Thanksgiving is the holiday that seems to sneak up on all of us. Barely after summer has ended and the kids are back in school, the influx of Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING reminds us that the feast of Thanksgiving is right around the corner.
I’ve been focused on making healthier dietary choices, and I’d like to continue this pattern of “better for me” eating even during the holidays. Specifically, I’ve worked hard to reduce the amount of sugar and refined carbs that previously dominated my diet. Instead, I’ve been loading up on protein-rich foods that keep me fulfilled, satiated and not craving a cookie before bedtime. …
Thanksgiving
Step Up Your Menu! Make Your Thanksgiving Feast Even More Special #TasteTheFeeling
I have a love-hate relationship with holiday menu planning. Being an type-A personality, I always want to be the one to host special occasion dinners; I like the challenge of conceptualizing a feast, preparing the meal and basking in the glory of thankful family members.
“Oh, Lena, you outdid yourself! Everything is delicious!”
Yeah, I know. I’m pretty awesome.
Thankfully, I have a great partner in crime. Possibly the only person who enjoys entertaining even more than I do is my husband; he’s the first to grab cookbooks, suggest dishes and decorations, and always pitches in with the shopping, cooking and cleanup. We’re a dream team in the kitchen!
This year, I’ve decided go rogue and swap our traditional turkey for a savoury beef pot roast. Of course, since I’m already switching things up, why not do something super special? Thanks to my friends at Coca-Cola, an idea was born to incorporate our favourite beverage – both at the table AND in the meal! …
Make Thanksgiving EASY with Butterball!
Confessions of a suburban housewife: I’ve never cooked a turkey.
Don’t be so surprised. Frankly, I have an aversion to cooking anything that needs to be thawed, prepped, cooked, carved and packed for leftovers. And the dishes… oh, the dishes! Before marrying into my husband’s family, I was in turkey-less bliss.
Then, I met my future mother-in-law. And I tasted her Thanksgiving turkey… and I became a forever fan. Yep, I joined the gobble gang. More turkey please!
Juicy, moist and flavourful – with herbed stuffing and thick, rich gravy – just the thought of a Butterball turkey always makes me drool with anticipation. It’s been a holiday tradition for me for 10 years now, and for millions of Canadians, much, much longer than that.
So, what if I told you that the above turkey, stuffing and all, was cooked from frozen?
The Promise: pre-stuffed with delicious homestyle stuffing, this Butterball Stuffed Whole Turkey is tender and juicy every time. Simply remove the frozen turkey from the plastic bag, place it on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, brush the skin with vegetable oil and roast according to the time listed on the roasting chart. (Click here for full instructions.) …
I Am Thankful.
With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I’ve started chatting with Ryder about the holiday and what it represents.
(Believe it or not, 4-year-olds grasp the concept of Thanksgiving very easily if we simply substitute “thankful” for “likes a lot”. Of course, coming from Ryder, one can expect cars, vacuums and gummy bears to be on that list.)
I decided that I too wanted to make a list of the things I am thankful for; but let’s be honest, you can likely guess the contents: my beautiful boys, my wonderful extended family, health, happiness… yes, it’s all terribly predictable.
And so I began thinking about the little things I’m thankful for. You know, the small stuff that in the end, somehow made a huge difference. Sometimes I laughed; often, I cried; but for the most part, I am thankful.
Inner Beauty.
I am thankful that I was never a conventionally pretty or popular girl. Being ignored for most of my high school life was likely the greatest gift ever. For when other 15-year-old girls simply had to toss their hair or flirtatiously giggle, I had to be funny, witty and interesting. Yes, I was the forgettable girl with the great personality – the one the boys didn’t want to be set up with. At the time, I spent countless nights wondering how I could make myself more popular, more trendy and definitely more pretty. But in the end, the fact that I had to depend on my wit and charm – not my looks – allowed me to develop my inner beauty. Later, when I finally blossomed, not only was I a looker – I was charismatic and likable, too.
A Charitable Cause.
I am thankful for my first boyfriend. He was a cute, popular boy and for some reason, decided to pluck me out of social obscurity. One day, huddled behind the high school portables, he asked me to be his girlfriend. I thought I’d combust with happiness! We ended up “dating” for 2 months – a lifetime when you’re 16 years old. To this day, I still don’t know if I was a “She’s All That”-esque charitable cause (certainly no on else could figure out the attraction – not even my friends!) but I’ll forever be thankful that he spent a small portion of his life making me feel so special. The confidence that ensued helped me keep my head held high when other boys rejected me (sadly, my social life did not pick up after that brief stint – see Inner Beauty)….