Food, Glorious Food! Thanksgiving Style...

I love to cook. If you asked me five years ago what I would be doing at 2:30 in the morning Thanksgiving day, it WASN'T glazing a turkey and checking on pulled pork. Over the past year, I have been evolving- I am a better mother, daughter, and friend than I was... I get what matters, and have given up trying to expand my circle of control. I can only be who I am, and do what I can. Cooking has been a big part of that. When I couldn't sleep, I experimented with relishes, chutneys, and sauces. When the kids were bouncing off the walls, we baked (little kids are quite good at kneading dough)! As a result, I am a far better chef than I was in the past. Yes, I can still rock out some amazing mac and cheese- with goat cheese and caramelized onions, of course. I still resort to a quick meal for myself- but I can also create masterpieces.

Luckily, I know a lot of people that like good food, and don't have the time or energy to create it themselves. That's where I come in, and how Mama Bee Kitchen Coaching was born. I have SO MUCH FUN teaching other mamas (and a few dads!) some tricks in the kitchen. Now that the holidays are here full force, I am so enjoying being a part of THREE families' Thanksgiving- I make it, they eat it. I am not a "real" caterer- or a "real" chef, but when people want home cooked, they are calling me. The families I am cooking for this Thanksgiving are SO different and it's been a blast developing their menus! Since I love food (have you seen my ass? This is like a DUH statement) I wanted to share the menus with you...

Family One: Pescetarian Delight

Carrot, Sweet Potato and Ginger bisque

Oysters, Shrimp Cocktail, and Hot Crab Dip

Spinach Spoonbread

Roasted Root Vegetables with Cranberries and Walnuts

Mashed Potatoes

Spinach & Strawberry Salad

Roasted Garlic Brussel Sprouts

Balsamic Glazed Salmon

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

Family Two: Traditions, Traditions!

Brie, Caramelized Onions & Fig Tartlets

Mashed potatoes

Spinach Spoonbread

Squash Casserole

Simon & Garfunkel stuffing: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme!

Cranberry Orange Relish

Challah turkey

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Turkey, brined and glazed with a mustard maple sauce

Mustard Maple Reduction 

Traditional Gravy

Asparagus with Balsamic glaze

Coconut Cream Pie

Chocolate Toffee Trifle

Family Three: Down Home, Baby AKA Thanksgiving? How About FOOTBALL?

Onion and Bacon Pinwheels

Brisket Bruschetta

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Spinach Spoonbread

Cornbread

Sweet Potato pudding (savory)

Pulled Pork

Trio of BBQ sauces: Balsamic, North Carolina, and Brown Sugar

Roasted Corn, Peppers, and Tomato salad

Mashed potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Bacon & Onion Stuffing

Goat Cheese Mac with Caramelized Shallots & Bacon

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

Grasshopper Pie

So from my multiple families to yours- go play in the kitchen. Experiment! Enjoy the process! Expect to toss ten versions of bread before you hit on the right one. 

And seriously, pass the gravy.