The table is ready, turkey is roasting, dressing and sweet potatoes are waiting finishing touches. All that is missing are those who will gather round.
Thanks to chargers I found at Michaels the table came together quite nicely. They are just the right color to tie the woven cloth and the Della Robbia dishes together.
Another addition are the glasses, a surprising find when I was packing boxes thinking we were going to move. There was a Pier One sticker on them, so I must have bought them on sale at some point.
Crazy, but my accidental napkin rings look like they were made to repeat the acorns and leaves on the glasses. What a happy coincidence!
Since the girls were old enough to work in the kitchen, they chose a dish to provide. One daughter makes a sweet potato casserole, the other desserts. She couldn’t decide what to make this year, so she’s bringing four! I’m thinking we could skip the turkey and dressing and go right for dessert.
The traditional sweet potato casserole has a pecan topping that makes it seem like a dessert, so it makes sense this time to do something with the sweet potatoes that makes them less sweet. Here is the chosen recipe.
Smoked Gouda Mashed Sweet Potatoes
4 T. butter
3 T. heavy whipping cream, divided
1/2 t. coarse salt
1 t. sugar
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4″ slices, 1/2 c. shredded smoked Gouda cheese, 6 strips bacon, 2 green onions
Heat the butter, 2 T. of the cream, the salt, sugar, cayenne and sweet potatoes in a large sauté pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted, stir to coat the potatoes. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the potatoes are very tender, stirring occasionally. Removed from heat and add the cheese and remaining T. of cream; cover 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese. Mix thoroughly to mash the potatoes. Top with crumbled bacon and chopped onions just before serving.
Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday because it is a time to focus on all for which we are grateful. Each year when the family is together, we go around the table and each person expresses his/her gratitude. This year my plate is full, and that includes my appreciation for you who follow my musings. You are the reason I continue.
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Lulu's Musings 
I hope you, Phil and your family had a memorial Thanksgiving together. I know the table was beautiful and the food must have been delicious.
Spell check didn’t help out, I meant memorable Not memorial. 😁
The table turned out so beautiful with the new chargers and your acorns. I like the new twist on sweet potatoes!
Happy Thanksgiving Linda, your table looks gorgeous and the sweet potatoes sound yummy! I hope you had a blessed day!
Jenna
Your table looks so beautiful… especially the acorns! It all came together so nicely.
We are happy to read your beautiful blog posts! Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Beautiful, as always. The menu sounds delicious. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
You changed it up beautifully! I love your leaves and acorns and new chargers. You did a fantastic job. That was funny about the glasses working out so well.
I would be happy to oblige and just go for all the desserts!
Thanks for the new twist recipe for sweet potatoes.
Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your family!
Dear Linda and Phil, Dennis joins me in wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!Your table looks lovely and 3 am sure dinner will be delicious!P.S. I have been a volunteer at The Guild Shop on Dunlavy for several years. Work in jewelry on Monday afternoon, directly across from the check out.Just found out that one of my favorite cashiers is your neighbor…Susan. She recognized my “Linda Lewis necklace” I wore last week! She told me that you were not moving, and are staying in West U.Love to hear more but we’re not surprised as the G-condo is overpowered by the new High-rise built next door. Everyone is busy now but perhaps we can get together for wine and nibbles soon? MARCIA Fennell Gardner Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android