Yes, my husband brought Mary Lou home from college for a visit. That was his BMW motorcycle. Or the Honda Civic, I don’t think she had a name. He was ready after the weekend to go back to Aggie-land and looked into Mom’s frig for things to take along.
He hit the mother lode. A two-liter bottle of Dr. Pepper stashed away in the back of a second frig. They live in a dry county in TX. Back in the day, his mother baked all the wedding cakes for the community. She has an album of all the cakes she’s crafted. My husband got about a mile down the road, and took a swig of his newfound Dr. Pepper. Straight vanilla extract preserved in brandy. Ech! Serves him right for stealing! I hope he at least snagged a sandwich!
As we plan for my 10th Thanksgiving with 60 of his family members, I think of the cooking marathons his mother and I have. We can go for days. There are usually at least nine of us at the ranch, let’s say 9-14 and they need to be fed more that just Thanksgiving supper at Nanny’s.
People like us who fly in aren’t supposed to bring anything, but we used to drive in and when family gets used to something, they want it every year.
At first I was frightened of all the gals and “the line” and all the desserts (I don’t bake). I decided after the first year, pre-marriage, brought in for the five-day job interview, that I’d stick to the kitchen table.
After dishes are done, many of the women hang out at a large table in the kitchen while the guys watch The Game (Aggies vs. UT of course and they’re all Aggies). There’s always a crudite platter and chips. I added spicy almonds and cashews, boursin (homemade with his mothers’ herbs) and then spinach balls.
One year I added mincemeat tarts to the dessert table, thinking they’d not go over well because they’re so Brit. They did so are back every year. Last year I added a vegetarian dish to “the line,” a brussels sprout and cauliflower gratin that was a hit. This year if there is time I’d like to add a new corn pudding. So that’s six dishes from an out-of-towner.
What does my husband do while we cook? He hangs out with father and brother and splits wood or mends fences. On Thanksgiving day? A couple of years ago he took up balloon twisting and there are always Nanny’s new “great-grands” to consider so he’s always on call for that. Otherwise, he’s not that into the game and usually hangs out with moms and kids and Uncle Steve.
Thanksgiving is a male/female thing. The men do nothing. The women prepare, serve, clean up, hang out, re-heat, serve and clean up again.
We’re thinking of taking the train in this year. Last year’s drive and dog-cation was a disaster. We were so glad to say hello, dump the dog with mom and dad and escape for a slice of pizza without her! Do not try to have your dog in a pet-friendly hotel downtown in a big city. There’s no-where to walk her, you have to sign to say she will never be left in the hotel room alone, no restaurant will have her even on the patio, and it’s too hot to have her in the car. Solution? Send husband next door for takeout and eat in the room. Or stay outside of town in a two-star and forget Graceland.
Drive all day and eat in the room with the dog equals dog-cation. Not for me. This year she stays with someone or someone stays here with her. She loves this lady and will be fine without us for a few days. Downside is that Amtrak has no wi-fi so my husband will have to work off-line or use his cell phone tower to tower. Also even though we’ll have our own space to sit and view and take photos (hi Stevie, we’re on the train and this is where Abe Lincoln was born) and sleep, the bathroom is down the hall unless a larger room opens up (we’re on the list). It’s only overnight and we can shower when we get to the ranch.
I’m going retro tonight with a cauliflower mold with Mornay sauce, some Polska Kielbasa hot off the grill with grainy mustard, and Rosti, a Swiss potato cake. Ah, childhood memories. My father grew up eating and of course speaking German even though he was born in the USA.
Kugelhopf. I believe my mother made it as a quick bread. I asked her for the recipe for 40 years. No. There is none. Can I watch you make it? Maybe. It never happened and she’s gone five years now and I’ve lost that, along with our family’s favorite, Viennese Chocolate Pecan Torte that each of us got for our birthday.
I’ll work on the kugelhopf first. For years I haven’t had luck re-creating it online and I don’t bake but love it over the holidays. I’m also thinking of making my sisters’ Hungarian Coffee Cake (a Christmas breakfast staple) and my version of chocolate-hazelnut panforte for here and gifts. Carpe diem, Dee
ps I’m also thinking of a cranberry-orange trifle.
Cooking with Dee 