Claudine, Oui c'est Francais

Thanksgiving in review....

Thanksgiving is now over, the food has been put away (thank goodness we have two refrigerators) the guests are full and have gone home and my feet are up.

But we had a great day with lots of great food, if I would say so myself.....

Here are some pics from the day

Place card holders, I had so much fun using the gold I would have gilded the cats. I sprayed some floral wire and the twisted the ends to hold the cards. I will put them away and they will be great for next fall, but of course I couldn't use them for Thanksgiving again. It's like a Oscar dress, you just don't do it twice..... :)

and lots of glitter

and here is the gorgeous Cranberry Glazed Turkey

and last but not least, my Mini Martha I call her. She has on one of my favorite things from the Macy's collection, the apron timer...... I will have her trained up just right.....

So excited that Thanksgiving is over only because now comes the Christmas. I can't wait to decorate tomorrow afternoon and all weekend!

November 22, 1963

November 22, 1963

44 years ago today a day that I think changed this country happened. On a Friday morning in Dallas Texas, John F Kennedy was killed. It is a day that people remember exactly where they were when the heard the news. Since I wasn't born then and wouldn't be for 8 more years, I can't count myself as one that had that moment.

But I do remember sitting in my 8th grade history class and watching the mini-series Kennedy staring Martin Sheen as JFK and Blair Brown as Jackie. I remember being so sad at the assassination portion of the movie. But before that the movie focused on the life of Kennedy, and his family and even what was going on in the country in the 60's. I remember vividly watching the scenes of the African American men and women being beaten by horrible white men because they wanted to ride on a bus. It sickened me to see this and I remember it to this day.

I remember watching this movie and I think that it really shaped the way I think and believe. I am a one of those bleeding heart liberals that believes that we need to help our fellow man, that social injustice is wrong and when things like Hurricane Katrina happen and our government reacts the way that they did it is  horrific.  What JFK and his brother Robert Kennedy and also during that time Martin Luther King stood for and what they tried to change in this country should be remembered and should be something we still strive for 44 years later.

I  believe that if JFK had not been shot, this country would be a very different place today.

Thanksgiving

It is almost Thanksgiving, the menu is finalized, the to do list is getting bigger instead of smaller and my finger is bright gold....

Oh so much to do to be ready for Thursday.  There is still pumpkins to be glittered, place cards to be made and taffeta to be ironed. But the cake is already made, the Pate Brisee is made and the apples are gilded gold. Oh what is a girl to do....

Here is the menu:

Hors d'Oeuvres

Clam Dip

Gougers

Gorgonzola dip with Crudites

Spicy Three Cheese Dip

Trio of Almonds

The main course:

Cranberry Glazed Turkey

Cranberry Cornbread stuffing

Sweet Potato Spoon Bread

Pan Roasted Balsamic Onions

Green Beans with Garlic and Parmesan

Blue Cheese Potato Gratin

Party Potatoes

Pancetta Brussels Sprouts

Popovers

The sweet stuff:

Turkey Cake

Pumpkin Pie

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Cream Cheese Ice Cream

Pumpkin Spice Cake

Do you have any questions about your Thanksgiving? How do you time everything in the oven? How long should your food sit out?  Who else would you ask but Martha and her team of experts. If you have Sirius satellite radio you can listen all day on Wednesday, November 21st and even call in and have your questions answered. Or of course watch Martha on tv and if you have Comcast Cable, you can see her OnDemand. More Martha is a very good thing...

Happy Thanksgiving.

What are your favorite Thanksgiving items you have to have every year?

Big Martha

Martha's mom passed away today, she was 93 years old. Some like to say when people live to that age that we should be happy that they have had a full life. Well that may be true, but it sure doesn't make it very easy. My Great Grandma Mickey lived to be 103 and what I would give for even one more year with her.

My thought to Martha and her family in this difficult time.

Watch the video and see just how adorable Big Martha as she was know is. I loved it when she was on the show with Martha....

brace yourself for the cuteness

I made this cute little duck for a baby shower at work. Although I would not let them cut into the duck while I was there. Now I see why the Ace of Cakes Duff Goldman won't stay at events when they cut into the cake. It is to hard to watch.... I love the little duckie.....

Now I needed to turn my attention to Turkeys and get my shopping list and menu for Thanksgiving set. I have been told to scale it back a little from last year... but obviously they don't know me very well.....

I can hardly wait for the day after Thanksgiving when the Christmas decorations come out of the boxes....

12 of 12 November

Where has the year gone? One more month down and another 12 of 12. While Chad (the 12 of 12 mastermind) walks the picket line the rest of his 12'ers will snap away. Check out the fellow 12ers here, I love checking them all out each and every month.

what my everday consists of, the stop at Starbucks, I love going to the drive thru's especially when it is windy and raining out, and nothing is more exciting then the first glimpse of the Christmas items coming out

And the wonderful RED CUP, I am not sure why, but I get very excited when the red cup comes out. It means Christmas and Glitter and Egg Nog Lattes and wonderful Christmas items to buy at Starbucks for the Starbucks Christmas tree... (well one of the 12 or so trees)

I just loved the mixture of colors in this pile of leaves

They tell us that are tree is dying, but it was the first in the neighborhood to turn red and it was beautiful. We had a huge windstorm today and lost 3 trees in our neighborhood, but our dying tree is still up and looking good.

getting gas in John's car on the way to see grandma, I think the prices go up everyday now. Thanks GW.... only one more year till we can move on from that giant disaster...

The Manzanita is no longer Halloween and is now Thanksgiving ready. Just more glitter....

