Watercolor Cookies [Video]

This is a beautiful video with music with a cookie artist illustrating the lyrics using royal icing as her canvas. Click here if you can't see the video. You will love it. Music: What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

Books, Cats, and Antiques

Rachael Hale Trust, photographer

Cats have always fascinated me the way they can weave around prized possessions and almost never break anything. Enjoy the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday by the retailers. Eat leftovers all day too. That's the big downside to not cooking at home. 

Best Turkey Ever

The turkey at my friends' house was beautiful and the best I've ever eaten as was everything else. I had a great time and didn't have to travel far. Hope your day was wonderful too.

Giving Thanks - Jessie Willcox Smith

I love this illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith of a brother and sister giving thanks for their daily bread before breakfast. I like to think this was painted to illustrate Thanksgiving morning. via

Roast Turkey Recipe by Beatrix Potter

"Pluck the bird carefully and singe all over with a piece of white paper; then wipe it with a clean cloth; draw in and keep the liver and gizard.

Wash the inside well and wipe it thoroughly dry with a cloth.

Cut the neck off close to the back but leave enough of the crop skin to turn over; break the leg bone close below the knee; draw out the sinews from the thighs and flatten the breast bone to make it look plump.

Fasten the neck with a skewer over to the back; run a skewer through the pinion and thigh on the other side and press the legs as much as possible between the breast and side bones.”

A turkey of ten pounds will take about 2.5 hours to cook - a larger one three hours or more.

A never seen before 161 recipe book by Beatrix Potter has been discovered and is up for auction. 

The recipes, which are believed to have been handed down over generations, include sponge cake, roast turkey and curry. The earliest entry is dated 1851 and the hand written cookbook was updated regularly over many years. Read the entire article HERE.

Beatrix Potter's recipe for Ginger Bread

Ingredients:
3.5 lb wheat meal
3.5 lb treacle
12 oz sugar
12 oz butter
2 oz ground ginger
1 oz pounded allspice
1 pint of ale

Add two thirds of the ale to the other ingredients and beat them well for some time then dissolve 1oz of common washing soda in the rest of the ale and add it just before you put it into the oven.

It requires a slow oven - (let all the ingredients except the flour and soda be put before the fire to dissolve for an hour or two.)

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Day

This vintage Thanksgiving postcard was mailed in 1910 back in the day when all turkeys were free range. I hope all of your dishes come out of the oven and make it to the table and sideboard looking and tasting just the way you hoped they would. Enjoy this day of thanks with family and friends and eat all you want. Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday. Enjoy! via

Home for the Holiday

Will you spend Thanksgiving at home or will you travel to be with family and friends? Enjoy the day and be safe on the road.

Glad Thanksgiving Greetings

Be safe if you are traveling over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house for a family Thanksgiving celebration. I thought this vintage postcard was unusual and perfect for the vegetarian/vegans out there who will be passing on the turkey but enjoying all the trimmings.