Happy Times At The Hawthorne Household.

Turkey Day Countdown Minus 2 Days.

Hours ago, Mr. Hawthorne and I were fighting over the damn brine. "Imonna do it!" "NO, IMONNA DO IT!" "OK, we'll both do it." "NO, we won't. Because you won't do it right." And so on and so forth. OK. Back to the brine. To get a flavorful turkey, start with the BRINE. Brining adds moisture and flavor to your bird and keeps it from drying out. The meat lasts longer and the brine keeps it MOIST. First, I let Mr. Hawthorne put some Kosher salt in a cooler with about 2 quarts water. It's supposed to be 1 cup salt per gallon of water.

Then I added brown sugar. 1 cup brown sugar per 1 gallon water.

When I was at Food Lion today, I bought two 1/2 gallons of apple cider. One 1/2 gallon went into the brine. The turkey went into the cooler with the water, salt, sugar, and cider. Now, I've made brines before with all sorts of spices and citrus stuff, but I think that's a waste of lemons, limes, and oranges. I don't think the citrus really adds anything.

Next, Mr. Hawthorne added sugar, since he doesn't know what's going on. I'd already added brown sugar. But I let it go. He tries to help, however meager his attempts. We left the turkey in the cooler and put it outside on the deck, since it's cold outside. Generally, you'd brine an hour for every pound. I've got a 15 pound bird. So, I'm just letting soak in the brine until I have to cook it. Next - my little tree.

This morning, I had to be at the doctor's office to check on my hand, which I knew was OK. But whatever, it was another $55 for that. I really shouldn't have gone in, since I knew I was all right. But I did. Then left to go home but first stop at the Food Lion in Kill Devil Hills. I freaking hate that Food Lion. Always long lines. I like the Food Lion in Nags Head. There's never any one there at the NH FL. At the FL/KDH, it takes forever to check out. So, the KDH/FL didn't have one item I needed, so I ended up going to Harris Teeter in Nags Head. Now, I wanted to buy a small tree to place at the top of the steps, so when the Little Hawthornes came home, there would be a decorated, Christmasy thingie there. Food Lion had cut trees for $29. When I was at Harris Teeter, I found pretty Norfolk Island Pines for $19. Left hand: Dead, cut tree, $29. Right hand: Live, Norfolk Island Pine, $19. Hmmmm. Decisions. OK. I'll buy the live tree for nineteen bucks and give it an agonizing, slow death. Works for me.

I put white and green lights on my Norfolk Island Pine, after repotting in a larger pot with Miracle Gro Potting Soil. Pretty.

First, Youngest Hawthorne came home from college. Next, guess who came home???? Daughter Hawthorne with Giada!

Dixie is keeping a close eye on Giada.

Giada gets into Dixie's toy basket. THEN, GUESS WHO CAME HOME? Yay! It's Middle Hawthorne with Beau! Rosie is a happy Mama. All her little babies are home. With their babies.