A Southern Fried Thanksgiving!

the calm before the storm

So did I have a calm Thanksgiving? Are you kidding me? 

I woke up at a decent time and made my way out to the living room. I was met with the ever familiar sound of Madeline calling out in distress. Normally I would calmly respond but this cry sounded like it was a little more urgent than say wanting something that Natalie had. I opened the door. There is no way to be prepared for such a site.

Madeline was hanging upside down with her foot caught in the top drawer of her dresser. 

It took a second to sink it. Natalie was patting Madeline gently making cooing sounds. I quickly got Madeline undone and we sat on the floor. She was fine except a food bumps and scrapes which in itself is miraculous. One starts to wonder after the initial crisis how did she get up there? WELL. Madeline has this bucket that is used for sand toys. She turned it upside down and climbed up the dresser handles where she then opened the top drawer and used it to boost herself the rest of the way up. So why was she up there? We had put the sidewalk chalk on the shelf. She just got herself up there but then there was the problem of getting down. She had put on foot in the top dresser and the other one on the dresser handle. Apparently she lost her grip and that is how her foot got caught. And there you have it folks.

That is how my Thanksgiving started.

This year I wanted to do something a little different. I had a serious talk with everyone. I asked them...would you miss a turkey this year? None of them really had strong feelings about a turkey being presented on Thanksgiving. Of course OUR Thanksgiving was not on Thanksgiving but the day after. That's how it usually works out with us. I think I would fall down dead if we actually celebrated a holiday on the actual holiday.

this is what greeted me right after grace

So on Black Friday I was prepared to feast! Not that I have ever shopped on a Black Friday. I have had enough with half sane old ladies banging into me with a cart because I wasn't fast enough or cut me off because they wanted to get into line first. I don't want to see those little old ladies on Black Friday. That's like being with Charlie Sheen while he's using speed. You just avoid it if you want to get out alive.

Instead of Turkey I did Southern Fried Chicken. Everybody was really happy. James said he likes chicken better away. I also made Instead of Stuffing Rolls...because I hate stuffing. These were delish! I added hot Italian sausage, diced tomatoes, olive oil (instead of shortening) and chicken stock (instead of water). They were savory and gorgeous! Here's the recipe!

all the flavors of stuffing without the gunk.

Instead of Stuffing Rolls by Momma Cupcake

• 1 cup of warm chicken stock
• 2 1/2 tsp of yeast
• 12 cups flour
• 4 tbs honey
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 6 links of Hot Italian Sausage, chopped
• 3 links of Hot Italian Sausage, sliced
• 2 cans of diced tomatoes, drained well
• Cornmeal

1. Combine chicken stock and yeast, stir to dissolve, and let stand 5 minutes. 
2. Add honey, olive oil, sea salt, and enough flour to make a runny mixture.
3. Add chopped sausage and drained tomatoes; stir until incorporated.
4.  Add sausage mixture to stand mixer with kneading attachment. 
5. Add flour with mixer on medium until the dough stops sticking to the sides; only add a little at a time.
6. Allow mixer to knead for 10 minutes adding flour only to reduce stickiness.
7. Cover dough and allow to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
8. Punch down dough, fold in half, and rise again, until doubled, about 45 minutes.
9. Line a baking sheet with parchment and sprinkle with cornmeal.
10. Turn risen dough onto a floured surfaced and shape into small rounds.
11. Insert a slice of sausage into the underside of the roll, pinch it shut.
12. Place on prepared pan and brush with olive oil.
13. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 15 minutes.
14. Preheat oven to 375.
15. Bake until golden brown or 30-40 minutes.

There were plenty of side dishes like Nutty Coleslaw, Cranberry Sauce, Braised Carrots and Green Beans in a Garlic Mushroom Sauce,  Cheddar and Cream Mashed Potatoes topped with Sweet Potatoes what were baked in Maple Syrup and Bacon!

that's potato heaven right there

The dessert I actually made the day before out Thanksgiving which is the official Thanksgiving lol. I made Homemade Pumpkin Pie from Pumpkins not the can. It wasn't hard at all actually. The taste is worth it. Next year I think I am going to plant a pumpkin patch full of sugar pumpkins!

I peeled the pumpkins before I baked them. I know there are several ways of doing it but this I thought was a cleaner finish. I thought that the pumpkin would be orange after it baked but it turned out to be a bright yellow. Everyone loved the pumpkin pie. That thought it was pretty cool that it didn't come out of a can! 

pumpkin pie strait outta the pumpkin!

 After I made the Pumpkin Pie I was all pied out. I decided that for the other desserts I would make a comfy Apple Cheddar Cobbler and a Sweet and Tart Cherry Crisp!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

This was my Cherry Cobbler favorite dish when I was in school.

The only place I ever had it was the school cafeteria! 

NOM! NOM! NOM! NOM!

I love the walnuts in the Cherry Crisp!

Last but not least eggnog with eggnog whipped cream on top!

THE 2010 FOODIE GIFT GUIDE WILL START UP AGAIN TOMORROW!