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Thanksgiving Prepping

Today has been the longest day ever and it's not over! lol I literally have been on my feet pretty much since I woke up at 5AM. I did my usual Mommy routine, got The Lil Chef together did my 46:02 mins of exercise and then starting prepping for Thanksgiving. I definitely underestimated the butternut squash. I figured because they were small I needed more of them.....NO! I ended up with way more than I expected. It took me like 3hrs to slice and dice them. (for whatever weird reason I can not sit down and cook, cut, chop, what have you so that's how I ended up on my feet forever.) I have the onions prepped for the garlic corn, I stumbled on something new (for me) with the chicken, took out the greens and green beans from last year (don't judge, it's just more I don't have to make from scratch) I made the "real" mashed potatoes & I could not stop eating them lol. I'm currently waiting on The Lil Chef to shred the cheese for me for the mac n' cheese, I'll make that tomorrow! I also wanted to prep the candied bacon tonight but my hip went out and I'm not feeling too swell. I think I need to recuperate and try it again tomorrow.

In the process of slicing and dicing. I usually slice them down the middle, put a little water on a plate, lay them face down and microwave them for 6-10mins depending on how big or small they are to soften them up. 

Finally done dicing!!!

Way more than expected!!!

I added (I do not measure) kosher salt, my secret ingredient... a dash of black pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, smart balance, maple syrup, and brown sugar.

I mixed it together and added more brown sugar and maple syrup. It's in the fridge waiting to be baked tomorrow and then once it's out the oven and cooling I will add more brown sugar and maple syrup. It's alot I know but it tastes AMAZING!!!

 Roasted Chicken Thighs will be the meat besides the candied bacon. I was lazy, I didn't take the skin off, the skin came off of one and that piece will be my mom's lol.

My dry chicken rub. I pretty much mixed all my seasonings together. The most important spice is most definitely the Turmeric!
 

Ok this was the new part for me... I saw on a post on Pinterest the last time I made roasted chicken quarter legs to rub with oil then season.... I didn't do that but it made me think about it this time. I mixed the last of the smart balance and olive oil with a "kitchen" tablespoon of the dry rub, it was good but I put just a smidget more. 

I coated both sides of the chicken with my "marinade" or liquid rub as I like to call it. :-) This is now sitting in the fridge as well waiting to be roasted tomorrow. Hopefully this will turn out GOOD! 
Of course I'll post more of my cooking adventures tomorrow.

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