Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so many things to be thankful for in our family! First of all, we are all here. Jake had an accident in Jan, Brian had his accident in July and though it has been trying, we are all here and have our health. Brian will be able to walk again soon and Jake has fully recovered! We also welcomed a new member into our family! Madelyn has been such a joy in our lives for the 3 short months she has been around!

We have cooked, cleaned, eaten and then started over again!! The food is abundant and yummy! We had something for everyone!!

I am so thankful for my online blogging friends. It has been a joy to get to know so many new people and feel like you are part of my family as well. Thank you so much for letting me into your lives!

I hope that you have had an equally blessed day today with family, friends, good food and good health!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Eve!

Is Thanksgiving Eve a holiday? Not sure, but I am so excited today! My parents are coming to town to visit. I haven't seen them since late August and I miss them! I love it when they come to stay with us. The visits are usually fast and furious, they are as busy as we are. My dad is an auctioneer and mom is a realtor and they also own a meat fund-raising business. So, we don't get to see each other as often as I would like. Mom was able to come and spend some time with me and Brian when he was in the hospital and I was so grateful to her. It was nice for me to have someone to lean on as well! Then after Madelyn was born, they came to love on their new great-granddaughter. They are going to be so surprised to see her. She has changed so much and has such a cute little personality!

My grandma, June is also coming today. I don't see her much at all. She likes to stay home and we convinced her to come along. We really want to get some 5 generation pictures. It will be fun! I'll post them after this weekend. I have a funny story about June. When I went to college in Ada, OK, June was the dean of nursing at the school. She told me that she was not old enough to have a granddaughter in college and therefore I was not allowed to call her grandma. Every since then I have called her June. She still dyes her hair and doesn't act her age. No one is really sure exactly how old she is and she sure isn't going to set the record straight!

So today I am thankful that my parents and June are coming to visit. They should be here today around lunch time and I really need to get off this computer and get stuff done!!! There are pies to bake people!!!!
Lightlife sent me coupons for some great free food items and I just got around to finding the products. I had asked our local health food store about them, they said they didn't carry them, so I waited until I made a trip to Whole Foods. Come to find out, they do have some of the products. UGH!!!! I was able to get some yummy things and wanted to share them with you.

I made the Smart Tenders Savory Chicken into a pasta dish with peanut sauce. YUM! It got eaten before I could take a picture. But trust me, it was so tasty! Monday I made tempeh ruebens. I used to LOVE reubens. One of my favorite sandwiches. So, I was so excited when I found the tempeh and the recipe is from Isa Chandra Moskowitz's Vegan with a Vengance! Talk about yummy! It's not exactly corned beef, but the flavor is all there! I made my own french dressing and used a pumpernickel roll! Luckily, I snapped a photo for you to see the yummy goodness! The tempeh was very good and yesterday I ate the leftovers by themselves and enjoyed every last bite!

I plan to use the fakin' bacon this weekend and if it passes the test with my family, then we know it will be good. The BBQ tempehtations are amazing!!! Even Brian liked them. He's a die-hard BBQ fan.

Lightlife has some great recipes on their website. Be sure to check them out for a meatless option at your next meal! You won't even miss the meat, but you'll be doing your body a favor!