I worked through the morning, ate lunch, worked some more and then finally decided that a workout just isn’t happening today. If I don’t make it to the gym or take Sadie for a run before noon, a rest day will more than likely take the place of a workout.
Rest days are important, too!
Lunch
Lunch today revolved around one thing: Caesar dressing.
I bought this Bolthouse Farms yogurt-based Caesar-Parmigiano salad dressing a little while ago and when I tried it, I was instantly smitten!
I usually prefer vinaigrette dressings to creamy dressings, but something about the parmesan flavor of this Caesar dressing called to me. It ended up being a great impulse buy, Yes, it was the dressing that motivated me to eat a salad for lunch today!
Today’s salad included:
- Spring mix
- Carrots
- Celery
- Red pepper
- 2 MorningStar Farms spicy black bean burgers
- Caesar dressing
Friendsgiving Menu Planning
Since I sent out the invitation to our Friendsgiving party early last week, we’ve heard back from everyone and it sounds like we’re going to have a full house next weekend!
Now the pressure is on to have good food for our friends to enjoy!
As we watched a DVRed episode of New Girl last night, I grabbed a pad of paper and began jotting down menu ideas.
(I love how turkey didn’t enter my head right away. A girl needs her sweet potato casserole and stuffing!)
So far we’re planning to make the following dishes:
- Turkey
- Sweet potato casserole
- Pioneer Woman’s mashed potatoes
- Peas (I like to stir them into my mashed potatoes. I get it from my dad.)
- Gravy
- My mom’s homemade stuffing (Hands down my favorite dish of Thanksgiving!)
- Cranberry sauce
- Bubbee’s glazed carrots (Ryan’s favorite!)
- Roasted Brussels sprouts
- Green beans with caramelized onions and slivered almonds
- Diane’s pineapple souffle (I need to get this recipe from my mother-in-law and share it with you guys because it is unreal.)
Am I forgetting anything major?
I am also hoping for your help when it comes to dessert!
Neither Ryan nor I have any strong associations with fabulous Thanksgiving desserts. (Remember the year of the ice bath pumpkin mousse!?) When I think of Thanksgiving dessert, I think of pumpkin pie and apple pie, but I feel like you guys might have some fun suggestions for slightly more decadent and creative sweet treats. (No Cherpumple, please!)
Right now the only dessert I have in mind is the pecan cake with caramel mousse and brown sugar topping that I saw in the latest issue of Cooking Light magazine.
Suggestions (and links!) are welcome!
Question of the Afternoon
- What is your all-time favorite Thanksgiving dish? Favorite Thanksgiving dessert?
For me, it’s all about the stuffing! As for desserts, I’ll go with pumpkin pie a la mode… with extra whipped cream.
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
Sweet potatoe cake with white chocolate frosting!
We made pumpkin swirl cheesecake from the Kraft website. It was delicious with the ginger cookie crust. ( Canadian Thanksgiving which has already passed)
omg. I love mixing my peas with my mashed potatoes too! And I also got it from my dad! haha. So weird! This sounds like a fabulous event and I would love to do something like this once we have the space.
I do a big Friendsgiving dinner too! My most requested dessert is pecan pie but these two are also inhaled by everyone because they are sooooooo good.
Pumpkin Cheesecake:
http://myigloolife.blogspot.ca/2011/10/pumpkin-cheesecake.html
Derby Pie (a twist on pecan pie):
http://myigloolife.blogspot.ca/2012/01/delicious-derby-pie.html
So glad to see my beloved Morningstar burgers incorporated into your meal! I eat a salad with 2 Morningstar burgers almost every day, but my favorite is the Cali Turk’y burger (they are phenomenal)!! I forgot about the black bean burgers and may have purchase some next time.
Is there a reason why you don’t eat soy burgers more often? Are you worried about eating too much soy or do you just prefer real meat?
i love the california turk’y burger!!! and there isn’t a real reason i don’t eat them more often other than that i just forget about them b/c they’re in the freezer. i LOVE the pizza burger, too. it’s a great afternoon snack!
Hey Julie!
So I’ve noticed recently that you’ve stopped doing 3 meals per day which I totally get and understand, that’s a lot of time and work! But do you think maybe some days you could include your dinner? I used to get so many wonderful ideas from this blog for dinner and would love it if you could include it on morning posts or in replace of 🙂 Thank you so much!
i like that idea a lot!!
I agree too!! I miss dinner posts. Combining it with morning would work just fine sometimes!
