My son Jesse invited us to spend Thanksgiving with him and Rachel and her family.
My handsome first born son!!
I had spent the morning and early afternoon cleaning and decorating the kitchen for Christmas.
But we arrived early enough to watch the Dallas Cowboys game.
Louis Dean was all smiles!
Jesse's house lends itself to THE perfect place to party and entertain.
Rachel and her mom, Margaret, and Rachel's brother, Mario.
The amazing thing about this is that Rachel babysat Leah, Nita's daughter and Margaret and Mario worked for Nita at Haynie's Grocery Store when she was married to Bob.
They all knew Mike and when Jesse heard them talking one day about Mike, Leah and Nita....he said, "I think you may be talking about my aunt and cousin."
Jesse met Rachel in an online dating app and who knew how our families would come together?
We had the best time visiting and watching football.
The Cowboys win was a bonus!
I am from Kansas City and if it's possible, I was rooting for both teams.
It would have been a Win! WIN!! for me either way.
Rachel's nephew, Jacob, is a chef at the Fort Worth Country Club and he brings a Thanksgiving dinner to a whole other level! Instead of turkey, Jacob's choice is chickens...
And they were perfect and delicious.
And then Jacob does his famous mashed potatoes.
This, too, is carried to a upper level!
I watched him carefully as he cooked and riced the potatoes.
His secret ingredients were the rosemary sprigs and garlic cloves he added.
Jacob has a degree from Texas A&M in physics and that is a huge part of his culinary success.
Case in point - controlling the fat in the mashed potatoes.
Heating the milk and adding the butter is a work of art.
Who knew mashed potatoes would be so amazing?
The chickens were as good as they looked.
What an amazing feast!!
Jacob's salad featured his own Ranch Dressing recipe.
And a spread of desserts!
We contributed a pecan pie using the pecans recently harvested from our own trees.
Jacob's wife, Taylor, made us tequila old fashions.
They were so good!
Football, family, food, fellowship and love all around.
A truly beautiful Thanksgiving Day and I am so grateful for every moment!
Louis Dean and I spent the night there - Jesse invited us since it would be dark by the time the evening was over. What a blessing that was to us. This early darkness really impacts our life.
Friday morning with Rachel and Jesse!
Jesse is a connoisseur of all things coffee!
I love his coffee bar setup!!
And this was an AMAZING cup of coffee!!
Coffee is a real experience when Jesse makes it!
Louis Dean loved his Americano coffee in Jesse's hiking cup.
Jesse and Rachel sent us home with enough food to last us this weekend!
A super salad supper on Friday night hit the spot!!
It's 2:01 as I close this journal entry but I am counting it as a Saturday post.
I will do another post tomorrow and then draw the winning number for this year's Santa on Monday, December first.
I am sending out Christmas cards starting on the first of December...
Thank you all, my dear friends, for all your love, support, prayers and comments.
You have no idea how much they mean to me.....
Such a beautiful post Linda about Family time and family love. Looks like you all enjoyed a full feast of delicious foods. How about those cowboys? I was really rooting for the Chiefs. My nephew (Landon) and his sweet family enjoyed the game from the suite with Brittany (Patrick Mahomes) wife. I was intently watching so I could see Landon and family. And I did. They are all closely related. I am so impressed with your painting talents. I showed this picture to my daughter (who is beginning to paint) and she was so impressed. Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday...I'm sure y'all got rain...we did last night. hugs.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing Thanksgiving with family! To me that is the best part of holidays is being with family and friends. Enjoy this last day of November and the last month of the year is here. Belinda
Goodness! Look at all of that delicious food! And to have a whizz at making coffee AND a chef?! Wonderful...
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving sweet lady.
hugs
Donna
That sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving. All that food looks so delicious. Jacob really knows his way around a kitchen.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a happy Thanksgiving. I thought it was interesting as the chef has a degree in physics like my Marvin, I am going to tell him he needs to start cooking.lol He does cook some things and they are always delicious. We were at the beach at Tybee Island with family. Headed home tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWow- What an amazing Thanksgiving dinner you had. Nothing like a chef in the family! I am so glad you wre able to spend the night and not have to travel in the dark. The older I get the more I resist driving late at night if I don't have to do so. I used to love driving at night.
