How Are You Spending Thanksgiving?

Tom and I are cooking a full spread tomorrow--turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. We're going to try our hand at a real stuffing, but I have a box of Stove Top standing by, just in case. I'm also going to try a new appetizer recipe I just learned--crostini with a fig-proscuitto tapanade. Our friends Jay and Erik are coming over for dinner, since her mom does Thanksgiving dinner closer to lunchtime, and we have ours ready later in the day. After we roll away from the table, we lie around and watch Survivor. It's like our little tradition. In previous years, our friend Candi came by for dinner, but since she moved to Ohio that won't be happening this year. We'll be sure to call her in between the cooking and the football and the eating.

Last year, CJ was just getting into table food, so I can't wait to watch him dig into everything this year.

So, what are your Thanksgiving traditions, and how are you spending the holiday?

We Eat Ham on Turkey Day

Maybe it's because we usually eat Turkey breast year round, but don't eat much ham, but we don't eat turkey on Turkey Day. So, I swiped this recipe from the official Coca-Cola website, 'cause this is similar to how we always cooked our Thanksgiving ham.

5-6 pound ham
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups Coca-Cola
1 cup crushed pineapple (optional)

Wash ham thoroughly. Rub fat side with brown sugar. Pour Coke over ham, carefully trying not to dislodge too much of the sugar. Pour crushed pineapple all over ham. Bake at 450 degrees for 3 hours. Makes 6 servings.

(or if you've got cash to spare you can always go to The Honeybaked Ham company and get one of those yummy hams)

For more recipes using Coca-Cola (including one for Cherry Coke ham - not too sure if I'll try that this year) go to the official Coca-Cola recipes web site.

Beans and Rice

This is pretty basic, but I like it.
1 cup rice
1 11 or 15.5 oz. can corn
1 15.5 oz. can chili beans
2 servings pepperoni or beef bites (I used Bridgford this time but like Old Wisconsin better, whatever floats your boat)

Combine 1 cup rice, 2 cups water, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon salt, and (optionally) copious amounts of Cayenne pepper and curry powder in a suitably sized sauce pan. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer of low heat for 15 minutes. Let sit for a few minutes after you've turned off the heat

Drain corn, sprinkle with cinnamon, and cook on high in microwave for 3 min..

Combine beans and meat bits in saucepan and cook over low heat until hot.

Once everything's done cooking mix it all together. Probably serves 6 since I usually get three meals out of it.

I also like to add shredded Monterey Jack cheese when I've got it.