This is such a fantastic idea! My family always makes popovers for our thanksgiving meal. But friendsgiving sounds even better! We always have pie, but I don’t like it so I make sure to bring myself some decadent ice cream like Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked froyo to make up for it 🙂
My family does Lime Mallow. It’s a mix of lime jello, cool whip, and pineapple chunks. It’s definitely a little weird, but so traditional for my family. My grandma used to say our family brought it over on the Mayflower. 1) My family didn’t come over on the Mayflower. 2) There wasn’t jello back in the day. She thought it made the recipe sound better. We always butterscotch pie too, which we did bring over with us from Scotland.
I tried this Pioneer Woman recipe for pumpkin cake with whiskey whipped cream time last year… let’s just say I will NEVER have Thanksgiving without it again 🙂
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/10/pumpkin-cake-with-whiskey-whipped-cream/
Coconut dream pie! Its rich but light and airy. My mom got the recipe 20 years ago and makes it every year. It uses pudding and dream whip as the main ingredients. I could get the recipe if you’re interested. 🙂
I made your stuffing last year and it was a big hit! I’m looking forward to it again.
i’m so glad you liked it! it’s a family favorite around here. 🙂
my fav!
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pumpkin-dessert/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=pumpkin%20dessert&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page
We like to mix it up on Thanksgiving and include a family recipe ice cream dessert – it’s called Yummy Yummy dessert. Because it’s just that…yummy. It’s a crust made of crushed Oreos and Heath bars, topped with 2 layers of ice cream (usually vanilla and mint chip are among the fave) and topped with hot fudge/carmel and more crumbles of Oreo and Heath bars! I’m telling you, it’s ridiculously good. Let me know if you want the exact recipe!
http://www.evilshenanigans.com/2009/05/mocha-cheesecake/ —- chocolate mocha cheesecake and pumpkin pie!
My mom has an amazing pineapple souffle recipe that we have every Easter because it pairs well with ham. I wonder if it’s the same recipe. Looks like a great menu! Stuffing is the best!
Better than sex PUMPKIN cake..look for it on pinterest. Its amazing!
Ok, you totally inspired me to host a Friendsgiving this year! It’s such a cute idea and I am super excited about it. Instead of turkey I am going to make stuffed acorn squash as the main dish- still need to figure out the sides though! (but mashed potatoes for sure).
Can’t wait to see how yours turns out 🙂
Derby pie is to die for! [It’s a pecan and chocolate based pie]. Or maybe a trifle? With a chocolate mousse layer, a cake/brownie layer, a nut/toffee layer, a whipped cream layer…the possibilities are endless!
how have i never had this derby pie creation before!?
Definitely a pumpkin pie girl 🙂
Ooey gooey pumpkin cakes are awesome!!! ( as long as you’re not looking for something lower in calories ha)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pumpkin-gooey-butter-cakes-recipe/index.html
or Peanut butter pie (which is my all time favorite!!!) http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/another-pie/
I am OBSESSED with the Bolthouse farms Yogurt Ranch! I have to buy two bottles at a time! I had a ranch dressing aversion for probably 10 years and now I want to drink it! Funny how tastes change.
My aunt makes stuffing just like that and I LOVE it! It’s my favorite thanksgiving dish as well! Also, we made Pioneer Woman’s mashed potatoes last year and they were the best I’ve ever had! Who knew to add cream cheese to them? Yum!
As far as dessert, this Pumpkin Lust Cake looks so good to me. http://www.sweettreatsmore.com/2011/11/pumpkin-lust-cake.html.
P.S. Love your blog!
oh yum! thank you so much for sharing, morgan!
For the past few years, my boyfriend and I have hosted a Friendsgiving celebration since we live far from our families and cannot make the trip home for Thanksgiving. I’ve made these Hungry Girl Caramel Pumpkin Pudding Cupcakes in mini versions and they are a hit (no left-overs) every year!!! http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/hungry-girls-caramel-pumpkin-pudding-cupcakes/
A few years Friendsgivings ago, a friend of mine whipped out the Betty Crocker and turned it into a turkey…it was SO cute and delicious nonetheless!
Apple pie and pumpkin pie (with vanilla icecream) are the best Thanksgiving foods!!!!!
Stuffing is by far my favorite thanksgiving food! I also love mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and squash!
Honey Pecan Pie is my fav. dessert. and turnip casserole is my fav. sidedish.
That stuffing looks fab! My fav sidedish is my mom’s sweet potato pie though (with marshmallows!).
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/turtle-pumpkin-pie-106961.aspx
I make this every year- its so easy, light and delicious! caramel, pumpkin, and pecans!
i’ve made that before!! SO good!
http://pinterest.com/pin/10836855324612216/ Haven’t tried this one yet but I LOVE cinnamon nuts
http://pinterest.com/pin/10836855323913678/
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe (big fan of lemon on EVERYTHING) and have made it a lot. Hope these help
I’ve made the following cake every year for Thanksgiving since 2006 and it’s always a hit. Such a super moist chocolate cake!
