Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Tuesday

Thanksgiving is one of my family's favorite times of year. It is a time when Terry always takes the entire week off of work -- and Uncle Dennis always comes to visit!! I believe it is Dennis' visit that makes this time of year so special for us. This year he arrived on Tuesday.

We began the morning with monkey bread. I used a different recipe this year -- which proved much easier and just as tastey. Instead of dipping each piece of biscuit in butter before putting it in the cinnamon sugar -- I merely put all of the biscuits pieces right in the cinnamon sugar mixture and shook to coat. Then I placed all of the pieces in the bunt pan. I melted 2 sticks of butter with 1/2 cup brown sugar and the remainder of the coating mixture. This I poured over the biscuits. Terry suggested more brown sugar would have been better -- making a mental note of that... I also let the monkey bread sit a good 10 minutes before flipping the pan -- this worked very well. Perhaps thought the most important step was butter the pan thoroughly.

After breakfast I ran to the store for a couple of last minute items before Miranda and I headed off to the airport. (Terry enjoyed some much needed R and R while Nick still had classes at PSC.) Dennis' flight was a bit early -- and I only had to circle once before being able to pick him up -- but not before being screamed at by airport security -- welcome to Chicago!!

When we arrived home the Italian Beef was ready for lunch ( I had started it at 3:00am when the Pepper was asking to go outside...). I learned that Italian Beef is a specifically Chicago thing -- so quite a treat for Dennis -- I will have to remember this!!

After a short rest I began making Jambalya. This would be lunch on Wednesday -- but because of a long KMAS rehearsal I thought it best to make a day ahead. While it was very tasty -- my recommendation in the future would be make the Jamb up to the rice step -- frig it. When ready to eat -- heat to a boil -- add rice -- cook 15- 25 -- let stand 10 more -- ready to eat. This will make it less bulking and the rice less gummy. (But it was still enjoyable!!)

We made a quick broccoli dip for a snack before heading off to the Fine Arts band / tone chimes / orchestra concert. The concert was wonderful!!! Orchestra was a bit long -- but that may have only been because I do not have a child playing in the orchestra. I loved seeing Miranda playing tone chimes for the very first time!!

We ended the evening at Chicago Dough with some awesome pizza!! All in all a wonderful first day of Thanksgiving!!

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