$4 decoration.

Bouquet from Trader Joes: $3.99

Colorful Paint chip circles: Free

Recycled Campbells can: Free

3 colored ribbon bows:  $.01

Mod Podge leaf: Free

Having a colorful bouquet to make the Thanksgiving table seem a little more festive: Priceless

BTW: Whatever happened to those Mastercard commercials?

Chili Garlic Broccoli

We needed another side for our Thanksgiving meal, and since I'm not big on green beans or cranberry gel/goop out of a can, we tried something new! Martha Stewart suggested Garlic Chile Roasted Broccoli- and I figured since she's about as wholesome as Thanksgiving itself (HAH) I should give it a try. This is about the easiest dish on earth to make, and it was a big hit. You know, between the three of us at dinner...

Step 1: Cut your broccoli into little mini broccoli trees

 Step 2: Add 5 garlic cloves, with the skin ON.

 Step 3: Toss in a tablespoon of olive oil or two (until well coated), a teaspoon of red chili flakes, a half teaspoon of salt, and a half teaspoon of pepper

 Step 4: Throw it all in a baking pan or cookie sheet with sides.

 It already looks good, right?

 Step 4: Roast it all in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes, and BAM! You have delicious, easy, relatively healthy side!

Mashed

Somehow I thought mashed potatoes were difficult to make. Maybe because we never had them as kids (that or we did nd since I was such a picky eater I blocked their existence from my memory) I figured they must be uber-tedious.

Turns out I was completely wrong. Yeah, I know, all of you normal people are shaking your head thinking, "Laura. You fricken' take a potato and MASH IT. HOW HARD COULD IT BE?" Well, you're all right.

Some garlic, red potatoes, boiling water, salt, milk, butter, cheese and 25 minutes later I had these babies:

Nomnomnomnomnomnom.

(simmer garlic cloves and quartered potatoes for 25 minutes, drain well. add milk, butter, and salt and mash. stir in cheese and eat until they're gone!)