Thanksgiving: The Best Holiday Ever!

Happy Turkey Week! All the preparations and family gathering makes this an exciting time. Thanksgiving really is better than Christmas in some ways. You have everyone together. You’re almost expected to be gluttonous. There are no presents to buy. WIN! WIN! WIN!

Little Life Hacks

-This first one is a financial hack. Experts say that when you pay off a credit card you shouldn’t close the account. That action has the potential to negatively effect your credit score. (Side note; did you realize that your credit score and credit report are used for much more than obtaining credit? Employers occasionally use them for making hiring decisions. Landlords may use them for evaluating potential renters. Also, some insurance companies use them in setting rates.) The better alternative to closing the account is just to cut the card up!

-The other hack is about your health. Many of us are getting our flu shots as we head into flu season. Negative moods like stress affect how well vaccines work. This has been established since 1996 by researchers. The trick to getting the most out of your vaccine is to get it when you’re happy! Vaccines are more effective if your immune system is strong enough to react and form antibodies. Boost that immune system with some SMILES!

Thanksgiving and Christmas – The Decorating Debate

I firmly believe in not decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Some people really decorate for Christmas very early. That’s fine. I just try to languish in one holiday before enjoying another. Please leave comments on your preference.

I have to confess that this year I did decorate one 4 foot tree already and Thanksgiving is till a couple of days away. My friend Linda gave me a 4 foot, green, flocked tree that she no longer wanted.  (The reason she no longer wanted it has to do with two mischievous cats and their propensity take over the tree.) I decorated this tree early because Linda and her sister, Gina, were coming for dinner and I wanted them to see it. It isn’t traditionally decorated but I like it. I used a single strand of red cardinal lights and a stick star with red berries to decorate it. You can see one of the cardinals below.

My Family’s Favorite Thanksgiving Dessert

This little gem has replaced pumpkin pie for my kids. They actually prefer it.

Pumpkin Pie Cake

Crust –

one yellow cake mix ( reserve 1 cup)

1 stick of butter(melted)

1 large egg

Filling –

2 cups of pumpkin

1/2 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3 eggs

Topping

1 cup cake mix (reserved from crust)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 stick of butter (cold)

1/2 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all of the ingredients for the crust and pat into the bottom of a

13″ X 9″ greased pan.

Thoroughly mix all of the ingredients for the filling and pour over the crust.

The ingredients for the topping should be mixed into a crumble (that’s why the cold butter) and sprinkled on the top of the cake.

Bake for 50-55 minutes. Test in the center of the cake for doneness with a toothpick.

*Notes – I often don’t use the walnuts in the topping as my kids aren’t wild about them. You also could add a dash of cloves and or pumpkin pie spice to your filling if you want that sort of flavor. I start testing for doneness early, around 40 minutes or so. I don’t like this to over-bake.

Enjoy your family and your feast! Happy Thanksgiving! See you next week.