Dear Readers,
November is the month when gratitude takes center stage, and this issue is all about giving thanks. We are honoring the first responders who show up for our community every day, often sacrificing their own time with family to keep us safe. We are also highlighting two remarkable organizations, The Rescue Mission of Utica and Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen, whose volunteers make sure no one in our community goes without a Thanksgiving meal. Their work reminds us what this season is truly about: compassion, service, and sharing what we have.
This month also marks the debut of our MVL Pie Trail, a sweet celebration of local bakeries and the people behind them. From homemade apple to chocolate cream, each pie tells a story, and I hope it inspires you to bake, share, and savor the season.
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It reminds us to slow down, gather with loved ones, and take stock of what truly matters. For me, that gratitude begins right here in the Mohawk Valley — in the places, people, and stories that fill these pages every month. Whether it is a firefighter pulling an overnight shift, a family-owned bakery keeping a generations-old recipe alive, or volunteers serving meals to neighbors in need, this region has an incredible heart. And because traditions matter, I am sharing a family favorite this month: my grandmother’s savory sausage stuffing, passed down to my mom, and now to me, and soon to my kids.
As Mohawk Valley Living continues to grow, both on the page and on screen, I am filled with gratitude for the people who make it all possible. To my husband, son, and daughter, and to my mom, thank you for believing in me. To my dear friends, extended family, and everyone who has supported every new idea and late-night deadline, including the wonderful new people this endeavor has brought into my life, your encouragement means the world to me.
Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with warmth, laughter, and the comfort of good company.
With love and an exceptional amount of gratitude,
Carrie
P.S. Tune in to Mohawk Valley Living TV every Sunday on WKTV (NBC) at 7:30 AM and WFXV (FOX) at 10:30 PM.
SIDEBAR: Granny Carville’s Savory Sausage Stuffing
A beloved family recipe passed down through generations – it’s sweetened with applesauce and filled with love.
Ingredients (for a 15 pounds turkey):
15 cups torn white bread (tear and season the bread the night before; let sit in a covered pot overnight to slightly dry and absorb flavor)
2 cups Classic Seasoned Stuffing Mixture
2 tsp poultry seasoning
2 tsp dried sage
½ tsp black pepper
1 ½ tsp salt
5 tbsp butter (to sauté onions and celery)
1 large sweet onion (mince in food processor)
2 cups celery (mince in food processor)
2 lbs sausage (we use Jones original sausage)
4-5 cups applesauce to moisten
Directions:
The night before, combine bread, 2 cups classic stuffing mixture, and seasonings in a large pot and cover.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large skillet, sauté onions in butter and when translucent/lightly brown, set aside. Repeat with celery and set aside. Then cook sausage until cooked through, lightly browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess fat and set aside.
Add cooked onions, celery, and sausage to the bread mixture and stir to combine. Then add applesauce until moist.
Transfer to a large baking dish and bake for 1 hour, covered, then an additional 15 minutes uncovered until crisp on top.
