Here at Metal Master Shop, we have a lot to be thankful for. It’s that time of year again. We’re grateful all year long, but with November comes the opportunity for extra thought and reflection about how blessed we truly are.
We’re thankful for Miami, and we’re thankful for our community. There’s nowhere else we’d rather work, play, and live.
We’re also thankful for you, the skilled roofers we work with every day. We know our metal roofing supplies are in great hands, and that you make local home and business owners’ lives better with every job you do.
Thank you for your business!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we thought we’d share some favorite foods and traditions from a few of our team members, a couple of favorite recipes, and a couple of local Thanksgiving events that make the holidays just a little brighter.
Our Traditions
A few of our team members took some time away from their busy work lives to share their favorite foods and traditions with you. If you’d like to share your traditions with us, head on over to our Facebook page. We’d love to know how you spend Thanksgiving and what you’re thankful for.
Mike: I’m thankful for my friends and family and for their love and support. Each year I look forward to eating turkey, stuffing, lechon, and pumpkin pie. I love spending time with the family, and watching our family grow with kids (sisters, cousins, etc.)
James: I’m thankful for the gathering of family and the people in my life. I look forward to mushroom casserole every year.
Daylin: I don’t like to cook, so I like to concentrate on the eating part. We celebrate more of a Cuban kind of Thanksgiving. We have the traditional turkey, but pretty much everything else is different. We keep the main focus of bringing everyone together and giving thanks, but we’ve customized the holiday to fit our own culture. Every year, I look forward to seeing my relatives and friends, and I especially look forward to the Cuban Flan my Aunt makes.
Favorite Recipes
Like Daylin said, many members of our team incorporate our own culture into the very American holiday of Thanksgiving. We thought we’d supply you with a couple of those recipes, just in case you want to try something a little bit different this year.
Chorizo and Cornbread Stuffing
1lb Fresh Mexican Chorizo 1 medium white onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped 1 celery stalk, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped 2 cups crumbled cornbread
¼ cup chopped cilantro ½ cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Cook the chorizo until it begins to brown. Then, add onion, garlic, celery, and carrot to the mixture and cook an additional 10 minutes. Add the crumbled cornbread and cilantro, then slowly pour in enough chicken stock so stuffing is neither too dry or too wet. Butter a baking or casserole dish, and add the stuffing in an even layer. Bake at 350 degrees until it’s heated all the way and lightly browned on top.
There are many ways to make this recipe, but this take from Aarón Sánchez is the closest we’ve found to the best. You can find a more in-depth explanation, as well as optional ingredients, over at the Food Network.
Perfect Turkey Brine
We tried this recipe last year at a dear friend’s house, and it was so good we had him write it out for us. It will make your Thanksgiving turkey even better. Obviously, you need a turkey somewhere in the 12-14lb range.
1 cup salt (substitute less salt for more spices) 1 lemon, wedged
1 orange, wedged 1 medium onion, wedged
3 garlic cloves, chopped 4 bay leaves
1 tbsp dried thyme 1 tbsp ground black pepper
1 ½ gallon cold water
Rub an appropriate amount of salt on the turkey. Then, place all ingredients and remaining salt (or spices) into a large pot. Add the turkey, and then add the water. Refrigerate overnight. Once Thanksgiving day comes, throw out the brine and put your turkey in the oven as usual. The turkey will be extra tender and flavorful.
We couldn’t believe our tastebuds last year. It really is that good.
Thanksgiving Events
While we love spending time with our friends and families on Thanksgiving, Miami has plenty of events to offer that range from helping the less fortunate to food truck rallies.
Here are a few we’re looking forward to.
6th Annual Space Coast Thanksgiving Basket Brigade – On November 22nd, volunteers gather to put together Thanksgiving baskets for the less fortunate. These baskets include a full Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, along with snacks, toiletries, and canned food. Volunteers then hand-deliver these Thanksgiving baskets to each family. You can donate or register to volunteer here.
Santa’s Enchanted Forest – This annual attraction starts in October and ends in January. This amusement park and carnival features three million lights and a Christmas tree measuring over 92’ feet tall. If you love Christmas and lights, make your way to Tropical Park before January 3rd, and if you’ve never been before, this is your year. More info here.
Christmas Tree Lighting and Food Truck Invasion – This free event features a 50 foot tree covered in lights, holiday music, and plenty of local food trucks. It’s the perfect way to unwind on November 27th. For parking details, click here.
From our team to you, thanks for everything you do. We have plenty to be thankful for, and you’re at the top of the list.
~J.C.
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