Ho Ho Ho What to Get a Decaf Coffee Drinker

 I love flavored coffee but I am a decaf drinker.  Not by choice mind you, but by necessity. So when I go to the grocery store and get all these great flavored coffees for my family, I sadly get plain decaf for me.

This time of year the number of great coffee flavors increase exponentially.  Just this morning I was doing my weekly shopping and I found and bought, pecan pie, maple flavored and pumpkin spice flavored coffee.  I bought them.

But wait!  Very very soon, I mean within the next week or so the Holiday Blend by Starbucks will be available.  Pure bliss if you are a regular coffee drinker

I refuse to have a pity party for myself. So I was thrilled when I went to  amazon and lo and behold I found this  Decaf Variety Sampler.  I ordered it and was extremely please with the flavors.They all are good. So if you have a decaf only drinker or if you love a good cup of decaf in the evening with your Christmas cookies then click on the link above and check it out.  It is a 30 count box so it is a very good deal!

Thanksgiving Delites

  I am not a good cook.  In fact, I come from a whole line of women that were not good cooks.  To be fair, my Grandmother was a decent cook.  She had a repertoire of recipes that were down right delicious like her pot roast and her chicken fricassee.  In fact, her chicken fricassee was the appetizer served for Thanksgiving every year. One year my Mom decided to serve something else and there was so much protesting that she promised that she would serve it the next year and for as long as she hosted Thanksgiving.

My Mom wasn't the best cook either but Thanksgiving was her thing. She and my Dad would set the table and it always looked incredible.  Turkey basically cooks itself.  She would baste it in an orange cranberry sauce so that the outer skin turned a beautiful  crispy golden brown while keeping the turkey nice and moist.  She always had green bean casserole.  What self respecting New Yorker didn't serve green bean casserole?  Just in case you are not familiar with the recipe.  It is the one with Campbell's cream of mushroom soup and the crispy onions crushed on the top. Classic.

 I still think it is the best, however, I usually serve sauteed green beans sans the soup. I know, the Thanksgiving police are always citing me. There was also one other side dish that she made and that was pineapple rings in red gelatin.  I LOVE this dish but you don't see it anymore and my family hates gelatin and pineapple.  So unless I eat the whole thing this will not be on my table. Am I the only one who knows about this dish?

So Thanksgiving is  fast approaching and I am making it this year.  Sadly neither my Mom or Grandmother will be there.  I love cooking Thanksgiving dinner and this year I think I will mix it up a bit.  My one stipulation is that the recipes don't have a million ingredients and the ingredients are easy to find. I think I found the perfect book.

I was surfing Amazon and found this cookbook " Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook".  I didn't even think twice since I grew up with Betty Crocker cookbook's on our bookshelf.  It did not disappoint.  So I am going to share my menu with you. Mashed sweet potatoes o white potatoes are a given.

Savory Apple-Onion Turkey  the recipe has bacon, apples and onions need I say more?

Vegetable Herb Stuffing  I have my own traditional recipe for stuffing but I am considering this one instead.  There is also a Cranberry Stuffing that looks delish.  It is going to be a hard decision.

Roasted Autumn Vegetables Brussels sprouts, parsnips , carrots and butternut squash.  This may be a tough sell because of the brussels sprouts but I'm going to take a chance. 

Broccoli with pine nuts and cranberry relish and corn bread pudding I am thinking about making these sides but I am on the fence.  Feedback from you may help.

Dessert. I am THE WORST baker so I am buying Junior's cheesecake.  Why mess with perfection.

So that is my Thanksgiving dinner and if you are interested in any of the recipes click on the link above and check out the book.  Bon Appetit!

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