Thanksgiving in New York

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! This was our first one as New Yorkers. I cooked up a traditional feast for the 4 of us and we spent the day relaxing in our PJs. I did try a few new things however!

This was the first time I used a dry brine on the turkey. It's basically a salt and spice rub, then you leave the turkey open to air in the fridge for at least 24hr. I cooked it in a bag as usual, and it was so good!

Other things I made include mashed potatoes with gravy, rolls, stuffing, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole, and cranberry sauce. Two other new things were corn casserole and a pumpkin cheesecake! The cheesecake was the perfect blend of cheesecake and pumpkin pie.

We missed our family and their company, but I know they all spent the day together and are not alone. We are on our own now and are making new memories and traditions together. I can't help but dream that next Thanksgiving we might be in our Victorian house!

Fun Autumn Days

We got our first New York snow! It was lake effect snow and all around us they got several inches--some got a couple feet! We only got about 1 inch but Brad still wanted to get out in it. He managed to make a couple snow balls!

Jacob is growing quick and keeping me on my toes. He's in to everything and full of energy. He loves to chase the cat and wrestle with his brother.

Bradley has his first "girlfriend" Delia and they sit together on the bus. She is one grade below him. She came over to play for a few hours and they had a fun time.

Brad got invited to another friend's birthday from his class. It was at a local bowling alley and he had a great time bowling with the other boys. We might all go check it out together later on!

I think I have everything ready for Thanksgiving! Even though it's only the four of us this year for the first time, I'm still cooking all if the traditional fixings. I'm mixing it up just a bit and trying a couple new recipes. It will be here soon!

Crock Pot Chicken Rice and Veggies

This is a great recipe to keep in your back pocket for when you don't know what to cook for dinner! The best part is that you throw the chicken in straight from the freezer. You can modify it any way you want to accommodate what you have on hand.

2-3 frozen chicken breasts (or thighs)

1c frozen peas

1c halved baby carrots

1/2c white wine

1c water

Salt+pepper to taste

1 box Uncle Ben chicken wild rice

First you put everything except the box of rice in the crock pot. Cook on high for 4hr, or low 6-8hr.

1hr before you serve it, remove the chicken and shred. Put back into crock, and also add the box of rice and seasoning packet. Stir to mix and replace lid. If you had it on low, then turn it up to high for the last hour.

Taste before you serve to see if it needs any more seasonings. Yum! I had originally added more water which left extra after the rice cooked so I added a little white rice and that fixed it. 

Amatuer Photography at the Park

Last Sunday we had the most beautiful weather (in November!) so I decided to snag a tripod for my camera and attempt the ultimate selfies! I've dabbled a bit in photography for others, but of course it is much trickier to take good photos with myself in them! Our local park by the creek was a perfect setting and I was very happy with the outcome.

Super Easy Buffalo Pasta

This recipe is a great one that I threw together for dinner because I didn't have much else in the fridge! It is perfect to try for your first "Buffalo" dish, or if you're just looking for a new recipe. It is meatless so it works as a side dish, or as your entrée on vegetarian night. Most of these ingredients are already in your pantry!

8oz (one brick) 1/3 fat cream cheese

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1/8c hot sauce (or more for spiciness!)

1tsp paprika

1tsp garlic powder

Dash salt/pepper

1/2c ranch OR blue cheese dressing

12oz box rotini

First start a pot of water boiling for the pasta. In a deep skillet on medium heat, place cream cheese +hot sauce +diced tomato with juices. Slowly wisk together until smooth. Add spices and stir occasionally. When pasta is almost done, add the ranch to the sauce and mix, then stir in pasta and serve!

In my picture I used elbow mac because that's all I had but rotini would be a better fit for the creamy sauce. This dish is great because the ingredients are common, it's not too spicy, and it's semi healthier with the low fat cream cheese and tomatoes!