After a series of unlikely events and somewhat by default, I’m hosting Thanksgiving tomorrow for my grandmas, my sister and her family, Jenny and her family, Jenny’s brother and his family, and Jenny’s mom and dad. Add Kate, Sam and Andy and that’s 21 people.
It does, however, involve spreadsheets. Lots of them.
I have a spreadsheet for the seating chart, one for the ingredients for each dish, one for my grocery list, and one that has pretty much everything else.
I’ve also got a to-do list for today and tomorrow, and a timeline for tomorrow broken up into five minute increments.
Issues, I haz ’em.
I have been researching the hell out of Thanksgiving for a month or so now… I’ve read the entire internet and quizzed UP and his wife about how to make stuffing, gravy and cranberry relish, but every time I see an alternate version of something I’m planning to make or a no-really-THIS-is-the-best-way-to-cook-a-turkey pin, I nearly veer off course.
Take, for example, Monday night when I read an article about how to spatchcock a turkey. It started to sound like a really good idea, so I turned to Jenny for advice.
So, needless to say, this is going to be interesting. I’m tweeting and instgramming the experience using #SpreadsheetThanksgiving, so if you need a laugh or reassurance that someone is screwing up a meal more than you are, I hope you’ll follow along.
This time of year, it seems like pumpkins are taking over the world. I guess we can blame Starbucks and the famous pumpkin spice latte! I love pumpkin – in fact, last Saturday I made pumpkin french toast, a pumpkin roll, and pumpkin oatmeal cookies. But in the pumpkin craze I sometimes forget another fall flavor – apples.
I looooove apple anything. I made an apple cake a few weeks ago, with apples fresh from the orchard, and it was fantastic. And my grandma’s fried apples… so good.
ALDI is the sponsor of this post. All opinions are my own.
I have absolutely loved trying out all the ALDI LiveGfree gluten free items since they first debuted in May. I can’t tell you what a difference they have made in my life (and Jonah’s). I know that sounds a little cray-cray, but you guys – affordable, deeelicious gluten free products? YAY! I can have foods that I love and can AFFORD! Say what!? It’s the absolute best. So, this past Sunday when the ALDI ad dislplayed a bunch of new LiveGFree products, I ran right out within a couple hours and bought them ALL. If you follow me on Instagram, I am sure you saw my exuberant pics! Here’s a taste:
My cart:
Jackpot!
I seriously bought ALL THE THINGS!
And here, including all the new things I just got, are a few of my must-have favorites from the ALDI LiveGfree line. I’m going to feature a few and then list a few more at the bottom, lest this post be 5,000 words long. Cause I could go on indefinitely!
LiveGfree Gluten Free Cocoa Loco Baked Chewy Bars and Double Chocolate Brownie Soft Baked Cookies
These two treats are my favorite snack for me (the bars) and favorite reward treat for Jonah (the cookies). They are both super-delicious! They are all natural – no artificial ANYTHING – and are about half the price of the name brand I used to buy Jonah before these came out. They are also free of the major allergens including dairy! If you are gluten AND dairy free, you gotta get these. I love to throw one of the bars in my purse (I love the other two flavors also, which I mentioned in this post) for a GF snack on the go. I use the cookies for Jonah as a reward after he does a great job in our speech therapy times together. He loves them!
LiveGfree Gluten Free White Bread
I seriously about passed out with excitement when I saw this bread in the ALDI ad last Sunday. Only $3.99 for a loaf! This is a minimum of $1 cheaper than the name brands. I rarely buy bread for Jonah and me because of the expense. We have both learned to live without it. But now we don’t have to! This is GOOD, people. Soft and delicious. So far I’ve had it plain with butter, as toast, and I put it to the TRUE taste of greatness and made a grilled cheese with it.
It was amazing.
It was as good as it looks!
LiveGfree Gluten Free Corn Bread Mix
I forgot to save the box, so here’s a lovely official photo of the box. But anyway, it’s DELICIOUS. It’s so moist and just generally amazing. Jonah eats it up, too! I love love love love love love it.
LiveGfree Gluten Free Cracklebread – Original and Sun-Dried Tomato and Oregano
One of the things I miss about going gluten free are crunchy snacks. And ohhh boy does these cracklebreads hit the spot there! They are delicious dipped in hummus or spread with some cream cheese. A wonderful snack. As a matter of fact I would like some right now because they are addictive!! Mmm hold on I’ll be right back…
LiveGfree Gluten Free Wraps
These are delightful. I haven’t had a good wrap for SO LONG…I remedied that situation at lunch today. Divine!
Ok, I won’t go into excruciating detail about any other items, but here is a list of more of my favorites which I consider must-haves also!
LiveGfree Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix (great for cupcakes!!)
LiveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Ravioli
LiveGfree Gluten Free Chicken Breast Nuggets (for Jonah)
LiveGfree Gluten Free Brownie Mix (so so so GOOOOD!)
So there you have it friends – you have all these WONDERFUL products (along with those I’ve blogged about earlier in this series) available to you at GREAT price at your local ALDI. Go getcha some! And if you have any favorites, tell me what they are below!