 

How about a closer look at my sweet little turkey terrine

And of course I needed to get the new Martha Stewart embossed turkey platter available at Macy's. It almost matches my turkey plates that we use for Thanksgiving

Today is Veteran's day and I normally make a trip up to see Papa at the cemetery but we had to go up to Grandmas house after work, but I had to take a look at his Air Force hat and get a picture, the first thing I did when my uncle gave me his uniform and hat is smell it, to see if it still smells like him. John thought I was crazy.... (in the background is a silhouette of my grandpa when he was little)

my special envelope from the lovely people at Martha Stewart Living company, since I was named a "trusted blogger" by MSLO I get some special little envelopes every month with issues of all different Martha magazines before they hit the newsstand's. But my favorite part is the envelope with the Martha logo and my blog name...

Seriously, seriously can you be any cuter..... she gets in trouble from John when she lays on here and I will get in trouble when he see this, but come on!!!! How cute is she, would you kick her off the big comfy pillow?

A super yummy dinner, my favorite salmon with just some greens and a little vinaigrette. 

The bonus pic this month is *grateful*. The last picture is not one that I took but one that belonged to a friend of mine. She died suddenly last week at the young age of 58, of a sudden lung infection. One day we were exchanging emails and then next she was gone. Brought together due to our affection of Martha Stewart we became fast friends. The three amigos, Nancy, Kenn and I, we inspired each other to glitter anything that wouldn't move and make delicious things for dinner. Kenn even shared with me that he and I inspired Nancy to decorate for Christmas this year, something she hadn't done for years since she lost her mother near Christmas. This year we will each have something special that we can remember Nancy by, but we miss her dearly.

 

Special Baking Issue

Today when I arrived home I had a special treat in my mailbox. The special Holiday Baking issue from Martha's Everyday Food. It is a special issue on new stands now and I could not wait to rip into it. But first I always have to take a moment a look at the special label, with my name and blog name on it and the Martha Stewart living logo and address. I get so excited and I even save them, I know I am a nut!

So here are the highlights and things I can't wait to make:

In the beginning few pages are some great how to's like How to Whip Cream, How to make a crumb crust, How to line a cake pan. Great things that everybody should know!

It is then broken up into sections: 1. Home Baked Gifts; 2. Teatime treats; 3. Thanksgiving Classics; 4. Home-Style Desserts; 5. Grand Finales.

In the Home Baked Gifts, there are great things to make to then put into the wonderful Martha Crafts different boxes and bags in the new Christmas collection at Michael's.  and I think these sound great;

*Giant Chocolate Chip cookies on page 24

*Icebox butter cookies on page 35

*Cinnamon Sugar Cutout  cookies on page 36

Tea Time treats like:

*Cranberry Scones on page 47

*Blueberry Crumb Cake on page 51

*Glazed Lemon Pound Cake on page 52

Thanksgiving Classics

*Pear custard pie on page 63

*Pumpkin Bread Pudding page70

*Pumpkin Cheesecake on page 78

Home style Desserts

*Chocolate Bread Pudding page 82

*Pear Charlotte page 85

And last but not least the Grand Finales

*Molten Chocolate Cakes page 95

*Raspberry Trifle page page 100

*Coconut Layer Cake page 104

*Profiteroles page 107

*Chocolate Peppermint Cake page 108

Oh my god!!! Where do I start, I think for sure on the Grand Finales!

Also don't forget to vote today. And just imagine only ONE more year until we get to vote for a new president! Now that is something to be thankful for this holiday season!

Cooking Goodness

Two busy days and a bunch of cooking, just the perfect way to spend a day in my book... Friday my sister and family came over for dinner and then she and I decorated the cake for my nieces 3rd birthday party.

It was a Barefoot Contessa in Paris evening. One of my favorite Lemon Roasted Chickens with Croutons, Asparagus with Hollandaise and Roasted Potatoes. Super delicious!

 

The chicken is so good! You make croutons from a baguette and then when you take the chicken out of the roasting pan you place it on top of the croutons. The juice from the chicken and the caramelized onions over the croutons are SOOOOOOO good!!! I want to make it again right now!

And for Saturday night we had my nieces 3rd birthday, her birthday was weeks ago but since they just moved home and she's 3 she won't know the difference...

And it's not a party without the Famous Clam Dip, but I also made Grougers (french cheese puffs) they are little pillows of melt in your mouth goodness! And for dinner I made the always wonderful Martha Stewart Chicken Pot Pie, you can never go wrong with that.

Recognize the bowl or pedestal, I bet my friend Kenn does.... (they are the new Martha Macy's products)

And here are the puffs of goodness

And of course the birthday girl and her cake made with love by her mom and aunt....

 

New Martha Stewart Crafts

It is just what you have been waiting for.... the new Martha Stewart Crafts for Holidays at Michaels.... I found a little myself.....

It is so lovely.... there is clear stamps, ribbons with adhesive on the back, special tissue paper for food packaging and some wonderful packaging bags and boxes in all different sizes and shapes. And one of my favorites are the plain chipboard acorn shaped boxes just yearning for some glitter!!!!  And on the left of the picture is some of the glassine, tissue and velum that is on sale. I snatched up quite a bit in my favorite "Martha" colors.

And one of my very very favorite is the fa-bu Faux Bois Velvet embossed ribbon in Brown and a Mossy Green.... LOVING IT!!!

There are even great new punches is 8 new wonderful shapes. And of course there is some glitter combos to buy. This will not be the only trip to purchase some new Martha goodies.....

It is a little spotty on which stores have it right now in your area, the store I went to was fully stocked but another in my area did not have a single thing......

And while you are there pick up some Halloween Martha if there is anything left, you can save it for next year!

Now get out there and buy some!