This year, for very obvious reasons, Thanksgiving has managed to sneak up on me. It is “early” to begin with, but the two weeks lost to Hurricane Sandy and then the snow storm really messed me up. Throw in a little Halloween in November, and I just can’t wrap my head around it.
All of that said, I have a lot for which to be thankful:
- My house was not destroyed during the hurricane and, while cold and dark at times, it remained our favorite place to be as a family.
- There was almost no rain, which meant that the sump pump, which is powered by electricity and was not working, was not needed.
- Thanks to the help of friends and family, my children were able to enjoy pick-up soccer games, warm homes with warm meals, and not all of the food in my freezer was wasted.
However, Thanksgiving is just a week away, and I had not given much thought about the meal until, well, just about now. If you’re finding yourself in a similar situation, here are some recipes from MyVeronaNJ.com’s “Crock It” series. These dishes can all be  made in a slow cooker for your holiday meal, which will leave you plenty of oven space for a big turkey. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
Cranberry Sauce:Â A staple if you’re looking for something other than what’s in the can
Cornbread Casserole:Â An excellent side
Pumpkin and Chèvre Lasagne: A perfect fall vegetarian dish
Applesauce:Â There are still plenty of apples in the stores, so why not?
Scalloped Potatoes: You just can’t go wrong with potatoes, cream and cheese
Risotto with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Pancetta:Â If you feel like adding an Italian flair to an American holiday.
These recipes are simply gorgeous and I encourage everyone out there to try them out. They can even be made a few days ahead which will alleviate all the stress. Tracy Bermeo rocks and believe me that lady can cook! Happy Thanksgiving!