gobble gobble

We have had a flurry of activity this Thanksgiving week. Our friends Nick & Vicky from Greece got in on Monday to spend the week with us. We took them to see schools and homes. In between baking pie (I finally made a delicious pumpkin pie!) and doing some Thanksgiving prep, I took a "break" to cook up some yummy appetizers as we hosted a gathering for 20 or so people from the university on Wednesday. Although Clemson instantly made us feel like we were "part of it" with all of its parties, chili cook-offs, happy hours and such, that has been lacking here in Alabama. So, we've decided to start that culture up ourselves here.

On Thanksgiving, Daddy was nice enough to get his new leaf blower out and round up a big pile of leaves for everyone to jump into. It was a gorgeous 75 degree day, and the kids never bothered to get out of the jammies all day.

 We put our own twist on a traditional meal with orange cranberry sauce made with a raspberry Belgian beer, a southern cornbread pecan and bacon stuffing, roasted beets and parsnips, and a near-dessert quality sweet potato casserole with crunchy brown sugar topping. We introduced our Greek friends to the Thanksgiving traditions of eating until you pop, watching football and movies, and napping. It was fun to host their first Thanksgiving, and they were excited to try lots of new flavors and foods that the don't have in Greece.