My Year of Living: Thoughts on Food and Thanksgiving

This crazy Christmas consumer culture doesn't allow for one's turkey dinner to exit (requisite poop reference right up front) before it bombards us with Black Friday bargains. I actually went to the mall on Friday afternoon and the lines were not too long--but I was still exhausted and tryptophanned-out from a second go at the thanksgiving feast and only bought two small Yankee candles and a pair of Banana Republic argyle socks for my son-in-law's stocking. (I get him a pair every year, so no big deal if he happens to read this!)

Today, after a third attempt at finishing our cooking-for-12-marathon leftovers, I am still feeling stretched out and surprisingly hungry, but I can't stomach the thought of more turkey or mashed potatoes. The husband bought a long hickory smoked beef summer sausage at Costco--and that is calling to me from that great icebox which is our garage. I do not want to find it hidden in the tool chest in July, like I did one year! I also went to the store today for eggs and milk and found a loaf of Rothbury Farms apple fritter bread--which I find irresistible. What insanity led someone to market this? I love apple fritters! You are warned. Don't even look for this bread.

Anyway, Marissa and I cooked for a solid six hours Thursday afternoon and our men said everything was the best they had ever tasted. We did not spare any butter or cream or brown sugar or booze. But with only one oven, it was challenging, even hectic at the end--getting all the food hot and ready at the same time!

We have upgraded the green bean casserole as much as we can and added some dijon-braised brussel sprouts (with white wine and heavy cream) that ate like sauced candy to the traditional fare. The sweet potato crunch is really a dessert. A little garlic boursin spiked the mashed potatoes and new this year were hot baked rolls (Rhode's frozen) which intensified the single oven situation.

They look just as good as my mother's homemade!

We waited a while for the pie which Marissa had made ahead and spiked with rum, but she bought a Pillsbury crust instead of making last year's boozey vodka crust!

It really was a good meal and worth doing once a year. And it inspired a grateful spirit.

I took a couple of hurried photos that won't win any awards, but I include them so I will remember one day how much we all loved Big Food back in the day when we still had appetites.