Thanksgiving: Hearts and Stomachs full of Gratitude

In all the hussle and bussle of moving across the country, Michelle and I never got to properly celebrate our one year anniversary.  So, this year we pushed our Thanksgiving back a few days and spent the bulk of the holiday in Asheville, NC (see Asheville post). 

While we enjoyed the minor breach of tradition by eating out at a Nepalese restaurant on Thanksgiving day, we couldn't imagine letting the week go by without ingesting some good ole turkey and the classic turkey day spread.....so we didn't!

Michelle spear headed the effort to cook a turkey, homemade stuffing, potatoes, sweet potato crunch, a garden salad, and a couple of pies (blueberry and apple). Once again (no offense moms, grandmothers, aunts, et al.) Michelle's turkey and pies were the best I've ever had. Though the pictures don't do the meal justice, I included a few below just to wet your appetite.

As per usual, we cooked our turkey in a crock pot, in the oven. Somehow the turkey comes out perfectly moist and flavored. Michelle had it seasoning in one of our 5 gallon utility buckets (see above) and it was seasoned to perfection.

I was in charge of the sweet potato crunch, a southern favorite. Neither of us is a huge fan of candied yams but we figured this regional alternative might be worth a shot and it was. It was so sweet though it was pretty much a third pie with an almost warm, pumpkiny flavor and consistency. Yum!

Michelle tried a new trick and instead of using a pastry cutter to "cut" the butter into the pie crust she froze the butter and grated it into the mix with a cheese greater. It worked like a charm and made a delicious crust.

Delicious (see above)!! And the pie was great too. :)

Oh, this picture just reminded me. Michelle made a fruit jello as well. Overall a great spread and we were careful not to make too much of the things that don't keep well (Mashed potatos two weeks later are not so good).

We were so grateful to have this yummy food after having a wonderful trip in Asheville. We are so fortunate and feel truly blessed. More than the material things we have, we are so grateful for our family and friends and for technology that allows us to stay connected through conversations and the exchange of pictures and stories. We are grateful to those people who have welcomed us to the South with open arms and are especially grateful to our Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ, whose arm's are stretched out continually in mercy and love. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.