Happy Thanksgiving: Molding Turkey Butter

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family & friends. We had a quiet day of cooking and puttering in the house. We put the tree up and had a beautiful meal.

Do you like my turkey-shaped butter? It is a must-have in my house and one year I couldn't find one in the grocery store, so I vowed to get my own turkey mold when I was in the candy supply store. Now that I live in Seattle (Amazon country), I know that most of you will simply order it online. I have included a link to a chocolate turkey mold similar to mine. You simply soften the butter, press it into the mold and place it into the refrigerator to harden. Unmold onto a pretty plate and Voila!

#happythanksgiving #momentsofdelight #butterturkey #turkeymold #chocolateturkeymold #doityourself #entertaining

Friendsgiving 2018: A New Life in the Pacific Northwest

How did we get so lucky? That is a question we ask ourselves often since building a house in a new neighborhood on Seattle's East side. 

Our neighbors are a kind and happy group that love to gather and connect. My grandmother always said to me, " You've got to make your own fun."  The fun this neighborhood has cooked up so far (Block Party, Gingerbread House Making, Ladies Night, Cooking Class, Succulent Party) has been part of our successful transition to the West coast. 

A few weeks ago, our neighbors A & A declared that a neighborhood Friendsgiving was in order. They said, "Bring 2 sides, salads or desserts and come have a feast with us in mid-November." They cooked 2 huge turkeys (roasted & deep fried) and the neighbors supplied the rest of the food and chaos. I brought my striped mashed potatoes (it was gone in a flash) and a sheet pan pecan pie.

They managed to provide seating for 30 (!) and the house looked warm and welcoming. Twinkle lights, fresh flowers and food. Again, how could we be so lucky? I hugged ladies from my street. I met husbands that I've only seen through Facebook. I heard stories about moving in, growing up and starting fresh. We had the conversations we needed to make friends and build relationships.

Just before the meal, the host raised a glass and said that he didn't know if we realized it, but he & A had moved into their house 1 year ago that day. Their happy home that was currently brimming with voices and laughter was mostly filled with people they had met within the last year. He thought that it was incredible and so did we. We all silently acknowledged how grateful we were for this same group of people for the very same reasons.  

Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Friendsgiving. May these new friendships continue to grow and thrive in the Pacific Northwest. Amen.



#friendsgiving2018 #friendsgiving #thanksgiving #thankful #momentsofdelight #entertaining #turkeyday #newneighbors #pnw 

Slab Pie: Trisha Yearwood's Lemon Pecan Pie

Trisha Yearwood knows how to make a great slab pie. We were invited to a big Friendsgiving Dinner this year in our neighborhood and I thought that pecan pie would be a welcome addition. But when you have a crowd, it just doesn't make sense to set out pies that serve 8. The pieces are too big and it is hard to have enough for everyone. I rationalized that a pecan pie in slab pie form would taste like Thanksgiving while still being manageable.  

I love making pecan pie, but how should I translate a normal recipe into a slab pie that cuts into sturdy pieces? I had enough time to make one practice slab pie. And then I saw the most glorious slab pie on Food Network: Trisha Yearwood's Lemon Pecan Pie. 

This is my first attempt (above) and it was beautiful! It cut easily, the refrigerator crust was flaky and acceptable and the pie was delicious. Except my husband kept asking me why did I put lemon in it. Fair question. I thought that it was a great pie, but in deference to tradition, I removed all but a whisper of lemon for the second slab pie I made that week.

It baked up perfectly and the guests that tried it, liked it. Hallelujah. Thank you, Trisha, for knowing just what recipe I needed!

#friendsgiving2018 #friendsgivingrecipes #friendsgiving #thanksgiving #pie #slabpie #illbringdessert #pecanpie #lemonpecanpie #entertaining #trishayearwood #neighborhood  

Turkey 101: Corn Bread Turkey, that is

It's time! This is a friendly reminder to order your turkey cake pan by Nordic Ware now, so that you can have it in time for Thanksgiving. You may also be able to find one on the shelf of a cake supply store, just call first. You want the 3-D pan made by Nordic Ware.  

The moment that I saw this pan debut on The Martha Show, I had to have it.  It works incredibly well with not quite 2 pouches of Marie Callender's Corn Bread Mix.  Once it is baked, you level off each side of the turkey (cut off excess cake) with a large bread knife and frost the two sides together so that he'll stand and be 3-D.  

