Thanksgiving Menu - Wright Family Style

There is nothing more enjoyable and exciting than spending time with my family. Although we're together often, Thanksgiving brings about an extra-specialness to our getting together. The crisp weather, the fall foliage, the hustle and bustle in the kitchen, football, parades, the Black Friday ads, and most of all, the blessing of being with your loved ones. The laughter and aroma of all the wonderful food is so intoxicating.

As sister Riley and I finalized the menu, the first thing I did was start pulling out white serving pieces for each dish that I'm preparing. While I sorted through piles and piles of dishes, somehow I managed to ignore the fact that my white dish obsession has gotten completely out of hand. A really sad state of affairs. I decided to continue to distract myself by searching the web for photos of our Thanksgiving feast to share with you. We're a family of eaters, but we're cutting back a wee bit on the 2010 menu. Yeah, I know it's doesn't LOOK cut back, but trust me on this one.

I'm still undecided if I should cook ham or pork loin, so I posted both.

Cranberry-Orange Relish, Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic, Turnips, Gravy, Parsnips & Carrots with White Balsamic, Skillet Cornbread, Pineapple Casserole (so delicious with ham), Corn Pudding, Sweet Potato Casserole w/Pecan & Gingersnap Topping, Cornbread Dressing, and Yeast Rolls.

Pound Cake, Mini Sweet Potato Pies, and Pecan Pie Cheesecake

An assortment of beverages for everyone.

I'm off to do my shopping tomorrow morning (except for the ham or pork loin) and I'll tweak recipes over the weekend and will dive head first into cooking/baking on Tuesday, starting with the cheesecake.

What's on your Thanksgiving menu?

Sheila Denise

Introducing My New Website - Just Wright Candy Buffets

Hey y'all!! I can't believe all the wonderful things that have happened since I last posted. I'm sitting here pinching myself between each sentence. I, yes Sheila Denise Wright, launched my website--Just Wright Candy Buffets, TODAY!! Now mind you, I've been designing tables for what seems like all my life, but never gave myself an official name and Sheila Wright, the girl who does tables, just didn't quite do it for me. So, I did what I had to do, I took tried and true advice from a wonderful panel of pros while attending Tory Johnson's Spark & Hustle Conference this summer and three months later, here I am--company name, logo and website. Whew!! It all seems to have happened so quickly, but I've never been more ready for anything than I am for this!

I guess I'll have to act all grown up now and be all professional and stuff, huh?? Nah, I'm gonna keep being me and since I'm in charge around these parts, my vote is the only one that counts. LOL

Join me at JWCB as I embark on this new and not-so-new journey. It's going to be a BLAST!!

Sheila Denise

Look What I Found!!

I just HAD to share my latest find with y'all. It has to be the nifty-est pan EVER. It's a Lasagna Trio Pan by Chicago Metallic. Yes you read that correctly, THREE rows of lasagna and it comes equipped with it's very on spatula!! I'm envisioning the rows of lasagna as I type...traditional meat, vegetarian and seafood. I simply can't wait to use this pan, well, what I really mean is I can't wait to take it to my sister, Riley and ask BEG her to work her magic. Her lasagna and Aunt Maxine's lasagna taste waaaay better than mine (and mine is really good). There's something about a loved one creating a dish with you in mind that makes it extra awesome.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part, it scored this baby for $17.99. It's listed at $25.21 on Amazon. I'm a very happy woman tonight.

I'd love to hear your creative ideas to put this fabulous pan to good use.

Sheila Denise

The Traveling Guest Blogger Chuck - Now That's Paramount!

With spectacular views of the London skyline, the Thames River and London Bridge, Paramount at Centre Point is just that...Paramount.

Start your day out right with the Yoghurt Parfait and a bowl of fresh fruit. Who said Americans don't eat healthy?? LOL!! If yoghurt is not your thing, try the traditional English Breakfast and marvel at one of the best views of Central London.

Crunchy Granola with Natural Yoghurt & Fruit Salad:

Can't make it for breakfast?? Don't worry. Paramount is the evening/night spot for the fashionable and trendy Londoners. Paramount at Centre Point is located at 101-103 New Oxford Street, across from the Tottenham Court tube station. As you exit the station, look for the tallest skyscraper on the corner. Enjoy!!

Chuck, thank you so much for this wonderful review of Paramount. I'm looking forward to dining there this winter. For my readers, what are some of your favorite dining spots home or away from home?

Sheila Denise

I'm a Shameless Copy Cat - Hot Tomato and Mango Sorbet Soup

This is a confession of sorts. I stalk bloggers, all kinds of bloggers, but especially those who exhibit a love affair with food and entertaining. Several months ago, I began a stalker love affair with a FANTASTIC lady who happens to live in the Atlanta area. She simply exudes food, entertainment and hospitality and along with being one of the sweetest people I've NEVER met, I fell in love with her and her blog. Her name is Patti, a self-professed hospitalityaholic and creator of the blog, Anatomy of a Dinner Party. I'm not quite sure that hospitalityaholic is a big enough word to encompass all the greatness that Miss. Patti is.

