So I’m sitting here on the couch relaxing with my laptop…and oddly enough STILL pinning fall recipes even though I’m stuffed to the gills!

I don’t feel so bad though since my mom was right next to me earlier flipping through the latest Food Network Magazine…what can I say, the apple foodie doesn’t fall far from the tree!

I have a lot to be thankful for today.

I got off work at 7am this morning after a CRAZY night on only 4 hours sleep, which is another story entirely…a good one…but it will have to wait until another day. Let’s just say the sleep deprivation and delirium that may or may not have occurred around 4am was totally worth it! 😉

So after I slept a few short hours (gotta get back on track with the daywalkers again), my mom and sister came over to the house (my dad had to work) and we started prepping Thanksgiving Day dinner. And when I say “we”, I mean my mom!

My sister was glued to iTunes and/or her cell phone (teenagers!) and I was aimlessly wandering around the kitchen in a half-zombie-like status. Well, that is when I wasn’t busy ruining the plans for dessert…

Yeah, so if you open up a pre-made graham cracker crust and there are crumblies on top, don’t try to shake them off into the sink!

#foodiefail

Luckily* I was able to get Tori to run to the store for another one while I tried my best to redeem myself on a side dish.

*Yeah, still not really sure how I feel about all the stores being open on the holidays. Whatever happened to the days when people got to stay at home with their families? Of course, I WAS at the store earlier…and then I sent my sister…so technically I guess I am part of the “demand” statistic…sorry Wal-Mart employees! 🙁

So about that side dish…

Pie crust? What pie crust?

Mom and I both got a little help from our friends in the literary world for this Thanksgiving.

I made the Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Grapes and Walnuts from this month’s Whole Living and mom took a cue from Food Network Magazine to bust out these two amazing dishes:

The “Almost Famous” Cranberry Walnut Relish and the Neely’s Green Beans & Bacon

Along with these sides, we also made a couple more…because you know, three people need like 5 side items on Thanksgiving Day.

Candied sweet potatoes

And deviled eggs (my one request)

And then there was the turkey…

We decided to just get a breast this year so we didn’t end up with a crap ton of leftovers, and it worked out perfect.

Ultimate Mom quote of the day:
“This bird doesn’t have any legs…and that is why he ended up in my pot…poor thing never had a chance”

Bahaha!

 My beautiful (and colorful) plate!

I opted for steamed sweet potatoes sprinkled with cinnamon instead of sharing the candied ones with Mom and Tori…just wasn’t feeling the sugar rush today.

Speaking of sugar rush…

I spent about an hour online today searching for a pumpkin pie recipe that didn’t call for evaporated milk…because I was not going to the store AGAIN.

I was so excited when I found this recipe…healthy, easy, and quick!

I threw all of the ingredients* into the food processor, waited for Tori to get back with the new pie crust, and then popped it in the oven. Ten minutes start to finish and it smelled wonderful. I was pretty proud of myself…

But I couldn’t figure out for the life of me why after an hour of cooking, it never really set. I just chalked it up to a healthy recipe “thing”…

So finally it came time to taste it…

And then we figured out how to store the leftovers!

Yeah, so umm…remember that asterisk ^up there^??

I JUST realized I forgot to add the MILK!!

#howafoodiefailedthanksgiving

Things I am thankful for:
1. The fact that my family is VERY forgiving when I ruin the one and most coveted dessert of Thanksgiving.
2. No matter my mental status, just being able to laugh about it all and enjoy a good home-cooked meal with people I love.
3. The absolutely brilliant mind of Gracie over at Girl Meets Life…her single serving pumpkin pie is happening right now! 😉

I just saw Jenn’s celebrating a two day party with What I Ate on Thanksgiving!

Can’t wait to see what kind of goodies are linked up!

What are you thankful for today?