Have an awesome Thanksgiving!
My mum lays a killer spread at her home in Sandy Springs. Photo by JD Jordan.
In the Jordan family, we love Thanksgiving so much we do it twice—my mum is Canadian-American, so we observe both Canadian Thanksgiving in October and American Thanksgiving in November.
And while Ellie is an amazing cook and baker, I’m not much of either. But with five hungry kiddos and her broken leg, it’s time for me to level up my game.
Tater Tot Casserole.
OMG. Can’t wait til Thursday. Photo from Allrecieipes.
Thanksgiving in our blended household is very much an all-or-nothing proposition: It’s either wall-to-wall family with two parents, four grandparents, and five kids or it’s a quieter affair with just a few adults in the off years.
Our approach to feeding so many people includes both traditional and kid-friendly dishes. And one of our favorite new additions has been this savory and cheesy delight.
Overview
Prep: 15 mins
Bake: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Serves: 4 (so, clearly, we more than double it)
Ingredients
½ pound ground beef
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
10 ¾ fluid ounces skim milk
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 (14.5 ounce) can French style green beans
½ (32 ounce) package tater tots
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a large skillet over high heat, brown the ground beef and drain fat. Stir in condensed cream of mushroom soup, skim milk, garlic salt and green beans. Pour the mixture into a medium-sized casserole dish and layer with the tater tots.
Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until tater tots are browned and crispy.
Ellie’s top-secret gluten-free cornbread.
Our youngest has celiac and I have a severe gluten allergy as a consequence of my cancer treatment. So, Ellie and my mum have become wizards when it comes to gluten-free baking.
With only two days left to prepare—and since Ellie’s on crutches and can’t catch me—I’m diving into one of her most successful GF recipes. And while I can’t share her super-secret pie-crust recipe, I can share the cornbread recipie she’s used to win contests at chili cookouts:
Overview
Prep: 15 mins
Bake: 25 mins
Total: 40 mins
Serves: 9 (you’ll definitely need to double it)
Ingredients
One box of Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Cornbread Mix (it’s seasonal, so grab it while you can!)
1 egg
½ cup oil
¾ cup milk
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Add egg, oil, and mix to a large mixing bowl and beat.
Add cornbread mix and mix well for 2 to 3 minutes.
Pour batter into a greased 8 x 8 x 2 square baking pan. Let stand for 10 minutes.
Bake in the center rack of the oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes.
JD’s top-secret dessert cocktail.
Photo by Gamze Türker on Unsplash.
With precious hours left until families assemble (or disassemble, depending on your custody schedule), allow me to share one of my favorite and most delicious dessert cocktails: The highland smoke.
A recipe I learned from hosting Burns Night suppers (a Scottish literary holiday), the highland smoke is a sweet and creamy cocktail with a hint of chocolate. A relative of the mudslide, it’s perfect for those quiet moments before or after our national feast. It
Ingredients
1 ounce cream liqueur (e.g., Baileys)
1 ounce scotch whisky (single malt, preferred)
1 ounce coffee liqueur (e.g. Kahlúa)
Coffee beans to garnish (optional)
Directions
Build over ice in a tumbler and sprinkle with coffee beans.
Enjoy!
JD JORDAN FOR GEORGIA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 56
For anyone in East Cobb, Roswell, or Woodstock alarmed by the state’s escalating attacks on our bodies, our families, our doctors’ offices, our classrooms and libraries, even our polling places, I’m running for state senate district 56 to fight for our freedoms and to deliver a better future for everyone in Georgia.
And unlike my opponent who’s spent 14 years rolling back our freedoms, failing to safeguard our kids, and gerrymandered his district to stay in office, I promise to bring everyone in the 56—regardless of ideology—the best possible constituent experience so you feel heard, valued, and supported. As we all deserve to be.
I’m running for the 56. Let’s make a better Georgia for all of us.
—
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Jordan For Georgia, LLC
10800 Alpharetta Hwy Ste 208 #629
Roswell, GA 30076-1467
jdjordan@forthe56.com
706.804.0456
