So things have been a little hectic lately and I know I still have 2 D.C. blogs left to do (we JUST survived anhydrous season, people!), but Thanksgiving deserves it's own time, too! Scott & I volunteered to give my parents a break this year and host our very first Brown Thanksgiving this past Sunday!
I baked the ham on Friday night to get a jump on Sunday. Everyone loved The Pioneer Woman's ham when I made it for Easter, so I just stuck with what works!
Then I made her cornbread for the stuffing - Yep, I pretty much would follow her off a cliff...
Saturday night we set the tables and made sure there would be room for everyone. Kate was amazed to find out that fancy box that no one ever opens is full of silver - yes, we used China plates, too! We DO have standards to uphold here! 😉
The girls had a great time setting and decorating the kid's table in the basement!
Then came Sunday - The BIG day!!! My biggest fear was tackling a turkey and having it cooked on time. My mother-in-law, Mary, told us how Aunt Mayme Blackstad used to always make the Thanksgiving turkey in a paper bag.... Wwwhhhaaaa???? So we totally researched it, and thus our Classy Paper Bag Turkey was born! I mixed together some butter, salt, pepper, orange peel, and fresh rosemary and lathered it all over the outside of the turkey - this was Scott's first rendezvous with raw poultry, but I made him get all up close and personal!
After slathering the turkey with the butter mixture and filling the cavity with wonderfulness (orange, onion, rosemary, thyme, celery) we placed it in a brown grocery bag and folded over the end and thoroughly stapled it shut.
Then place it on a roasting pan and into the oven at 375 degrees for 13 minutes per pound. DON'T OPEN THE OVEN TO CHECK ON IT!!!
Then I made the dressing...The Pioneer Woman's recipe, of course.
Into the baking pan!
Go Vikings!!!!
Keeley loves to make roux, so she was my go to gravy gal!
Bird is done!
Worse than expectant parents!!! 😂
The turkey was GORGEOUS and delicious and oh so moist!
Hungry Browns patiently waiting!
Jake was the first one through the line!
The dressing was beautiful!
Feeding time for the Browns!
The basement crowd. The kids were seated at my Great Grandma Anderson's table in the basement - she would have loved to see her table full of their smiling faces!
Mom loved getting to sit down and enjoy a meal with all of her younger grandkids - and her turkey wing 😉
Payton wasted no time polishing off his huge drumstick!
The living room crowd.
Sit down already!
Of course Scott said, "Thanksgiving selfie?" and I couldn't refuse!
The kitchen crowd.
This has NEVER happened before! Mom being the only one napping after Thanksgiving dinner!
Quality family time - the kitchen is the heart of the home! All in all, we hosted a total of 26 Browns, in-laws, and friends - we could not have asked for a more perfect day! Love you all and thanks for your help!
Now, if you want to make your turkey day super easy, here is how we went out on a limb and made ours!
Classy Runge Paper Bag Turkey
Combine the following in a bowl: 1 stick of softened butter, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. pepper, the peel of an orange (use a vegetable peeler or knife), finely minced, and a couple of rosemary sprigs, stripped and minced.
Spread all over the outside of the turkey skin - being sure to get all crevices.
Fill the cavity with the orange, quartered, an onion, quartered, some celery, rosemary, thyme,...whatever you want to fill it with!
Place the turkey into a brown paper grocery bag. Fold over the end and thoroughly staple. Place the turkey on a roasting pan so you can catch the drippings for gravy.
Bake the turkey at 375 degrees for 13 minutes per pound - don't peak or open the door!
Remove, check the internal temp to be sure it's fully cooked - 180 degrees, and let stand at least 10 minutes before carving. Enjoy!!!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM RRR!!!!
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