I got a new set of cookware. Beautiful stainless steel, copper bottomed pots and pans. They are more curvy than traditional pots which makes them just pretty to see sitting on the stove. However.....before I could use them (I opened the box yesterday), each pot had to soak in baking soda and hot water for a bit to remove a clear coating of tarnish inhibitor from the copper. And then there were stickers on the inside center of each pan that were a total pain in the ass to remove. I spent hours on my new pots yesterday. Today they are in full use, prepping for Thanksgiving. We are keeping it small and very simple this year (in line with Core foods)....Roast Turkey, Butternut Squash (from our garden), Mashed Potatoes (from our garden....made with skim milk and no butter), Cranberry Sauce (sorry, full out sugar in this...Splenda just doesn't cut it) and Mom is bringing her famous German Stuffing. No breads. No appetizers. I'm not interested in any of that. I want to have a healthy, delicious meal with the people I love most and that is exactly what will be happeneing here. We'll probably play cards or something afterwards. Oh..and there will be pie. I make a pumpkin pie that my husband LOVES and he'll be making an apple pie (very low sugar, higher in spice). The pumpkin pie is very rich...I might have a piece or maybe I'll have had plenty of other stuff by the time desert is on. We'll see.

So....today I am cooking, mashing and prepping. Laundry is going, dishes are done, floors are swept, house has been dusted. Mopping will take place tomorrow morning so the dogs won't have a chance of mucking up the floors quite as much. My husband is home for the day and while we will both putter at stuff around the house, I imagine that we will spend a good deal of time just relaxing as well. :) It's going to be a great day!

Michelle