November 25

Hi folks, welcome back. I hope you will find some interesting information and helpful suggestions here this week.

First Brandon and I would like to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Well let us see what we will discover in the trunk this week.

Did you know if you wrap celery in foil it will help to keep it fresh for weeks? I just discovered that lately.

I am sure that by now you have your favorite recipes for thanksgiving handy and most of your shopping done. Here is one of my favorites.

SPINACH CASSEROLE

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook spinach acording to directions, and drain well. In a mixing bowl combine spinach, sour cream and onion soup mix. Place mixture in a greased baking dish Combine cheese, bread crumbs, and melted butter to make a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle on top of casserole and bake for 30 minutes.

This next recipe makes a wonderful gift.

Bourbon Balls

Mix bourbon and syrup together and then add to nuts, waffers and cocoa. Roll in sugar. (Makes three dozen)

To make fifty balls tripple the recipe. I place mine in candy paper cups and store in cans. They also freeze very well.

A THANKSGIVING POEM

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING, BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS, I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED - THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.

SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR AND GAZED AT THE SHELVES, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

I GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND POTATOS WITH GRAVEY, STUFFING AND YAMS AND BAKED CORN LIKE CRAZY.

TIL I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES.... HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP. MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP, MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE, MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.

A contribution by Brandon follows:

Hello all. Since this coming Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, I thought I'd make a few suggestions on some good Christmas music to purchase while you're out buying gifts.

To start off, when it comes to Christmas music, my preference is easy-listening instrumental music. Which is odd because I'm a rock music lover. But, I'm also a winter lover and this kind of music gives me the feeling of winter. So, that said, I would personally recommend any classical instrumental Christmas music.

Another recommendation I would have is any Christmas album by the group Mannheim Steamroller. It's basically your Christmas classics, spiced up a bit instrumental style. If you're looking for something a little different from the same old Christmas carols being rehashed then Mannheim Steamroller is where to look.

Trans-siberian Orchestra: Similar to Mannheim Steamroller, except if you like a little rock in your Christmas music, here's where to look. Personally, I'm not a big fan of Christmas rock even though like I say, rock is what I love the rest of the year, but the Trans-siberian Orchestra doesn't overdo their rock influence. The Trans-siberian Orchestra is basically classical, rock, and piano music all bundled into one for something different.

Twisted Christmas: Hhahahahahaha-ho-ho-ho? Yep, that's what this is. Christmas comedy. Twisted Christmas is by Bob Rivers and has such classics as The Twelve Pains of Christmas, We Wish You Weren't Living With Us, Restroom Door Said "Gentleman", and more. Merry listening!

THANKSGIVING WEATHER

Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy.

A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

I hope you find the following web sites helpful for the holiday season.

The next one i found has good buys on clothes:

This one has many recipes:

That about covers it for this week. Have a good Thanksgiving and we'll see you next week.