THANKSGIVING RECIPE ROUNDUP 2018

Truth be told, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It has a much different meaning to me than it did as a kid. Mainly because I’ve grown to learn that the “Thanksgiving Feast” we learned about as children is basically a fabricated lie to make people feel better about stealing land and lives from Native Americans. So, no I don’t, celebrate Thanksgiving with decor depicting pilgrims and Native Americans. And if you do, I hope you’ll educate yourself on why that’s super problematic.

If you haven’t realized, I keep it real around here. I do want this to be a happy corner of the Internet, but in recent times, I’ve realized my voice has a purpose. That’s something I’m thankful for. So, I will never be one to sugarcoat the facts.

You came here for recipes, right? So, let me first tell you why Thanksgiving is a favorite of mine. FAMILY, FRIENDS and FOOD. You see Christmas is full of SO much pressure to buy the perfect gift for EVERY person in your life, and I feel like the true purpose gets lost. What’s really important is spending quality time with one another, because our time here in this world is so short! I’m totally feeling that as I creep closer to 30. So, behind Halloween, Thanksgiving is my favorite because you make a lot of really yummy food and get to enjoy it with people you love.

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This year we are going to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving, so we are not hosting. Personally, I love hosting and cooking a huge meal - even if it’s just Kyle, myself and Whistler. However, I’ll still be making some of my favorites to bring to their home.

Here are some of my favorite recipes.

MAIN - THE TURKEY

Image from FoodNetwork.com

Brining is the ONLY way to cook a turkey if you really wanna know how I feel. Personally, I use brine recipes just as a guideline for how much salt and sugar to add to the brine bag. Then, I add what sounds good. You can pick up a brine bag at any grocery store. Just be sure it will fit your bird! If I were making a turkey this year, this is the one I’d try!

Brined Rosemary Crusted Turkey with Pan Gravy

SIDES

These are the two dishes that I’m bringing to our friend’s place. One is a new recipe to the Thanksgiving spread, and the other is a tried and true classic.

Bonus: Both are great if you have vegetarians at your table.

Roasted Carrots with Vinaigrette - Here’s the thing you need some veggies on your plate. I don’t even LIKE cooked carrots, but SOMEHOW Ree Drummond dusted her magic on these. They are TO DIE FOR, and even Kyle loves these carrots. You have to try them.

Best Green Bean Casserole - Is it even Thanksgiving without this dish? No matter what, I use recipes as a guide. I rarely follow them line by line. For example, to make this easier on Kyle (who is lactose intolerant), I make my own cream of mushroom soup with lactose-free milk. It’s just as yummy, and no one had a stomach ache.

DESSERTS

Okay, you need the classics - pumpkin pie, apple pie, but I’m not gonna lie I usually buy those from one of the fancier grocery stores in town! But, if you are up for making something a little different, these PUMPKIN GOOEY BUTTER CAKE BARS from Becky at The Cookie Rookie look divine! If you’ve never had Ooey Gooey cake, you’re in for a treat. Plus, these add a Fall twist with the addition of pumpkin.

DRINKS

We love making breakfast and starting the day with mimosas. But, for the remainder of the day, we love sipping on sangria. I usually Google a recipe that sounds good, or jazz up my own recipe with some extra Fall flavors like cinnamon and nutmeg. But, this one from Bobby Flay adds pomegranate which totally screams HOLIDAYS!

Bobby' Flay’s Pomegranate Sangria

If you want to see past Thanksgiving recipes I’ve shared, including the best biscuit dressing (stuffing) of all time,
click HERE.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, and let me know if you try any of these recipes! I’ll be cooking away on Stories this week, so come hang out.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Kimberly

I'M A PODCAST JUNKIE

There are so many ways to spend your time in this life. There’s a lot of down time - whether it be commuting to work or parking yourself in front of the TV after you get home. I have a huge obsession with podcasts - mainly because they help keep me focused when I'm doing tasks like folding laundry or washing dishes. Haha!

It all started back in high school - before podcasts were even podcasts.

I started listening to This American Life on the radio (yes..all you Gen Z’s - go Google what that's like). I would get so hooked on these stories from across the world. They would grip me, and I would get super bummed out if I missed the beginning or missed it completely because - hello..no rewinding radio in the early 2000s.

Anyway, fast-forward to today, and podcasts are popping up everywhere. Everyone is creating their own podcast -- which is cool! You can find podcasts on SO many different topics. I feel like there’s a lot that was missed in my education journey on topics like personal finance, politics, science, etc. And, today I listen to fascinating podcasts that fall into all sorts of categories. So, if you’ve never listened to podcasts and you’re looking for a place to start, I’ve curated my starter list to help you jump into the podcast scene.

• This American Life: I would be wrong to not start here, as this is what sucked me into this habit. The show started in 1995. So, it’s possible that someone reading this wasn’t even alive yet! I digress. So, mostly this show is based on a theme. Then, the host, Ira Glass, brings you different stories all tied to that theme. You never know where they are going, and it will take you on quite a ride. Shoutout to the OG!

• How I Built This: If you’re a dreamer or entrepreneur you’re going to L-O-V-E this podcast. Host, Guy Raz, interviews business owners about their journey from concept to empire. Guests include the late Kate Spade, Ron Shaich of Panera Bread, Jane Wurwand of Dermalogica and so many others! It will leave you feeling like you want to write a 50-page business plan. So inspiring!

• Planet Money: This isn’t your run of the mill “here’s how you save money” podcast. Although, I should probably listen to more of those. Ha! Planet Money talks about all sorts of financial-related topics. Like, have you ever wondered why we use a signature for purchases? On the back of your card? Planet Money can answer that. It makes the economy fun! Yes, I said that.

• Ear Hustle: This is one of my more recent finds, and I’m hooked. I listen to a lot of true crime, but this flips the script and shows you the other side. Ear Hustle is produced inside San Quentin by Nigel Poor, Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams. Earlonne and Antwan are currently incarcerated and bring stories of life inside prison. To say this show is powerful is not doing it justice. I’m a firm believer in making the best of what’s in front of you and this show really makes you rethink all the stereotypes our society holds about the incarcerated population.

• Underdog Podcast: My friend Scott Kujak started his podcast less than a year ago, and I’m constantly impressed with the guests he finds to feature. If you’re in need of a jump start in the inspiration department, his podcast brings it every single time. Featuring guests that have faced tough times and risen above, the stories range from facing cancer to overcoming drug addiction. The stories are amazing, and remind you that you can conquer anything with the will to do so.

I hope this list inspires you to start listening more - do you have any favorites?! Some of my favorite I haven't even shared here. If you want my full list, comment below!

XO,

Kimberly