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/glazed_chocolate_pumpkin_bundt_cake.html
You have inspired me to have a Friendsgiving of my own this year, but what we are doing is having it Friday night after Thanksgiving, so everyone brings a leftover (touched up of course) and then we’re turning it into a Christmas Tree Lighting party as well! Woohoo!!! So we get rid of the leftovers and enjoy some friend-time as well. 😉 Thanks for the idea!!!
My mother in law makes the most amazing stuffing. She always goes out of town however, so we make it now And I cannot have thanksgiving without hashbrown casserole!
Besides the turkey my favorite part of thanksgiving meals is the sweet potato casserole! I think I could just eat that for dessert and be quite happy! ha You should definitely make your pumpkin dip though, that sounded so delicious!
I love Bolthouse Farms yogurt-based dressing..the ranch flavor is great!
Thanksgiving is such a random holiday for me because I was such a picky eater as a child that I still have these bad habits as an adult. Although I will TRY more things now of course but I just don’t like alot of things, including Turkey.
I think we I have these awful memories of getting to taste turkey on Thanksgiving after it was passed around to the adults first and by the time it got to myself and my siblings at the kids table, it was freezing cold. So I would pile on the salt. And that didn’t make it taste any better.
I finally tasted mashed potatoes for the first time maybe 5 or 6 years ago. Again, I was just a really picky eater as a child and something that was all mashed up didnt appeal to me.
So NOW, I will make something simple like an Apple Stuffing (apple cider instead of water and apple slices mixed in, deeelish!) and one year my aunt made me a Spinach and Artichoke lasagna when I went vegetarian for a year. Everyone loved it, including the meat lovers.
you have a bubbe???? my mom is bubbe to my twin girls!! 🙂
anyways, my fav thanksgiving dish is…… wow so many good things to chose from but if i had to pick one i would say i like the whole berry cranberry sauce! and my fav dessert would be prob pumpkin pie with pecan pie as a a very close second!! 🙂
also i make a delicious homemade pumpkin cheesecake with a yummy homemade gingersnap crust! mmmmm! 🙂
I love mashed potatoes. One year we were cutting down the sides that we make for thanksgiving and someone suggested we cut out the potatoes.
I don’t think that person will be invited this year, lol
My mom also makes great stuffing and fantastic pecan pie. I really like the idea of a chocolate french silk pie for dessert. I’ve made the one from Pioneer Woman’s site and it is delish.
Pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling and as a family favorite – gooseberry pie for all holidays and family dinners!
I, too, stir my peas into my mashed potatoes! And my corn and carrots 🙂
Pumpkin Trifle! Layers of gingerbread cake, pumpkin fluff and whipped cream! Its so good 🙂
I just started making this recipe last year and it is amazing. It is from Pioneer Woman and it’s super easy. i only use 1 can of the soda though. http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/02/apple_dumplings/
Also, my husband’s family makes this amazing onion, greuye (sp) cheese casserole. It is so good. Let me know if you want the recipe. It’s easy to make. Some people don’t like onions and I understand.
Can you share all of your recipes too?!
Hahah.. I totally noticed turkey didn’t make it to the party til a few other key players were added first. I’m craving a turkey dinner today, probably the only reason I noticed.
for a twist on apple pie you could try this….
http://noblepig.com/2009/10/upside-down-apple-pie/
maybe overkill though with the pecan cake….not sure about a twist on the pumpkin pie…guess i’m pretty traditional on that one….
I know I’m WAY late to this post, but I wanted to share my butterscotch pecan pie recipe for your next Friendsgiving menu! I just buy the pie dough (I’m too lazy to make my own) and press it into a pie plate and chill for 30 mins. Preheat the oven t0 425 and place a baking sheet in the oven to heat for 30 minutes. For the filling: Brown 6 TB butter and let cool. Mix together 2 eggs, 3/4 c packed light brown sugar, 3/4 c light corn syrup, 1/4 c cream, 2 TB scotch, 1 TB flour, 2 tsp vanilla extract and 1/4 tsp salt. Add the browned butter once it’s cooled. Spread 2 1/4 c toasted pecan halves on top of the pie dough, pour the filling in, and place the pie on the hot baking sheet. Lower the oven temp to 325 and bake 45-55 minutes, until the filling is mostly set. This pie is YUM and my husband pretty much does whatever I want when I make it 🙂