I use a few toothpicks inserted on an angle to stabilize the seam and then I prop my turkey in a pie plate full of whole cranberries to help him stand up. It is a darling addition to any holiday buffet and I just love him every time I make him. Do you like super cute theme food? This pan's for you! 

Happy Thanksgiving

My regal turkey - made with 2 packages of Marie Callender cornbread, held together with cream cheese frosting and perched in a dish of fresh cranberries. This homemade bird is perfect for any Thanksgiving celebrations.  Bravo to Nordic Ware for making a pan with so much spirit.  You can get yours here.

#1 Turkey Tip

Best Turkey Tip Ever.  Buy a "Stuffing Sack" at the grocery store (actually buy 3 and know that you're set for the next few holidays) and use it to stuff your turkey.  

A Stuffing Sack is a cheesecloth bag that you insert into the clean and lightly salted cavity of your turkey.  You push it in and fluff it open, leaving the opening wide so that you can spoon in the stuffing. Don't pack the stuffing tightly.  When all the stuffing in inside the sack, fold the cheesecloth closed and tuck it inside. On many turkeys their will be a flap that you can then pull over the open (and now stuffed) cavity and secure closed with two of the lacers from turkey lacer. 

You will realize how wonderful this product is once your bird is cooked.  It is very important to remove all of the stuffing from a cooked turkey, which is difficult when it has been stuffed the old way, without a stuffing sack.  Place a bowl near the stuffed area of the bird and remove the pins holding the flap closed. Grab the folded end of the stuffing sack (and hang onto the bird) and gently pull out the stuffing sack.  Dump the contents of the cheesecloth sack into the bowl and fluff with a fork.  Voila! No digging for stuffing. Period.

Get yourself a box (they cost around $1.50) and it will make your holiday meal much more relaxed.  The year I found out about these, I bought several and gave them to my friends - they are that great.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Cake Pan by Nordic Ware

This is just a friendly reminder to order your cornbread turkey pan by Nordic Ware now, so that you can get it in time for Thanksgiving.  The moment that I saw this pan debut on The Martha Show, I had to have it.  It works incredibly well with not quite 2 pouches of Marie Callender's Corn Bread Mix.  Once it is baked, you level off each side of the turkey with a large bread knife and frost the two sides together so he'll stand and be 3-D.  I use a few toothpicks inserted on an angle to stabilize the seam and then I prop my turkey in a pie plate full of whole cranberries to help him stand up. 

I have also used one side of the mold to make a molded cranberry relish.  I served it on a bed of ruffled green leaf lettuce.  This was a pretty and festive dish to display on a large holiday buffet.

Come on, you know you want one.

Shipshewana: Native American Feather Lollipops

Sometimes my blog posts just fall into my lap.  I mean really, as a candy lover, could I make up anything more interesting to show you?  Not a chance.

I was in Aunt Millie's Candy Shop in the Davis Mercantile (same building as the Lolly's Fabrics) in Shipshewana when I saw him.  A beautiful statue of a Native American man wearing a full headdress of feather lollipops.  It was as beautiful as it was unexpected.  I was so taken with the overall effect of the display that I didn't buy a handful of feathers.  

What was I thinking?  They would look so beautiful grouped on a Thanksgiving buffet. Or as a treat for kids who didn't want pumpkin pie?  I did include a link (click "feather lollipops" above) where you can buy an entire box of them online.  Are you thinking what I'm thinking?  If you want to split a box, let me know!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Classics

You know that I call my stash of Thanksgiving recipes "A Salute to the 1950's."






















A Cranberry Jell-O mold, French's Green Bean Casserole, Holiday Sweet Potatoes...my inner "Foodie" takes a break this time of year and I resort to making the classics.  To me, this is comfort food at its best. 

I chose this picture to represent "the classics," because so many of the core ingredients for tomorrow's meal come from a can!  Mushroom soup, cranberry sauce, yams...I like to think of Thanksgiving as the "recycling" holiday.

No matter what you are cooking for tomorrow's meal, I hope it that it brings you comfort.

Turkey Tip

How can I make your Thanksgiving a little easier?  By making sure you know about the Stuffing Sack.  It is my #1 must-have item for cooking a Thanksgiving Dinner.

The Stuffing Sack is a cheesecloth bag that is inserted into the open cavity of a turkey and then filled with stuffing.  Once the turkey is roasted, you simply pull the stuffing sack out of the turkey and empty it into a serving dish and fluff.  It eliminates 100% of the anxiety related to removing the stuffing from a scalding hot bird in time for dinner.  Voila!

