Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe: Nacho Turkey Casserole

Nacho Turkey Casserole

If you like nachos with all the trimmings, you'll love this dish. With just seven ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time, this make-ahead supper is also convenient.

Ingredients

• 5 cups slightly crushed tortilla chips
• 4 cups cubed cooked turkey or chicken
• 2 16-ounce jars salsa
• 1 10-ounce package frozen whole kernel corn
• 1/2 cup dairy sour cream
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers or mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Lightly grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Place 3 cups of the tortilla chips in bottom of dish. In a large bowl combine turkey, salsa, corn, sour cream, and flour; spoon over tortilla chips.

2. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups tortilla chips and the cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. Makes 8 servings.

The Tastet Family Thanksgiving

Our Tastet Family Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving here in Reno, Nevada! The day started out cool and cloudy with a hint of rain. As the day progressed, the clouds broke into a sunny sky with a high of 55 degrees.

Eric and I were busy from 5:30am on! Well, he was up at 5:30am preparing the first turkey to go into the smoker. This was the first Thanksgiving that he was up before me! What a blessing he was to do all the work on preparing the turkeys! Soon I was up getting the house and food ready as well. We enjoyed a cup of coffee together reading our Bibles. We enjoy doing this but rarely happens with my babysitting and his work schedule. So this was treat for the holiday!

The family arrived around 11:30am. This was Eric's dad, Sonny and his brother, Neil. Also his uncle and aunt, Mike and Debbie, their kids, Josh and Remy and their grandson, Paul. And their little dog. We enjoyed appetizers while the turkeys were finishing cooking...avocado taco dip with chips, shrimp cocktail and a meat and cheese tray.

We spread out the feast and enjoyed our dinner together. We had smoked turkey, deep fried turkey and ham...cottage mashed potatoes and gravy...stuffing and rolls...hearty 8-layer salad and deviled eggs...green bean casserole and candied yams...pumpkin pie and apple cheesecake.

The family left around 3:30pm. Papa Tastet stayed awhile longer and spent some time with us. We cleaned the house up, put everything away, cleaned the smoker and the deep fryer...and then we relaxed!

My favorite part of the day...Eric built a fire in our new fire pit in the backyard!
We sat around the fire under the stars...talking...singing songs with the guitar...drinking coffee...enjoying a wonderful day that the Lord gave us.

There is no better way to end the day than sitting by your hubby...

watching your children sing songs about Jesus...

enjoying the nature and night around you...

staring in the flames and remembering good memories of past Thanksgivings...

yet enjoying the one today.

Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe: Cran-Turkey Enchiladas

Cran-Turkey Enchiladas

This crowd pleaser makes the most of leftover turkey and cranberry sauce -- and it's got all of your favorite enchilada fixings, including black beans, salsa, Monterey Jack cheese, and onion.

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 to 2-1/2 cups shredded cooked turkey
• 1 16-oz. can whole cranberry sauce
• 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1-1/2 cups bottled salsa
• 1 cup shredded colby and Monterey Jack cheese (4 oz.)
• 1/2 cup dairy sour cream
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 8 7- to 8-inch whole wheat or regular flour tortillas
• 1 tsp. bottled hot pepper sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. For filling, in a large bowl stir together turkey, half the cranberry sauce, beans, 1/2 cup of the salsa, 3/4 cup of the cheese, sour cream, green onions, cilantro, cumin, salt, and pepper. Spoon about 2/3 cup filling on each tortilla. Roll up tortillas around filling. Place, seam sides down, in prepared dish; set aside.

2. For sauce, in bowl stir together remaining cranberry sauce, remaining salsa, and hot pepper sauce. Spoon over filled tortillas. Cover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover; top with remaining cheese. Bake 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with additional cilantro and green onions. Makes 8 servings.

Two Days To Thanksgiving...

This morning, I cleaned and organized the garage. This will be where my husband is making the Thanksgiving turkeys...smoking and deep frying them! Mmm!
Two days until Thanksgiving...Here are a few more tips to do today...

• Chill beverages. (I have my drinks in my garage to save room in my fridge.)
  
• Shop for perishable items.
• Clean vegetables and refrigerate.
• Set out bread for homemade stuffing.
• Make cranberry sauce.
• Fill salt and pepper shakers and butter dishes.
• Complete light housecleaning.
• Lay a fire in the fireplace, ready to light later. (I wish I had a fireplace! :)
  
• Put up decorations.
  

Preparations for Thanksgiving...

The countdown to Thanksgiving...

By now you have invited your guests to your home...made out your Thanksgiving menu...finished some early shopping...

Here are a few reminders in these 3-4 days before Thanksgiving...

1. Defrost your turkey!

2. Be sure you have enough tables and chairs for the day to accommodate your crowd.

3. Make sure your table linens and napkins are cleaned and ironed.

4. Prepare the dishes and serving dishes you will need.

5. Shop for extra paper goods if needed. Toilet paper, napkins, plates...a nice idea is to have some disposable containers to put extra food in for your guests to take home.

