Good Eats & Gratitude

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. (St. Francis de Sales)

Today is the introduction of a new project called Good Eats & Gratitude. An exercise steeped in mindfulness, a series of posts recognizing what feeds us. Musings on two elements that are vital to a happy existence — food nourishes the body, gratitude nourishes the soul.

Good Eats. Recipes to try, restaurant highlights, insights on eating well. Gratitude. Kind people, inspired ideas, breathtaking moments.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving this year, just me and my Mister. I signed up to run an 8K Turkey Trot. The weather was gorgeous and there was a big crowd. I listened to an awesome playlist and ran faster than expected. It was a great way to start the day.

We went all out. Cooking a full meal and planning to eat leftovers for a few days. There were family traditions like deviled eggs, spicy green beans, and his grandma's mashed potatoes. There were also a few recipes I wanted to try.

One of the most delicious components of the meal was the Rustic Herb Skillet Stuffing from What's Gaby Cooking. Her blog post sold me—she said it was so good that she made it 3 times last year before Thanksgiving day! It was everything I could ever want in a stuffing: fresh herbs, delicious mushrooms, and perfect as leftovers.

As another side, I made Caramelized Brussels Sprouts from Eat, Live, Run. Jenna posted about these in October and I wanted to make them ever since. These are such a delicious treat, a perfect mix of healthy crunch and colorful sweetness. Even if you're not a huge brussels sprouts fan, I recommend giving these a try. I've already made them again since!

I also made Oh Joy!'s Cardamom & Cream Cheese Squares for dessert because as Joy puts it, "These squares are a combination of sorts—half no-bake cheesecake and half pumpkin pie—with a touch of cardamom. They're great for dessert or even as a mid-afternoon snack." She was right, we enjoyed them for dessert and a few afternoon snacks.

This was our fourth Thanksgiving together.

Somehow it seems to get better each year. The night before we planned our timeline—when to start prepping things, etc. It was a game plan for ultimate oven management. We sat down for dinner 10 minutes earlier than scheduled... a Thanksgiving victory!

I have so much gratitude for my Mister. For his family and friends. For the choices he's made and the man he is today. For the paths our lives took to get us here, and what we have accomplished together.

Image Credit: utensils via limonada // Rustic Herb Skillet Stuffing via What's Gaby Cooking // Caramelized Brussels Sprouts via me // Cardamom & Cream Cheese Squares via Oh Joy! // I'll Give You What I Can via Brandon Christopher Warren