Golden Turkey on My Table

We hosted several friends for Thanksgiving yesterday. Daron and I were up until 1am on Wednesday night making pies and brining the turkey. I wish I'd taken a picture of this massive 19 lb turkey floating eerily in brine. It barely fit in our refrigerator! The brine was a salt water/thyme/maple syrup/brown sugar mixture and it really made the turkey moist.

From the time we got into the kitchen yesterday (9:30am) to dinner time (4pm), we did almost nothing but cook, clean, wash dishes, set up, wash more dishes, and cook some more. Whewph! It's hard work, but I really enjoy putting on a feast. I love working with Daron on it. We have the same vision and just go, go, go until it's done. It seems strange, but it's really become a bonding time for us - working together to serve others. It really becomes a labor of love.

Our beautiful Thanksgiving table! I found the turkey and candlesticks at a thrift store and spray painted them gold.



The turkey plates were from TJMaxx. I just wanted a little something special. I love these!

Place settings with real pears.

Golden turkey on my table - there can be no turkey like thee! (Ever seen Man of La Mancha? Golden helmet of Mambrino? No? Okay...)

The pre-brined and grilled turkey in all it's glory right after Daron brought it inside. It didn't have quite the smoky flavor that last year's did, but it was moist, it was done on time, and it was delicious!

Besides turkey, we served green beans, carrots, mashed potatoes with bacon and rosemary, plain mashed potatoes, sausage, apple, and raisin stuffing, cranberry sauce, cranberry fig relish, homemade gravy, homemade Lion House rolls, and pumpkin and apple pies. Oh, and plenty of Martinelli's!

Sister Grant, the elders, Nathan, and Daron.

Daron again, Brother Tessmer, Sister Chretian, Cydney, and Esther.

Right as I put the last of the food on the island and Daron was carving the turkey, I heard Esther crying. She ran into the kitchen holding her hand above her eye and there was blood everywhere! I began to wonder if I was going to spend Thanksgiving in the emergency room! She had been twirling with her plastic horse and it knocked her right on the eyebrow. Fortunately, when I mopped her up, the cut was tiny and stopped bleeding pretty quick. With a bandaid and a kiss, she was ready to go and the meal was served almost right on time! I had one more thing to be grateful for, I guess!

The name of our family blog is Peace and Plenty Here Abide. I really feel like that has been the case in our home. Granted, it's not always peaceful, but we try. I feel very blessed for all that Heavenly Father has given to us - each other, our home, food to eat and share, safety, freedom, and our amazing extended families! Happy Thanksgiving!