It’s hard to believe it’s time to start thinking about the holidays again. Even though they normally bring some measure of stress, Thanksgiving is one of the few times of year I get in the kitchen and actually throw down. I’m talking up at the crack of dawn, working over a hot stove until late at night. I’d be the first to admit some of my dishes are semi-homemade, but my family seems to enjoy them, which is what matters.

I do have one homemade dessert recipe I’d like share with you. It was given to me by my cousin years ago, and it gets a thumbs-up from anyone who has it.

Red Velvet Cake
2 ½ cups flour
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups vegetable oil (not shortening)
1 teaspoon cocoa
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 ounces red food coloring

Mix ingredients together and bake at 350 degrees for about thirty minutes until cake pulls away from the side of the pan.

Icing

1 box confectioners sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
1 stick of butter
2 tbsps milk if needed to make icing smooth

Mix all ingredients until smooth and decorate cooled cake. If you’d like, you can add chopped pecans to the icing before it sets.

If you’d like some dinner to go with your dessert or cooking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of dine-in or catering options. As with most catering, the sooner you place your order, the better.

Catering Options
Dale’s Southern Grill
The Paw Paw Patch
Honeybaked Ham
Publix
Sprouts
Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Several restaurants will be open Thanksgiving Day. Please call before going.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Cracker Barrel
Golden Corral

What are your plans this Thanksgiving?