Thanksgiving Prep

I made my to-do list for Thanksgiving and got started today.  I'm trying to do as much as I can ahead of time so it isn't too crazy on Thanksgiving itself.

I started the morning by making a batch of granola.  I make my own, full of nuts, oats, coconut, sesame seeds, brown sugar, honey and cinnamon.  When it's done baking, I add in dried cherries and blueberries.

Next I browned a turkey wing and some chicken scraps from the freezer.  When I roast a chicken, I save the carcass for stock.  I added onion, parsnips, carrots, celery and a huge bouquet of herbs.  I had it simmering on the stove for most of the day.  I will use it for our gravy on Thanksgiving.

I made pie dough for a single (pumpkin) and a double (apple).  I wrapped the dough and put it in the freezer.  Thursday, all I will need to do is roll it out, fill it, and bake.  Making the dough is the most time consuming and messy part of making pie.

I also tore a loaf of artisan bread into little pieces, tossed it with olive oil, and toasted it in the oven.  It will go in the stuffing.

Last, I made cranberry sauce.  I put a cup of port in a pot with a couple cinnamon sticks and let it simmer together for about five minutes.  Then I added a bag of cranberries, the zest and juice of an orange, some sugar and a smidge of water (the orange wasn't very juicy).  Brett and I sucked on the cinnamon sticks when it was done.

Meanwhile, Brett and his friend Richard spent the entire day working on the fences.  Everytime I looked outside, they were in a different pasture working on a section of fence.  Richard left at dusk and we collapsed on the couch.  Dinner?  I had a bowl of Frosted Flakes and Brett had a can of barbeque beans.