Elizabeth and Michel Successfully Prepare a Thanksgiving Feast

So today is Thanksgiving, and it is our first Thanksgiving away from our respective families.  While we are definitely sad about this, it was exciting to plan, cook, and host our Thanksgiving meal.  Stephen traveled down from the barbaric wilds of Madison to join us for the holiday, and, I must say, it was a rousing success!  We started with pigs in a blanket and mimosas and proceeded to our turkey dinner.

We slow cooked our turkey breast and thighs in the crock pot with lemon, a head of garlic, rosemary, and chardonnay.  While I highly recommend this method of cooking, particularly if you have a small kitchen with one oven that needs to be used to cook other things, I will not post the pictures of our turkey because it looked gross.  Slow cooking will not produce a beautiful turkey.  It will produce a hunk of oddly unsettling grey-ish white meat-like substance. However, the meat produced is beautiful, tender, and flavorful, and helps create a lovely, lemony gravy. 

I have been inspired by my friend Miachel and her beautiful food blog featuring her gorgeous food photography, Spiced Curiosity, and so, I hope you enjoy my very first attempt at real food photography and our Thanksgiving meal!

 Appetizers!

 

 Sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan crisps

 Peppered brie, chevre, and dill cheese, crackers, and salami

Dressing sausage-stuffed, Marsala marinated mushrooms, pre-baking

I'm kind of obsessed with Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, and Michel, knowing my love of her food, suggested we try this alternative to a full pan of dressing.  Since there were only three of us for dinner, I thought it would be a great alternative.  And it was.  Michel declared these dressing mushrooms the best thing we've ever made!

 Grandaddy's pea salad

 Not Sister Schubert's, but Trader Joe's had pretty delicious roles

 Stephen making gravy from scratch

 Rosemary and thyme roasted potato fried

 Maple-glazed roasted sweet potatoes

 Stephen's gravy

 Sauteed herbed vegetables (orange bell pepper, mushrooms, zucchini, red onions, and tomatoes)

Dressing mushrooms, fully baked!

 

 Our table!  Nothing fancy, but full of delicious food!

 The gentlemen

 Me and Michel

 My delicious plate!  We did well, my friends!

Stephen made two delicious pies: pumpkin with nutmeg and coriander and bourbon pecan.  Both were delicious, as were our excellent wine choices.  The day continued with excellent conversation and a very happy UT game!  Happy Thanksgiving to all and Hook 'Em!!