Thanksgiving 2011

For many a year we have been hosting a small family get together on Thanksgiving Day.  This year was a little different as we had 2 guests from Hong Kong.  Agatha and Kristel are friends of my Sisters Son Matthew.  This was the girls first American Thanksgiving and they added a lot of festivity to the family celebration.  On Saturday we visited two cemetery's where my Mother and Nancy's Mother was buried.   The weather was great and all the rain that was forecast did not arrive until Sunday.

This year we deep fried two turkeys and oven baked one.  Total weight of the turkeys was approximately 50 lbs, which gives you about 25 lbs of meat.  When the last guest left on Sunday there was no turkey left.

We have over 150 pictures of the celebration but we only loaded up 55 for the blog.    It was a lot of fun and we hope you enjoy the pictures.

Have a great week and Merry Christmas

For safety the deep fryer assembly is completely level.

Rick and Chuck watching the deep fry operation. It is
very important that someone is always on guard.
The day before we put the heaviest turkey in the tub and
placed enough water to cover the turkey. Once the
turkey is pulled out we mark the water level and
subtract 1 inch and that is where we fill up with
pure Peanut Oil.  The oil expands slightly so that
is why we start 1 inch low.

The first turkey going into the pool

The Turkey is lowered slowly to avoid any splashing.
Also this helps keep the oil from over flowing.  You
have to make sure the Turkey is completely dry.
Water and Peanut Oil does not mix well.

Chuck and Rick holding the first Deep Fried Turkey

Just some Turkey Guests going across the property.  They
are frequent guests and roost in the tall trees back of
our home

More Wild Turkeys.  Don't Worry we did not
have the wild ones for dinner.  It is hunting season
in Ohio but these guys don't seems to be worried.
Maybe Ohio hunters are bad shots

This is part of the Gaggle of Turkeys. Total count
was 25 of them

Baked Beans side dish for dinner.  Mark brought
this tasty dish in.  Great Flavor

Cooked Cranberries.  Tasty

Dave cooking the Harvard Beets.  Old family
favorite from back in the day

Harvard Beets look great don't they

Home Canned Green Beans. Nothing Better. Flavored
with Bacon, some Salt Pork and Onions. Toni
brings these every year. Fantastic

Dave, My Sister Toni, Chuck in the back and Mark.
Preparing food for the dinner.  Other than myself
everyone had some time in the kitchen.  I am the
official dinner taster.  Only do the job your
good at

Mark mashing the potatoes.  There was enough
to have Potato  Cakes for Breakfast on Saturday.
They go great with Eggs, Bacon, Toast, Juice

Nancy and Dave checking the 20lb Oven Turkey
The Turkey was a Amish Live Turkey from
our local butcher shop

Dave and Toni making stuff for dinner

You think the stove is dirty, you should see the
kitchen floor.  So much food you might
just stick to the floor

Nancy is happy with the oven Turkey. Looked
and tasted great.  Inside the turkey is Nancy's
homemade Bread Dressing.   She always make
an extra big dish and flavors it with the
fluids off the baked turkey.  

Just one of the plates of Turkey.   It did not last
long.   

Another plate of Turkey.  The deep fried was really
tasty.  The peanut oil and the marinade we inject
into the meat makes a big big difference.  

More Turkey. The above three pictures were placed
on the dinner table.  Other Turkey plates were
waiting their trip to the table.

Home made Pecan Pie. We had two of them
and both were GREAT  It is not low
calorie but who cares. We only have it
once a year.

Home Made Pumpkin Pie.   We had two of these.  One of
the pies was made with Organic Pumpkin.  Both were
great.  Not sure one is better than the other.

Marshmallows, Crushed Pineapple and Real
Coffee Creme.  One of my favorite desserts
from when I was a mere child.  You have to
have real coffee creme.  Most stores do not have that.
Luckily Meijer's in our area carries it.  Without
the coffee cream it does not taste perfect 

Home Made Fudge.  The peanut butter was fantastic and
the other is a chocolate.  Not sure what type but
tasted great.
Dave brought these.  He likes to cook

Hawaiian Wedding Cake. Nancy makes this every
year.  Absolutely fantastic.  The icing is
homemade, very smooth, just the perfect
amount of sweetness.  Must be the cook  GREAT.
If you are a baker make one of these and you will
put it at the top of your favorite desserts 

What is dessert without a homemade Whip Topping. My
Sister Toni makes this every year.  Fantastic. Much
better than ole Cool Whip.  Made with Half and Half
Sweetener etc.  Not a low calorie version but again
only once a year. That is moderation

Our Son KR cutting the pies after dinner.

Thanksgiving Family. Toni's not in this one
she had to take the picture

Talking and Eating is always good. Thanksgiving
is a fun time.   The dinner starts off by giving
thanks and Toni led the prayer

Agatha and Kristel our guests from Hong Kong. They
loved our German Shepherds.  Our sister Toni brought
her dog Pearl and she is at the bottom of this picture. Next
year will get a better shot.

Agatha and Kristel enjoying their first American
Thanksgiving Dinner.  They tried everything
including the Egg Nog Drink.  Some of the
food we have they have never tried, so they did.

Agatha relaxing after dinner.  Agatha is in a Hong Kong
Nursing College and will graduate soon

Kristel relaxing after Dinner. The left for Hong Kong
on the Monday after Thanksgiving.  Kristel
is in a Hong Kong Nursing College and will
be graduating soon

Kristel and Agatha enjoying the day

Matthew, Agatha and Kristel taking a little nap
after Dinner

Kristel and Agatha presented Nancy and I with a gift
set of chop sticks.  Neatly package and will
be framed and placed in our dining room

Nancy and KR.  He sure has gotten tall

Sandy looking at all of our Thanksgiving pictures on
the Ipad.  There were over 600 of them starting with
2004.  I have 2 more years of pictures to convert.  Maybe
next year

Mark and Dave leaving with some leftovers

Matthew and Mark moving another table to the
dining room

Mark relaxing after Dinner

Chuck relaxing after Dinner

Matthew, Agatha and Kristel relaxing after Dinner

Nancy getting the Dinner ready for Bandit and Belle.
They deserve a big dinner treat also.  Great Dogs

Nancy visiting her Mothers Grave Site.  The cemetery
is  located about 20 miles from our home.  Just a
country cemetery away from the hustle and bustle
of the city.  Pretty nice place

This is Nancy's Mother site with the new wreath.  She was
a great woman.  Guided and helped Nancy and
I many many times.  The kids called her
Grandma Cheat Cards as she always beat them in
any card game  

Across from Margaret (Nancy's Mom) is some
ole cemetery stones.  Interesting reading

Rick and Toni at our Mothers Gravesite in Burr Oak Ohio

Our Mother always loved this area.  Just a short distance
from their land.  Back in the day they
spent a lot of time in Burr Oak

The Famous Nelsonville Train.  Throughout the year
the train rides through the Hocking Hills. Notice
the Santa Claus getting ready to board.
The Hocking Hills has kids just waiting to talk to him
Nelsonville is located on the way to Burr Oak.
Click for Nelsonville

We shopped at Rocky's Boot Store.  They used to
make the boots here, but like everything else
the product is now made in China.  The
distribution is still from the area, so some jobs
were saved.

Belle and Bandit relaxing after their dinner.  They handle
the holiday crowds great.  Babies to ole people not
a problem. Strangers something else.

Thanks for viewing our blog and have
a
MERRY   CHRISTMAS

Rick, Nancy Bandit and Belle