Lauren at Festival of the Lights

Lauren and her partner Mike Shannon carved a reindeer in front of the Joliet Historical Museum.

3 Turkeys!!!

I can't believe I cooked another 20 pound turkey today but we were all out of turkey meat. I fed 26 people for dinner last night and then the kids had more friends over later and made sandwiches. I also packed a bag of leftovers for Megan and Darrin. We smoked a 13 pound turkey stuffed with apples, celery and onions and we roasted a 20 pounder in the oven. Lauren made up a brine with garlic and molasses for the big turkey and then rubbed it with a chili compound butter. It was awesome!! My sister Amy made wonderful mashed sweet potato casserole with a pecan sugar crunch. (recipe posted earlier in the week on this blog)
My sister Missy made Puala Dean's pumpkin pie that has half and half and cream cheese in it and Mom made a lime and pear molded salad and make ahead mashed potatoes. It's a group effort and it's a fabulous dinner. Because I have a hurt knee Chef Lauren kind of took over in the kitchen and did a PERFECT JOB!!! Patrick brought Emilio, Marika and Daisy home for a few days. Megan and Darrin could only come for the day because they had to work the day before and the day after Thanksgiving.
I forgot one thing!! Lauren started the dinner off with a delicious homemade Butternut Squash Ginger soup!!! The Chef was rocking Thanksgiging. Thanks for eveyrone's help.....GREAT JOB CHEF LAUREN!!!

December Daily

I constructed my December Daily during my annual scrapbook weekend in Wisconsin with my sisters and cousin at Scrapbook Manor. Starting December 1st I am going to post each page of the book as it comes together. Just like Ali Edwards!!! Don't I wish. But she is an inspiration to all of us scrapbookers.

Day before Thanksgiving!!

I don't see much action on this very wonderful blog of mine. Somebody better start commenting on my very creative posts and good recipes. Today is the day before Thanksgiving and things will start getting hectic at the Mulvey household. Tom picked up two turkeys last night....a 20 pounder and a 13 pounder. I think we'll smoke the small one and the big one Lauren is going to brine and put a chili butter rub on the outside. Lauren is the head Chef this Thanksgiving so things will have a culinary twist to them.
I need to make a few things today like Martha Stewart's Cranberry Walnut Tart (my Mom's favorite) and Pumpkin Cheesecake and spiced pecans. YUM!!

Frozen Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Tonight Lauren and I got carry outs at a new Vietnamese restaurant on Black Road called Hue Palace. The spring rolls were awesome - with fresh mint and basil and chicken. The sauce they give you to dip the spring rolls in was delicious.

I am giving you an Frozen Pumpkin Pie recipe that I made last year that is good and easy!! If you like ice cream you'll love this recipe.

FROZEN PUMPKIN PIE

Filling:
1 cup solid packed canned pumpkin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon sale
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened

Crust:
1 cup cinnamon crisp graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened

Combine softened butter, powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs and press into a
9" glass pie plate. In a bowl, hand mix sugar, and spices into pumpkin. Add ice cream about a cup at a time until all ingredients are mixed together and smooth. Pour mixture into crust and freeze for several hours. If you double the recipe you can put in a glass 9X13 glass dish. I serve with whipped cream on top of the ice cream pie.

Holding a puppy

There is nothing more calming and loving than holding a 6 week old puppy. Our friends, Paul and Jane Hopkins foster puppies for the human society. This little guy is named Ralpie and when I first picked him up he was shaking. After a few minutes I put him up to my chest and he could hear my heart beating and instantly calmed down and fell asleep. I honestly could feel my insides calm down and my blood pressure lower.

Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole

PECAN SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter

Topping:
· 1/2 cup brown sugar
· 1/3 cup flour
· 1/3 cup melted butter
· 1 cup chopped pecans

Preparation:
Combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 to 2-quart casserole dish. Mix remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, until hot and browned. Serves 6 to 8.

NOTE:
I would double the recipe and put it in a glass 9X13 baking dish. I think 3 cups of mashed sweet potatoes would be about 4 large sweet potatoes baked. I would wrap sweet potatoes in foil and bake for an hour at 400 degrees and then remove foil and skin and mash up with the other ingredients.

My favorite girls

The beautiful bride and her maid of honor and flowergirl are getting ready to open presents at Megan's shower. My sisters and sister-in-law had a wonderful bridal shower at Truth Restuarant in October for Megan. All Megan's friends and family had a great time. I love this picture of the three beauties.

Today is the first day of my Aunt KiKi blog. I want this to be a celebration of the people I love - family and friends - scrapbooking ideas, photos and recipes. I want to show and tell all things creative. I want to talk about new scrapbooking products, show fun pages and share my favorite blogs of popular scrapbook editors and other creative people. I have a few blogs I look at on a regular basis and I want to share those with you. They have been a great source of ideas and inspiration.

Alot is happening in the next few months. My oldest is getting married, my one kid guy is beginning his stint with Billie Elliott and my youngest is graduating from JJC's culinary arts program. Everyone is going in a different direction but me. I am here at home working at JJC in the day and hanging out with the world's biggest naughtiest most lovable labrador in the evenings and weekends.