Well a weekish or so ago, Patti posted an entry that immediately captured my attention, Hot Tomato & Mango Sorbet Soup. Now I don't know about y'all, but my country self had never heard of such, but was absolutely intrigued by the combination of flavors. I knew I HAD to make that soup! Well, I got a little sidetracked for a few days, but I finally got around to making it today. I was out of homemade sorbet, so cheated with a commercial brand . Since Patti said it was SPICY so in New Orleans fashion, I added cayenne to the tomato soup and OMG this stuff was DELICIOUS!!! A spicy, cool, basil-y bowl of tomato soup goodness, with BACON on top!! This soup was so good that I didn't even bother to sit down to eat it and I am not ashamed. As odd as this might sound, don't let it stop you. Enough about me carrying on about the soup. Here are the pics and yeah, I know the bacon is a bit crispy.

Sending out a HUGE thank you to Patti and Chef Matt Murphy at M Bistro - The Ritz Carlton New Orleans!! Looking forward to having this many, many more times.

Sheila Denise

Double Birthday Celebration...Oh My!!

Today, I had the pleasure of having lunch with my BBFF (boy best friend forever), Chuck at one of our favorite restaurants, Steel Atlanta. We pretty much eat here every week, so today was no different, EXCEPT, we were celebrating OUR birthdays!! Yep you heard me...OUR BIRTHDAYS!!! Lucky us, huh?? I think so too. Chuck has managed to worm his way into "Little Brother" status for life. He is the poster child for a true, true friend and I am grateful know him and honored to call him my friend.

Well, I arrived earlier than Chuck, which NEVER happens, so I tried to wait patiently , but didn't do a great job, because I was EXCITED to share some great news with him. Anyway, just as I was about to EXPLODE, in struts Chuck and I unload my happy, happy news the moment we are seated. We ordered our adult beverages, since we're both officially legal (Ha!!) and ordered our usual Bento Boxes, salmon for both of us this time, and caught up on things since our last conversation--yesterday.

And here's where the fun began. We were overheard discussing our birthdays and Steel's very own Chuck wished us a happy birthday, then Ms. Katie, who took wonderful care of us, wished us a happy birthday and said she had a surprise for us. Yippee!!!!! We enjoyed a fabulous meal and drinks and out comes Katie with our birthday dessert on a 2 foot platter, candle a-burning!! Someone should have captured our faces, because I'm sure were both looked a little "crazy" to say the least. We managed to pull ourselves together, made our wishes and blew out the candle and dove right into our Strawberry Cake. Katie said she had another surprise for us as we gobbled down our delicious dessert--the cake was VEGAN!! Did y'all hear me??? V-E-G-A-N!!! No-dairy-no-egg-involved-in-any-way-vegan. We almost choked!! Two sho 'nuff meat eaters enjoying a vegan dessert?!?!? Surely not!! We simply looked at each other and kept on eating, til there was nothing left. As we were getting back to reality, Steel's very sweet Ms. Kitty stopped by to wish us a happy birthday as well. There is nothing as wonderful as being surrounded by genuine people and Chuck and I experienced this at Steel (again). I love this place!!

Who knew, when I stumbled upon Steel Dallas years ago, that we'd have the pleasure of enjoying our very own Steel Atlanta? I'm so happy that Steel is a part of my weekly life. If you've dined at Steel, you know how wonderful the food is and if you haven't you need to make plans to do so. This weekend kicks off Midtown Restaurant Week and Steel is participating (hint, hint).

Happy Birthday to Chuck & me!!

Sheila Denise

We Went, We Ordered, We Ate...Red Velvet Pancakes!!

Today, I had the pleasure of eating Red Velvet Pancakes and I am in LOVE!!! Let me preface this with, I don't like Red Velvet anything (well I do now), but was compelled to give these pancakes a try, simply because West Egg Cafe was serving them and I thought it was an interesting twist on a pancake. I had made plans to brunch at The Egg this morning with my friend and fellow foodie, Tamara (Jem of the South), who happens to be a Red Velvet bakerette-diva, so the moment I saw the Facebook post (photo above) that The Egg was featuring Red Velvet Pancakes this weekend, I knew we'd made the right decision.

So, we wait about 30 minutes to be seated (always well worth the wait) and eagerly ordered the feature of the day and out they came with a HUGEMONGOUS dollop of ready-to-smear cream cheese frosting goodness!!! We weren't about to mess this up, so we knew we had to enjoy them straight, no chaser, errr I mean syrup. I can't imagine that syrup could do anything to enhance this deliciousness!! We looked at each other and as I pulled out my Blackberry to take pics, and Miss Red Velvet took a bite and her eyes literally rolled back in her head. I thought, if SHE thinks they're to die for, I just might like them. Well, have mercy on my greedy little soul--I LOVED THEM!! They were absolutely delicious. The more I ate, the better they got. They had just the right balance of all the things that make many Red Velvet Cakes go wrong--not too cocoa-ey and not too red food color-ey, not too dry, not too sweet...they were spot on!! With this perfectly balanced flavor combination, I could become a Red Velvet Cake lover, but until then, I'll simply be happy to eat this pancake version until the end of time. The only thing Tamara and I decided we wanted to add was a few chopped pecans to sprinkle on top, but I'm prepared to bring my own pecans next time, well very likely tomorrow. Did I mention how much I enjoyed the pancakes??
Naturally, we posted on Facebook & Twitter about our new-found love and we've both received great responses from folks wanting to know more. All I can tell you is this--STOP what you're doing, take yourself to West Egg Cafe and order the Red Velvet Pancakes NOW!! You'll love me for this one.

Sheila Denise