Thankgiving Yummy Recipes

We spent thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family. Thirty-five people gathered round the table (ok, tables) for the feast. Everyone was assigned dishes to bring.

My mom and I made: salad, Sweet Potato Casserole, 2 pumpkin pies, pumpkin cheesecake, and Chocolate Chip Pie.

I was particularly pleased with the end result of the Sweet Potato Casserole - it was nothing like the monstrosity that mom typically makes - candied yams (made from canned sweet potatoes topped with marshmellows).

Judging by the amount consumed and the compliments heaped on it - the Sweet Potato Casserole was a success!

Sweet Sweet Potato Casserole

INGREDIENTS
5 large sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup whipping cream
2.5 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups pecans
1 cup flaked coconut
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon all-spice

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
Boil the sweet potatoes in a large saucepan approximately 10 minutes, or until tender.
In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, brown sugar, cinnamon, all-spice, cream, butter, 1/2 of the pecans and flour. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining pecans and coconut.
Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven.

The other recipe that got rave reviews is the Chocolate Chip Pie - a recipe stolen from my sweet friend, Monika. I've made it several times - including entering it in the Bake-Off at my work, for which it was awarded 2nd place. It's very rich, very delicious, and very easy!

Chocolate Chip Pie

INGREDIENTS

2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts, chopped
9" unbaked pie shell

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs until foamy. Add flour, sugars, and butter; beat until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Spoon into pie shell and bake for 1 hour.

Thanksgiving with the Family

J.T. and I alternate spending Thanksgiving with each of our families. Last Thanksgiving, we celebrated with his family out at Turkey Creek Ranch in Cross Plains.

This Thanksgiving was spent in the typical Hastie way - a mammoth feast with a gaggle of family followed by a hayride. This year was no exception!

Following are some pictures:

Here we are after dinner... cousin Lauren on far left, my dad in the background, and me on the right.

My cousins Sophia and Julia with their chic new haircuts.

Out on the hayride - my dad's sister Marilyn and baby cousin Rachael and my cousins Amanda and Shay.

My Grandaddy being silly.

The whole group on the hayride.

As usual, Cooper got lots of lovin'

Here I am with my cousin Jessica's 2 week old baby, Coulter.

My sweet uncle, David. He looks tough, but he's a teddy bear!

And finally...

"Honey, can we have one soon?"

I Starred in a Fashion Show This Weekend

At least according to my mom…. Anyone else might say that I participated in the show. I pranced. I sashayed. I struck several poses. And I repeated at least a million times in my head “I will not trip, I will not trip.”
The repetition must have worked – no stubbed toes, no trips, and [most thankfully] no falls.

The Fashion Show and Luncheon was themed “Passionately Pink…Celebrating Sisters” – so my sister Shelley joined me in the modeling. It was a fun experience to share with her. Both of our “scenes” featured coordinating clothing – animal prints and the [sparkliest] trend of the season – metallics.

The event was a fundraiser for the Susan B Komen Breast Cancer foundation, featuring the guest speaker Suzie Humphrey -- a Professional Motivational Speaker and Humorist. Suzie has an impressive resume and amusing [yet slightly predictable] approach to speaking and life. The most remarkable thing about Suzie, in my opinion, was her courageous battle with breast cancer.

At the end of the presentation – she had the “survivors” in the room come to the front. I blinked back tears as women of all ages proceeded to the front. I was struck by some of the younger women, barely older than I.

Breast Cancer has hit 2 in my family – my beloved Aunt Chris and my great Aunt Jo (my grandmother Joy’s sister). The luncheon got me excited about 2 upcoming events. First on Saturday, November 3rd – the TCU football game will be themed “Frogs for the Cure” and feature pink shirts in an attempt to “Pink Out” the stadium. $3 per t-shirt is donated to Komen. Also, on Saturday, April 26th – I’ll be running the 5k “Race for the Cure” with fellow women in my provisional class of Junior League. (I better start training now!) =) If you are reading this – expect to be hit up for a donation next spring…

And until then (because anyone who knows me, knows that I love to shop), here’s a link for you: Think Pink: Goods that Do Good because what better way to shop than to feel good about it?

Tiny Dancer In My Head....

In the words of Elton John "...tiny dancer in my head..."
Ever since my brother David sent me this link, I've been borderline obsessed with this.

*Right brain vs. left brain test: is the dancer turning clockwise or counterclockwise?

My mom is convinced that there's a conspiracy against her - that we are just *teasing* her - that it only moves clockwise.

Which way does it move for you?

*This was originally from the Freakonomics blog - which is sheer genius, in my opinion.

Welcome home!

Often I don't feel like my life is "blog-worthy." J.T. and I are typical DINKs - who lead fairly average [busy] lives... working a lot and playing a little.

Today I did something out of the ordinary.

I had the opportunity to go to the DFW International Airport and welcome our troops home.

Armed with a patriotic poster, I had no idea what to expect.

There was a group of about 200, waiting to greet the 110 troops arriving at DFW. While we were waiting, we sang "God Bless America","The Star Spangled Banner" and "O Beautiful".

After a 45 minute wait, we learned that the flight had arrived. A few minutes later, cheers errupted from those that had glimpsed the soldiers walking down the hall.

One by one they filtered through - some basking in the glory of the cheers, some looking shell-shocked and scared. A few had a final destination here in the metroplex, so they were met by loving famiy and friends. Some soliders shook every hand out-stretched to them, while some looked straight ahead.

There were two that made a particular impression on me - one was a boy who reminded me of my little cousin Pete. He could not have been any older than 18 - his face pale and serious, his eyes sad. I found myself wondering what he had witnessed and experienced - imagining him as a carefree boy in years, but a man in experience.

Another man in his 30's was met by a wife and grandmother. The grandmother was a slight thing with wispy white hair and tears rolling down her weathered cheeks. She held one of his hands in both of her small hands, tenderly patting it as they walked. As I watched, my own eyes welled up with tears and my heart offered up a small prayer of thanksgiving for my husband safely at his office.

Since I don't have any family or friends fighting in the war - it's easy for me to forget about what's going on. But after such an emotion-filled experience, my heart echos the words on the posters:

Thank You for What You Do
Welcome Home
&
God Bless America

Baby "Lucky"

My cousin Josslyn & her husband Ross welcomed their 2nd child today- a little boy born 5 weeks early. Although he is not yet named, the doctor affectionately called him Lucky when he was born. (In case you are the medically or gory inclined, the sack fortunately did not tear near the placenta blood vessels, which would have caused the little guy to bleed to death. )
Baby Lucky weighed 5 lbs. 8 oz. and was 18 inches long.

Congratulations Joss, Ross & Peyton on the new addition to your family!

Back to Juniper Hills Farms

I'm very excited -- J.T. and I just booked a weekend trip to Juniper Hill Farms in the spring.
We'll be going on March 14th - 16th, staying in the fabulous Casita Roja. I'm interested to see what the view from our cabin will be like in late Winter/early Spring.
I'm hoping to take J.T. to Mandola Winery while we are in the area - and perhaps stock up on some wine.

Here is the description of the class we'll be taking:
Outdoor Wood Oven Cooking

• Stove Top Sangria
• Pizza: BBQ Chicken and Grilled Onions
• Roasted Garlic, Mushroom Medley Saute and Prosciutto Sausage and Peppers
• Apple Tarte Tatin

Sounds like quite a feast!