So...whats for dinner?
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Ooh, I have pictures of me with those short bangs, too.I think this is my first grade picture...
Actually it's second grade.
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Thanksgiving is a tricky holiday for me when it comes to food. My family has such long-held traditions that changing the menu involves loss. As I look around my table now, the people who loved the traditions, the ones who had pride in some random bloodline are passing. Only my mother is left. Thanksgiving is the holiday where I miss that generation the most. I miss the fact that our cousins are no longer present. The others around the table, have no expectations that the meal will stay the same year after year. I added nibbles before the meal about 8 years ago just to have someplace to add some new ideas. So I am trying to decide how much of this year's meal is tradition, and how much I can change. And then there is the vegetarian, so I have to make some dishes twice.
The turkey doesn't get changed. My mother roasted. I smoke. Well, my husband smokes the turkey over cherry wood that I collect in the mountains of NH from blow-downs. Gravy... I have some turkey parts to make stock early in the week; and then veggie stock so I can make my sister a vegetarian gravy. Creamed onions stay because I love them. Butternut squash because my mother brings them saving me some oven space. Cranberry chutney.... here is a place I might change this year. I don't do the "traditional" one already, so I can play here... suggestions? I bought some lovely cranberries from a cranberry farmer on the Cape last week. Green Tomato Relish which has already been made back in September. I love that acidic flavor with my turkey. Baked corn. This is not part of the family tradition but fits the holiday well. I processed 35 ears of corn in August and they are taking up a lot of room in the freezer. Time for them to get eaten. My husband's family traditions include mashed potatoes and some green beans. [So many carbs!]
But then I have to have "stuffing" which is not stuffed. In the past I have done a riff on the old sausage and apple with sage, and then a mushroom for the vegetarian. I am considering trying a dried fruit stuffing this year [http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2002/11/winter_fruit_and_nut_stuffing] but moving so far away from tradition and trying something new on T-Day makes me nervous. Has anyone tried this recipe? I will make the sage bread this weekend so it can get stale. [Yup, another carb!]
I am also considering a starter soup. Perhaps a lyonnaise onion which isn't heavy at all.
Dessert is easy. Three pies... pumpkin with whipped cream, blueberry with ice cream, and apple with cheddar cheese.
Would love any suggestions for a new cranberry chutney. The one I have made for the past few years has oranges, cranberries, sugar, cranberry juice, and spices. Today I need to make sure linens are clean, and start clearing out the kitchen for Thanksgiving Mode.
Drinks are local cider and wine with coffee after dinner.
*susan*
p.s. gosh... appetizers/nibbles would be a whole 'nother post.
p.p.s. And I forgot the baked beans, one with pork, one without. Really considering dropping this one this year.
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Bedo,
Good to "see" you back. Your violining gives you great joy. Don't be too hard on yourself. Sorry that your brother is still having a hard time.
*susan*
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Cute pics of Deb and Michelle!
Susan, thanks for the stir fry recipe. Could I come and eat it at your house, PLEASE?
Lacey, the color of food is important as an element of appeal, isn't it? Do you put the orange peels and the apple core into the smoothie? I would guess that you do. My blender is the old-fashioned kind, actually belonged to my MIL. It lives in a cabinet and seldom sees light of day. I would have to invest in a better one. That will have to wait until 2013, which isn't so far off.
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I deleted the whining :O I had mussles for dinner last night because it was "Mussles Friday" with a friend. We do it once a week. She is supposed to exercise 3 times a week and I am suppossed to practice violin 3 times a week and who ever doesn't do it buys dinner. So far we're safe because neither of us has kept our promises.
I'm back to making soup! So far, mushroom barley, southwestern corn chowder, and today i think split pea. I have them for 3-4 days. Yummy.
My daughter is staying with me 2 days a week for work. Quote of the week, as she was in the kitchen with her coffee " Don't you have any to-go cups?" Haha but she is fun, even if we watch trash tv the whole time she is here.
Off to the farmers market
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Deb, OMG, you are little Debbie!
Susan, I know what you mean about family traditions. We go to my DH's sisters house on t day but I still have to cook at home on the weekend with all the traditional stuff. We HAVE to have dressing, mashed potatoes, turkey and gravy. Carbs and more carbs. Fortunately my DIL and I are the only ones who really like sweet potatoes so I make a sweet potato gruyere souffle. She is a chef so is quite open to new things unlike the rest of the fam. Other veggies will be an autumn succotash and roasted Brussels sprouts with a Dijon cream sauce. Desserts will be pumpkin
(of course) and blackberry pies.
