I especially like the Pumpkin Mousse~ I don’t like pumpkin pie but the mousse sounds delightful! I love seeing the photos of your Fall desert, beautiful! Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!
    Jenna

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  9. Great post! Thanks for all the recipes. I’m sure I’ll try some of them. I really appreciate ‘tried and true’ recipes. Have a fabulous Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

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  10. Your menu looks wonderful, Nancy! Thanks for sharing the recipes. I love your depression glass refrigerator container! My former MIL gave my oldest daughter and entire green depression glass collection years ago.
    I love the Cave Creek area; Ingrid took me there a few years ago. I bet you’re happy to see more autumn colors. Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving, my friend!

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  11. Nancy, everything looks gorgeous around your outdoor space. That tree is stunning! Your menu sounds scrumptious. You are making me hungry this morning. We go to my Dad and Mom’s for Thanksgiving. They are only 25 minutes away so it is a short drive. I’m taking a few dishes to share so I will be cooking tomorrow. Sweet friend have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

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  12. I love your tree Nancy, what kind is it? Your menu and plans for Thanksgiving sounds wonderful. Thanks for the recipes and I have to admit I always put oranges in my cranberries and I usually have both kinds on my table…fresh and canned for those who prefer one or the other. Your appetizer sounds yummy, love stuffed mushrooms. Have a wonderful and peaceful day my friend. Hugs

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  15. Oh My! I shall have to tell Dean about green beans and bacon – he loves bacon with everything and usually (ok, only sometimes) I’ll make Brussels Sprouts with bacon – he cannot eat enough 🤣As for me, I’m more of a Pumpkin Moose kind of a gal 🥰 Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Miss Nancy 🦃

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  16. Golly, I’ve been making Paula’s cranberries for years and never knew it was her recipe (I just wing it like about everything!). And I add fresh ginger and pecans. Lovely in your world. I’m surprised all our yellow maples, or most of them, are still in full golden leaf, though today’s wind might take care of that. Lovely but a bit creepy! Your dinner will be lovely! Have a beautiful Thanksgiving.

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  17. Wow the tree is gorgeous! Your food photos are outstanding, and they are hard to do. I love your menu, it looks and sounds great!

    Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving, dear friend!

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  18. Love the yellow leaves and your yard (and table) look gorgeous. I also make cranberry sauce, although mine is cranberry-pear-walnut sauce. We have ham rather than turkey and will also have mashed sweet potatoes with maple syrup and bacon, and blueberry crisp for dessert. Just the two of us and another couple this year.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Nancy. We have so much for which to be thankful, don’t we?

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  19. Nancy, those yellow trees are gorgeous! All of your food looks delicious. I really like the way you serve the cranberries in the green depression glass refrigerator container. I have a similar one that is clear glass. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  23. Your food and decorations are so inviting. I love how you present everything. You should be a food and decorating photographer. You are so talented. 🙂 xxx I can tell you had a lovely Thanksgiving.

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