Browsing for Thanksgiving dinner

     Last Friday I took myself to the new farmers' market here in Moultrie.  It used to be called Bill's, but now it's called Packer Produce.  I just wanted to see what it looked like, since it's being managed by some different people.  When I got inside the newly enclosed, air conditioned building, I must say I was impressed.
     This is not an advertisement for Packer Produce.  It's my lead-in to tell you about my browsing for Thanksgiving dinner.
     I did buy some bananas, lemons, and sweet potatoes, however.  And I know where I'll get my cranberries and carrots and radishes and other veggies for my veggie plate with dip.
     Anyhow, what I really want to say is, around this time of year I get the bug to do some serious cooking.  Maybe it's the change in the weather.  Maybe it's the time of year when all the really good tasting foods, many that we have only once a year, appear on our tables.
     I know I'm going to make vegetable soup and my Mama's stew recipe.  I plan to start that right after Thanksgiving.
     But I started thinking about what I'd like to have for Thanksgiving dinner, that wonderful big meal of Thanksgiving Day, the one that gives you lots of leftovers for the rest of the week and into the weekend.
     And what better place to find what I would like to have but right here at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library in the cookbook section...section 641.5.
     The first book I picked up is The Market Place, a Collection of Recipes by the Augusta Jr. Woman's Club.  I plan to have their "Cocktail Meatballs" for my appetizer.  That's on page 14 of the cookbook.  It's the  recipe that uses chili sauce and a jar of grape jelly to simmer the meatballs in.  Yummy!
     I also plan to have a veggie plate with dip.  I found some tasty suggestions in the Carol Arnel Greenberg cookbook, The Day Before Cookbook.   I can prepare all the veggies the day before: clean, slice, and cut them, and make the dip ahead of time.  Even bought a nice new platter to put everything on.
     Of course, there are those who would like to put their whole meal in a slow cooker and be done with it.  Lora Brody has a book titled Slow Cooker Cooking.  She's the author of The Kitchen Survival Guide (just my kind of book).  But in her slow cooker book, she has a recipe for Chicken Merlot with Mushrooms that sounds devine!  It's with skinless chicken thighs and just a little (1/4 cup of) Merlot (or any dry red wine).   Throw all the stuff in the pot and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 3-1/2 to 4 hours.  And wal-LA! It's all done!  And yummy too!  That's on page 122, in case you're interested.
     But I have to tell you, the most fabulous cookbook to just look at (the pictures alone will make you want to cook something) is Ina Garten's book, Barefoot Contessa at Home.   Lovely big pictures to make you drool!  And if you're not a ham or turky person for Thanksgiving, you should look at page 109, the recipe for rib-eye steaks with cornmeal-fried onion rings.  Or the chicken with goat cheese and basil (you could get your goat cheese from Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville - this is not an advertisement for Sweet Grass either).  Or (and this one might be mine) Eli's Asian Salmon.  This is so scrumptious looking!  Bigger than yummy!
     That brings me to the last cookbook I picked up...Julia Child's book, Julia's Casual Dinners.  This is for all of you who like turkey for Thanksgiving, and have a big family to enjoy it.  Julia has a Buffet for 19 with all the recipes to make your dinner a huge success.  How about this: Oysters on the Half Shell, Turkey Orloff (turkey breast scallopini gratineed with mushrooms, onions, rice, and cheese), Fresh Green Beans with Watercress and Tomatoes, Oil and Lemon Dressing, and French Bread.  Her dessert is a Jamaican Ice Cream Goblet.  And she even suggests the wines!
     No, I lied...that wasn't my last cookbook.  I also picked up Christmas with Paula Deen.  It's a little book chocked full of recipes and stories from Paula's favorite holiday.  After all, Christmas is right around the corner.  Thanksgiving is just for practice.