Giving Thanks
“Be thankful for what you have. Your life is someone else’s fairy tale.” (Wale Ayeni)
As we gather around the table with family and friends to dig into that delicious turkey and stuffing this Thanksgiving, take a moment to reflect on what we’re most grateful for in 2022. There is so much to be thankful for, friends and family sitting around our table, it can be difficult to find the perfect words to show our gratitude.
This holiday season, let your families, friends and colleagues know how much you appreciate them with some of the best quotes about gratitude, and to lighten the mood, some humorous quotes, and puns.
“What I love about Thanksgiving is that it’s purely about getting together with friends or family and enjoying food. It’s really for everybody, and it doesn’t matter where you’re from.” (Daniel Humm)
“We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.” (Neal A. Maxwell)
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” (Meister Eckhart)
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other as if though everything is a miracle.” (Albert Einstein)
“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch heaven.” (Johannes A. Gaertner)
“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” (Randy Pausch)
“If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life
mightily.” (Gerald Good)
“People who love to eat are always the best people.” (Julia Child)
“There’s always something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. Even if it’s just not being a turkey.” (Unknown)
“I like football. I find it as an exciting strategic game. It’s a great way to avoid conversation with your family at Thanksgiving.” (Craig Ferguson)
“Thanksgiving dinners take 18 hours to prepare. They are consumed in 12 minutes. Half-times take 12 minutes. This is not a coincidence.” (Erma Bombeck)
“Thanksgiving – when the people who are the most thankful are the ones who didn’t have to cook.” (Melanie White)
“There’s turkey ham, turkey bologna, turkey pastrami. Someone needs to tell the turkey, ‘Man, just be yourself.’ (Mitch Hedberg)
“Real ballplayers pass the stuffing by rolling it up in a ball and batting it across the table with a turkey leg.” (Tom Swyers)
“An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.” (Irv Kupcinet)
“Thanksgiving is America’s national chow-down feast, the one occasion each year when gluttony becomes a patriotic duty.” (Michael Dresser)
“Thanksgiving is giving thanks with our dear ones, to be grateful for all what we have achieved, and to be grateful for the freedom, faith, love, and hope that we’ll have a better future.” (Aurea Franklin)
“Thanksgiving is to be grateful for the gift of humor, give laughter to someone, and be immersed in the joy of life.” (Aurea Franklin)
“We may not have it all together, but together, we have it all.” (Anonymous)
When you’re planning out the perfect sweet Thanksgiving caption to your social media feeds, try adding a good, short recipe as well!
Just before the food coma sets in and you decide to call it a night, contribute more to the holiday fun and enjoy some Thanksgiving trivia or tune in on one of the classic, magical, marathon Thanksgiving movies.
Hope you enjoyed the quotes, humor, and puns. Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving everyone!
R,
Aurea
Not a fan of turkey and stuffing? Here is a non-traditional Thanksgiving Recipe for you: Fried Rice!
I have published several recipes previously for Holiday celebration. But I would be remiss if I forget one of my favorite foods. Fried rice can be very unhealthy dish due to the carb and fat heavy dish from the rice and heavy oil usage. Typically there is not enough protein content, but you can add always add more egg and a protein like shrimp. It is easy to make a healthier version of fried rice by consciously portioning ingredients. Also, cauliflower rice can be a smart substitute instead of the white grain rice. You
may add your favorite protein, which can be cooked separately, and stir it under instruction number 4 listed below, which is where you add the eggs back to the pan and stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce and sesame oil. Cook for 1-2 minutes to heat through.
Fried Rice Ingredients
• Butter: Most people’s secret ingredient! This is what they use at hibachi restaurants for their fried rice and has been a game changer ever since I started using it. It adds a lot more flavor and helps to brown the rice. You can always substitute any other cooking oil if you prefer but I really suggest giving butter a try in your fried rice.
• Eggs: Are added for protein and are typical in fried rice recipes. You can omit and substitute tofu if you are allergic to eggs or simply not a fan.
• Veggies: I use diced carrots, onions, garlic, and peas. Feel free to use whatever vegetables you have on hand. Bell peppers, zucchini, leeks, corn, and edamame would all
be great in this!
• Rice: I prefer to use long grain white rice or jasmine rice. It cooks up fluffy and does not clump together. You may also use cauliflower rice instead of rice.
• Soy sauce: I always use low sodium soy sauce however dark or regular soy sauce can be substituted just make sure to dilute it a bit with water to cut down on the saltiness.
• Oyster sauce: Is a thick savory slightly sweet and salty sauce that can be found in the international or Asian section of your grocery store.
• Sesame oil: Adds a wonderfully nutty flavor to this recipe. A little bit goes a long way!
• For serving: I like to top my stir-fried rice with green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.
Instructions:
Precook the rice then let it cool. *If you have time to prepare the rice the day before: simmer the rice in a little bit of coconut oil then refrigerate for at least 12 hours. This actually cuts down on the on the amout of calories, read this interesting article!
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-would-cooling-rice-make-it-less-caloric-1180954765/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CCooling%20for%2012%20hours%20will,fewer%20calories%20we%20can%20absorb.
1. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter into a large skillet. Add the eggs and scramble until fully cooked. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
2. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter into the pan. Add carrots and onion to the pan and cook until tender, 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for an additional minute.
3. Add in the cold rice and peas and sauté for 3-4 minutes. The rice should brown up a bit.
4. Add the eggs back to the pan and stir in soy sauce, oyster sauce and sesame oil. Cook for 1-2 minutes to heat through.
Serve immediately with green onions for garnish, if desired.
For more great fried rice recipes:
https://chefsavvy.com/the-best-fried-rice/
https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/combination-fried-rice
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE AND STAY SAFE!
