Gobble Gobble!

We had a fairly low-key Thanksgiving celebration this year. We gathered at Mama's house with just us + Eddie's mom, dad, and sister. We were a small {but loud!} crowd, but we had a good time.

Mom ordered a turkey breast and made whatever Eddie requested {ha!} - peas, butter beans, brown rice, cream corn...am I forgetting something? Eddie's family brought rutabagas, sweet tea, chocolate pie, pumpkin pie, and rolls. I made macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce, green bean bundles, and pretzel pie. {Recipes below!}

We enjoyed one another so much that we gathered for round two on Thursday evening! {No Black Friday shopping for Eddie and me...we leave that to his mama and sister.}

We had a great Thanksgiving. We have MUCH to be thankful for.

Recipes!

First of all, baked macaroni and cheese is better than ANY macaroni and cheese you've ever eaten. It does take a little hands-on time, but it is SO worth it. I have such a problem when I make it. (It can be made ahead and baked just before it's time to eat.) The cranberry sauce is complements of Pioneer Woman and is delicious. Green bean bundles are EASY and Eddie loves them. The pretzel pie was a new no-nut faux-pecan pie and it was SO GOOD. Seriously. If you're a pecan pie fan, TRY THIS. It's a new favorite.

Macaroni and Cheese

* 3 tbsp. margarine

* 1/4 cup unsifted flour

* 1 tsp. salt

* 1/2 tsp. dry mustard

* 1/4 tsp. pepper

* 2 1/2 cups milk

* 2 cups grated cheese

* elbow macaroni (I usually use a 1 lb. box)

1. In a 2 qt. saucepan, melt margarine over low heat.

2. Stir in flour, salt, mustard, and pepper until smooth. Remove from heat.

3. Gradually stir in milk until smooth.

4. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat about 10 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat.

5. Add cheese and stir until melted.

6. While preparing the sauce, cook macaroni, drain, and pour into greased 2 qt. casserole dish.

7. Pour cheese mixture over macaroni; mix well.

8. Bake in 375* oven 25 minutes.

Cranberry Sauce

Click HERE for recipe.

Green Bean Bundles

* 2 or 3 cans whole green beans {I used fresh green beans at Thanksgiving and they worked fine!}

* 1 package bacon

* 1 stick butter

* 1 cup brown sugar

* 1 tsp garlic salt

1. Wrap handfuls of green beans in slices of bacon.

2. Melt butter and stir in brown sugar and garlic salt.

3. Pour butter mixture over bundles.

4. Bake at 350* for 30 minutes. Broil 3-5 minutes at the end.

Pretzel Pie

Click HERE for the recipe. Y'all. Make this soon.

The main reason I made cranberry sauce {aside from the fact that Mr. Tommy requested it} was this:

Oh yes. That IS a leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, and brie on grilled sourdough sandwich. Yum.

We had a fun Thanksgiving day! Wish I'd remembered to take pictures once the rest of the family arrived but I was too worried about eating!