Happy Thanksgiving. This would have been a better post a week or two ago. My mother loved her morning coffee (lots of coffee) and reading the paper. She worked the word jumble and then searched for recipes. She would cut out the recipe, staple it to an index card and put it in a box. Here are two of her recipes I use every Thanksgiving: Turkey in a Brown Bag and Turkey Dressing.

Turkey in a Brown Bag

1 turkey

1 tsp black pepper

2 tsp salt

3 tsp paprika

4 tbsp hot water

1/2 cup cooking oil

1 medium onion

4 stalks of celery

1 bud garlic

1 orange

Wash turkey, leave to drain. (Remove any turkey parts, neck etc) Make a paste of pepper, salt, paprika, hot water and oil. With a pastry brush coat turkey inside and out. Place the onion, celery, garlic , onion and orange inside the turkey. Grease large grocery bag inside and out with 1/2 cup cooking oil. Place turkey inside the bag, fold edges of the bag 3 times to close and fasten with paper clips. Bake turkey 12 minutes to the pound at 325 degrees. Do not open the bag at anytime during the cooking time. When removed from the oven at the end of the baking time, let stand for 10 minutes. Carefully open the bag and remove gently so as not to tear the skin on the breast and legs of the turkey. Reserve broth for gravy.

Turkey Dressing

3 cups self rising meal

• 1 teaspoon salt
• pinch. of soda
• 1 tbs sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 eggs well blended
• 3/4 cup onion chopped fine
• 1 cup celery chopped fine
• 3 cups buttermilk
• 3 tbs bacon drippings
• 8 oz package of herb seasoned stuffing
• 1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup
• 3 cups of turkey broth
• 1/2 teaspoon of sage

Measure and sift dry ingredients. Add buttermilk and eggs. Soften celery and onion in bacon drippings in and iron skillet and add to mixture. Pour in skillet and bake at 450 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. When done, turn out in large mixing bowl. Let cool and crumble the cornbread. Add 1/2 bag of 8 oz package of herb seasoning mix, 11 can of Cream of Chicken Soup, 3 cups of turkey broth, and 1/2 tsp sage. Put in casserole dish and bake at 375 degrees until hot and slightly brown. I actually make this a little easier. I use about 2 packages of Martha White Cornbread instead of all of the cornbread ingredients. The important thing is to cook the celery and onion in the cornbread.

Pottery

The mouse cookie tray has a red tumbler to go with it.