I am spatch cocking the turkey this year so that will be an adventure.
Susan, I so envy your ability to find all those ingredients locally!0 -
OMG Deborye! I just about choked on my coffee! You DID look alot like Little Debbie!! Too funny!
Kay,
Hope you have a great time in Europe!! Some day I hope to go and visit France and/or Italy! Not sure why those two interest me and not others...lol!
Welcome to all the new comers! As some one mentioned earlier, being a pro in the kitchen isn't required... Just a love for food... It's about what you had for dinner and as Laurie said in the first post... sometimes it's the best steak you ever had and sometimes it's a can of soup.... I know I have gotten many really good recipes from the ladies here!
We're going to my sister's for the holiday weekend and we will all go to brother's house for his annual Thanksgiving Feast! He hosts the dinner each year for our family and my SIL's family so... 20-25 people! He provides the Turkeys (yep... that's plural) and we all bring appetizers, sides and desserts, etc!
This year I'm planning to bring a butternut squash, apple and cranberry dish that is tasty but a little lighter on the calories than most, a Mango and Cheddar spread for an appetizer and wine for dinner.
The only downside to going somewhere for Thanksgiving is no leftovers... zor maybe that's an upside?? Lol0 -
Forgot to add that although I do make a whole cranberry orange relish, we HAVE to have the jelled stuff in a can too.
Susan, would be very interested in your cranberry chutney recipe.0 -
I am definately in work avoidance mode this morning. Talking food is way more fun than cleaning!
Cranberry-Orange Conserve
1 quart unfiltered cranberry juice [haven't found unfiltered for about 4 years now so I just get 100% pure]
1/4 cup apple cider
1 cup sugar
Peel of 1 orange, cut into strips [I use organic since I am eating the peel]
1 tablespoon grated ginger
2 bay leaves
1 cup hazelnuts, toasted [I dropped this part. It was just odd on turkey sandwiches]
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 pound fresh cranberries
In a medium saucepan, combine cranberry juice, apple cider, sugar, orange peel, ginger and bay leaves. Simmer until the mixture is reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Add the nuts, vinegar, and cranberries. Continue to cook until the cranberries burst, about 15 minutes.
I make this on Tuesday and just let it hang out in the fridge until Thursday. I put it in a bowl about 3 hours before sitting down to eat to that it can come up to room temperature.
*susan*
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You sure did look like Little Debbie, Deb!
Michelle, I remember having those bangs in elementary school...and permanents.
When my aunt went to beautician school I was her practice head! My stick straight hair never saw so many tight curls! I can still remember hating the smell and the tight pulling of the curlers, and being reminded by my her...."You must suffer to be beautiful". What a surprise when the outcome was not too satisfying!
Bedo, good to hear from you...sorry about your brother...sounds like DD keeps things lively!
I used to love mussels, and many years ago (circa 1980) when they were 29 cents a pound, I'd often make them with linguini on Friday nights...sometimes red sauce, sometimes white. Our three year old son loved them too, so we'd have a mussel family feast. Then one fine evening I started to break out in hives from them, and that was the end of my love affair with mussels. Had my quota!
I'm glad that steamers are still okay.....0 -
Carole, I actually do not include the orange peel or the entire apple. Sunds like a new blender would be a good idea if you go the smoothie route. There are lots of them to research on Amazon and other sites. Good luck! I think a lower grade blender would be leaving things a bit chunky, which could be unappetizing to some.
By the way Michelle, what an adorable little second grader you were!
Safe travels, Joyce!0 -
Michelle, I love your bangs photo!
I guess I had a Little Debbie-like hat and I'm betting my bangs were short under the hat. Gee, I've always had that deer in the headlights look (I didn't wear glasses so I don't know where those came from).
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Nancy, the sweet potato gruyere souffle sounds delicious!
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Michelle- That is just the cutest picture ever!
Seaside- Maybe you can take some containers and bring some leftovers home. At least some turkey!
Laurie- Hope you get some rest and feel better soon, are you cooking for TG or going to friends? I hope you don't have to do too much!