6. Clean out your fridge to make room for your Thanksgiving dishes.

7. Have decorations prepared.

8. Start making extra ice cubes now for that day!

9. Prepare for children that will be present that day...small tables and chairs, high chair, games, coloring books, etc.

10. Review recipes you will be preparing for Thanksgiving. Jot down a cooking schedule for your dishes.

11. Do your major cleaning 4 days in advance.

12. Write things down...you will be less likely to forget something if you write it down!

13. Oh yes...don't forget to DEFROST your turkey! :)

Happy preparations!

Thanksgiving Memories...

Memories of Thanksgiving...

Some of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving were from our college days.
My parents were always generous in letting us bring home for the holiday...a friend or in some cases...many friends!...to our home. The first friend I brought home my freshman year was a missionary daughter who was not able to go home for the holiday.
From that year to the ones following...the group grew larger and larger! One of the most fun parts of the vacation was the car ride home! I think we most always stopped at Taco Bell. College girls love Nacho Bell Grandes! :) After filling our bellies, we zoomed for our Ohio home. The car was filled with lots of laughter and singing.
We bunked all over the house...the pullout couch, the bedrooms. And one bathroom was quite the adventure! Well, I guess not much different than the dorms! LOL!

Thanksgiving dinner was a collection of many different dishes...turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, cornbread corn, green bean casserole, rolls...then came the homemade pies! Truth be told...my parents buy enough food for three Thanksgiving dinners! Everyone pitched in peeling potatoes or making a pie and soon we were sitting around the dining room enjoying food and fellowship!

Of course, soon came the boyfriends home with us from college adding to the festivities! Soon those boyfriends became the husbands! :)

Truth be told...those days seem so long ago! My sisters, our husbands and myself have all graduated from Bible college. Married for several years...added six grandchildren (and one on the way!) to the family...and now moved away from home.

I love those past memories. They will always hold a special place in my heart. I now look forward to making more and different special memories with my husband and children.
And perhaps someday...
we will be the ones with a houseful of college girls and guys! :)

What is your favorite past Thanksgiving memory?

Recipe: Avocado Taco Dip

The countdown is on to the big Thanksgiving dinner! Don't forget appetizers for before the big meal! It will keep your guys in your family happy...and you won't have to hear (as often anyway!)...is dinner ready yet? :) Here is a great appetizer that will serve a large group and will receive rave reviews from your guests! It is a favorite for our family!

Avocado Taco Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 envelope taco seasoning
• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
• 4 medium ripe avocados, halved, pitted and peeled
• 2 teaspoons lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh tomato
• 1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
• Tortilla chips...lime tortilla chips go great with this dip!
  

Directions:

Spread beans in a shallow 2-1/2-qt. dish. In a bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise and taco seasoning; spread over beans. Sprinkle with chilies. In a bowl, mash avocados with lime juice, salt and garlic powder. Spread over the chilies. Sprinkle with the cheese, onions, tomato and olives. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Serve with tortilla chips. Yield: 12-14 servings.

Does Your Life Need A Smoke Signal?

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

The Moral of This Story:

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart...because God is at work in our lives...even in the midst of our pain and suffering.

Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground... It just may be a smoke signal that summons the "Grace of God"!!!

"Unto God That Performeth All Things For Me"

Often when I am having a difficult day or week, I try extra hard to look for the small blessings of God! I need the reassurance that God is there for me and loves me!

These verses encourage my heart...
"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me."
Psalms 57: 1, 2

I like the phrase..."unto God that performeth all things for me." I think of that as if I am God's only child and everything He does and has created...He did it just for me!

I love to look into nature to find God's love for me! Whether it is a small mountain stream...a majestic mountain...a gigantic redwood...a beautiful sunset...
I can be assured....God performed and fashioned that beautiful and majestic piece of nature just for me!

And why not? Our God is big and mighty enough to love us all! Not just as a big group but individually and uniquely! I for one intend on taking advantage of God's love for me!

What blessing have you received lately and thought...
"God performed that for me" ?

