16 lbs is not less than 10 lbs

You know, it's really hard to think about how much something weighs.  Specifically when you have a restriction put on you, regarding how much you can lift.  For the next 3 weeks, I can't lift anything over 10 lbs.  I found out why yesterday.  I went to the grocery store for the first time since the big "H" surgery.  I had no problem when I was getting groceries.  It was when I went out to the van to load them that it didn't occur to me that lifting two gallons of milk (one in each hand) was a BAD idea.  If one gallon of milk weighs 8 lbs, that means that I actually lifted 16 lbs.  And let me just tell you, I felt it immediately.  You know how people who have lost a limb have phantom pain?  I'm pretty sure I experienced pain in my missing uterus.  No joke.  Lesson learned.  But it's really hard to determine how much something weighs...now I'm measuring everything based off of how a full gallon of milk feels.  I'll be glad when that part is over.  Also, laughing causes these phantom pains as well.  Beyond that, I'm feeling pretty good.

How many of you get out of making Thanksgiving dinner this year?  I've been making Thanksgiving dinner every year for quite a while now.  My mother-in-law, her husband, and my brother-in-law will be joining us, as they do every year.  Sadly my sister, who usually joins us, is unable to make it in, so I'll be left all alone on Black Friday and will most likely spend my time AWAY from the crowds, shopping online.  Or sleeping.  Or both. We usually go to the casino together too, so maybe I'll have to take my $ and what she would have taken and go alone there too.  ;-)

I'm staying pretty low key with the food this year.  Originally (as of two days ago) I was going to make three new recipes, in addition to the usual.  As I was at the grocery store, I immediately chucked all three recipes from my list and picked up boxed mashed potatoes (the horror!) and went back to desserts I was familiar with (pecan pie, Paula Dean's Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake, and Kraft's Double Layer Pumpkin Pie).  So, beyond that...green bean casserole, my favorite homemade mac 'n cheese EVER (recipe below), turkey (duh!), boxed stuffing, boxed mashed potatoes, and of course, corn for Abbey.  See below-I can't NOT make it.

That girls loves corn!

Oh and homemade bread from my bread machine.

So, if you want to wow the family this year, if you're doing the cooking, do everyone a favor and make this version of mac 'n cheese:

1 cup macaroni (cooked and drained)
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup Velveeta (cut into pieces)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 eggs

If you are not doubling this recipe, use a square baker.  If you are doubling, like I ALWAYS do, use a 13x9 pan.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter your pan (or spray with cooking spray).  In the pan, "whisk" the eggs together. Basically, just mix up the yolk and the whites just enough so it's all...well, mixed up.  Add the sour cream, cottage cheese, cheeses and cooked macaroni and mix until combined.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until cheese is slightly browned and bubbly.

Best. Ever.