And it truly is December!  We woke this morning to several inches of snow on the ground, and the beep-beep-beep of a snowplow being driven.  Not enough to cancel school, but enough to create a frenzy among very excited school-children.  Abigail is beyond excited to spend some time playing in that white fluffy stuff.

I meant to post again this past weekend, but somehow, we just ended up quite busy.  I just know that there are some of you out there waiting with baited breath to see if that fancy turkey was worth the fancy price tag.  That turkey was rather spectacular- it was delicious, and definitely different than a standard supermarket turkey.  It had more fat on it- and in places where even my Dad, who has seen many a turkey in his day, has never seen.  Those extra bits of fat translated to more flavor, in my opinion, and where I am not a big leftover person, I’ve been nibbling away at those turkey bits all weekend.  My sister picked the carcass clean and said that overall it had a different feel to it than a regular turkey, and my turkey stock is full of flavor from that wonderful bird.  Would I personally pay as much as that turkey cost to have one again?  Not likely, I think.  Don’t get me wrong, it was wonderful, and honestly, if money wasn’t ever an issue, I would consider it.  But I think I can spend a little less on a more local turkey for equally excellent results.  What this turkey did convince me of was that it is worth it to seek out a fresh free-range turkey, because I think that made a huge difference in flavor.

Overall, Thanksgiving was wonderful.  We had enough food that everyone could have their fill, and have some leftovers, but not an obnoxious amount of leftovers.  The simple roasted brussels sprouts were one of the biggest hits at the table, and I stuck with the plan of no regular mashed potatoes- and no one missed them.  That was a spot-on decision, as I was waffling right up until Thursday morning.  But the whole meal was esay to put together, and I spent a minimal time working in the kitchen, and a maximum amount of time visiting.  It just couldn’t have worked out better.

One of my favorite things of this weekend was the punch I made.  We didn’t drink too much of it on Thursday, but more-so on Friday after a day of shopping.  It is fantastically simple, and will be one that I pull out over and over again. Feel free to add more spices if you’d like.  I liked the touch of spice a hint of cinnamon added, and even Abigail enjoyed this warm punch as it is.

Crock-Pot Apple Punch

Pour all the ingredients into a crock pot and turn on to low.  Let it heat up for three hours before serving.  For long term or all day serving, use a crock pot with a “keep warm” setting, and turn it to that after the three hours.  Leftovers can be stored in the fridge, or frozen for future use.  Remove the cinnamon sticks and orange slices before freezing.