Well, we are preparing to head home for Thanksgiving. Ahhh, dressing, giblet gravy, mac & cheese, corn, green beans, sweet potato casserole…those wonderful southern dishes that I yearn for. Oh, notice I didn’t mention the turkey…I’m just not that big of a fan. Sorry, turkey lovers! We’re planning on driving which is always an adventure and it allows us the opportunity to take our dog. Could you really leave behind something that looks this cute?!

There are several things that we always look forward to during our visit home for Thanksgiving: family, food, gingerbread house decorating, and The Fresh Market. Casey’s family has the tradition of decorating gingerbread houses after Thanksgiving dinner. It is always a lot of fun and a tad competitive. One thing that Casey and I have discovered about ourselves is just how excessively ‘Type A’ we truly are and how much symmetry means to us. We are usually the last ones to finish because every last detail must be perfect! Again, someone please tell us to get a life!! Look for pictures of our gingerbread creation upon our return to DC.

As for The Fresh Market, the excitement is more on my end than Casey’s. I’ve told you how much I heart coffee, but I truly heart coffee from The Fresh Market. So much so that I usually have my dad ship it to me when I run out! The other reason why I love The Fresh Market is their Almond Pillow Cookies. OMG, if heaven existed in cookie form then this would be it. It’s the most wonderful cookie that I’ve ever put in my mouth.  It’s an almond paste center surrounded by an incredibly moist shortbread lightly dusted in powdered sugar.  Really, that description does it no justice at all.  Then there are the bulk bins which contain all sorts of goodies like yogurt covered pretzels, trail mix, seasoned bagel chips, etc. Not to mention, they play classical music throughout the store which gives you the most wonderful fancypants feeling ever!

Here’s a Thanksgiving recipe that is a big favorite with our families. It’s supposed to be a side dish, but can easily double as a dessert.

Cranberry-Apple Bake
3 c. baking apples chopped
2 c. fresh cranberries
1/2 – 1 c. sugar
8 oz. red hots

Mix the ingredients listed above in a 9″x13″ dish.

1 c. margarine
1/3 c. flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. oatmeal
1/2 – 3/4 c. chopped pecans or walnuts

Combine the above ingredients and put on top of fruit mixture.
Bake for 1 hour @ 350.