Better Late Than Never

It has been over a week since Thanksgiving but I finally loaded my pictures onto my computer and I had one more thing I wanted to share.  How cute are these little turkeys that were sitting at each place setting.  My sister in law, nephew and nieces made these using oreos, rice krispy balls and candy corn.  Adorable!

Thanksgiving Video

For some people they don't consider anything official until it makes it on Facebook.  In our house nothing is considered official until Andy makes a video of it!  Teasing aside Andy's Grandma could not make Thanksgiving this year and thus he was asked to make a video so she could share in the day with us.  And I thought why not share it with all of you so you could share in our quirkiness because we do things like play Thanksgiving Pictionary and randomly break out in song.  Enjoy!

FYI all the kiddos call her Grandma even though she is really their great grandma because all of their grandmas have names like Nana or Mimi which to them makes her just Grandma.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Andy's favorite holiday.  And what isn't there to love: delicious food, family, friends and recalling all the things we have been blessed with for the year.  We have plenty of things to be thankful for this year and we will be celebrating them with 36 Kennedy family and friends.  I hope that all of you are able to spend today with someone important and are able to give thanks.

This year I am in charge of the green bean casserole, appetizers and oatmeal pie.  Yep oatmeal pie, think pecan pie but with oatmeal instead.  It's delicious and Andy's favorite so I have learned how to make it almost by heart.


Despite not quite mastering pie dough this Summer I decided to attempt the homemade version anyways.  I made two batches of dough and baked the extra in small squares thinking I might be able to use them in some fashion later on.  When they came out I tried one and after months and months of miserable failures the pastry was buttery, light and flaky.  You would have thought I won the lottery.  Here's hoping that the pastry in the actual pies turned out just as well, my fingers are crossed!

Happy Thanksgiving

A little late, but I hope everyone had a good one.

Last week time got away from me. I am helping my sister-in-law plan her wedding and we had an abundance of meetings. I was getting ready for the holiday and our out of town guests. On top of it I was busy getting Christmas shopping done, changing our decorations, and attending my 10 year high school reunion. All in all it was an extremely busy week in the Kennedy household.

I had full intentions of taking pictures of the Thanksgiving bounty however I forgot. I can say it was yummy and as always there was too much to eat. We still have half a pie sitting on my stove that I don't want to throw away but I don't want to eat either.

Hopefully your weekend was as bountiful as ours!

Pie Trials

One of the items I am bringing to Thanksgiving this year is Andy's favorite, oatmeal pie.  In the past I have attempted homemade pie crust with mixed results.  Within the past few years I would normally just buy a premade pie shell and not even mess with the uncertainty of a homemade crust. 

However this year I wanted to give it another try.  There is just something rustic and comforting about homemade pie crust.  I had been given advice that the recipe for Pate Brisee was a foolproof recipe and Martha Stewart's favorite.  This weekend I did a test run and the results were yummy!  The pastry was flaky and buttery.  My only complaint is that I crimped the edges to make a pretty design and in the baking process lost its shape.

Most people when they hear about oatmeal pie crinkle their noses and give me a quizzical look like what the heck are you talking about.  Oatmeal pie is a Thanksgiving Kennedy tradition and Andy's favorite so I have made plenty.  Think pecan pie but swap the pecans for oatmeal.  I have to admit, it is delicious!

Oatmeal Pie

*6 TBS butter melted

*3/4 cup light corn syrup

*3/4 cup sugar

*1 cup oatmeal

*1 tsp vanilla

*2 eggs

*pie crust of choice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all ingredients, add eggs last so they will not cook in the melted butter.  Once all ingredients are completely mixed pour into pie shell and bake for 30-45 minutes.  The original recipe says 30 but I find I normally end up checking it after 30 but leaving it in for a full 45 minutes.  You will know its done when it is golden brown, it will at this point still be a bit jiggly.  Then take it out and let it cool for at least 20 minutes so that the filling can set.