Thankful.

I was still on a “Wicked” high. It was the Thursday morning of Thanksgiving. (Well clearly. When has Thanksgiving not been on a Thursday? :)) I had worked past 11:00 at Target getting things ready for “The Day After Thanksgiving” shopping or “Black Friday” as some call it. The next morning I got up early to work out, and then get ready for Thanksgiving dinner! I was beyond excited! Today, I was going to get to cook and bake! Plus, Kathryn had left her “Wicked” CD with Lawyerboy while we were at “Wicked” Tuesday night for him to upload it onto our computer because she knew I would want the music. I have such a smart sister! I turned on the computer to listen to the soundtrack and got to work while Lawyerboy relaxed on the couch until I called him to dry a round of dishes for me. He dried dishes three times that morning! I only have so many Pyrex Prepware mixing bowls! 🙂

I was in charge of bringing mashed potatoes and dessert. I decided to make as much as I could make in the morning hours. I made mashed potatoes, chocolate chip pumpkin bread, and pumpkin pie (AKA Lawyerboy’s favorite!). I got started with the pie crust first so it could chill a little in the refrigerator. Next, I mixed up the chocolate chip pumpkin bread. While that was baking, I rolled out the pie crust and mixed together the filling for the pumpkin pie. When the bread came out of the oven, I put the pumpkin pie in it to bake. Then I boiled potatoes to start making my mom’s mashed potatoes that are The World’s Best Mashed Potatoes. I put the potatoes and all the extra ingredients in the mixer I got from all the Newburg School staff as a bridal shower gift. It went around a couple of times and then it died on me. I called my mom and said, “I need a Kitchen Aid!” I knew however that couldn’t happen for a while since they are expensive! My mom suggested that I may have too many potatoes in the mixing bowl for the mixer to handle. I mashed them with a hand masher and whipped them by hand with a spoon for a bit. Both were a workout! Then I tried the mixer again and it worked. Phew! (Maybe the mixer was sad that it hadn’t been used in months!) After they were whipped, I put them in the Crock-pot to keep them warm and for easy transfer. Lastly, I took the pumpkin pie out of the oven.

It was all ready to go! Lawyerboy was showered and ready to get his drink on! I quickly got ready and we hauled down the goodies and our drinks to the car. Where were we headed? To my cousin, Steph, and her husband Mike’s house… our second home here in the Twin Cities! We hadn’t seen them since my birthday. Kathryn was also going to be there, along with some of Steph’s friends.

The year before, we were in the Twin Cities for ‘Thanksgiving 2007’ at Steph and Mike’s place. Lawyerboy and his friend Tyler were flying out the next morning for the Grey Cup in Canada and that is when I experienced my first Broadway Musical, “The Lion King”, with Kathryn, as well as Steph and Mike. We had heard that Steph and Mike throw an awesome Thanksgiving Day get-together and when we came in 2007 and experienced it for ourselves, we concurred! Therefore, Lawyerboy and I were ecstatic to have the whole day off together where we didn’t need to think about school or work and could eat, drink, play games, learn to booty dance, and be thankful.

There is something about Steph and Mike’s place. Or maybe, more accurately, it is just Steph and Mike. But they are incredible hosts, and one of the neatest couples I know. This year’s Thanksgiving was a great time, but it was a little different from last year. Steph, Mike, and Kathryn all agreed it was quite different from last year and all previous years they’ve had Thanksgiving together, as well. This year, one of Steph’s friends brought their mom. I think I can speak for all of us that we have nothing but the utmost respect for moms and this mom was no different. For some reason though, there was a strange vibe throughout the day. After they left, we unanimously decided that parents were not allowed at Thanksgiving. Not even our own parents! (Clearly we are joking Mom, Dad, Aunt Tena and Uncle Steve… sort of.)

There was so much food and it was all so good. As previously stated in other posts, I love bread, and when you add sugar and other goodies to make it into a quick bread, it makes me as happy as a kid in a candy store. The star on my Thanksgiving appetizer, main course, and dessert plate was none other than Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees – Bake time: Varies on loaf size; more than an hour – Prep time: 25 minutes – Makes: 16 to 20 slices

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 15 ounce can pumpkin

1 1/4 cup oil

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Using a mixer, use a large mixing bowl and beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil well. Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in with the wet ingredients. Mix together. Remove the bowl from the mixer stand and fold in the chocolate chips. You can split this batter into two, well-greased 8 X 4 bread pans or make one extra-large loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the bread pan for a few minutes before allowing it to cool on a cooking rack or the ever popular towel with Saran Wrap method! I usually put all the batter into one pan and make one extra-large loaf. It needs to bake for at least 99 minutes! Once again, check it with a toothpick for doneness. This is such a perfect Autumn bread, but it really is nice any time of the year!

I love to use butter for baking. However, I am not one to put butter on things like almost every other person I know, especially Lawyerboy, my sister Micky, and my parents. They love butter on bread and potatoes. I think bread is too good to add butter to it and potatoes are best with cottage cheese in my opinion, but by all means, add butter if you so desire!