LOL, cyn--got lots of soup left. I have two containers in the fridge and a large Ziplock in the freezer. Come by anytime--just make sure I know you're coming and if I don't have any in the fridge, I'll thaw out the one in the freezer! I wound up using Pastina rather than noodles, and did both the white potatoes and the sweet and it's really good! I like to use Butternut Squash in soups, too, instead of carrots. So yummy!!! I wish I had some celery to add to the pot, though! I think it would have been even better! I love left-over turkey anything, sandwiches, heated up as the main meat and just eating it cold, a morsel at the time! And, leftover pumpkin pie is the best!!!! Sigh--it won't last long though, will it! :o)

What a Thanksgiving! dS2 left today to drive back up north to college, dd and boyfriend left Thursday evening to back to their homes and jobs, Auntie left yesterday afternoon, still have MIL and DS1 and his gf. DH and his mom are tending the bonfire, DS and GF are playing tennis and I am taking a break in the library :-). We took MIL who has advancing dementia to local ballet school matinee performance of the Nutcracker today and she LOVED it, much to our surprise and delight! Biggest excitement--- daughter's boyfriend asked DH for our permission to ask her to marry him! We are keeping quiet as he plans to do this in a few weeks and we don't want spoil the surprise! We could not be happier as the young man is exactly who we would order as a SIL and he is truly devoted to our girl. Tired of cooking and serving, that's for sure! Mtn, I realized -- finally-- that I used a 9.5" springform pan instead of a 9" or 8", which is why it looked so flat. It was still delicious, though, and the apple pie from our local Methodist youth group was fantastic! And do you know, I am sending people home with their gingerbread house kits. We were having such a good time talking and visiting that the afternoon sped by with no need for a planned indoor activity! We will save ours for Christmas Eve when my nephews are staying over. Chibimimi, you are a veritable pioneer! I cannot imagine cooking over an open fire and really admire you for not giving in and running to the nearest restaurant. Bbstx, wine was definitely involved! We had a Viognier and a Beaujolais for our turkey dinner, and shooters of hot wassail spiked with spiced rum in mini christmas mugs. Let's just say it was pretty cheerful oPattyxlynn, what a great idea for a dessert/snack---- caramelized apple chips----and I'll bet your apple cinnamon loaves were delicious! I am often dubious of the photos I see on Pinterest.......they look like the product of a craft room staff, not a single harried individual with a pair of scissors and a roll of ribbon. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Last year Christmas happened to coincide with Hanukkah so I invited a few Jewish friends over and made latkes. Everyone was thrilled to have something fun and social to do on Christmas day - you know, there's not a WHOLE lot going on that day if you don't celebrate Christmas. :) So, this year, although Hanukkah is over, I decided to do another Christmas "Jewbilee". I'm going to make a turkey the day before so I can serve sliced turkey, along with Sol's honey rolls. In addition, I'm having: French bread slices with two TJs bruschetta toppings (picked up by Nathan in New York for me!) Walnut topped with Bleu Cheese and Grape (I posted the recipe on the walnut thread) Raw Veggies with Sun-Dried Tomato Dip plucked off of the Basil thread, posted by cabogirl Cheese blocks - I set out hunks o' cheese and people slice pieces off. This is wildly popular. My old standard, hot/sweet Jelly over cream cheese For dessert I'm making Martha Stewart's English Toffee Pecan Pie, and a friend is bringing a Hershey Bar Pie. I'm expecting 20 people. A couple of them will probably bring more munchies but I don't have any definite promises of specific things. I'm wondering if this is enough, I might make some meatballs in a ketchup/beer sauce as well. Merry Christmas to you all!

Years ago, when DD was little, my husband started making Christmas Eve dinner. I do a lot of baking for the holiday (I do all the desserts, and usually the breads for our family feast) and he wanted to give me a break. Problem is, the man can't cook. So our 'traditional' C. Eve dinner is: pizza made on pita breads. Hey, as long as I don't have to fuss, and there isn't a lot of extra clean-up, I'm a happy camper. They were delicious, and we somehow managed to get them baked in between the oven being used for my pumpkin toffee cheesecake, and the brownie layer for my Kamora Brownie Cream Torte. Not to mention the other dinnertime emergency that cropped up (see my 'he's Sweet' post)