Holiday recap
Did everyone have a lovely Thanksgiving? (Obviously this applies to my American friends as the Canuck Thanksgiving was a while back.) Mine went off without a hitch. The food and company was both intimate and lovely. Only four heads at the table this time around, as opposed to last year when I had a houseful of family-by-extension with everyone talking at the same time and all crowded in the kitchen (why is that, anyway?)
As in previous years, my menu deviated a tad from the usual Turkey Day fixins. Oh, I had mashies and gravy, green bean casserole, warm homemade rolls and succotash, of course. Those are staples. Thie time around, however, instead of trying to deal with a 12+ pound turkey - and ruining my back altogether *see explanation below* - I used a recipe from my friend Alex, aka Chef Yaavo, who reallyreallyreally needs his own programme on the Food Network because he's an alchemist when it comes to spices and temperatures and cooking methods and knowing exactly what goes with what to make the most out of a dish. I took a 5-3/4lb turkey breast and let it sit in a marinade of soy, oyster sauce, dry sherry, fresh grated ginger, garlic, a smidge of sugar and some baking soda (to tenderize) for a couple of hours before placing it on a bed of mirepoix (carrots, onion and celery) splashed with white wine so the veggies wouldn't burn. I might have splashed said bird with some wine too just to get things going during the first basting session.
OMG. Best. Turkey. Ever. So moist and melt in your mouth fantastic. I'll definitely be making this again. My old standby of pumpkin bundt cake I made was, as always, a hit.
That said, I suppose I should make a proper update of my life this past year and what I am thankful for, on this, the day when the world suddenly switches from one state of mind to another as they gear up for Christmas...
>> I am thankful that my mother, who suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage back in February 2010, underwent major surgery to repair the damaged vessels, went from hospital to hospital, then to a nursing home, then to hospice care at home in April 2011, has finally found peace after passing on last month. So many strokes during those long 19 months left her bedridden and helpless, unable to really communicate at all outside of the rare moments of clarity when she spoke a word or two. She was one of those "up" people that always had to be moving, had to be doing something be it housework or gardening or birdwatching or reading or working a crossword puzzle (one a day, everyday for as long as I can remember). I know if she was at all aware of her situation she had to absolutely hate it.
>> I am thankful that in these truly craptacular economic times, I have a job, It might not be glamorous or high-paying or even in my chosen profession, but it's a steady income.
>> I am thankful because of said job I can afford a nice home in a safe, family-oriented neighborhood with friendly folks that look out for each other. While it's not quite the same high degree of old-fashioned "pitch in and help with no questions asked" as I knew from my time in Maine, it's still a good place to live.
>> I am thankful that the car accident I was in while on the job back in July didn't cripple me altogether. My company vehicle was struck going through a busy intersection (the lights were out, and everyone was treating it as a four-way, except for the dude who thought "he had a green light because the sunshine was so bright that afternoon and obscured his vision." No lying! It's even on the police report!) The force of his speeding car hitting my front bumper totally ripped the bumper, grill and whatnot off, bent the hood like a pretzel and totaled the vehicle. Had I been going any faster through the intersection, odds were pretty spot-on that I would have been "T-boned" and most probably crushed inside the cab of the truck - or so the cop on the scene surmised.
>> I am thankful that, with physical therapy three times a week for the rest of the summer and autumn, and a regiment of medication, I got my mobility back to almost normal. Because of my injuries, my spine (at the ribcage) is now curved oddly and I have Stage II Spondylolisthesis in my lower spine. I'm not allowed to bend at the waist anymore. Ever. Or fall down. Or do any sort of potentially bone-jarring sport or activity (sledding, roller-coaster rides, hiking, dancing, running up and down the steps, etc.) Because if I do, everything might slip forward even more and I'll have to get surgery. MRIs might suck mightily, as does traction, and not being able to ride in the car for any lengthy amount of time and now having the ability to forecast rain or cold weather with my aches and pains, but I DO NOT want to get cut open in the back and front so they can put in metal rods and fuse my vertebrae together. I'll stick with kneeling, thanks.
Otherwise, life is quiet - as it should be. I'm still knitting like a fiend, and am looking forward to Advent and Christmas.
