Traditions run deep in our family, so much so that most holiday celebrations need no invitation. We generally know that Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve will be spent at my mom and dad's. All that needs to be said is what time and what to bring, although Mom usually doesn't even ask anyone to bring a thing except their best cheery selves.
But today I brought the dessert she'd asked me to make and a beautiful cornucopia basket floral arrangement I'd received the day before. Mom loved it and the sweet fragrance of the oriental lily 'Stargazer' nestled within.
We all gathered at Mom's for a noon Thanksgiving feast; all of us except Jenna and Joe, because Jenna was sick. When winter comes, Jenna battles all kinds of upper respiratory illness, but at least she doesn't have strep like she used to get. Not since she had her tonsils out when she was a freshman in college. When she was a toddler, our doctor wanted her to be tested for cystic fibrosis, because she had all the symptoms of it, but thankfully the results of the sweat test were negative. 
Anyway, we missed them both and Bella too. Mom, Dad and Grandma have never met Bella yet and I think they were looking forward to seeing her more than Jenna and Joe this time. It would have been interesting to see how Bella and Ivy interacted - a rambunctious puppy and a hyperkitty. Ivy provided plenty of entertainment for us and was the center of attention most of the afternoon.
The cardinals were having their Thanksgiving meal at the feeder just outside the sun room window. Mom and I talked about how they'd been absent most of the summer and we wondered where they'd been. I haven't seen any at our place yet, but they were back in Van Wert. Red is my favorite color and the male cardinal sports the best shade of it.
On the menu today was turkey, dressing, scalloped corn casserole, mixed vegetables, sweet potato casserole, cranberry salad, pickled beets and eggs, crescent rolls, and the dessert I'd brought - my famous Pumpkin Torte. Kara would have whined us all to death if I hadn't made that. I have to agree with her though. It's my favorite dessert and it could become yours too if I gave you the recipe.
Oh, all right . . .
1 yellow cake mix (take out 1 cup)
3 eggs
1¼ cup white sugar
¾ cup butter
¾ cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 large can pumpkin pie mix
Crust: Mix the cake mix (less 1 cup) with one egg and ½ cup butter. Press into the bottom of a greased jelly roll pan (10½ x 15½ x 1).
Filling: Mix until smooth - pumpkin pie mix, 2 eggs, and evaporated milk. Pour on top of the crust.
Topping: Mix 1 cup cake mix, sugar, cinnamon and ¼ cup butter. Sprinkle on top of the pumpkin mixture. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes. Serve with whipped cream.
"Bejeweled"
10 comments:
I'm sorry Jenna and Joe (and puppy) couldn't be there, but glad that the hyperkitty was charming everyone. (what IS it about silver-grey kitties!?) You know, your torte sounds delicious...and I don't like pumpkin AT ALL. Glad you had a terrific day!
Kylee, I do a similar version of your Pumpkin Torte, but since we aren't too crazy about pumpkin, I use sweet potatoes. I'll have to try yours and see which one the family likes best. For Thanksgiving, I always make sweet potato pies, instead of pumpkin, and use the pie filling in my recipe.
Sounds like a lovely day, I'll have to try that recipe out, it sounds good. All our kids came, and the 3 grandkids too. We ate until our faces fell off. The 5 yr old and I laid on the floor and blew fake leaves up in the air - only classy entertainment at our place! But a good time.
Kylee: i liked being given a window into your holiday. the table looks so inviting and the dessert so yummy. hope jenna gets better and can enjoy some of the leftovers.
traditions are a good thing. happy thanksgiving ... a day late.
Your photos and post capture so much warmth of family togetherness that all holidays should bring. It is just wonderful! And the kitty is just such a cutie pie! Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage
Yummm the Torte sounds so good. I can't believe I am saying this after eating all that good Thanksgiving grub. I will have to try your torte.
Looks like a lovely thanksgiving dinner and I do love the cat.
Your Thanksgiving dinner sounds like something from a Norman Rockwell painting. It's nice to read about an old fashioned Thanksgiving gathering of family and friends. And your Pumpkin Torte is something I'm going to try for Christmas!
Aiyana
Beautiful table setting and bouquet. A lovely place to honor and enjoy your family. And thank you for posting your recipe. Looks delicious.
But I, too, cannot think too much about food right now... ;-)
Jodi ~ Thank you for your Thanksgiving wish you posted on your website. :-) That was so thoughtful of you.
Hyperkitty IS just a doll. He's about to drive my mom insane, though, with his boundless energy. She's having him declawed next week and she can't wait. LOL. He has climbed her curtains and their leather chair has puncture wounds. Amazingly enough, my dad hasn't gone ballistic over this, because Ivy is just so darn cute! My mom has wanted an indoor cat for so long and boy does she have one now! LOL!!
Robin ~ That sounds interesting, to use sweet potatoes! I'll have to try that! I do love them, too.
Muum ~ Now I would love to blow fake leaves in the air with my grandkids and I'll have to try that whenever I get some! (I hope it's fairly soon!) It sounds like such a good time to me. I really mean that!
meems ~ Sometimes we take our family traditions for granted and I realize not everyone enjoys them, but I'm so glad we do. Such good memories are made, even if we do 'nothing.'
Cindy ~ I'm glad the warmth of our family shone through in my post. We are so blessed!
Lisa ~ Let me know how you like the torte! :-) I had a patient years ago that was a pumpkin pie fanatic and I told him about my torte. It just so happened that I was making it that evening and I told him I'd bring a piece into the office for him to try. He came in the next day and ate it. Guess what they now eat at their Thanksgiving dinners? :-)
Barbara ~ Ivy is a cute little kitty, but I don't think I've ever met a kitten I didn't like. ;-)
Aiyana ~ A young man that Kara used to date once said he thought our family was just like the Cleavers, from Leave It To Beaver. LOL. I'm not sure about that, but we took it as a compliment anyway.
I hope you like the torte!
Shady Gardener ~ I know what you mean about food. I had a tummy full after that wonderful meal!
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