And they deep fried a turkey

Family Dinner is back and we're all growing up. 

I think I have mentioned this in the past but a while ago my roommate, Jessi, and I started this thing called family dinners. We pick a theme and text our friends and make magic happen. Everyone brings something depending on what type of night it is. Taco night has been a personal favorite

It is great time and is always a big hit. We eat, drink and be merry and play the occasional game like catch phrase. So then it becomes, we eat, drink, be merry and yell. A lot. 

But this week we stepped family dinner up to an impressive degree. 

First annual Pilgrims and Indians family dinner. 

Oh yes, we all cooked, baked and slaved away in the kitchen all day. Minus the ones who brought beverages and decided store buying was their safest bet. 

But we had everything and it was quite lovely. 

Jessi cooked one of the turkey's and then our dear friend, JR wanted  to test out deep frying. So, there was a deep fried turkey. 

There is a first time for everything and overall it was a success.  JR didn't burn himself or anyone surrounded the turkey. Cambria did a rain dance, and it so happened to rain. Said farewell to a good friend, Katrina Hagen, we will miss you.

Pumpkin pie requires some thought.

I mentioned that overall the night was a success.

Until, I may have taken the quote of the night. And not in a cocky sort of way. 

I find that I get over things fairly quickly if I spend more than a few hours on a project. 

Jess and I have had this can to make pumpkin pie in our cupboard through a couple of moves--maybe even dating back to Vanguard Centre.  But we had never made a pie and I get rather tired of looking at this can every time I open the cupboard. So impromptu decided I may as well make the pie.

But by the time I got to the pie, I was tired of being a perfectionist and measuring every detail. So I took a quick look at the directions and proceeded on my way. 

I guestimated the entire pie and put it in the oven. An hour after the normal cooking time it was finally baked. Personally, I had already vowed that I would not try this pie.

A few of my friends around the dining room table and a few of them are grabbing pie and there is my pumpkin pie chilling on the table. I see JR reach for the night and the only thing out of my mouth was, "Don't." 

All eyes were on me. There were some confused looks. And all I could do was give a quick smirk and ease the freak out.

I explained that all good chefs just know the right amount by feeling the ingredients. All good chefs don't measure.

My friend Jason's mother was in the room. She went on this Food Network kick. She chimed in, "yes, but when it comes to baking all the ingredients must be accurate. It's an issue of compounds and proportions."

Then every looked at me again and just laughed. 

And the rest of the night, a good deal of sentences started out with, "You know how good chef's just know the right amounts." 

Needless to say, I tossed the pie without a second thought. 

Thanks Becca for this one.

love this.

I have so much to be thankful for and I don't want to take it for granted.  I have far more than I need and am rich with friendship.

What are you thankful for this season?