Holiday Ideas

Today my Mom's Club meeting was about holiday entertaining. I didn't realize it at the time, but it made me realize that I didn't have any real plans for Thanksgiving. Listening to everyone talk about getting together with family made me homesick. I miss getting together with family and it looks like we won't be going back to the midwest until next summer or the next Christmas.

I want to make this Thanksgiving and Christmas memorable - they gave lots of good ideas today at Mom's Club, but I wonder if anyone in my own little family will care about any special details that I will try to put into the holidays. So this afternoon I was feeling a little disheartened.

I did get some good ideas. One that I want to share with you is a Thanksgiving Tablecloth. Get a white tablecloth and have everyone at your Thanksgiving celebration write what they are thankful for on it with a permanent marker. Every year get out the tablecloth and add to it. I thought that was a beautiful idea - kind of like a growth chart. Every year you see how much you have "grown."

Another idea is a recipe. It is a Baked French Toast recipe. It would be perfect for Thanksgiving morning or Christmas morning.

1 loaf Sweet French Bread (13- 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half and half
1 cup milk
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash of salt
Praline Topping (recipe follows)
Maple Syrup

Slice French bread into about 16 slices. Arrange slices in a gererously buttered 9x13 inch baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half and half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Whisk until blended, but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk/egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. Make Praline topping.

1 cup butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Set aside until morning.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup. (Personally, the maple syrup can be omitted - it is perfect without.)

I hope that you all will have a wonderful Thanksgiving - it is coming fast. I want to encourage everyone to make it special. Include the children and do special projects. And please pray that my little family and I will find a way to have a memorable holiday season.