Thanksgiving Craft: Pilgrim Place Cards

Pilgrim Place Cards

Here's a pop-up card design your kids can use to transform their thumbprints into Pilgrim portraits that resemble your dinner guests. Then everyone can find his or her place, and face, at the dinner table.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Card stock
	Scissors
	Pencil
	Tempera paint
	Colored markers
	Gold glitter glue
	Craft knife
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Cut out a 5-by-4-inch rectangle from the card stock for each place card, plus one extra. Fold each card in half so that the 4-inch edges meet, and flatten the crease. Then reopen all of the cards.
2. In the center of the extra card, draw a Pilgrim hat, positioning it so that the top is above the fold and the brim is just below it, as shown. Cut it out and use it as a template, tracing it in pencil onto the centers of the remaining cards (again, trace the top of each hat above the fold and the brim just below it).
3. Once all of the hats are drawn, have your child lightly coat her thumb with skin-toned tempera paint and print a Pilgrim's head below each hat (have her practice a few times on scrap paper first).
4. When the paint is dry, your child can use the markers to color in the hats, draw on collars, add facial features and hairdos that resemble those of specific family members, and print their names. Then she can adorn each hat with a glitter-glue buckle.
5. Finally, use the craft knife (this is a parent's job) to cut along the outer edge of each hat top but not around the brim. Refold the cards, gently pulling up the hat tops to stand upright, as shown, and they're ready to set in place on the dinner table.

Thanksgiving Craft: The Thankful Tree

The Thankful Tree:

Let your family put their gratitude on display with a classic tree of thanks. Your kids can set up the tree ahead of time... then leave out the materials for guests.
Try also starting at the beginning of November...write and hang one leaf a day of things you are thankful for!

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Small tree branch
	Flowerpot
	Pebbles, rocks, or marbles
	Card stock or colored paper
	Hole punch
	Twine or string
	Clear holiday lights (optional)
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. To make the tree, insert a branch in a flowerpot filled with pebbles, rocks, or marbles. Cut leaf shapes from card stock or colored paper, use a hole punch to make a hole in each, and attach a loop of twine or string.
2. At your gathering, have guests jot down a note of thanks on a leaf and hang it from the tree. You can also string the tree with clear holiday lights for added festivity!

Thanksgiving Craft: Turkey Finger Stamp Name Cards

Finger Stamp Name Cards

These handy little birds are great seat markers and a fun predinner activity. Have the younger set make them for the rest of the family, or let everyone try his hand -- or at least a finger -- at making his own.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Card stock as shown
	Nontoxic stamp pads in brown, red, orange, and yellow
	Glue
	Googly eyes
	Paint markers
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. For each bird, fold a piece of card stock as shown (ours were roughly 3 by 4 inches). Set out nontoxic stamp pads in brown, red, orange, and yellow. Using your thumb or index finger, stamp rings of yellow, orange, and red, and a brown turkey body.
2. Glue googly eyes in place, then use paint markers to draw on a beak, snood, and feet and to write a guest's name below the bird.

Thanksgiving Idea: Mini Horn-a-Plenties!

I started my Thanksgiving meal planning today. Here is a neat idea for this Thanksgiving!

This mini horn of plenty guarantees that hungry young guests will have something to nibble on. Set one at each place as a meal-starter or make a bunch to serve as a kid-friendly hors d'oeuvre platter before the big Thanksgiving feast.

Ingredients:
	Tortillas
	Toothpicks
	Small veggies -- we suggest peas, baby carrots, baby corn ears, grape
	tomatoes, and cornichons (or any small pickle)
	Dip or dressing

1. To create each cornucopia, cut a tortilla in half. Roll it into a cone with the rounded edge at the open end. Secure the cone with a toothpick, then fill it with small veggies. Serve with your favorite dip or dressing.

"Thy righteousness is like the great mountains..."

"Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgements are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings."
Psalms 36:5-7

This morning, I woke up and saw this beautiful view of the snow-covered mountains! At times, the clouds surrounded the tops of mountains. At other times, the sun peeked out from the clouds and cast beautiful shadows on the mountains.
I am thankful that when I am a little down in the dumps...worried about the daily things of life...missing friends and family - I am uplifted by reading these verses!
My God is full of mercy and faithfulness! I can always put my trust under the shadow of His wings!
What are you trusting in the Lord for today?

Recipe: Eggnog Pumpkin Pie

Eggnog Pumpkin Pie

This recipe combines two of my favorite treats from the season...
eggnog and pumpkin pie!
Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
• 1-1/4 cups eggnog
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 unbaked pastry shell (9 inches)

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, eggnog, sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Pour into pastry shell.
Bake at 375° for 60-65 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate until serving. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Recipe: Gingerbread Cupcakes

Gingerbread Cupcakes

At only 137 calories and 5 grams of fat...these are a wonderful treat on a cool November day! They will remind you of gingersnap cookies!

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• Dash salt
• 1 slightly beaten egg white
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• Sifted powdered sugar (optional)

Directions

1. Line eight 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, soda, and salt; set aside.

2. In a small mixing bowl stir together the egg white, molasses, water, and oil. Stir molasses mixture into flour mixture just until blended. Spoon mixture into prepared muffin cups.

3. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until cupcakes spring back when pressed lightly in center. If desired, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm or cool. Makes 8 cupcakes (8 servings).

Make ahead tip: Bake and cook cupcakes but do not sprinkle with powdered sugar. Pack in an airtight freezer container; seal, label, and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw 30 minutes at room temperature before sprinkling with powdered sugar and serving.