Salted Caramel Brownies

I feel guilty for not posting on my blog frequently.  I hope I haven't lost too many of my readers. : (  Life has been keeping me busy, and in the good way.  My life is full of event after event, and I find myself too exhausted to bake and too wordless to write.  The other day I tried to bake something and literally sat there and stared at my new mixer for 15 minutes before I actually started baking.  My family and friends have been asking me if everything is all right, since I have been so absent from my usual spot in the kitchen.  I have not given up on baking, I just am preoccupied with other things at the moment!  I also find myself truly at a loss for words.  After 4 years of writing posts I can't believe this is the first time I have felt like this.  Don't worry, the next words out of my fingers will not be that I am surrendering and handing in my mixer.  I just wanted to reassure you that I am committed to this blog, and have every intention of carrying on - just waiting for some inspiration!

In the meantime I am going to share another brownie recipe with you.  I know it is Lent, so I apologize to any of you that gave up sweets for Lent - please forgive me!  This recipe was recently posted on the Smitten Kitchen blog - it is rather tasty and I will make it again!  You have to be vigilant when making the caramel otherwise it will burn very quickly - I burnt it 3 times before getting it right!  You will know it is burnt because it smells burnt!

Salted Caramel Brownies

Adapted from the Smitten Kitchen Blog

Caramel

1/2 cup granulated sugar

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Heaped 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt or kosher salt

3 tablespoons heavy cream

Make caramel: Set a square of parchment paper over a medium-sized plate. Lightly butter or coat the parchment with a spray oil.
In a medium, dry saucepan over medium heat, melt your sugar; this will take about 4 minutes, stirring if necessary to break up large chunks. By the time it is all melted, if should be a nice copper color; if not, cook until it is. Remove from heat and stir in butter. It may not incorporate entirely but do your best. Stir in cream and salt and return saucepan to the stove over medium-high heat, bringing it back to a simmer and melted again any sugar that solidified. Cook bubbling caramel for a few minutes more, until it is a shade darker.
Pour out onto parchment-covered plate and transfer plate to your freezer. Freeze until solidified about 20 minutes. 

Brownie

3 ounces (85 grams) unsweetened chocolate

1 stick unsalted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla 

Heaped 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt or kosher salt

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

Meanwhile, or when your caramel is chilling, make your brownies: Heat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment.  Butter the parchment or spray it with a nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium heatproof bowl over gently simmering water, melt chocolate and butter together until only a couple unmelted bits remain. Off the heat, stir until smooth and fully melted. You can also do this in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each. Whisk in sugar, then eggs, one at a time, then vanilla and salt. Stir in flour with a spoon or flexible spatula.

Assemble brownies: When caramel is firm, remove it from the freezer and chop it into rough 1-inch squares.  Scrape batter into prepared pan, spreading until mostly even. Scatter caramel bits on top. Bake in heated oven for 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool thoroughly.

If you want more detailed instructions with pictures check out her recipe here.

Eat your heart out!

Dagny

Happy Birthday to you know who...and MOCHA BROWNIES

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." - C.S. Lewis

 

Today is a monumental day indeed.

My bestest friend turns the big 3-0!  I don't know about her, but I sure am freaking out over here! When did we suddenly become old and adults?  Seems like yesterday we were teenagers trying to survive high school.

I remember the day God decided that we should be friends in 11th grade.  We were classmates at a tiny school  - and had not gotten off on a good foot.  We hung out with different groups of people, and never really talked to each other.  All of a sudden she had all these bad things happen in her life - she was in a skiing accident and on crutches, and then some of her friends passed away unexpectedly.  My heart broke for her and I wanted desperately to do something to help take away some of the sadness.  So I did the only sensible thing - I made her a card with a giant ostrich on it.  I don't remember what the card said - but it worked.  We have been friends ever since!

"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship." - St. Thomas Aquinas

After high school we went to college together and then became roommates my Senior/her Junior year.  I was a bridesmaid in her wedding, and if I get married one day she too will be in my wedding. I am Godmother to her eldest son, and if I have kids one day she will be Godmother to one of my kids.

When bad things happen - I want to call her and hear her good advice and be reassured of God's love for me.  When good things happen - I want to call her and tell her every single detail.

I don't know what the standard rule is for how long you have to be friends with someone before they become family - but she has most definitely passed that mark and is now a sister.

She is a gift to all those around her.  She is a incredible wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, and all around a very impressive human being.  I am very blessed by her friendship.

Life is so much more enjoyable when you have people like her in it.  She knows me, and I know her. I know her back stories, she knows mine.  I know her awesome family (especially her incredible parents), and she knows mine.  We encourage each other to live our Faith, and to love the people around us.

