Giving Thanks

Perhaps you will enjoy this thoughtful Thanksgiving Refection, written by one of Patti’s friends, as much as we. If so, it is yours!

Hint - it works beautifully as an introduction to your Thanksgiving feast.

Thanksgiving Reflections
By Rosalie

May you enjoy your Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends.
Remember, and say a special prayer for our young men and women fighting
Our wars so far away, from all that they love.
May you be blessed with love, laughter, health, and an abundant table.
Remember those less fortunate than ourselves, and give them hope…
For food, shelter and peace.
May we be the caretakers of the earth and leave it beautiful for all generations to come.
Let us gift our children a great legacy of wisdom and compassion.
Nowhere on earth are people blessed with the joys of liberty and freedom
as are we in this wonderful country.
Indeed, lest we forget, God Bless America.
May you count your blessings on this special day, and every day in the year to come.

Candied Yams

The Universally Popular Candied Yam Recipe ... Thank you endlessly, Mom!!

Sweet Potato Casserole

Here's another recipe from Maria's bag that has become a favorite of everyone in the family.

A sweet and nutty recipe for Thanksgiving. The pecan topping, while sweet, adds enough other flavors that it doesn't have the cloying effect of so many other sweet potato casseroles. The recipe has no animal-derived ingredients, making it suitable for a vegan table.

Alan's Apple Pie

Alan, now 19, is Maria's son. He has a severe milk allergy so many of her recipes have been adjusted to remove any dairy. This is a pie that she and Alan have perfected over the years.

Sarah's Easy Push Pie Crust

No Rolling!

This is the pie crust Maria's husband's grandmother made for all her pies. She was a Home Economics teacher. It's easy, with no worries about tearing, but it won't do for a traditional top crust. For fruit pies that needed a top crust, she would make an additional half recipe and crumble it over the top of the filling before baking.

Oh My! Soooo GOOD Pumpkin Bread

Book Recommendations

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) by Traci Sorell (ages 6-10)

And another, but very different, selection with the timeless message of GRATEFULNESS, incredibly basic to happiness, even contentment and peace. The author is from the Cherokee Nation and otwaliheliga is the word for gratefulness.

She shares so much information about her people who throughout the year constantly cultivate gratitude. We love too, the strong sense of community that permeates their everyday lives, all ages giving of themselves to their community in so many different ways. The beautiful illustrations perfectly complement her uniquely special book.

Giving Thanks: More than 100 ways to say thank you by Ellen Surrey (ages 4-6)

Joyous, happy illustrations and 100 words of Thankfulness… a book that fills our children with expressions and acts of GRATITUDE. What a super Thanksgiving book, perhaps even more so this year. We get to know Andy as he thanks lots of people in his life. You cannot fail to be impressed with his very imaginative gifts. At the end, there is a challenge… who would you thank and what would the gift be? Gratitude is sooo big and we love this emphasis for kids.

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markles (ages 6-10)

At PAZAZZ we are passionate about the power of gratefulness and its

ability to grow more happiness! How perfect is Thanksgiving to gently

remind about expressing gratitude.

Life is full of smaller and bigger pleasures, so where do we start? This book is a fun, family read aloud. We especially LOVE the blank page at the end! Here you can write YOUR thankful thoughts, year after year.

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet (ages 6-10)

This is such a fun, inspiring, award winning book with captivating illustrations by Melissa Sweet. Her art beautifully captures Tony Sarg’s lively mind. Sarg was the creator of the fantastic, larger-than-life puppets that float high above the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. To this day, they always delight and charm.

There are end notes on Sarg’s creative processes, more on his career and an endearing letter from a young fan.

In Every Tiny Grain of Sand by Reese Lindbergh

This is a beautiful over-sized volume of proverbs, songs, poems, prayers embracing many cultures. It is divided into four sections – For the Day, Night, Home and Earth. The writings are from varied traditions - Christian, Jewish, African, Sioux and more. The wonderful variety of colorful illustrations add to a collection that may bring joy to every home always.

For Danielle's Thanksgiving Conversation to Elena featuring Winnie the Pooh, click here.

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