Note:  When you find these in the grocery store (packaged in a box), buy two or three.  Keep one for next year and give the other to your best friend.

Turkey Cake Pan

Last year was our best Thanksgiving dinner ever. 

We made all of the classic dishes, of course, but the star of the show was my Cornbread Turkey!  I am showing him to you now so that you will have enough time to get a pan for yourself!

My "classic turkey mold" is from Nordic Ware. You can order him online or call a shop that sells Nordic Ware to see if they have one in stock.  I followed the directions on 2 bags of Marie Callender's corn bread mix and my turkey baked up sturdy and delicious!

Isn't he fantastic?  I "glued" the two halves together with cream cheese frosting and nestled him in a cranberry-filled pie plate for stability.  He was the centerpiece on the table when we had appetizers and then we cut right into him on the buffet for the meal.

All I can say is, "Gobble! Gobble!"

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you a
delightful Thanksgiving
filled with family traditions,
great food and
a thankful spirit.

Love, Anne

Turkey Butter

Honestly, it all started with a lamb butter. My Mom has been buying "butter shaped like a lamb" to have on the table at Easter dinner my entire life. When my dear friend, Melanie joined us for Easter one year, she was floored. She had never heard of such a thing and started quizzing us for details. How long has this been going on? Do they do this for all of the holidays? Then she said it...Is there turkey butter?

We didn't know. Our butter sculpture stopped with lambs. Until the following November when we all started seeing turkey butter in the dairy section of some independent grocery stores. From then on, we've had to have a turkey butter too.

So when I was in my favorite cake & candy supply store last week, I noticed a turkey-shaped mold for making chocolates. Naturally I thought "Butter!" and here it is. You simply press one stick softened butter into the 3-D mold and place it in the freezer. After about an hour, pop the plastic apart and voila!

I am sending you my warm wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving. And when you are in your little grocery store this week, ask them if they have turkey butter!

Thanksgiving Tablesettings

I wanted to arrange this tray to show you a few simple ideas to enhance your Thanksgiving Table.

First, if you build the look around one showpiece (in this case, the salad plate) it is much easier to find your way. If you need a show-stopper, head to the discount shop (Homegoods, Marshals, TJ Maxx). Right now they are loaded with transferware-like salad/dessert plates with turkeys on them for $6-8 each. They are really handsome, inexpensive and a great way to update a dinner plate that you already own.

Second, I made a "napkin ring" out of laser cut scrapbook paper from Michael's. Just cut the sheet into strips, wrap a strip around a plain white napkin and tape the ring closed on the back.

Third, the placemat shown here is a piece of fabric that I cut in a rectangle and "serged" the edges. If you don't have a serger, my advice is to "pink" the edges with pinking shears and you are ready! This should keep the fabric from fraying and eliminate the need to sew anything.

Need matching glasses for eight? I bought the mocha-colored acrylic glass shown here at Target for $1.99!

My advice is to lay out the plates, linens and candles that you have, look for a color theme and run with it! Even using just one of my ideas could help make your holiday table feel brand new.

Happy Thanksgiving-planning from me to you.

A Sweet Couple

Can you believe that this couple is made out of Maple Sugar? When my parents took a driving trip through Vermont, I requested a maple sugar souvenir and look what I got! So cute.

Have you started planning your Thanksgiving table? I think one of these at each place setting would make a really neat favor. Or maybe you'd like one shaped like a maple leaf or a turkey. You can consider the entire collection online here.

Maple is the perfect flavor for a Thanksgiving meal and these two make such a sweet couple.

Sugar Cubes

Aren't these sweet? I found little royal icing sugar decorations at our local cake supply store (featured last year as Sugar Secrets) and "glued" them to sugar cubes with Wilton white cookie icing. I am bringing them to my sister-in-law's house for Thanksgiving. Who wouldn't love to drop one of these in their coffee?

Would you like to make your own set for Christmas? You can buy similar royal icing decorations here. You may want to use sugar tablets, which are bigger and offer a little more real estate for your decorations.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Pumpkins to Pilgrims

Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away and things are slowing changing from pumpkins to pilgrims. It's time to hang a bay leaf wreath in your kitchen. Have you seen one? It is a beautiful way to add a "holiday meals are coming" feel to the kitchen.

It's also fun to pull off a leaf and drop it in a big pot of soup on the stove.

Once your wreath is hung you'll want to put bay leaves in everything, so I'm including a bay leaf cooking link.

Enjoy!