I don't know what I did to deserve a friend as wonderful as her, but I am eternally grateful!  If you are reading this please be sure to offer up a prayer for her today!

One of the things we share a common love for is all things chocolate!  She makes incredible truffles, homemade mocha's, and chocolate chip cookies.  No joke, one time I visited her I think I consumed 1/2 my body weight in cookie dough - yes, it is that good!  I sent her these brownies for her birthday, and I will eat one here in Texas for her while she eats one in Virginia.  I look forward to the many years ahead we will share together as friends eating pounds and pounds of chocolate together. : )

MochaBrownies

adapted from Ina Garten's Outrageaous Brownie recipe

1 pound unsalted butter (This is 4 sticks FYI)
24 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided (about 4 cups, or 2 bags)
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
6 extra large eggs
3 tablespoons instant coffee granules or super finely ground coffee
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional - I don't put them in, but if I did I would probably toast them first)
 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 12x18x1 inch baking sheet. (if you don't have a pan this size you can also use 2-13x9 pans - they will just be a little thinner)  Melt together the butter, one pound of the chips, and the unsweetened chocolate in a medium bowl over simmering water. Allow to cool slightly.
 

In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee granules, vanilla, and sugar. Stir the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature. In a medium bowl, sift together 1 cup of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and rest of chocolate chips in a medium bowl with 1/4 cup flour, then add them to the chocolate batter. Pour into the baking sheet.  Spread evenly.
 

Bake for 20 minutes, then rap the baking sheet against the oven shelf to force the air to escape from between the pan and dough. Bake for another 15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not over bake!
 

Allow to cool thoroughly, refrigerate, and cut into squares.
 

Ina’s notes: Flouring the chips and walnuts keeps them from sinking to the bottom.
It is very important to allow the batter to cool well before adding the chips, or the chips will melt and ruin the brownies.

Do ahead: This recipe can be baked up to a week in advance, wrapped in plastic, and refrigerated.

May you all be as fortunate in friendship as I have been, and if you aren't - I was once told that in order to find a good friend you have to first be a good friend. : )    So make these brownies, sit down and share them with an old friend - or go find a new one...and as always,

EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

Dagny

ps. remember this song? : )

The Hair on my head AND "Clean" Banana bread

Does your hair define you?  I mean when people are describing you to other people do they typically start with your hair type and color?  Have you seen my hair?  Not only does it define me...it engulfs me.  I think it was very appropriate that God gave me the hair that is on my head...I am definitely not a person who would look natural in straight hair.  My hair is crazy!  It is curly, it is frizzy, it is poofy, and it is insane!  There really are no other words to describe it.  I used to be jealous of straight haired people, their lives seemed so organized and put together.  Every hair in place, in a nice even pattern...just like their lives.  Then I look at my car, my bedroom, and my kitchen and realize that if I had straight hair it would still find a way to rebel against me and become curly.  Like for realz yo, it is off the hook and has a mind of its own.

I recently cut off 7 inches of hair, and I swear 1/2" has already grown back in less then 2 weeks!When the hair stylist was lost in the jungle of my hair she kept commenting on how it was never ending...she thought she had already cut that piece off...and it was already back!  I swear I am distantly related to Rapunzel...now if only Zachary Levi would be my prince.  (Tangled movie reference: ) )

I realize that hair is not a good segue into food, but I just felt compelled to discuss it since it has been particularly fluffy in our current humid state.

Have you ever been served a dish of food only to look down and find a strand of hair?  Of course you have...it happens all the time!  When I was in 7th grade my family and I (really meaning me) decided to bring a little bit of our Southern tradition to the East Coast school we were attending and make some Mardi Gras cakes.  I worked extra hard and made about 4 cakes to share with the small student body of about 60 students.  I was in the middle of dishing out the cake when a Senior boy...who was "THE" Senior guy that every girl had a crush on came up to me to thank me for the cake...then he pulled out a long blond curly piece of hair that was embedded into the cake and said "I think this belongs to you."  How humiliating!!!!  From that day on I always make it a point to be extra vigilant about NOT letting my crazy hair find a way into my food.  To make a long story short, that moment ended all chances of me marrying Mr. Popular...so watch out where your stray hairs may fall, they may alter the course of your life in ways you never expected.

Now that I have thoroughly turned you off to the idea of food, let me share with you a recipe.  This is a recipe for Banana Bread made without oil/butter or sugar...instead it is made with applesauce and honey.  Now if you are expecting this bread to taste like your normal everyday sugar and oil filled banana bread - you will be disappointing   Instead this bread tastes like sweetened bananas.  It is much drier than your typical banana bread, but still very tasty.  I usually toast mine and slather on some natural jam, cream cheese, or butter.  The more I ate of the loaf the more I liked it.  If you are also gluten free - I imagine you can also swap out the flour for a gluten free alternative - I haven't tried this, but it seems like it would be fine.

