Thanksgiving Menu! (and last day for photoshop giveaway)

Things are about to get a little quiet around here for the next week. You see it is Thanksgiving! (seriously my favorite holiday) and I host Thanksgiving at my house each year for my Husbands family. This does include cooking everything. I love every second! It's my 5th year hosting and so I have my "schedule" down. I thought I would share some of the recipes I am using, and my menu for anyone who is making some or all of their thanksgiving. I am also so in need of a few recipes if you have them... and since you are all awesome I bet you do.

So when it comes to Thanksgiving we always start with appetizers! They serve a dual purpose, entertaining company while they wait for dinner, and they keep the kids out of the kitchen begging for food. (do your kids do that too?) Jude is actually a HUGE help in the kitchen but about 1 hour before dinner things get crazy in the kitchen and Jude gets impatient and is just ready for food, so the appetizers are perfect. I try to keep them as kid friendly as possible.
This year I am making this:

Recipe and tutorial found HERE

I am not positive that I will carve a pumpkin for the bowl although I love the idea, throwing it in a bowl is super easy. The kids will love it and I am pretty certain the adults will too. 

I am also having pumpkin bread. This year I am going to make this one:

Recipe found here cream cheese swirl, yes please!

We will also have a shrimp platter as per tradition. (don't ask how that one got started) 

Now for dinner:

Turkey of course but I don't do a whole turkey. No one ever eats the dark meat, the bones are a hassle and it takes up a whole oven while baking. So I always pick up a turkey breast roast. They are a pretty good size. We normally do two to feed 10 but this year I am doing a pork loin roast as well so I am doing 1 of each. Turkey is super easy. I throw it in the crockpot the night before with a few cloves of garlic (chopped) Salt pepper, and a McCormick Grill marrinade packet. (they come in several flavors and are delicious) Add water to cover and cook on low until dinner time. Always perfect and delicious and I don't have to worry about a dry turkey. 

Source: marthastewart.com via Shauna on Pinterest

For the pork loin roast I will roast it along with the carrots and potatoes following the recipie I pinned from Martha Stewart. 

A favorite each year is roasted butternut squash. It is so good and each year I make it a little different than the last. 

Last year I made this one

This year I am adding apple (cored and chopped) and putting them in a roasting pan with butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and just a hint of red pepper. 

Sweet savory, and salty mmm....

Source: whatscookingamerica.net via Shauna on Pinterest

For the best cranberry chutney I have ever had, and everyone even avid cranberry haters loved this. I followed the recipe (via pintrest) Only I skipped the grand mariner and used pure vanilla instead. Then I added some cloves and cinniomon. This year I am going to step it up a little more and add some pomegranate after the cranberries are chopped plus you make it the day before and let it sit so it's the perfect cranberries!


Also on the Menu, but nothing special:
Broccoli (with lemon and garlic)
Stuffing
Mac n' Cheese (for the kids)
Mashed potatoes
Juilleined potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Jello Salad
Butter rolls


Do you guys have a killer stuffing, or broccoli recipie you care to share? How about your favorite must have item for Thanksgiving dinner? 


Dessert is fairly low key this year:

Source: hostedmedia.reimanpub.com via Shauna on Pinterest

As soon as I saw this trifle I knew I had to make it for my husband for Thanksgiving. And I am pretty sure I gained 5 pounds just looking at it. Seriously though it has to be good!

We will also have a cherry almond pie. (I am winging that so if you have a recipe you love please share!)

Lastly a pear crisp torte with pears fresh from our tree, it's a little recipe I made up and it is so good. I will get around to sharing it one of these days.

So let's hear it, are you cooking this Thanksgiving? If so what are you making? What is your favorite recipe?

Also remember that Friday is the last day to enter the giveaway!