Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This year was by far the easiest Thanksgiving that has ever happened in the Layson household!! With only three people to feed (the hubby, me, and my Nana), I asked Rich to decide what he would like to have on the holiday menu.

The only non-negotiable item in this house is green bean casserole. We both love it. So, on our Thanksgiving menu was: glazed ham, green bean casserole, baked mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, cranberry sauce, and vanilla-frosted sugar cookies with sprinkles. Yes, I know. This meal was truly a departure from traditional Thanksgiving fare. But that's how we do it in this house! We're fairly untraditional. :)

I already have the ham bone simmering to make a nice stock for ham and potato soup that I plan to make from the leftover ham and mashed potatoes. My leftovers are all packed up and put away and I have just one more load of dishes left. The best part is I only spent a couple of hours in the kitchen!

I just took a week's vacation from work so I will be going back to work tomorrow. Rich will be leaving this weekend to head out to Houston for a few days. So, I've already prepared the Christmas playlist, and we'll kick off the Christmas season by decorating our home tonight while we have funfetti cookies and hot cocoa.

Slightly untraditional? Absolutely. But that's just how we do 'round here!

Happy Thanksgiving!


Green Bean Casserole
1 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup milk
2 cans cut green beans, drained
1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper
1-1/3 cup French fried onions, plus 2/3 cup for garnish.
3 slices well done bacon, cooled and finely chopped

Mix the soup, milk, salt, and pepper. Gently stir in the beans and bacon, then stir in 1-1/3 cups of the French fried onions. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Add 2/3 cup French fried onions to the top and baked for 5 minutes more. Serves 4. Yum.