The Giving of Thanks
Tomorrow I embark on my very first Thanksgiving dinner, proper. We had a trial run when the Aussies (Xian, Schmy and Alex - plus honorary Australian, Mars) were here in July, which was actually rather wonderful. But tomorrow the family will be here, and I'm wanting to go all out for mah very first offering of Thanks, sans syphilis. Don't look too deeply into the history of Thanksgiving, or it'll put you off your food.
I'll be serving;
* Turkey - seriously, amazing. I brine that fucker in a big pot until it's weak at the giblets and gobbling for merrrrcy. Sir Alton, your turkey is magic and delicious, and I will never cook another turkey behind your back, never ever.
* Green bean casserole - my favourite part of the Thanksgiving feast, I fancy it up by making everything from scratch (again, thanks Alton), and even include morels if I can get my paws on them. Mushrooms of the Gods, and (I believe) native to America. Mmm, best friend fungi. Sadly, I has none *kicks dirt*.
* Stuffing - I could make this from scratch, but I got Trader Joe's sausage and sage stuffing this time around, because it's good and I have too many other things to make. It surprised me at first that the stuffing typically isn't cooked inside the bird, but I think it's got something to do with the fact that nearly all Americans are utterly terrified of salmonella and they fucking hate it and freak the fuck out when I defrost meat on the counter or doodle about with raw eggs, so I'm gonna let them have this one - this time.
* Sweet potatoes, or yams - Americans like to mash this shit up, add fuckloads of brown sugar and butter, cover the top with marshmallows and pecans, then bake it. We tried this at the trial run, and nobody was overly impressed (although it was an audience of mostly Australians, and so was a bias reception). Anyways, it's kinda stupid. So I'm making sweet potato fries.
* Mashed taters - seriously, what meal doesn't have mashed potatoes? And I just so happen to make the best mashed potatoes in the world (although Mars did a bang-up job at the trial Thanksgiving, the potatoes being one of the highlights of the meal).
* Pumpkin pie. Mum's making this (her pumpkin pie is classic and goooood). But I am also making this because I simply can't not; shhhh, don't tell.
* Cranberry sauce and turkey gravy (lol) - from a can and a box! Am also making fresh cranberry sauce, for shits and giggles, but it's kinda like mint jelly with your lamb roast - you can make it from scratch, but it's somehow better from a jar.
* Corn casserole - new to the party, thought I'd give it a shot. And Paula Dean recently got hit in the face with some ham, so this is for you, Paula.
* Left off the list: brussell sprouts, corn bread, herpes.
There'll also be mulled apple cider, and little buns you heat in the oven. Buns, oven. Gosh that's a lot of food. But, leftovers, friends, and that's the whole point of Thanksgiving. I expect to take lots of photos, and Wade will carve the superturkey, an enormous organic beastie from Trader Joes.
(Also, if you haven't been to www.smittenkitchen.com, you should go, daily. It's pretty much the best food blog, ever.)
Whether American, Australian, from the U.K. or the Philippines, have an incredible Thanksgiving and give thanks for cholesterol, pending New Years' resolutions of a major fuck off diet, and napping at noon.
Wish me luck!
xxx