Listen up, you turkey!

I know it's not officially Thanksgiving break yet, but I am signing off a few days early so I can get some things in order in my house before we go home to my dads for relaxation and some grub. We cannot wait for the Holiday to get here, and I am fully prepared to take as much time as I can to dig into some good books and maybe season 3 of Six Feet Under.

We have a new little friend in the house....which I hope to introduce to you when she actually has a name (and not whole wheat, like Mike has been suggesting. No, not 4Loko, either.)

I wanted to leave you with a super yummy and totally EASY recipe for a dessert for Thanksgiving, with the help of the season's most delicious apples.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups coarse fresh whole wheat (or grain) breadcrumbs

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

3 T granulated sugar

3 T unsalted butter, melted & divided

2 lbs McIntosh apples, peeled, cored, and cut

3 T light brown sugar

4 T apple cider

1 tsp grated lemon rind

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1/8 ground allspice

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Combine breadcrumbs, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, salt, granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons butter.

In a separate bowl, combine apples, remaining 1/2 tsp cinnamon remaining 1 tablespoon butter, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons cider add next 3 ingredients.

Sprinkle half of crumb mixture in bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spoon apple filling over crumb mixture, and sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over filling. 

Spoon remaining 2 tablespoons apple cider over crumbs.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbling.

Serves 8. Serving Size 2/3 cup

Weight Watchers recipe 

Nutritional Info:

144 calories, 4.8g fat

1.3 g protein, 26 carbs

I'm making my 4th apple brown betty this week for the big turkey day, as well as this delicious smoky chorizo stuffing that I tore out of a Food & Wine magazine. Mmmmm, I can't wait!

What is your absolute favorite dish at Thanksgiving? Do you wait all day in anticipation of that bird? The perfect pumpkin pie? Or is it the homemade cranberry sauce? Whichever gets your motor running, I hope you get to eat plenty of it!

Giving Thanks

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I have so many things to be thankful for this year.

Even though, I've been struggling with the idea that you can not make everybody happy, no matter how nice you are, or the effort you make some people will just never give in. They will continually push against you, no matter how hard you try. I'm sorry, but I just do not have the energy to keep fighting this battle. I'm choosing to focus my attention on those that make me a better person, that want to see me succeed and actually enjoy being around me (wow, what a concept).

So this Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful for the friends who love me no matter what. The ones that give a damn. Because in the end, that's really all that matters. And you know what? I give a damn about them, too. The others...can just fade away.

I'm thankful for Mike everyday, so Thanksgiving is no different. I absolutely love how he makes me laugh, and supports me in ways others never have. It makes me a better person. Not only for myself, but for us. He also lets me make messes wherever I go and not complain....not a bad guy in my book.

I'm thankful for my parents, and my family. I came from a great bunch of people, and I don't think there will ever be a time when I stop learning things from my parents. They are always teaching, even when they don't know it. I love you guys!

I'm also thankful for the little things that pop up everyday that make me smile, or laugh. 

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I'm wishing everybody a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

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PS, are you a fan on facebook? It would be beneficial this Friday if you are :D