Clean Banana Bread

adapted from a Pinterest recipe

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup no sugar added applesauce (I used homemade applesauce)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup honey
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 mashed overripe bananas
• 
  
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together applesauce and honey. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Keep your New Year's resolutions to be healthy, make this bread, listen to this song and dance to it, and of course - eat your heart out!

 

Dagny

 

 

Salty Dogs...and Christmas at our home

I realize most of you are trying to detox from things like this...as am I...but keep this recipe in mind for when you do start baking again!  I vow to post some healthy recipes soon - of course you all know how good I am at keeping my promises. : )

The gang playing Bananagrams Christmas Eve

TRAGIC news from my kitchen...my standing mixer died...just in time for the New Year's resolutions to be healthier - perfect timing, don't you think?  I really am quite sad to kiss this mixer of 6 years goodbye.  It has served me well, and I have no complaints - always recommend it, and am going to buy another one, just in a bigger size and brighter color. : )  KITCHENAID FOREVER!  I was wondering why I couldn't decide on a present that I wanted my parents to give me...and then this happened - so perfect timing all around!  I am stalling on buying a new mixer only because choosing the right color mixer is more taxing than buying a new car!  If you are a guy don't judge me, a girl and her mixer have a special bond you will never understand. : )

Color coordinated sisters - totally unintentional!!!

Now let me tell you about these bars.  As you all know by now the cooking gene skipped my Mom, but thankfully it made it into some of my aunts. : )  Every year we would get a tin of cookies from my Aunt in Louisiana, and every year I quickly picked all of these cookies out of the tin and would run and hide.  They are so deliciously sweet and salty, chewy and crunchy, lovely and wonderful!  They also happen to be really easy and quick to make.  I didn't get this recipe from my Aunt, but found it somewhere else on the Internet...it is delicious, but hers is even better!  This is a great bar cookie to make and freeze for later.  They also ship fairly well if packaged correctly.  Why they are called "Salty Dogs" you may ask?  I know not the reason.  When I hear the term "Salty dog"  I imagine a big hairy dog, wearing a yellow raincoat, aboard an old weather beaten boat, and smoking a pipe.  These bars do not in anyway relate to that scenario. : )

                                                                                             Does she look like a "Salty Dog"?

Do you have friends and family that bring you the same cookies every year?  How awesome are they?  What is your favorite one?  Another one we always get is German Chocolate Brownies - also one I need to post a recipe for.

Salty Dogs
Adapted from the Land O'lakes website

Crust:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp salt

Topping:
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 cup butterscotch chips
2 TBS butter
1 TBS water
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups mixed nuts (I used lightly salted, but you can use fully salted or unsalted if you like...you can also use any combination of nuts you like - all pecan, all peanut, all cashew, etc...)

Preheat oven to 350°F.Spray 13x9-inch baking pan, line with parchment paper.

Combine all crust ingredients in large bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press crumb mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, place all topping ingredients except mixed nuts in medium saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth (5 to 7 minutes). Stir in nuts until well coated. 

Spread mixture evenly over hot, partially baked crust. Continue baking for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. Lift bars out of pan and cut into bars.

I was sick most of Christmas break, so this is how much I helped with the cooking and baking day of...

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas and New Year's with your loved ones!

Eat your heart out!

Dagny

Whisked Away Christmas Gift Giving Guide 2012

I love giving people gifts.  I love peering into their souls and trying to come up with a way to make them happy.  Does that sound creepy?  Some people have a hard time coming up with what gifts to give people, but for me I have always loved the challenge!

The first rule of thumb I follow is think out side of the box - literally.  Maybe your gift can't be wrapped....sometimes, those things make the best gifts!

The second thing I do is I fall back on my trusty "The 5 love languages" rule.  I think I have talked about this book before, but in case I haven't here is the long and short version of it.  Harry Chapman came up with a philosophy called "The 5 love languages".  He says that everyone gives and receives love in 5 different ways.  Most people give in 2 ways, and receive in 2 ways.  Once you figure out what love language makes someone feel loved and what language they give love in - you really can understand them so much better!  So if someone doesn't feel loved by receiving gifts, but instead feels loved by words of affirmation - sitting down and writing them a letter would be better than buying them a gift.  This book changed my life...really it did.  I don't say that often, so believe me, it is true.  Once I read the book I sat down and looked at everyone in my life and wrote down how I thought they felt the most loved.  I highly recommend doing this when you are thinking abut what to give someone.  You should go borrow or buy the book, but until then here are the 5 love languages.

