Our Early Thanksgiving

This post is a tad late, with what it already December 9, but I really wanted to document what we were up to this past Thanksgiving.

Brian had to work on Thanksgiving Day (he was mandatoried two weeks before), so the three of us celebrated a day early with a feast at home. 

Brian and I collaborated on the menu. We wanted to include foods we ate growing up as well as dishes we've come to love as adults.  And the meal had to be fairly easy and quick to pull together, especially with a 22-month-old under foot.

Here's a look at our menu:

• Turkey | We had planned to buy a turkey breast, but opted for a whole turkey because they were just a few dollars more.  Before placing the turkey in the oven, Brian rubbed it down with butter, and sprinkled it with some salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary.  

• Mashed potatoes | I love me some creamy mashed potatoes like my mom made growing up, but this year, we decided to go with sweet potatoes.  Because, you see, Brian makes the most delicious sweet mashed potatoes.  I'm getting hungry just thinking about them.    

• Gravy | I'm not a fan of gravy, but Brian loves it with his turkey.  For us, the canned variety was good enough. Easy peasy.  

• Stuffing | Stove Top all the way!   

• Cooked Carrots | We don't have cooked carrots very often (Brian is not a fan), so it was a real treat to have them.  Thanks to our friend, Scott, for sharing his yummy recipe.  The secret ingredient: Honey.

• Cranberry | Noah and I love cranberry (whole berry). Brian: Not so much.

• Biscuits | I tried these frozen biscuits at a friends' house a few months ago, and it was love at first bite.  Brian and Noah think they are scrumptious, too.

• Pumpkin Pecan Pie | Brian and I both love pumpkin pie AND pecan pie, and we couldn't decide which one we'd rather have. Enter this Pumpkin Pecan Pie.  While the pie cooked up just right, Brian and I both agreed that, in the future, we'd rather have pumpkin pie OR pecan pie, or both--just not in the same pie.

And the coolest part about preparing a Thanksgiving Eve feast at your house?  Leftovers. For days.