ReplyDeleteWe watched football, too, and were happy to see our Green Bay Packers celebrate another win. Our whole town lives and revolves around football here. lol
I am so glad your honey is able to enjoy the Holiday this year. That is a true blessing -but you know that. Hubby is in Assisted Living here and doing really well-but, as you know, it is not the same as they start to lose some of what they once had.
Your Santa is wonderful---as always. Have a wonderful, blessed Sunday- xo xo xo Diana
What a wonderful Thanksgiving you all had!
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful that Jesse had you and LD over! The food looked great, and chicken is so much more moist than turkey.
ReplyDeleteEd and I had a very "low key" day. Of course, there was football! All day! ( Not so low key, really!) Alabama won, thank goodness. Ed's never really satisfied that they just win, though. He gets so stressed out --- unless they dominate 100% , he can't enjoy it. (I certainly can't.) I don't think he "gets" that his mood during the game spreads over the house. Oh well. Same old, same old. It isn't like he ever played football, but he sure knows what they do wrong!!😀
Glad that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ed and Kristi offered to come get us to eat with them, but...football.
They are coming today to bring leftovers and get groceries. What would we ever do without them? I can't even think of that!
Love you, my friend!!
What a lovely Thanksgiving! When you said you spent the night at Jesse's I immediately thought about how good your morning coffee would be ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'm so glad you were able to spend it with Jesse. We are always torn between the Cowboys and the Chiefs when they play each other. Our Lubbock kids both went to Tech and our son works for Tech so we are partial to Patrick Mahomes, but we live here in the Metroplex so we feel like we should root for the Cowboys too!
ReplyDeleteI would prefer chicken at Thanksgiving but I'm outnumbered. Beautiful Thanksgiving spread.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Jan (Waco)
ReplyDeleteHow amazing to have Thanksgiving with your son & family, and cooked by a real chef!! I have heard the best mashed potatoes are riced. And the coffee corner looks so professional. It is good to see Louis Dean eating so well!!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an amazing spread Jacob prepared for you. It looks super delicious.
ReplyDeleteOh, I will have to agree with you, Linda...your son is so handsome! Must take after his mama!! Having Jacob prepare your Thanksgiving feast must have been a treat.. I prefer chicken over turkey any day. It's more flavorful and tender than a turkey and I guess you could say I am just a chicken gal. Glad Louis Dean enjoyed his holiday. Thinking of you two always.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to see your family as it is today, after sharing your book of your childhood and beyond. Love and relished in every picture. You and Louis Dean look wonderful. Today I hang my Christmas Santa Painting you gifted me! Will be posting soon what has kept me away. Loving you and sending Christmas wishes and prayers.
ReplyDeleteOh my what a wonderful Thanksgiving you had. I'm so glad you could stay over and not drive in the dark, besides you got some of Jesse's award winning coffee and oh boy ... to have a master chef for the Banquet.. wow.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about riced potatoes in years. My Mom used to do that for special meals all the time. They were so good.
Hugs
Sue
I could smell the coffee during the video and would love to taste any thing he concocts. but not after noon, it keeps me wide awake. that spread of food is amazing just seeing it all and I know it was delish.. glad you could stay over. only 4 weeks to Christmas which means 5 weeks to 2026 which just blows my mind.
ReplyDeleteI could smell the coffee during the video and would love to taste any thing he concocts. but not after noon, it keeps me wide awake. that spread of food is amazing just seeing it all and I know it was delish.. glad you could stay over. only 4 weeks to Christmas which means 5 weeks to 2026 which just blows my mind.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Thanksgiving day you had. Spending time with family is the best. I moved 3 months ago and need to give you my new address as I would love to get a Christmas card from you. I will private message you on F/B. Have a great holiday season and blessing to you and Louis Dean ~ Carol Talbot Smith
ReplyDeleteLinda, it looks like you and LD had the best of the the holiday spent with family and enjoying a delicious home-cooked dinner. And, not having to drive home was a bonus. We also enjoyed our PA Thanksgiving with family and our decorating and card writing starts this coming week.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had such a wonderful Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteOh, that all looks so wonderful! That chicken looks so moist and delicious. I think I would like that better than turkey too! How nice that you could spend the night and enjoy breakfast together in the morning. I love that idea. I am so happy for you to have such a beautiful family who loves you so much! What a blessing.
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