If your gang is still together, here are some Fun Family Favorites For The Day After Thanksgiving.
Have something simmering for hours with a ham bone and turkey leftovers. We make:
1. Black Bean Cassoulet
This is a version of the Silver Palate recipe where we use the ham bone leftover from a honey baked ham (after it simmers awhile, it’s easier to get the rest of the meat off). The house smells great as the anticipation for dinner at home grows.
Adapted From The Silver Palate using the leftover spiral ham bone
- 2 lbs dried black beans
- 1 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 cups dice onion
- 12 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 meaty ham bone
- 8 quarts water
- 3 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- Pinch cayenne
- 8 tsp chopped parsley
- 12 sweet Italian sausage links cut into one inch slices
- 2 - 3 cups dark and light turkey meat chopped
- 3 sweet red peppers seeded and diced
- 1/4 cup dry sherry
- 3 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
- sour cream garnish
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Soak the black beans in water to cover overnight. Heat 1 cup of the oil in a large heavy stock pot over low heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are limp, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse the beans and add to the stock pot. Add the ham bone and 6 quarts of the water. Stir in the cumin, oregano, bay leaves, salt, pepper, cayenne, and 3 T of the parsely. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered at a slow rolling boil for 2 hours, skimming foam from the top and stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Place the garlic sausage in a medium-size saucepan and add the remaining 2 quarts water. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes. Drain.
Remove casings and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Heat the remaining 1/4 cup oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausages and saute until browned. Remove the sausages with a slotted spoon. In the same skillet, saute the bratwurst until browned. Remove with a slotted spoon.
After 2 hours of cooking, process 2 cups of the beans in a food processor fitted with a steel blade until smooth and return to the pot. Continue to cook for 30 minutes. Add the sausages and the red peppers and cook for another 30 minutes. Remove the ham bone from the soup, shred the meat and return to the pot. Add in the chopped turkey.
Stir in the sherry, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until the beans are very soft and the soup is thick, 30 to 45 minutes. Stir in the remaining 5 tablespoons chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasonings. Ladle the soup into soup bowls and dollop each serving with sour cream.
2. Movies At Home and At the Theater
If you go out as a group to the movies, we liked
Jojo Rabbit
It’s quirky so watch the trailer first and then decide.
If staying home, we always watch:
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
I see that one way to watch it is on Amazon Prime.
3. Fix “Audry Palmer” Drinks and Popcorn
Kim from Northern California Style served us this delicious drink when we had lunch at her house. It’s just equal parts Tejava bottled tea and sparkling lemonade and named after her friend Audry.
I added mint and citrus and served them in this pretty pitcher and glasses from Serena and Lily (on sale right now and practically everything is 25% Off–Code: Thankful).
4. Take A Walk/Hike
We’ve gone to the beach or hiked nature trails and… even just a long walk around the neighborhood is fun.
This year, since we are in the desert near Palm Springs we took walks along the golf course after the golfers had finished playing. That’s my mom’s dog, Ginger, below.
5. Play Scrabble or Rummikub
Or cards. What games do you like to play?
6. Set Up The Christmas Tree
You can go pick up the tree even if you don’t decorate it just yet like my friend, Debbie did. It’s closer to Christmas this year.
Those are our Fun Family Favorites For The Day After Thanksgiving. What are you up to?
Also, a few of you wanted to know how I hung the wreath on the mirror. It’s with a suction cup hook that I got on Amazon.
Best wishes,
Mary Ann
PS. Have you had a chance to see What’s New At Target to get you in the holiday spirit? Or my Citrusy Winter Menu.
Mary Ann! I love your citrus wreath and how you hung it! I’ll have to remember that! And that citrus drink called the “Audry Palmer” I can’t wait to try it! Yours looks so beautiful in those Jenni Kayne glasses and pitcher! Enjoy your thanksgiving in the desert!