How I spent the last five days

[delphipsmith]

Wed noon to Thurs noon: cooking
Thurs noon to Sun evening: eating

That pretty much sums it up.

The turkey was big and golden and juicy, the gravy rich and smooth, the mashed potatoes slightly lumpy (on purpose, of course, to prove beyond doubt that they are home-made), the green bean casserole nice and crispy on top, the creamed onions creamy and seasoned to perfection. The turkey had the biggest neck and innards I've ever seen, so there was lots of meat and broth for Grandma N.'s Giblet Stuffing (an in-law tradition, without which I think Mr Psmith would boycott the meal entirely), and I also made vegetarian stuffing for me (NOMZ!!). A half-batch of homemade cranberry sauce turned out to be just the right amount, and the apple and pumpkin pies came out splendiferous. The sole concession to pre-packaged food products was the rolls, since I still can't make 'em properly; we went with Pillsbury Grands, which were pretty good hot out of the oven but rapidly cooled into little flat doughy pancakes (blech) so we won't be doing THAT again. I think I'll practice my roll-and-biscuit skills between now and next November.

Ten people squished themselves around our table (Small Niece and Small Nephew had to share the piano bench) and A Good Time Was Had By All. I made the happy discovery that Small Niece now carries a notebook and pen about with her constantly, so that she can draw pictures and write stories as the mood strikes her. So pleased to have a young novelist in the family!!

Tomorrow, alas, back to the workaday world and dinners of much less grandeur (but also less richness and fatness -- I decline to admit even to myself how many sticks of butter went into that meal). Next weekend: the Christmas Tree!!!

Comments

[irishredlass.livejournal.com]

I have some very simple easy roll recipes if you are interested. You would be ready for Christmas!

[delphipsmith]

Please! That would be great :)

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

The food sounds delicious; I love a traditional Thanksgiving meal (though I tend to give giblets a wide berth, too). And I feel just as you do about lumps in mashed potatoes: I like the texture, and they that they've been homemade. (I recently read this article on-line about the "ten most common mashed-potato" mistakes. I make about eight of them. But I still like the results.)

And now work -- ugh.

[delphipsmith]

Not only are they lumpy, I don't peel them either :) The food traditions are my favorite part of Thanksgiving. We have a nice blend of families -- Grandma N.'s stuffing comes from Mr Psmith's grandmother, the pumpkin pie from my great-grandmother, the vegetarian stuffing from my mom, the creamed onions are an homage to my dad, etc. etc. etc. I also love that Thanksgiving is all about family, and nothing about commercialism or shopping or presents. Just togetherness and sharing of All The Food Things, which makes my heart happy.

[ennyousai.livejournal.com]

It always saddens me when stuffing is not vegetarian, because WE ALSO LIKE STUFFING. GIVE IT TO US.

Maybe go for buttermilk biscuits instead of traditional rolls? They are equally tasty, and much easier to whip up.

[delphipsmith]

Ah yes, buttermilk biscuits. Now there is a fine idea!!

[anna-bird.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmmm, that all sounds delicious. (I have fond memories of sharing a piano bench for Thanksgivings, Christmases, and the occasional heavily-attended birthday dinner. I was an easy-to-please kid. :D)

If you're interested in another easy roll recipe, I have a 60-minute one. Of course, it's 60 minutes in the way that Rachel Ray's 30 minute stuff is actually 30 minutes, but it's still easy, and good.

[delphipsmith]

Please! Always in the market for new things to try :)

[anna-bird.livejournal.com]

PM'd you! Hope they are indeed as easy as I think they are.