Thanksgiving, A Belated Summary
Okay, I decided I really wanted to record and remember our Thanksgiving celebration, despite my failure to take pictures. It is one of my two favorite holidays -- the other is Passover -- and we celebrated at my house which has become a rare event in the past few years. When Walter was alive, we had our act together and could host fifteen or twenty people for dinner without much difficulty. We could click through everything that needed doing with unruffled feathers and infrequently raised voices. It didn't take me long after he died in 2001 to realize playing host without him was a whole different kettle of fish. Gradually I've done it less and less, especially since Pam and John have the space, the energy, the love of cooking, and the desire to take over hosting family events.
My sister-in-law, Brenda, had agreed to bring the main course -- the turkey, stuffing, and gravy -- and two kinds of pie. I provided the sides. I wanted green beans, my favorite vegetable, and Samantha asked for brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. I tested out a couple of recipes for Brussel sprouts and decided on one that includes butter and light cream, and I read up on how to mash potatoes and learned a technique that was new to me. (You heat the butter and milk you will mash them with until it steams, then add hot to hot. My mashed potatoes have always been tasty; these were amazing and went like wild fire.) The beans I steamed, then added butter and chopped onions. Easy peasy.
When Brenda, Peter, and Paul arrived, they were accompanied by a HUGE turkey, much too large for seven people, but all cooked and ready to go. She had only to bake the stuffing for half an hour which gave me time to make all three of my dishes, since they were all cooked on the stove top. I also made a green salad.
This picture of Paul, my 17-year-old nephew, Brenda, and my brother Peter was taken last Thanksgiving at John and Pam's.
I was having a bit of trouble with my camera, since corrected, which accounts for the blurry spots on these two pictures.
My son, Alan (Samantha's father), picked up my sister, Debbie. Debbie contributed deviled eggs to the feast, and Alan brought brownies made by his new squeeze, Olga. Olga joined her family for dinner.
Alan is flanked by Debbie and Samantha. Again, taken last year at John and Pam's; i.e., not my house!
All of us ate too much, some of us drank the excellent Sauvignon Samantha bought, and of course there was much talk and lots of laughter. Then Debbie took home lots of leftovers, while Samantha and I were left with a whole lot of that HUGE turkey. No leftovers for Brenda and family. She was firm. Fortunately I make a mean creamed turkey over toast.
The other thing they left me is this lovely, very yom tov-dik floral arrangement. I was afraid my orange candles would look more like Halloween than Thanksgiving but not when paired with such a seasonal bouquet. FanSee
My sister-in-law, Brenda, had agreed to bring the main course -- the turkey, stuffing, and gravy -- and two kinds of pie. I provided the sides. I wanted green beans, my favorite vegetable, and Samantha asked for brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. I tested out a couple of recipes for Brussel sprouts and decided on one that includes butter and light cream, and I read up on how to mash potatoes and learned a technique that was new to me. (You heat the butter and milk you will mash them with until it steams, then add hot to hot. My mashed potatoes have always been tasty; these were amazing and went like wild fire.) The beans I steamed, then added butter and chopped onions. Easy peasy.
When Brenda, Peter, and Paul arrived, they were accompanied by a HUGE turkey, much too large for seven people, but all cooked and ready to go. She had only to bake the stuffing for half an hour which gave me time to make all three of my dishes, since they were all cooked on the stove top. I also made a green salad.
This picture of Paul, my 17-year-old nephew, Brenda, and my brother Peter was taken last Thanksgiving at John and Pam's.
I was having a bit of trouble with my camera, since corrected, which accounts for the blurry spots on these two pictures.
My son, Alan (Samantha's father), picked up my sister, Debbie. Debbie contributed deviled eggs to the feast, and Alan brought brownies made by his new squeeze, Olga. Olga joined her family for dinner.
Alan is flanked by Debbie and Samantha. Again, taken last year at John and Pam's; i.e., not my house!
All of us ate too much, some of us drank the excellent Sauvignon Samantha bought, and of course there was much talk and lots of laughter. Then Debbie took home lots of leftovers, while Samantha and I were left with a whole lot of that HUGE turkey. No leftovers for Brenda and family. She was firm. Fortunately I make a mean creamed turkey over toast.
The other thing they left me is this lovely, very yom tov-dik floral arrangement. I was afraid my orange candles would look more like Halloween than Thanksgiving but not when paired with such a seasonal bouquet. FanSee