I read that over 43 million Americans are traveling today – were you one of them?
Not me. I was working from home doing my recruiting job. How exciting. Then, I hit the grocery store for supplies. I’m making:
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Sweet Potato Casserole
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Green Bean Casserole
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Cornbread Casserole
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Casserole Casserole
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Pumpkin Casserole Cheesecake
It’s casserole-y up in here!
My mom told me that Ralphs (our SoCal supermarket) sells turkeys for $.59 a pound if you spend $25.00 or more. So, I dug around for the smallest one I could find – a 14 pounder. It was super cheap with the sales price and I decided to go for it.
But – what am I going to do with a whole turkey?! I’m scared.
I’ll probably make it next week. Wish me luck.
Tonight I’m going to make the Sweet Potato Casserole and Pumpkin Cheesecake. I’ll make the other dishes tomorrow.
I was just about to complain about peeling tons of sweet potatoes when I decided to bake them instead. Genius!
I use my Nina’s Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe that is basically – sweet potatoes mashed with brown sugar, eggs and spices. Topped with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and walnuts. So so so good. This casserole the reason I fell in love with Thanksgiving as a kid – it was the only day we ate it!
This Paula Deen Sweet Potato Recipe is fairly similar (I use milk instead of cream big whoop).
My mind was on Thanksgiving today so I didn’t plan tonight’s dinner. When Ben called before he left work I told him to grab something on the way home.
He got Chick-fil-A and came home with a meal and this shake…
Me: (reading the cup) “You mean they have Peppermint Chocolate Chip shakes and you got vanilla?!”
Ben: “Yeah…I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
Me: {Cries herself to sleep because her husband just doesn’t get it.}
And scene.
I was all set to make my Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake but then I remembered I had this kit to use up too. Not sure what I’ll go with…
Question: Were you / Are you traveling for Thanksgiving? Where are you??
Pile On The Miles Check In – This is a challenging week, how are you doing??
Cody Mckitrick says
Thanksgiving has been really fun because we get to eat most of the dishes we love like pumpkin pie and casseroles. I really like sweet potato casserole and yours look absolutely perfect. You inspire me for next year’s thanksgiving.
Losing Lindy says
I am behind and just reading now, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
Jac @ Challenged & Running in the Bike Lane says
Did/am not traveling for Thanksgiving. I’m in Phoenix.
Kim says
Best way to cook a turkey – turkey fryer!!!
Otherwise, you should definitely brine it so it stays moist when you cook it. Have fun with your first whole turkey!!
BethanyC says
I’m in Greensboro, NC. We went to my inlaws. It was good. Sweet potato casserole, ham, turkey, and so much more. I understand how you feel about the milkshake.
Missy says
Happy Thanksgiving Monica!
I have finally been able to get back into running this week!
I had sinus crap and laryngitis last week and didn’t exercise for 7 days. I started back running on Monday and have logged 12.39 miles this week including my Turkey Trot 8k this morning! Woohoo!
So happy to be back running!
deirdre @ Oh Well Whatever says
Happy Thanksgiving! Just going from Santa Ana to Huntington – nice and easy.
Christine @ BookishlyB says
I’m baking them too for my mashed potatoes. No one can tell and it’s so much easier!
Juli L. says
My Pile on the Miles goal is going well, only because I am in marathon training (my first one!), so I HAVE to run! This week, I am having to change my long run from Sunday to Friday because of weather, and I am kind of glad to get to do it tomorrow since I am off work.
Cooking a turkey is very easy. Believe me, if I can do it, you can too! We always brine ours (soak it in salt water overnight), and that makes it super juicy!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Kelsey Y. says
I’m in Duluth, MN, and my traveling, from our apartment, is 30 minutes to my dad’s house, and 5 minutes to my boyfriend’s parents’ house, so traveling always seems to be quite easy for us!
POTM is going a little slow; wishing more walks would have happened earlier this week, but I was able to run yesterday and take a short walk, and a 5K is in store today, so its actually not too shabby!
Emily P says
Laughed so hard at this – my boyfriend would do the EXACT same.
How brave are you?! I’m intimidated at the thought of cooking large birds.
Kathy @The Panda Post says
I thought about traveling for Thanksgiving with my boyfriend but the couch sounded more appealing 🙂 Does that make me a bad girlfriend? lol
Lauren says
Thanksgiving is about the only time of year I like casseroles. The best part; they make unbelievable leftovers!
Kathy says
First year in many that we are not traveling…so we decided to do the local 5kTurkey Trot downtown Mpls. instead…I guess that’s a little traveling (a 20 minute drive that is…haha!)
Have a great Thanksgiving!!
Sue says
Turkey sandwich, turkey with pasta, turkey with noodles, turkey with rice, stirfried turkey with veg, turkey pizza etc. LOL!
Happy Thanksgiving M and B!
Stephanie says
Well cooking a turkey is my most favorite thing ever however for beginners If u use an oven bag it’s super easy. Just isn’t as brown as tv but moist and yummy!!! Shame on Ben for wasting his milk shake calories on vanilla 🙂
Jodi says
I took my little girl to get a peppermint chocolate chip shake last week. They are SO GOOD. You must get one. Soon!
As for POTM, I took a rest day today, but ran 7 Mon and 5 Tues and have a 10k tomorrow. Today was too busy with cooking for tomorrow and some other errands.
TorontoRunner says
Happy thanksgiving to you and your family lovely!
Gretchen says
It has been challenging! I ran too fast at the local turkey trot this weekend – leading to major soreness but a 7 min PR. Still slower than most of America but progress. Coupled with not much time any time during the day and I just have been postponing some POTM action. Sad stuff.
Amber K says
I feel like an anomaly because I have never in my life actually traveled for any holiday. I’ve always lived within a short driving distance of 90% of my family. Growing up we always made it to multiple different functions and that hasn’t seemed to stop in adulthood. Thankfully this Thanksgiving we are sticking to home, so it’s a lot less stressful.
I can’t imagine living so far away from family that I have to add traveling stresses in addition to general…family..stress.
janetha says
i am at my house.
in my kitchen.
on a bar stool.
in utah.
woods cross, to be exact.
i am making DOS casseroles mañana. i am partially fluent in. espanol
Leah says
Well I’m not traveling. And i took Sunday off to rest after my 5k, planned to run everyday since then. But, then i had to work late a few days, and found out the gym closed early. Boooooooo.
Becca says
Well, I suppose you could always make a turkey casserole? 😉
I actually just saw someone post a recipe for Turkey Tetrazini which looked really yummy – though I don’t think I’ve ever had it. It pretty much looked just like how my dad makes tuna nuna casserole (that’s how we saw Tuna Noodle Casserole in my house), just with turkey.
(PS sorry I comment so much! I’m unemployed and live alone so I just read blogs all day. Productive, I know.)
runeatrepeat says
Becca! I love that you comment – I don’t take any for granted 🙂 Thank you <3