Thanksgiving Week!

Monday: Golfing with Kalia and Coach Bryan at 1:00 p.m. (instead of lesson at 3:00 p.m.). AA gave in after 13 holes (she played the tournament the day before and had a sore foot). 

We went to the RH, only Hugh came (Kathy's cat was sick and Maureen was "under the weather". Terri sent me this photo:

Tuesday: Worked at SJRCT. AA saw her eye doctor and received her new glasses prescription. AA is searching for her next golf bag at the PGA store (Town Center) and bought a pair of ladies golf slacks, her first.
Wednesday: We found out that Nicole's Thanksgiving dinner (we had declined, decided to stay at home) was cancelled due to several family members having COVID. Most went to Leaa's home with Cathy and Werner electing to stay at home. Hoping for speedy recovery for them all (Jordan was vaccinated, he was showing very few symptoms).

Preparations for Thanksgiving: cleaned turkey, made pre-gravy, baked pumpkin pie, made do-ahead mashed white potatoes and sweet potatoes. We bought two sides from Talons: collard greens (everyone liked) and dressing (not much and too dry, even with adding broth). 

AA visited at Ian's from 10:00 - 1:00 p.m. We took some new toys that had been languishing at our home, to share. Ford made homemade Pioneer Woman's yeast rolls (baked right before turkey dinner). Set the table using Grammie Merrill's china.

Happy Hour!

"Pre-Gravy" from turkey parts (neck, heart, liver):

Making ahead new recipe for sweet potatoes with a brown sugar topping (no marshmallows):

Thursday: Walking the dog before company arrives:

Andrew ran in a four mile race - never gives up!

Carolyn, Tyler, Larry Bradley came for Thanksgiving dinner (separate post). Leaa's thanksgiving ended well (Nicole's was cancelled due to COVID):

Maine Thanksgiving at Terri's - first one without George:

In the evening we watched Part 1 of the Beatles Documentary of their last album and last concert (January 1969). It was enlightening, but tedious. Hopefully the next two parts are more entertaining.

Friday: AA and CR went to see the movie Dune (book from 1965) at Regency AMC, and said they liked it. We had a delicious lunch from Larry's 7-layer (Fran's) salad and dinner of turkey day leftovers!

Happy Thanksgiving Day 2021!

We prepared and prepared for all the food. Cleaning the turkey, seasoning it (of course, the day before did the final thawing), fresh sage, rosemary from my patio garden, olive oil and butter. It roasted very well in our electric roaster (gift from Nana Joy and Grampa Bill), nice browned skin (I put tinfoil over the breast for the last hour). The 17.99 pound bird took 3.5 hours and then rested for 30 minutes. A few minutes before 1:00 p.m. Ford snapped this photo:

Carolyn brought a bottle of champagne and Larry gave us two bottles of wine, Chateau Lestage Bordeaux 2016 and Marques De Riscal Rioja 2014 - both very nice:

We didn't drink much, Larry is not drinking due to his chemo treatments. 
Dinner: mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, Talon's dressing and collard greens, Larry's Fran's salad, Carolyn's corn, gravy, turkey, cranberry sauce (from a can) and Ford's homemade rolls. Before:

Carolyn's new corn recipe:

My very poor selfies:

Dinner served on Grammie Merrill's china:

After dinner:

We visited for awhile then ate dessert: pumpkin pie, apple crisp and Tyler's baklava!

A delicious meal for six!

Sweet Taters! New Casserole Recipe Thanksgiving 2021

My new sweet potato casserole (NO marshmallows!) is from Ree Drummond: I made it the day before without the sweet topping (added it right before baking). I used three huge potatoes, or four medium size. Serves about eight.

From "Serious Eats": Here's what you'll need: Sweet Potatoes, Milk, Sugar, Vanilla, Eggs, Salt, Butter, Pecans, Flour, and Brown Sugar. How bad can THIS be?

First, wash 4 medium sweet potatoes and throw them in a 375 degree oven until fork tender, about 30-35 minutes.

Then slice them open...And scrape out the yummy orange flesh. If you stopped right there, the dish would be super healthy. Problem is, we're not going to stop. We're going to keep going and going. So add 1 cup of sugar and get it over with.

Now add 1 cup of milk, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla...And 1 teaspoon of salt.

Now, find that potato masher you just used to make my very low-calorie, nonfat mashed potatoes, and give 'em a quick mash. Don't go nuts or anything; it's best if they aren't perfectly smooth.

Now, in a separate bowl, add 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup pecans, chopped (that means measure a cup of pecans, then chop them), 1/2 cup flour, and 3/4 stick of...you guessed it...BUTTER. I don't leave home without it. With a pastry cutter or fork, mash together until thoroughly combined. Now, spread the sweet potato mixture in a regular baking dish. Then sprinkle the crumb mixture all over the top. Now bake at 400 for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Soul Sweet 'Taters

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/soul-sweet-taters-recipe-2109353

4 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 3/4 pounds)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup milk

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Put the sweet potatoes on the oven rack and bake until fork tender, about 45 minutes. When the potatoes are finished cooking, let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.

Slice them open lengthwise and scrape out the flesh with a fork into a large bowl. Increase the oven

temperature to 400 degrees F.

Add the granulated sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla and salt to the bowl with the sweet potatoes. Mash the mixture with a potato masher until combined and slightly lumpy-you don't want it to be perfectly

smooth.

Now, in a separate bowl, mash the brown sugar, pecans, flour and butter with a pastry cutter or fork until thoroughly combined. The mixture should resemble a crumble.

Spread the sweet potato mixture in a 14-cup oval-shaped baking dish and sprinkle the crumb

mixture all over the top. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. 

Sunday NFJG at Eagle Harbor

AA played in the Elite Girls NFJG Tournament. Her first nine holes were not her best, but she improved on the back nine (2 - birdies total; 2-double bogies). Leaving the house:

The result: First place score, but lost the playoff (drive went in the water to the right on Hole 10). So runner-up is still good even though she was not happy with her playing. She did her best under the conditions, very fast greens and her ability today.
Photos: 9th green:

Hole 18:

First place score - Runner up Medal:

Saturday, 11/20/2021 Golf and Baking!

Our Saturday morning began with Ford volunteering to bring breakfast back from our local "Time Out" café. It was all okay but we like their lunch menu better.
I baked Nana's chocolate sheet cake to give away (Hugh, Kathy, RH Bar) and freeze. I got my fly shot while at Publix. Next up is the COVID booster for me in two weeks.

Flu shot at Publix:

AA played the back nine holes with Ryan H. We watched them from the 18th Hole green.

Walking home:

We went to the River House while AA did some homework. Lovely weather, breezy, sat inside. Always a good visit/conversation.