Pure, Unadulterated Joy

Quick Thanksgiving Home-Cooked Meal Anyone with a Little Cooking Skills can Make!

By Joy A. Kennelly

If you're like me, visiting a new city and unsure where to go out for Thanksgiving dinner, your friends are going out of town, your sister is slammed working two jobs, and you're not sure you want to be the only single person at a restaurant, then maybe this recipe will solve your holiday dilemma. What's great is you can make it with a turkey breast and use the same rubs too.

But if you're not in the mood for turkey, then just follow this recipe from a Lifestyle and Nutrition Expert whom you may recognize from Food Network, Chef Mareya Ibrahim, who wrote a cookbook called, Eat Like You Give A Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive.

She understands the stress that comes with preparing a Thanksgiving meal.  She also understands the need for a delicious offering!

One-pot meals are easy to prepare and clean up, and they also offer the same nutritional value as a more complicated dinner. Preparing everything in one dish makes it easier to ensure that several food groups are included on everyone's plate. Chef Mareya has prepared the PERFECT Thanksgiving one-pan meal for everyone this week. 

Garlic & Herb Roasted Young Chicken with sides of Brussels sprouts, Carrots, Wild Rice Stuffed Delicata Squash & Cinnamon Spice Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

Young chicken (4 lbs)

Fresh garlic

Fresh Thyme

Sea Salt, Pepper & EVOO

Brussels sprouts 

Balsamic Vinegar

Baby Carrots

Delicata squash

Wild rice blend

Sweet potatoes

Ghee

Cinnamon spice 

Directions

Prepare the Chicken by mixing fresh garlic, thyme, sea salt, oregano, pepper, and EVOO and rub it on the chicken breast (under the skin) and on top of the skin.

Toss veggies with EVOO and balsamic, salt and pepper.

Stuff delicata squash with Wild rice blend (She used a Far East packet blend and pre-cooked in the microwave until al dente; finished in the oven.)

Slice sweet potatoes and pat with a small amount of ghee and a dusting of cinnamon/pumpkin spice.

Place all on a large roasting tray.

Roast in the oven at 400F for 50 min, then turn up the heat to 450 for the last 10 minutes.  

And maybe while you're cooking, consider playing this new feel-good Thanksgiving song by Crowder!

But if that doesn't rock your boat, then check out Matthew West's Thanksgiving offering. If this doesn't make  you crack a smile...

But seriously, music does calm the nerves so try this jazz collection which plays for 3 hours and should do the trick:

And the best part, here's a bunch of recipes to create an awesome Thanksgiving dessert because is it really Thanksgiving without a fall-inspired dessert? And because watching a video makes it easier, check these delicious choices here:

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Enjoy your day whatever you end up doing!

Don't forget to vote this Tuesday! Nov 8 - here's where to go to vote in person

By Joy A. Kennelly

Now that I've been living in Texas, it's been shocking to hear exactly how many people are still leaving California. If you live there still, why?:)

In any case, according to one Republican friend she said they've been signing up over 100,000 new Republican voters this year in Texas alone. Do you blame them? Crime has exploded in Democrat-run states, the border is still wide open contrary to the lies told by this administration which many in Texas deal with constantly, and homeless are everywhere in Democrat-run states. Here are some pictures taken on a Hobb's ranch in Brackettville, Texas. Can you imagine your personal yard having this many uninvited visitors? This is what the media never shares...

I had the privilege of hearing the former head of ICE speak recently and the stories he was sharing were so horrific I had to plug my ears or else have nightmares. I don't have a problem with immigration, but I do have an issue with illegal immigration and especially unchecked like under Biden. Don't believe the lies that it's under control. It's not. The news is just not covering it. You might recognize these gentlemen because I believe the top is the former ICE Director and he's been a guest on numerous news shows.

Numerous people are moving away from Austin because of the increased crime and homelessness. In fact, Austin is near the top of depreciating home values due to this and an inflated real estate market.

And when gas prices are over $6.00 in Los Angeles, food prices have skyrocketed everywhere, and rent too, at a certain point you have to look at the base cause of this explosion of awfulness and realize your vote makes a difference. 

It always amazes me when I hear Democrats complain about their horrible cost of living, crime, and everything else going on, but still are clueless that it's their party causing it. Then they move to states like Texas and want to ruin them too. 

A woman on Facebook said 2 of her friends left CA for red states and planned to vote blue because they were avowed communists. I wish those who think socialism, communism, defunding the police, open borders and every other crazy idea they throw around so cavalierly would live in the hell holes they create rather than refusing to take responsibility.  

So, we can be friends if you vote differently, but just realize I consider you a low-information voter who enjoys denial. LOL Because if you really looked at states like California, New York, Minnesota, Michigan, and other Democrat-run states with any facts, logic, and reality, you would see that the reason for all the ailments in your communities is due to Democrats.

Not that Republicans are perfect by any means. I just look at it as the lesser of two evils. And God forbid anyone stupid enough to think Gavin Newsom has helped California do anything other than fail to decide to help his run for the presidency we are all doomed. He is worse than his Aunt Nancy Pelosi.

And don't get me started on Paul Pelosi's late-night tryst gone wrong. That's all. Oh, and if you want to see where to vote in Texas, here's the link: https://www.votetexas.gov/voting/where.html 

If you live in Brewster County, here's who has been recommended by someone who is actually a Dem and yet supports the Republican for County Judge.

Brewster County

Brewster County Judge
Republicans: Greg Hennington

And if you live somewhere else, go here: https://www.usa.gov/election-day

That's all. Have a good night.