Thanksgiving recipes!!

Happy Thanksgiving Week!!  We are finally to the busiest time of the year, the holidays. Thanksgiving week is my favorite. I love Thanksgiving because there is no pressure to buy the best gift or attend a million gatherings. It is a day for wearing sweats, watching football, listening to the kids play, taking naps, looking through the newspaper for the Black Friday deals and being thankful for all that we have. We usually go out for Thanksgiving dinner with my sister, her family and my mother, but dinners at restaurants can be so expensive. We decided that this year I would host Thanksgiving. There I began my hunt for dinner ideas. I came across a few that I want to share with you all!  I by far am no Giada De Lauentiis or Martha Stewart. I burn everything when I bake and only usually cook meat and vegetables or potatoes. I don't do casseroles, they scare me. Both my grandmothers were excellent cooks and bakers and my Mom is a great cook as well. That gene skipped me and went right to my younger sister. I remember going to my Grandma Woodard's (my mother's mom) house every Thanksgiving and she would have the turkey all the fixings and homemade pie. Some of my fondest memories are of the holidays with my family. I miss those days.  This year I thought I would look at good 'ol Pinterest for the spice or brine for the turkey. I have a habit of being afraid of spices. I found a recipe that I think will be subtle but give it some taste. 

We all know that desert is the most important part of Thanksgiving dinner, right? I found a Pumpkin Bar recipe that my grandma had made on a few occasions. I love that my Mom has all her recipes and can share them with me and my sister. Only, I will probably have my sister create them and I'll just eat! Try this pumpkin bar recipe if you are over the pumpkin pie standby. The recipe in the photo is my grandma's original in her handwriting, priceless! 

PUMPKIN BAR RECIPE
1 Cup Flour             1/2 tsp  1 tsp Cinnamon    1/2 tsp Salt 1/4 tsp Nutmeg   Sift all together
In a separate bowl combine: 1 Cup Brown Sugar 1/2 Cup Shortening 2 Eggs 1 tsp Vanilla 3/4 Cup Pumpkin
Then Combine all ingredients and beat at a medium speed for 2 minutes.  Bake at 250 degrees for 25 minutes. 
Ice with Carmel Icing.  1/2 Cup Brown Sugar 3 Tbsp Butter 4 tsp Milk 3/4 tsp Vanilla Use Sugar to thicken Who doesn't love a good drink during the holidays? I don't drink alcohol but my family has a "signature drink" that I remember my Mom, Grandma and all my aunts used to drink. Take it back old school and try this Brandy Slush recipe, she says it's the best! 

BRANDY SLUSHES
Boil 7 Cups Water and  2 Cups Sugar 
Add 4 Green Tea Bags 1-12 oz. Lemonade 1-12 oz. Orange Juice  2 Cups Brandy Liquor of your choice FREEZE   Once you are ready to drink add 7 up or Sprite to each glass. Enjoy!  Finally, after all the festivities are over and you have turkey for days, what do you do with it. I know I get tired of soup and sandwiches. So I combed Pinterest and found a great   Jalapeno Popper Baked Turkey Sandwich recipe. You combine turkey with Kings Hawaiian rolls, cream cheese and jalapenos. I for sure will be making these.  JALAPENO POPPER BAKED TURKEY SANDWICHES 1 Package King's Hawaiian Jalapeno Rolls 4 oz. Cream Cheese softened Sliced Turkey  6 Colby Jack Cheese slices 6 pieces of Bacon cooked and crumbled 1 large Jalapeno chopped 1 stick Butter 1 tsp Cumin 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder 1/2 tsp Onion Powder 1/4 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs Separate rolls and slice in half. Spread each roll with 1 tsp cream cheese. Fill rolls with turkey, 1/2 slice cheese, bacon, and chopped jalapenos. Place prepared sandwiches in 9x13 inch pan. In a small saucepan, melt butter and spices over low heat. Pour melted butter mixture over sandwiches in pan. Top with panko bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. 

Hope you all have a bless Thanksgiving and get to spend time with your families!