Yesterday was our first installment of Thanksgiving. My parents were in town, and we had dinner at our house (my family, brother and his wife, my parents). We have a small kitchen, but it worked. I didn’t put on a huge spread, but had all the necessities: turkey, potatoes (sweet and regular), cranberry sauce, mom’s stuffing, cornbread, pie and cranberry bread (mom’s). Oh – and beets. I like beets. Nothing to do with the traditional Thanksgiving fare, just that I like them.
I have a new favorite recipe: Grandmother’s Corn Bread
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (I use 1/2 butter, 1/2 Crisco)
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk (I “sour” my milk stirring in 2T. white vinegar, letting the milk sit for 10 min. or so)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup cornmeal
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan. (I double this recipe and use my large cast iron skillet, which is what I melt my butter and Crisco in)
- Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
The directions, to me, are a little sketchy since the eggs begin to cook in the hot butter, and it seems weird to mix in baking soda with the liquid. So, I add a little milk in with the sugar to cool it, add the eggs, quickly add the milk, and I give the dry ingredients a little stir before adding them, too. No problems and everyone likes it.
We all fit around the table, though it was a squeeze. After the food was done, the adults sat around the table a little longer to have wine, coffee, dessert and to talk. This was the first family holiday we’ve had since my parents have retired and moved out of town. I wish I had enough space that they could have stayed with us (they stayed in a hotel), but we hardly have space for ourselves. We’ll have to figure that one out. Maybe the kids will have to squeeze in a bit better. The evening went well. Sometimes it takes a holiday to get everyone together; I was thankful for the excuse.
It had been confusing having the kids go back to school this morning, since I’m in the mode of the holiday, feeling like we’re already into it. Not. Quite. Yet.
Thursday, Frank’s side of the family is having Thanksgiving dinner – this time at his cousin’s house. I don’t know what that will be like, but there will be chaos, excitement of the cousins running around – the norm. that we are accustomed to.
Today is my work-at-home day. I had Dante, along with Lootie, take the car to school this morning since they have a two-a-day wrestling today (morning and after school). I’m car-less, but not without plenty to do around the house. Laundry, cleaning, meal-planning… there’s always something to do. I might even walk to the store if it isn’t too cold out. We will see. Hopefully I can be productive instead of a sleepy little slug. Right now all I feel like doing is curling up on the couch and knitting.
. They aren’t the most attractive sunglasses, but they are convenient and they do the job.
= Yuck. Won't be buying or trying that again.
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