2 Thanksgiving feasts!! ...one week early

Today I am super thankful for all of the amazing, wonderful, beautiful people in my life! ...and it's not even Thanksgiving yet! O-Phi-A and LSF, two service organizations that I belong to both decided that tonight would be a grand feast of an event! So, in true Ellie fashion, I didn't realize both events were on the same night and committed to bringing a different dish to each. I will compare the success and the failure of my cooking endeavors below:

First, the Success:

Good ol' mashed potaters. Told by my family that I ruined the whole Thanksgiving in 2011 because of my attempt at this dish then! This time  -  I prevailed for the win. Here is my version of the recipe: 4 large some R word kind of potatoes, the smallest size container of sour cream, one stick of butter, 1/2 a brick of cream cheese and a half stick of butter. Heat the potatoes to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium and cook for 23-28 mins. Strain and mash (no I didn't peel them) with the back of a wooden spoon. Add the butter and cream cheese. Once melted, add the sour cream. Scoop into a pan and add whatever funsies you want on top (mine are adorned with bacon bits, green onions and cheddar cheese) and bake at 325*F for 20 minutes to heat through. 

 

And now the Fail:

Pumpkin Butter Bars: Seriously the best y'all! Especially when made by my mother...not me. I was going to post a picture of their peril - you're welcome, I didn't..... they literally looked like throw-up! I must say to anyone who adventured to try them at our event.....you probably don't want to keep reading, but don't say I didn't warn you if you do! 

I was really excited about making these bars because I know how good they can be, and even more thrilled in doing so because it spurred a roomie outing to the grocery store (rare, but oh so fun!)! I was saddened when I got home to discover I had bought pumpkin pie in a can not and not just plain old pumpkin. The recipe specifically called for pumpkin, so I started trying out ways to thicken it up- heating it, adding syrup, boiling it. Needless to say it was very warm when I decided to give up and just make the recipe to see what would happen. No further than the first step was the futile mistake made. I added eggs to the warm pumpkin, stirred, and WHITE CHUNKS APPEARED?!?!? Yup, scrambled the eggs and I didn't even know it! Lesson learned - don't add eggs to warm substances, and ...use FLOUR to thicken things.