The Thanksgiving Low Down

I am so excited. Okay, so at first, and earlier this week, I wasn't so excited, but now I am. We are staying in Omaha for Thanksgiving, and making a feast just for the two of us. When you think of holidays you think of huge meals and the whole family, and we will totally miss our fan, that is for sure. But, sometimes you don't have a choice, so we are doing it in our beautiful home, just with one another. Cody has been excited about whipping up some yumminess for weeks. Really, he has been scoping out recipes and getting me to forget that we don't get to go home. He is making it FUN that we get to do a holiday with just he and I. I am so blessed to have a "be positive no matter what you are doing" attitude of a hubby. He sure is amazing. I love that he is my best friend, and I am his. I look forward to a weekend of nothing but him. We have our Black Friday shopping stores scoped out and hopefully find some good deals! We are just gonna eat ourselves silly one day, and shop ourselves silly the next!

Grandma's Rolls

Sweet Potato Filled Ravioli or Turkey Noodle Soup (just can't decide! Cody's homemade noodles:))

Cranberry Sauce

Delightful Mashed Potatoes

Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Homemade Stuffing (with no chunks!)

Brined Turkey Legs (We did this last year...perfect!)

Apple Crisp with whipped cream

I hope your plans are as fun as ours! Happy Thanksgiving, be thankful no matter where you are or what you are doing!:) Take it from me, it is way better that way!

California Veggie Sandwiches

For some reason, me and veggies have been getting along REALLY well lately! I saw this recipe on Pinterest and was at the store the very next day getting all of the goodies to make it. Now, not that I need to mention this, but this meal isn’t right up Hubbs ally...so we made it for a girls lunch. It was A+ perfect for us. I gobbled up 2 of these babies, and was wanting more with every bite. Fresh, delicious heaven on a peice of toasty toast. Who could as for more? O, and the company was pretty great, too:)

California Veggie Sandwiches
Printable Version

Chive Spread:
1/4 cup greek yogurt  or mayo
1 Tbs. finely chopped fresh chives
salt and pepper

Avocado Salad:
1 avacado, pitted and diced
1 tomato, cored and chopped
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
1 lime, juiced
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro
salt and pepper

4 slices bread, toasted or 4 wraps
1/2 cup alfalfa sprouts
4 slices havarti cheese

For the chive spread, mix the Greek yogurt or mayo and chives. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, gently toss together the avocado, tomato, cucumber, lime juice and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
Assemble the sandwiches by spreading the chive-yogurt mixture on all four bread slices. Divide the sprouts between the four slices of bread, and top with avocado salad and cheese. Serve open-faced. (If using tortillas, spread the chive-yogurt mixture on the tortillas, and top with cheese, avocado salad and sprouts. Roll, and eat.)

Serves 4.
Recipe adapted from Pinterest-ezzrapoundcake

Coconut Crusted Chicken with Orange Dipping sauce

MMM mmm good! Perfect crunch, perfect sweetness, a little tang, and, like I said, MMM mmm good! Every bite left me wanting more.

Coconut Chicken with Orange Dipping Sauce
Printable Version

1 egg
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
½ cup flour
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
½ cup butter, melted
1/2 cup orange marmalade
2 Tbs. Dijon mustard

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Beat egg in medium bowl; set aside. Mix the coconut, flour, garlic powder, salt and peeper in a shallow bowl. Working with one chicken breast at a time, dip the chicken in the bowl with the beaten egg and then coat with the coconut mixture.

Place on the baking sheet. Once all the chicken breasts are coated and on the baking sheet, evenly drizzle with the melted butter. Bake for 30 minutes, or until cooked through.

Prepare the orange sauce by combining the marmalade and the mustard together. Serve with rice or quinoa.

Serves 4.
Recipe adapted from Pennies on a Platter