Monday, November 22, 2010

Hosting our first Thanksgiving!

Preparing for Thanksgiving! But not just any Thanksgiving! The very first time Im cooking Thanksgiving dinner! The pressure is on and being the crazy obsessive person I am! I quickly grabbed my cookbook and jumped right in! Making lists of every holiday food i could think of! Oh goodness where to being! Everything crossed mine! Turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, Yams, cranberries, pumpkin pie! For those of you who are not as OCD as me! Im posting some of the most delicious mouth watering recipes!

Honey Brined Smoked Turkey


Ingredients

  • 1 gallon hot water
  • 1 pound kosher salt
  • 2 quarts vegetable broth
  • 1 pound honey
  • 1 (7-pound) bag of ice
  • 1 (15 to 20-pound) turkey, remove giblets
  • Vegetable oil, for rubbing turkey

Directions

Combine the hot water and the salt in a 54-quart cooler. Stir until the salt dissolves. Stir in the vegetable broth and the honey. Add the ice and stir. Place the turkey in the brine, breast side up, and cover with cooler lid.. Brine overnight, up to 12 hours.
Remove the turkey from the brine and dry thoroughly. Rub the bird thoroughly with the vegetable oil.
Heat the grill to 400 degrees F.
Using a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil, build a smoke bomb. Place a cup of hickory wood chips in the center of the foil and gather up the edges, making a small pouch. Leave the pouch open at the top. Set this directly on the charcoal or on the metal bar over the gas flame. Set the turkey over indirect heat, insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast meat, and set the alarm for 160 degrees F. Close the lid and cook for 1 hour.
After 1 hour check the bird; if the skin is golden brown, cover with aluminum foil and continue cooking. Also, after 1 hour, replace wood chips with second cup.
Once the bird reaches 160 degrees F, remove from grill, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 1 hour. Carve and serve




Pumpkin Cheesecake


Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1 3/4 cups graham crackers crumbs
  • 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
  • 1 stick melted salted butter

Filling:

  • 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
  • 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For crust:

In medium bowl, combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch pan. Set aside.

For filling:

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.
Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.
If ya'll Love Paula Dean as much as I do you will Love these recipes!


Monday, November 15, 2010

Missing Home!

Only in Michigan...

  •  The weather can change in a blink of an eye
  • can you find a petosky stone
  •  can you hold up your hand to show where your from
  • is a plant a place where you work
  • will you find "Michigan left turns"
  • do you bake with soda and drink pop
  • will you still have to report to work for 12 inch of snow
  • can you shop at a meijers
  • is opening day considered a holiday
  • can you get money back for empty cans
  • are you use to the Lions losing
  • does a party store not sell party supplies
  • do you pass a tractor on the road
  • do you find people wearing camo at social events
  • are you surrounded by all the great lakes

Sunday, November 14, 2010

In honor of veterans day!

Dear God


 I am proud to be wed to one who defends freedom and peace. My challenges are many and I pray for your love and guidance to meet them.
Special to me are the symbols representing my religion, country, community & home.
I pray for the wisdom and grace to be true to their meanings.
You are the symbol of my religious beliefs and the source of my strength.
Because my life is full of change, I cherish the solid and constant spiritual foundation that you provide.
Help me Lord, to be an example of your teachings.
My national flag represents freedom.
Let me never forget, or take for granted, the hope it shows to the world.
Bless those who have made sacrifices for freedom.
As I enter the gateway to a military community,
guide me to reach out to others and keep it a wholesome place.
May my charity be given without thought of personal rewards.
My wedding ring represents eternity and never ending love.
Let me celebrate all of the joys of our togetherness & find comfort in them during times of separation.
I pray also that we are spared the ultimate sacrifice of duty to country.
My house is a symbol of our family and its unity.
It is a place where we share memories of the past and build dreams of the future.
Make willing my heart and hands to do even the smallest tasks that will make our house a better home.
Thank you God for being with us as we live in the Air Force.
Please grant us your continued blessings, increased strength and infinite guidance, as we live to your honor and glory.


Friday, November 5, 2010

An addition to our little Family!

Living the military life you start to see how every move effects you and your family. Needless to say it wasn't long before we decided that it was time for an addition to our little family and time to visit our local humane society. You see My husband and I both grew up with dogs! That soon became a close companion and part of the family! It didn't take long for us to see we needed that connection that was missing from home! A companion that would be there to run, jump, play, and cuddle! When visiting the shelter I have never seen so many homeless animals that just looked up at us and gave us the"take me home" look. I looked at my husband and knew that I just wanted all of them to come home with us! Im not so sure he was feeling quite the same. He thought one was enough! Although it wasn't long before Brooklyn stole my husbands heart. She was a beautiful black and white terrier and sheep dog mix! He knew right away she was the one for us and I'd like to think she agrees!
Introducing Brooklyn! Our beautiful new puppy!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

To New Beginnings!

  It seems to me lately that being a newlywed and being new to the military way of life that things really are alot different. My husband and I tried planning our big wedding with him stationed 2600 miles away when it got to be extremely overwhelming. Me....I am a planner but I always pictured my husband being more involved. This was hard for me and when coming down to visit him for my birthday. It just seemed to be  the perfect opportunity to tie the knot. One thing led to the other and with lots of help from some amazing people! A wedding was planned in just 2 short weeks. We were blessed to find an amazing pastor, photographer, and my very own wedding planner! Like alot of other military couples we had are small intimate wedding with are parents by are sides on the beach of gulf shores and I couldn't have asked for anything more. but now is when all the planning really starts. The challenges of moving, settling in, enjoying being newlyweds and planning for our vow renewal on New Years Day!  After only being married for just 4 short months. Im starting to realize how this really is a  whole different world. And this will be my outlet! So hold on tight because this could very well be a bumpy road with some great scenery.    
                                                    
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson


Gulf Shores, Alabama



August 7, 2010