Today is for Family Time

While not officially a recognized holiday, the day after Thanksgiving is typically part of a four-day weekend. Unofficially, it’s Family Day. A day for families to gather in a relaxed setting to catch up with one another.

I know, it’s Black Friday. Black Friday is something we’ve never participated in. When our children were still living at home, the Friday after Thanksgiving was spent cutting down a Christmas Tree and enjoying a second Thanksgiving in our home, complete with a turkey and all the trimmings. Why? Hubby and I were spared the dueling traditions many married couples face. His mother and grandmother lived in Wisconsin. Going home for the holidays wasn’t something his family did. So the only family we needed to deal with was mine. I watched as my sisters had dinner with one family, dessert with another, alternating each year. We didn’t want our children to split Thanksgiving between in-laws. We showed them the importance of going home for the holidays by spending Thanksgiving at the farm. Then we had our own Thanksgiving the following day to create our own traditions.

When we moved to another state, all that changed. We drove home to the farm the day before Thanksgiving, had Thanksgiving at the farm, along with the next three days. That was nice, with a Hallmark Feel. Upon returning to California, Thanksgiving changed yet again. Thanksgiving Day was spent at my sister’s home, and the next day we stayed at our home putting up the beautiful but fake Christmas tree. While I miss cutting down a tree, the cost of a live tree has become insane.

This year was a little different in that we had an early Thanksgiving in our home. There’s no going back to the farm as the family farm is up for sale. I know, so sad. Since Thanksgiving Day has been canceled, we’ll be putting up the tree on Thanksgiving. And that’s going to work out just fine since today, the day after Thanksgiving, we’ll have all day to decorate. Okay, it takes more that two days to set up our crazy Christmas, but at least the guys will be able to give me a jump on the decorating tast. Tomorrow we’ll take a well earned break with our Great Grandbaby. Yeah!

Sincee the day after Thanksgiving is also a Catholic Friday, I’ll be whipping up a simple meatless supper that works well while decorating. These amazing meatless Burritos are the perfect day after Thanksgiving food. Once grilled, they can be wrapped in foil and held in the oven to eat as we go. We’ll just need to remember to wait until after the tree is up to break out the margaritas!

Rice-A-Roni Grilled Bean Burritos
1 box Mexican Rice-A-Roni
2 tablespoons Butter
2 cups Water
1 can Chipotle Rotel Tomatoes
1 can Jalapeño Refried Beans
6 Flour Tortillas
Cooking Spray s needed
3/4 cup Mexican Cheese Blend
6 tablespoons Sour Cream

In a large skillet, combine rice-vermicelli mix with butter. Sauté over medium heat until vermicelli is golden brown, stirring frequently.

Slowly add water, special seasoning package and Rotel Tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low. Simmer Rice-A-Roni for about 15 minutes or until rice is tender and the liquid has evaporated. Set aside.

Stir beans into Rice-A-Roni. Heat through, keep warm.

Warm a flat skillet or tortilla pan. Spray tortillas with cooking spray. Warm tortillas for about 30 seconds to soften and make more pliable.

Place warm tortillas on a plate. Spread refried bean mixture on one half of the tortilla. Top mixture with cheese and sour cream. Fold tortilla over filling, tuck unfilled end under filling slightly. Fold in the ends. Roll tightly and set aside. Repeat until all the tortillas have been filled.

Spray a griddle with cooking spray, heat to medium-heat. Place filled burritos on the griddle, grill until golden brown on both sides. Serve and enjoy.

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Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young