Lacey- My mom curled my hair with toilet paper, she wrapped the hair around it and then tied it, I hated it! but at least it didn't hurt lol!
Joyce- Have a safe flight and glad you get to take the fur baby with you!
Lee- Cute picture!
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I grew up in an odd house. To be honest, I think the fact that her children had hair annoyed my mother to no end. Our haircuts involved being chased with scissors and she would hack it off. Curling? Never happened. My hair as a child looked like it was clipped with bush clippers and my curls stuck out at odd angles. During that time, long and straight hair was the thing. My head was never going to let that happen. I had my first professional haircut when I was 16 after moving out of her house. Sadly, they didn't do much better.
No school pictures to post either. My mother believed that school pictures were a money-grubbing scheme by schools [and she wasn't all wrong] and refused to give us the money to buy them. So much fun to see others though.
*susan*
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There were only a couple of years when we had enough money to afford school pictures. But Dad had a good camera and an enlarger. Other equipment he made or used "found" items, in others words household stuff. And he was a talented photographer. For the cost of paper and a few chemicals he made pictures that looked like they came from the studio except for the quality of the picture. The other kids were always envious.
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Looks like that wind yesterday stirred up the surf a bit.
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chabba,
What a magnificent photo. Clearly you learned well from your father on how to frame a shot.
*susan*
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That photo is beautiful!! Thanks for sharing it!
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LeeA and Michelle,
Such cute pictures!! I think we all sported the same straight across bangs cut (if it was like mine it was done at home) that only looked even if it was combed into the EXACT position the individual hairs were in when they were cut...lol
Did anyone else have a Mom who sewed? For my sister and I, all of the clothes that we wore up until 7th grade were home sewed... Got our first pair of real store-bought jeans at that point... By the time my 2 brothers came long I think my Mom was over the sewing kick (or now that I think about it, they probably just had more money) they didn't go through the homemade clothes phase...Thinking of my kids now... They would have just about died! My, how things change!
Debbie,
I'm thinking I am showing up with a container for at least a sandwich worth of turkey.... How could they decline that request? lol...
Chabba,
Beautiful photo.... Would just love to be sitting on that path watching the glorious and absolute power of the ocean.... My most favorite place on earth as long as it behaves!0 -
Michelle,
I am going to make "retro" creamed pearl onions as a side dish. I am researching recipes on line.
Problem will be keeping them from my daughter's miniature mutt. I think onions and some other things are bad for dogs
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bedo,
I have a pretty good ones. Want me to post? [Been tested over many years.]
*susan*
p.s. Chocolate is bad for dogs. Don't know about onions.
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Yes please!
vegetarian, if you have some?
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Of course vegetarian. Why would meat be in your creamed onions? :-)
*susan*
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Onions, grapes, chocolate, anything with sorbitol or manitol, alcohol all bad for dogs.
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My daughter makes an onion relish to go with the turkey that is pretty good. It has raisins and almonds in it. I'll get the recipe from her. As for cranberry sauce, I am fond of the traditional version. Just let me cook the berries in splenda (yeah, that's one way to save carbs without sacrificing flavor. I usually add a small box of cranberry or raspberry sugar-free jello to help it set.
The meal train produced a chicken pot pie tonight that was very good. I think the sauce was made with pesto and DH and DS loved it. Tomorrow is DH and DGS's birthday party. DS is seven and DH is 8...lol
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Michelle, that's funny.
Chabba, stunning photo of the surf! Love it!
Just finished having some friends over for dinner....was not too sure about the wisdom of that, long about 3PM today, but it went fine in the end. We had stuffed mushrooms, cheese and crackers, hummus and crudite while the roast pork loin finished cooking. Marinating it over night worked out fine. Phew! Had a salad of roasted beets, orange slices and shaved parmesan over arugula with a dijon vinaigrette......a side of farro with roasted butternut squash, red onions, and toasted walnuts, topped with goat cheese. The farro came out pretty gummy, so I dared to rinse the gumminess out and IT WORKED!! That was pretty daring at 5 PM. One crisis during the cooking process....I was trying to pull out the plastic ring from the toasted walnut oil can's spout....really difficult....and learned that it was more solidly attached than my index finger joint which I managed to dislocate, hyperextend, or something that resulted in it looking like a small bowling ball. Really painful! Lots of ice and an ace bandage and we'll see how it is in the AM. Glad it's my left hand.