And speaking of the holidays... me and my partner in crime, nightfalltwen are again putting together a list of gorgeous men for our annual 12 Days of Hawt Menz next month. Stay tuned!
As in previous years, my menu deviated a tad from the usual Turkey Day fixins. Oh, I had mashies and gravy, green bean casserole, warm homemade rolls and succotash, of course. Those are staples. Thie time around, however, instead of trying to deal with a 12+ pound turkey - and ruining my back altogether *see explanation below* - I used a recipe from my friend Alex, aka Chef Yaavo, who reallyreallyreally needs his own programme on the Food Network because he's an alchemist when it comes to spices and temperatures and cooking methods and knowing exactly what goes with what to make the most out of a dish. I took a 5-3/4lb turkey breast and let it sit in a marinade of soy, oyster sauce, dry sherry, fresh grated ginger, garlic, a smidge of sugar and some baking soda (to tenderize) for a couple of hours before placing it on a bed of mirepoix (carrots, onion and celery) splashed with white wine so the veggies wouldn't burn. I might have splashed said bird with some wine too just to get things going during the first basting session.
OMG. Best. Turkey. Ever. So moist and melt in your mouth fantastic. I'll definitely be making this again. My old standby of pumpkin bundt cake I made was, as always, a hit.
That said, I suppose I should make a proper update of my life this past year and what I am thankful for, on this, the day when the world suddenly switches from one state of mind to another as they gear up for Christmas...
>> I am thankful that my mother, who suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage back in February 2010, underwent major surgery to repair the damaged vessels, went from hospital to hospital, then to a nursing home, then to hospice care at home in April 2011, has finally found peace after passing on last month. So many strokes during those long 19 months left her bedridden and helpless, unable to really communicate at all outside of the rare moments of clarity when she spoke a word or two. She was one of those "up" people that always had to be moving, had to be doing something be it housework or gardening or birdwatching or reading or working a crossword puzzle (one a day, everyday for as long as I can remember). I know if she was at all aware of her situation she had to absolutely hate it.
>> I am thankful that in these truly craptacular economic times, I have a job, It might not be glamorous or high-paying or even in my chosen profession, but it's a steady income.
>> I am thankful because of said job I can afford a nice home in a safe, family-oriented neighborhood with friendly folks that look out for each other. While it's not quite the same high degree of old-fashioned "pitch in and help with no questions asked" as I knew from my time in Maine, it's still a good place to live.
>> I am thankful that the car accident I was in while on the job back in July didn't cripple me altogether. My company vehicle was struck going through a busy intersection (the lights were out, and everyone was treating it as a four-way, except for the dude who thought "he had a green light because the sunshine was so bright that afternoon and obscured his vision." No lying! It's even on the police report!) The force of his speeding car hitting my front bumper totally ripped the bumper, grill and whatnot off, bent the hood like a pretzel and totaled the vehicle. Had I been going any faster through the intersection, odds were pretty spot-on that I would have been "T-boned" and most probably crushed inside the cab of the truck - or so the cop on the scene surmised.
>> I am thankful that, with physical therapy three times a week for the rest of the summer and autumn, and a regiment of medication, I got my mobility back to almost normal. Because of my injuries, my spine (at the ribcage) is now curved oddly and I have Stage II Spondylolisthesis in my lower spine. I'm not allowed to bend at the waist anymore. Ever. Or fall down. Or do any sort of potentially bone-jarring sport or activity (sledding, roller-coaster rides, hiking, dancing, running up and down the steps, etc.) Because if I do, everything might slip forward even more and I'll have to get surgery. MRIs might suck mightily, as does traction, and not being able to ride in the car for any lengthy amount of time and now having the ability to forecast rain or cold weather with my aches and pains, but I DO NOT want to get cut open in the back and front so they can put in metal rods and fuse my vertebrae together. I'll stick with kneeling, thanks.
Otherwise, life is quiet - as it should be. I'm still knitting like a fiend, and am looking forward to Advent and Christmas.
And speaking of the holidays... me and my partner in crime, nightfalltwen are again putting together a list of gorgeous men for our annual 12 Days of Hawt Menz next month. Stay tuned!