1.  Words of Affirmation - "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." - The Help
2.  Acts of Service - Doing the dishes, watching someones kids for them...etc.
3.  Gifts - Usually material things - don't think this need explaining.
4.  Physical Touch - Hugs, kisses, etc...you know the mushy stuff : )
5.  Quality Time - Talking on the phone with someone, spending an afternoon just listening to a friend, taking time out of your busy life to devout your attention 100% to someone.

Also - the other thing I do is think about the person's likes and dislikes.  Do they like gift cards?  Do they like only local gifts?  Are they a fan of a certain show or sports team?  Really think about what makes them happy!  Or I also like to stop and observe someone going about their day to day - maybe you notice that their car is wicked dirty - buy them a car washing gift certificates, or better yet - take the car to get cleaned.  Or maybe you see that they could really use a night away from home - offer to babysit or hire a babysitter for them.

My Papa used to love giving gifts to his family.  When he was in his 60's and 70's he would go out shopping for gifts for all of his 24 grand kids.  He had all of our names on a list and had so much fun picking out gifts for them all.  On more than one occasion we would be his shopping buddies and helped pick things out for our cousins - what fun we had!  As we and he got older he gave money.  Then the last Christmas gift he gave me was a hand written card just telling me how much he loved me.  Little did he know that would be my most treasured gift from him. : )  Just remember that the best gift is one that shows that you put thought and effort into it. : )

Also, here are some of the things on my Christmas giving list this year:

1.  Baking/Cooking Classes
-  check out your local community college, most of them offer some sort of cooking classes.  Or if you are near a Viking cooking school - they offer fun classes too!

2.  Netflix or blockbuster subscription

3.  Cookbook!  Joy the Baker or Smitten Kitchen

4.  Homemade Truffles are so amazing...

5.  Movie Night Basket - Favorite Movie, popcorn, PJ's

6.  Homemade Biscotti is delicious, and has a fairly long shelf life - so people can enjoy it throughout the Christmas season

7.  Hot Cocoa Mix with Marshmallows

8.  Breakfast Basket with Homemade pancake mix, maple syrup, farm fresh eggs, local bacon or sausage, coffee

9. Etsy!!!! Where you can buy things like this awesome bracelet

10.  Subscription to a magazine or publication...Clubhouse Jr, Martha Stewart, Verily, Radiant, Catholic Digest, Food Network Magazine etc...

As I finish this post I realize that my Christmas shopping is far from being done.  I have gifts for only 4 out of the 14 people on my list.  Oddly enough this doesn't stress me out - instead I am grateful that I have 14 people in my life to give presents to.  In the meantime...I should probably start gifting soon : )

Promise to post a recipe soon!  I have been swamped at work, sick with the evil cold, and just down right busy!  I have yet to bake a single Christmas cookie this year!!!  Holy Moley what have I become? : )

Happy Advent to you all!!

Sweet Potato Casserole with Homemade Marshmallows

Is it possible to still be full from Thanksgiving weeks later?  With the copious amounts of food we consume on Thanksgiving I dare say a man could go a whole year without eating another thing besides that Thanksgiving feast and still live on.  How many turkeys did you have at your meal?  Don't count the human ones : )  We had 3 turkeys!  So many turkeys!  And at the end of the meal we barely had leftovers to spare!  How the heck did that happen?  I don't want to know!

The turkey fryer on fire!

I looked up the definition of Turkey to see what it said...just out of curiosity, and this is what it said:

1.  plural also turkey : a large North American gallinaceous bird (Meleagris gallopavo) that is domesticated in most parts of the world

2.  Failure, Flop; especially: a theatrical production that has failed

3.  Three successive strikes in bowling

4.  A  stupid, foolish, or inept person

I am going to start using the word "Turkey" at least once a day...guess I will either be bowling a lot, or hanging out with some real goofy people. : )

Our pretty table!

I was fortunate enough to spend many Thanksgivings with random families while I was in boarding school and then college away from home.  I always find it funny that people insist upon having certain dishes at their Thanksgiving meals...including myself in this as well.  They hold these foods near and dear to their hearts.  So...when you have many people from different families come together for Thanksgiving sometimes you end up with competing dishes...which is why we had 3 turkeys!  Each person was so insistent that their way to cook the turkey was the "only" way to do it!  So we had a fried one, a grilled one, and a smoked one.  Fried turkey won!  Sorry other contenders!

