We just had one of the best Thanksgivings ever.
It started bright and early in our kitchen this morning. We started baking pies right after breakfast. The girls helped me sort the contents of some old change jars to get pennies for weights on the crusts.
Then they sorted much of the rest of the change into their piggy banks while I made the fillings. They thought this was pretty neat. Miss even said, “This is the most funnest thing ever!”
Phase one completed:
I always want pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, and my husband’s favorite is pecan pie, so we did both. They’re not pretty. I can never seem to create an aesthetically pleasing crust, but they were delicious.
My husband also started his sausage making venture today, so for most of the rest of the morning the big girls helped him prepare the ingredients to mix with the meat. Before the weekend is over he will be making 90 pounds of pork sausage, including the following varieties: breakfast, sweet Italian, chorizo, garlic, andouille, and brats.
The girls are so excited about helping him with this.
He also has a ton of venison to grind into burger. Last night we had a date night while we trimmed it.
Wine for me. Beer for him. Raw meat and big knives.
It was romantic.
Okay. Anyway. I’m writing about today. Thanksgiving. We were all busy in the kitchen all morning, except for poor Sis. She become a little frustrated a couple of times about not being able to join the crowd in the kitchen.
But most of the time she played perfectly well by herself. She is so chill. I walked into the playroom to check on her and found her playing pretend in the castle with Prince Phillip and a baby doll.
And my favorite part of the food prep:
Breaking bread.
We made savory bread pudding instead of stuffing, so we were actually cutting it, but I like to say we were “breaking bread.”
There’s something very holiday-ish and family-ish and together-ish about that phrase.
^^ That’s a Thanksgiving photo I can’t wait to show my girls when they get older.
And the big item for the big meal? Well, we aren’t real fans of turkey. For Thanksgivings past I have made prime rib, cornish game hens, etc. I have never cooked a turkey. And last week my husband went and butchered an enormous pig for us to eat. So the only natural thing for us to have for our Thanksgiving feast is… Ham!!
Ham smoked in our Big Green Egg. For 21 hours.
This is the first time using the Big Green Egg and the first time smoking a 20+ pound ham. First time smoking anything, actually.
My hubby is giddy about his new trick. The ham turned out wonderfully.
After our meal, the best way to finish the evening was with a family dance party.
The girls loved the Peanut’s Theme Song for dancing. We played it over and over and over.
Today was a day of giving thanks.
We gathered in the kitchen and worked together. We ate together. We played together. In my mind that’s what families do.
Every day I think about how fortunate I am. Every day I thank God for my life and its joys.
Happy Thanksgiving.
