last year around this time...

...I got engaged.

On November 21st 2010 the love of my life asked me to be his wife. It was one of the most perfect moments of my life. We were so excited to tell our friends and family that we found it most convenient that Thanksgiving was only 4 days away. Every year we rotate who will host Thanksgiving in our family, and last year it came to my Mom's parents in Lafayette IN. After a fantastic meal Jordan made the announcement. And although there was no celebratory cheering from my relatives, they did seem genuinely happy. 

This is Jordan and I, with my older brother Justin, and my wonderful Mommy.

Every Thanksgiving I always make a pumpkin pie. I started this tradition in 2009, the first year Jordan and I started dating. Ever since I have continued to perfect my recipe. I don't have any pictures of my first homemade pumpkin pie because my phone is lame and deleted months of saved photos right after Christmas 2009. And it really is a shame because making the pumpkin pie for that year was a huge fiasco. 

The trouble began when we started at 11PM the night before. Then things went crazy when I didn't cream the condensed milk before adding the eggs. I was going to try again when I realized I was out of eggs; so we had to make a grocery run at 1AM. In the end it looked fantastic and tasted delicious. However, I didn't leave it in the fridge long enough to harden so it was a little mushy and not firm like your traditional pumpkin pie. 

(The recipe is called Pumpkin Chiffon Pie and I found it by watching The Oprah Show. Maybe the "chiffon" in the title is the reason for all the "folding" I had to do as opposed to blending. Personally I think the folding contributed to it's mushiness.)

This is last year's (2010) pumpkin pie made with the same chiffon recipe as the one prior. I made sure to leave it in the fridge to harden for the full amount of time. While it was an improvement from last year's fiasco I am still looking for ways to improve. I may try a different recipe that doesn't have "chiffon" in the title.

Jordan and I will be doing double duty for Thanksgiving this year. First we are going to my Dad's in Indianapolis IN for an early holiday lunch. Then after spending some time with family and friends (and watching the Packer game) we will be going to Jordan's parents in Sheridan IN to have Thanksgiving dinner with his Mom and Dad and Great Grandparents. I am not quiet sure how we will manage to eat  two giant meals so close together. I think the key lies in eating slowly and choosing only what I want to eat. And NO snacking! I think we will be fine.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
xo