So...whats for dinner?

I have been up for a while now. Actually remembered to take the pizza stone out of the oven before setting it to temp. I think it was seaside who included me in "those that are having a first holiday" after loosing someone. You know, I have been so busy being worried about others that I had forgotten to take a moment to mourn my own losses.

The last year has had so much loss. My Dad, my Mother In Law, my thyroid, Pat, Michelle, and so many other women from the Stage IV thread. But the first five on that list are real for me. Generally, I just do what is needed be it cleaning out a house to sell, arranging a funeral, and I do forget that it is important to mark these events, these passages, in some meaningful way.

Thanks for reminding me that I need to be patient with my mother today. This is her first Thanksgiving in 55 years without my father. Yesterday the last pieces of his estate were settled and I can only imagine how sad she must be. All of my sisters and I found seeing his signature on the will heartbreaking. I need to remember this. If that is how we feel just seeing his signature, my mother must feel it in multiples as she signed all the papers to transfer his life into hers.

I hope each of you have a special day in whatever way makes you happy. For me thanksgiving is about family, friends, food, the coming together of strangers and those we know best to celebrate the things that make the world a good place leaving the dividers, like religion, for a different day.

Be well,

*susan*

My sentiments, too, Nancy. I roasted the sweet potatoes last night, ready to make casserole and put in oven. Made the 24 hour fruit salad last night with a cooked custard/whipped cream - the real stuff - dressing. Now to shower and get off around 10 (8:15 now). Pick up DD and head to DB's house. Everyone stay safe and warm and enjoy lovely times with family and friends.

Susan and Debbie - you both have had more than your share of losses this year. I do hope the coming New Year is better to/for you and that you take time for yourselves today for some quiet time.

Chabba - way to go. You deserve your prime rib.

Susan, blushing!  Lol, I have very high rye bread standards

Happy Thanksgiving everyobe.

Between the two turkeys, I got about 20 1/2 pint jars of 'strong' turkey broth.

First year in three I did the Thanksgiving dinner. Pulled it off. But it was hard. Got the kitchen cleaned up and myself cleaned up before my kids got here so all was good. Turkey turned out good. Dressing or stuffing was pretty good they liked it. I cut the wings off the turkey before cooking the turkey. Then I browned them and put them over the bread stuffing bits. Added butter and applesauce and broth. Then popped it in with the turkey. It was done after about an hour but tasted real good. I checked the temp on the wings before I tasted it. Then I cooled it off and just popped it back in half hour while turkey rested. Tasted pretty much like it had been cooked in the bird. But now I'm tired. Kids cleaned up after. Hope your all had a good time. Much love.

Happy late Thanksgiving to all! My brother did an awesome job with all of the cooking and it was great to see and talk with all of the family I don't get to see that often. nothing unusual to report...he did put sausage in the stuffing and I have decided that I don't like sausage in my stuffing.

I, too, am thankful for all of "my other family" here on BCO that I know is here for me every day no matter what .

Tomorrow I will cook a turkey just for us with all the trimmings, because I just need the leftovers.

The kids and some friends and me and DH will attend an art show tonight followed by a band at the local winery. Hope to find some unique gifts at the art show. I am really going to do my part in shopping local this year and support our independent businesses.

Susan, good modifications there. I'll make the note on my recipe. I had already decided to reduce the yeast in the sponge. I haven't made it in a while, and seeing your beautiful loaf, means I'm going to have to. There's nothing I like better than a piece of rye toast.

Like Carrie, I'll be cooking turkeys tomorrow for a small group of six. Yesterday was a large group of 26 at SIL's. TONS of food. Even just eating a spoonful of everything made us uncomfortably stuffed. It was 8:30 last night before we could even think about food again, so we had leftover roast beef sandwiches and Greek yogurt for dinner.

I'll be cooking most of the day so tonight will probably be a takeout pizza. Hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday!

The rye bread looks heavenly Nancy and Susan. DH loves pumpernickel but does not eat it fast enough b4 it goes bad.

We went to DB and stuffed. Did not get home until 8 and all I had then was some peppermint hot chocolate. Did bring some leftover turkey/dressing home and DD took a bit also.

I think she seriously will look for job in Pac NW next year. She took DB's email to send him a resume. He has plently of contacts up there; not sure what exactly his comp. does but business consulting of some kind. She has 4 years now with logistics for Fortune 500 company and degree in logistics. Not paying her what she's worth and I think she just wants to go somewhere while she's still young (26).

DH off to work at noon. No cooking around here today and prob. not much this weekend as his company will be feeding them all 3 days.

Debbie, thanks for the interesting research on Italians and cole slaw. Who knew??!!! Now we do!

Sounds like everyone had bountiful Thanksgiving dinners. Susan I hope it went well for your mom. I'm sure just being with her "kids" was comforting.

Last night, had a long chat with my sister who remained in VT for the holiday and improvised a turkey dinner with the use of her only appliance, a microwave. Stove is yet to arrive to the barn/house. I had been arranging to have dinner sent to her, but ascetic that she is, she would not allow for that. I am glad that she is at least getting settled in a toasty warm way in "barney" (love that she named her barn house....and that was the name of our first dog as children), and is doing well, with the help of local contractors doing some much needed repairs. Amazing hardy woman! I am thankful that she is doing well...and living her dream.

DH and DS2 have left for their annual "frostbite golf date" with our friend and his son, a peer of DS2. I drive down later to meet up with DH and our friends and we head out to dinner in their South Shore town which has many new restaurants. I am hoping for a small portion of salmon after all we ate yesterday. Will let you know. Off to the treadmill.....

I do think the potato flakes will work. I'm thinking the potato starch would work too, maybe even better.  I often freeze potato water so I usually have some on hand. Works quite nicely as well.

I hate all the Christmas ads and use the mute button quite freely.

The pictures have arrived. For some reason, the pre-dinner nibbles didn't warrant a picture, so I have no salmon pinwheels to show you. The turkey is smoked using cherry wood. This year Mr. 02143 used his new workshop in the basement as "command central" and that is where the turkey went to rest before carving.

Here is the buffet. I gave up on passing food around the table years ago. Please note Lacey, the turkey plates. These were my great-grandmother's and were passed to me the third year that I made T-Day dinner for the family. My father hated to send them away.

And finally, the infamous pumpkin roll with the more traditional pies. My daughter makes the pies. She is really good at it!

*susan*

Beautiful!

My sister cooked a Turkey and all the trimmings for her sons and since she lives with me they ate here. All I cooked was the pie but still can eat her leftovers. This is my nephew Richie, he surprised her for Thanksgiving.

Great plates, Susan! And sumptuous buffet! Kudos to the turkey carver who can get such a perfect presentation. Impressive!

Love the pie pictures, too...

Tonight we ate at a restaurant in Hingham (Square Cafe). I had a multicolored beet salad with arugula, pecans and blue cheese molded into a circle form, then a lovely duck breast with winter squash cubes and haricot verts in a tasty citrus sauce. It was all really good. Had dessert at our friends' since she had a lot of pie leftover...I had a sliver of chocolate cream, as well as a sliver of a cake-like apple/ cranberry pie that was really delicious. Worth the extra miles of walking it off tomorrow.