Favorite Thanksgiving foods

Every year I ask my peeps: "What's the one dish you need to have to make it Thanksgiving"?  We usually have cream cheese stuffed jalapenos for appetizers and the fixings for Bloody Mary's.  We munch on Crispix Mix and pore over the sale ads in the paper.  And there's a whole lotta cookin' going on!

The Girl always asks for Green Bean Casserole.  Always.  But last year I got her to make the Bourbon and Orange Pecan Pie and I think pie-making will be her specialty!  I also make a Walnut Pumpkin Pie that has a graham crust and a buttery walnut topping.

Firstborn doesn't have a favorite dish - that he chimes in with, at least. But he does love the sweet potatoes.  I bake Garnet sweet potatoes, cool and peel them, cut into chunks, then top with butter, brown sugar, and crumbled smokey maple bacon before re-heating in the oven.  Oooh, they are so good on leftover turkey Shepherd's Pie!

Bubbie loves this Watergate Salad, also lovingly called Gopher Guts at my house. (Don't ask, you'll see why)

Watergate Salad

1 small box instant pistachio pudding
1 small can crushed pineapple, un-drained
1 c. mini marshmallows
1 small container Cool-whip
Put un-drained pineapple in a bowl, add pudding powder and mix well.  (I strain the nuts out first cause we don't like the hard bits)  Add marshmallows, then fold in Cool-whip and chill, covered.

The cranberry sauce is my favorite.  I follow the recipe on the bag of cranberries and add the juice and rind of one large naval orange in with the measurements.  So good!  And the leftover cranberry sauce gets used in Cranberry Oatmeal Bars.

 Scout's  favorite is Corn Casserole that is super simple and very rich:

Corn Casserole

Melt one stick of butter in a 13x9 casserole dish.  Pour melted butter into a bowl to mix with:
1 can corn, drained
1 can creamed corn
1 package cornbread mix
1 small container sour cream
2 eggs, beaten
Pour all into the buttered dish and bake for one hour

We brine the turkey every year and our favorite brine calls for brown sugar, peppercorns, and bourbon.  And the dressing is always cornbread based, with lots of spices onions, and celery.  I can smell it now, the kitchen warm and cozy.

  Can't wait!

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