Our friends brought a very precious cabernet sauvignon that they had been saving for seven years for a specal occasion. They decided to celebrate my being out of treatment for almost a year....a very sweet gesture....tho it makes me sort of nervous.
So now that the dinner party is over, I can re-read all of your good ideas about T-giv recipes since I am doing that here....tho with just DH, DS2 and me, it will mainly be a spectator football event!0 -
Lacey, your dinner sounds wonderful. Ouchy on the finger though! I hate when those rings are like that. It seems like olive oil rings are especially bad
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Chabba- Always love your stories about your family. Great Picture it's like that here by us too.
Seaside- My mother did not sew at all, my grandmother did but my mom never learned, I think I told a story here my about my DH won't let me sew any holes in his pants either I accidently sewed the pocket to the pant leg lol!
Michelle- LOL at DH being 8 sometimes they act like it huh! Happy birthday to both!
Lacey- Sorry about the finger hope it does not hurt tomorrow, they always have to make things so difficult to open.Your dinner had me drooling! Yumm!
Laurie-Thinking about you! hope your little ones fever went down and you both are feeling better.
Eating popcorn and drinking hot chocolate while watching the color purple for the millionith time love that show makes me cry everytime.
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Deb, Michelle, LeeA, cute pics! Chabba, neat surf pic.
Made another bean casserole for supper. Of course since DH is hunting this weekend, gonna be eating a lot of it. On the plus side, get that magnesium level up! LOL
This year, for the first time, my daughter is doing TDay! I am looking forward to it. All I am supposed to do is bring pumpkin pie and the Apple pie made with our own apples, from the tree the kids planted. so looking forward to not cooking but last year with biopsy and prep for surgery and working on tday, I actually BOUGHT the whole dinner. And you know what? It was really good. It only needed to be warmed. No one complained, we had enough leftovers to share with the kids. And they must have liked it cause they all took it home! Sometimes you do what you can, and don't sweat it.
For cranberry sauce. I do a recipe the kids did in school when they were in kindergarten. LOL. Simply an Orange, and raw or frozen cranberries put in grinder, or more modern version, food processor. process together add sugar if too tart. That's it no cooking it. It is yummy. Doesn't keep real well, but you just make up enough for a day or too, you can always do it again. I usually make it right after the turkey goes in the oven, and then tuck it in the fridge til time to put it on the table. Much love to all.0 -
Hi everyone! Wow...it's hard to play catch up when you go off this thread for a few days...you've all been really busy!
Michelle: Glad you are tolerating the tx and I'm sure you will look beautiful in whatever hairstyle you choose. When I first came across you last year, you had on a long dark wig with sunglasses and looked like a movie star! It's fun to change our looks now and then. Kudos to all those who are helping with meals...wish I could as well. You are in my prayers always!
Debbie: I'm sorry to hear your DH is going to need surgery, but it's probably the best course of action in order for him to improve his balance, etc. I didn't realize you were on oxygen..hope it's not a permanent thing.
Eric: Bravo to you and all of the other first responders. Be safe!
Laurie: Sorry you are feeling funky...little kids pass on a lot of germs...I'm usually guaranteed to catch whatever it is when the grands are sick:(
We kept my 3 year old DGD on Friday...she is a hoot! You can't believe what she had us doing..we were basically her play slaves for eight hours! My DS says she is in training to become a dictator in some S. American country...LOL! All that said, she is precious and we enjoyed every minute of it!
We went to dinner last night with a friend that we haven't seen in a while. He has a new girlfriend and she was delightful...unlike the last one who was a complete idiot, and a golddigger to boot! My expectations weren't high, but we had a wonderful time, and the food was delicious and expensive...oh well...once in a while you splurge!
I'm going to begin the process of putting up the Xmas decorations today...I know...it's early, but I'm not doing Thanksgiving this year, my DD insisted on having it at her house and I didn't resist...she's a good cook and I think it's good therapy for her as long as she doesn't have a meltdown in the middle like she's done in past years. I'll make a few side dishes to help, and of course, I'll be the one who cleans up...she uses every dish in the house and never cleans as she goes...eeeek! She has a new boyfriend so she's happy...I pray it lasts through the holidays at least so she will enjoy herself. She had such a difficult time with the last relationship and it's been very hard for her.
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