One dish that we insist upon having at our Thanksgiving meal is sweet potato casserole.  I am sure this is found on most tables for Thanksgiving, where it rightfully belongs.  I decided to play around with my traditional recipe a little bit.  I reduced the sugar, increased the streusal, and made homemade marshmallows to top it off.  I have to admit, I loved it.  The day after Thanksgiving it was the only thing I wanted to eat...well that, and this apple pie of course. : )  This will now be making an appearance at our Christmas feast as well!!

Marshmallows chilling out before being cut into chunks!

Sweet Potato Casserole

6 cups roasted sweet potatoes, mashed

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup heavy cream

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

Topping:

2 cups chopped pecans

2 sticks melted butter

1 cup brown sugar

6 TBS Flour

Homemade Marshmallows I made, and then ones made without refined sugar 

I roast/bake my sweet potatoes because it helps them maintain their natural sugars.  You can cook them anyway you like, but I prefer roasting them.  I simply wash them, wrap them individually in tin foil.  Stick them in a 375 degree oven and bake until tender - this all depends upon how thick the potatoes are so just check them every 10-15 minutes.  Once baked - allow to cool for a few minutes, scoop out the flesh and mash.

Mix the cooked sweet potatoes, sugar, cream, eggs, and vanilla together until smooth.  Place in a 13x9 baking pan and spread smooth. 

In separate bowl mix together the topping ingredients until combined: pecans, melted butter, brown sugar, and flour.  Sprinkle over sweet potatoes.  Bake in 350 degree oven about 20-25 minutes.  Top with homemade marshmallows and bake until marshmallows are melty and toasted - about 5 minutes.

Look Ma - I made marshmallows!

Lovely Thanksgiving plate : )

Make this casserole, listen to this song, and don't forget to prepare your heart for Jesus this Advent!  

Top 5 ways to Spruce up your Thanksgiving

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

I know that everyone is talking about this crazy Black Friday stuff starting on Thanksgiving day this year...and I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents.  It is messed up.  I know Thanksgiving is not as awesome as Christmas, but really people...this is getting ridiculous.  Each year I feel like we keep pushing Thanksgiving farther and farther down the totem poll, and soon it may not even exist!  Maybe Thanksgiving is considered lame because most people think it is just about a turkey, just like they think Christmas is about Santa and presents...and let's face it...a whole day dedicated to a large bird or fat old man...yeah - that is lame.  Nobody wants to invest time and energy into something as non substantial as that.

Is it really asking too much of us to take some time and be thankful, grateful, and count your blessings?  In scripture there are so many quotes about giving thanks and praise to God for the things you do have, that it is obvious how much God wants us to have a spirit of Thanksgiving in our lives.  It is so easy to get overwhelmed by the chaos of the weeks leading up to Christmas, and we really take for granted how awesome this chill time of Thanksgiving is and what a gift it is to us all.  Take the time to sit with your loved ones, be grateful for what you do have, thank God for all the blessings in your life, take a deep breath and just appreciate all around you with a full heart of Thanksgiving.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

Colossians 3:15-17

Top 5 ways to Spruce up your Thanksgiving: 

1.  Don't be afraid to play around with your tried and true pie recipes.
One of my favorite pies is my apple cranberry pie - which came about when I was making apple pie and cranberry sauce at the same time and decided to throw some cranberries into my pie.  Boom - deliciousness!!!  Whatever your traditional apple pie is, throw in 1 cup of fresh cranberries (rinse and cut them in 1/2 first).  Adds a nice tang to your pie!

Also - instead of your traditional pumpkin pie - try shaking things up and making a gingersnap crust instead...I plan on making this one from Alton Brown this year!

2.  Get fancy with the crust designs.
Martha Stewart has a nice little slide show to give you some ideas

Also - get creative with this!  Look around your house and find something fun to stamp your crust with.  If you have crazy whisks lying around like a vinaigrette, twirl, ball, or dough whisk use those!  Have fun with it!

3.  Make homemade marshmallows for your sweet potato casserole recipe!  

Yeah, you heard me right!  I am trying this out myself - will let you know how it goes!  Going to use this smitten kitchen recipe - looks so yummy!

4.  Make your own Cranberry sauce - without refined sugar!

Not that the canned jellied stuff is gross - because honestly I love it...but making homemade cranberry sauce is just so divine!  This version doesn't even call for white sugar!!!!  Thanks to Pioneer Woman for this winner!

5.  Make a Leaf garland and have all your guests write something they are thankful for on each leaf.  Currently I am at work and my niece and I are working on this using random office supplies : )  OR you can make this really sweet "Give thanks" Banner....oh yeah, wicked awesome!

Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Eat your heart out!

Dagny