Quesadillas, turkey salad, turkey pot pie, turkey & noodles, turkey lasagna, chicken soup and chicken tortilla soup. That’s just a few dishes where you can implement the frozen leftover turkey!!!
OK, buckle up you’ve got a super busy 3 weeks ahead of you. Just saying that is cause for alarm, or not. One of my friends will be totally done, with all the shopping by Thanksgiving. Sharon, that’s you! Not to mention her house will be in full adoration the week before! Am I jealous, you bet I am! Like I said last week it’s the first time in 18-19 years that I haven’t had 90% of my holiday decorating done by Thanksgiving. This year I’m going to blame it on a new job and Covid.
I’m not sure that I mentioned my new position. I’m the new Director of Stone County OACAC. This stands for Ozark Area Community Action Council. Our biggest job is to aid in poverty situations within our county. But ….the hat is much much bigger. We direct individuals and families to networks that will assist when finances are down or there are emergency situations. We seek to ‘empower’ our clients. I think I may have explained that last week, but hey, that was last week, right? I’m loving the job and the great staff.
Sometimes during the holidays, no, actually, that’s frequently during the holidays I get fed up with the whole overdose of ‘food’. That’s when I reach for wassails, ciders and punches. It’s been a while since I shared the Orange Cider recipe which comes from Appleton City, MO. It’s pretty economical and easy to make for large numbers. The toffee pecan crunch has become a family favorite. I will warn you, it is addictive! Easy to make and quickly devoured, certainly a good choice for many gatherings.
A nice gift of the holidays are beverage bags. Specialty teas, cocoas, marshmallows, peppermint sticks and coffees will be a terrific hit for co-workers.
Try visiting places like Tuesday Morning, Big Lots and Aldis for good prices.
Napkins and a bit of chocolate would fit into the bags too.
This week I need to get the entrance to our homeowner’s decorated, the office and home! It is definitely going to be busy. It will get done, just not at the speed of past years.
Keep some balance friends and focus on the reason for the season.
Simply Yours, The Covered Dish, www.thecovereddish.com
Cider
By: Joyce Brown
6 cups apple cider
2 cups orange juice
1 cup or less sugar, (sweeten to your taste)
1 ‘whole’ nutmeg
2 cinnamon sticks
Heat thoroughly and serve.
*****
Toffee Pecan Crunch
An easy sweet treat for a brunch or dessert buffet!
Assemble:
1 box quality graham crackers
1 1/2 sticks salted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup chopped pecan pieces
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
Line the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking pan with aluminum foil. Separate graham crackers and tightly fit the halves into the bottom of the pan.
In a saucepan melt the butter and white sugar. Bring to a rolling boil and time for 2 minutes; or just until mixture begins to turn a darker color, do not overcook.
Pour evenly over the graham crackers. Sprinkle immediately with 1 cup pecan pieces. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely, break into pieces. Keeps best in a sealed container.
One box of graham crackers will do a little over 2 batches. Choose a good label on your graham crackers, it does make a difference.
