Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

Adjusting

Posted on September 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

My southern family has its own tradition. We always had a family dinner where we mixed things up year by year. One year mom made a tangerine chicken with a cheesecloth topping to catch a tangerine and butter glaze, probably from Gourmet.

It was delicious. Our Southern family has 65 for dinner and sets up tables throughout Nanny’s house. Years ago I was so afraid of them and asking whether I would be accepted. My MIL questioned me, FIL told Jim after two hours in the car, “When are you gonna ask her, son?”

Then I had the Nanny interview an she told me he wanted my husband-to-be to have a job where he’d get a gold watch after 50 years. Sadly, I told her those jobs no longer exist. She passed me anyway.

We’ll go to Thanksgiving as always, only missed a year because of Black Friday and Jim’s work. I was so afraid of the array of food put out and the hierarchy of women from Nanny on down. Forget it, the men were all watching the Aggies battle the Texans or napping.

I started before we married with the spiced nuts. Then I added boursin. These were not for the buffet but for pre-and post-supper at the kitchen table. Then I taught the girls how to make boursin.

Then I introduced the stalwart spinach ball after we married, and gave it to Jim’s uncle’s new bride. After that, I knew these Southerners loved sweets so wanted to bring some of my own family into the mix. Mincemeat tarts were a hit. So was berry trifle.

Last year I made a spinach-cauliflower gratin because we now have a few vegetarians and one is Val the Vet who took our our Zoe’s hips ten years ago. It was a hit. I’m thinking of adding a corn pudding this year but here’s the thing.

My MIL has a wonderful kitchen and we work well together in it but adding dishes to the three-day marathon may be too much.

I now have to do the nuts (in advance from home), boursin, spinach balls, mincemeat tarts (I bring mincemeat from home), spinach-cauliflower gratin. and now a corn pudding? I think we can handle it.

After all, M has potato rolls by the dozen and brings gallons of iced tea and an Italian Cream Cake. People steal the potato rolls to take home, they’re so good.

Yes, we can do it. Thanks for being the best big sister I never had. And thanks to Nanny for hosting all of us every year. Thanks to all the ladies for your culinary efforts and to A and kids for prepping and serving and cleaning up. Then re-heating, serving and cleaning up. Thank the trash guys for picking up all those bags from a 65-person Thanksgiving. I give thanks before, after and during the day. Dee

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So Nice to Wander Back

Posted on November 26, 2011 | 1 comment

from an old Frank Sinatra song off “Come Fly With Me,” one of my favorite albums as a young girl. “It’s Oh So Nice to Go Traveling” explains how I feel tonight.

It’s late and we got in about an hour ago. What a week! After a good night’s sleep we’ll pick up the dog and the fish and try to get back to normal before the routine starts all over again.

Great story coming tomorrow, of an adventure few take part in but I’m too tired to write it now and I don’t have “art” in terms of the photos I took from my husband’s iPhone. You wouldn’t believe me otherwise.

Cooking and socializing, and doing dishes. Jim’s mother and I spent many hours in the kitchen. We live so far away now that we see each other only twice a year, so hanging out in the kitchen is what we do. We each tried a couple of new twists this year, which were enjoyed by many participants.

It’s interesting that as a potential mate then new bride I always felt at home in her  kitchen, just didn’t know where anything was. The first morning I was making breakfast! Over the years more flow has come into our relationship which includes cooking as well. When we move around the kitchen it’s not exactly Balanchine, nor is it the Three Stooges (or two, in our case).

This year I brought spicy almonds and cashews on the plane (used pimenton this time) and made boursin and spinach balls. We also made mincemeat tarts for Thanksgiving and again for lunch the next day. I am hesitant to introduce my German and English favorites into a southern milieu but did trifle a few years ago and it was a hit, and the tarts did well also. German will have to wait a bit.

For lunch the next day I went out on a limb a bit and made a curried butternut squash soup and Jim’s mom brought a special lima bean dish and a pork roast using my butcher’s marinade! Oh, our roasted carrots went over well, too, and Nanny asked for them next year.

It was hectic getting ready (culinarily) and having a full house (herding cats) but being with my husband’s family for their big holiday of the year is well worth the travel and effort. And it’s what a big family is all about, organized chaos.

En route home Friday evening (from lunch) neighbors have an elaborate light display on their roof, house, and lawn. This year it was tuned to a radio station so my husband and I sat in front of their house (it was a weak signal) and watched the lights coordinate with holiday music for a few moments. An appropriate ending to transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

As for wandering back, in the song, I think I’ll wander upstairs because we have to go get the dog in the morning from her wonderful sitter. More tomorrow, hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving. Dee

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Leaving

Posted on November 21, 2011 | 2 comments

We go over the river and through the woods for Thanksgiving, probably about 60   folks will be there this year at Nanny’s. Luckily the rain is supposed to break and it will be sunny and in the sixties so the kids can play outdoors. In a gullywasher, they all have to stay inside and that can lead to some crying, perhaps young ones and adults!

Today I left my dog and fish with trusted friends. My dog was evicted within the hour from a home she’s stayed at many times. She’s at another trusted friend’s home where she’s never stayed, with two other dogs she’s met before.

I even worry about our Betta, who is probably 95 years old in fish life but is with a neighbor. I have yet to pack for us and leave. No wonder I get pulled over every time for extra scanning. I have to take care of everyone, including my husband, of course I’m frazzled when I’ve brought us down to one bag to share that has everything we need for a five-day trip.

Yes, we have to pay extra for that bag. Should I bring my chef’s knives or his balloons, or both? Will I be able to make it all work under the weight limit?

I’m planning to pack light and the fact that our pets are taken care of takes that weight off my shoulders. We’ll be at Jim’s parents’ place and can run through one load of laundry over four days. that’ll work .

Leaving is always ameliorated with staying somewhere. We don’t go to vacation spots, we see family as that’s what’s important. Leaving one’s home to go to another’s and get up and cook breakfast is a real treat. Jockeying spots on the kitchen counter has become routine with me and Margie, Jim’s mom. We help each other, clean up after each other and hopefully sit for a moment or two at the end of a cooking session to relax and get ready for what’s next.

Leaving is worth it, charges the batteries, renews relationships, creates new ones. And we especially like playing with the younger kids outside after dinner and before supper. I used to teach a cooking class for the older girls but they’ve outgrown it and will have photos to show us about their time overseas.

It is such a joy to see this, now “our” family, grow. Even job recruiters know that if you grew up on a dairy, you have a work ethic that ranks high. And a high ethics ranking as well.

Ah, but this was about seeing Nanny for Thanksgiving. Turkey, ham, brisket, too many sides and desserts to mention. Me? I’m not supposed to bring anything because we’re the only ones flying in. No worries, spiced almonds and cashews are on board and I’ll make boursin and maybe even spinach balls once on the ground.

Leaving hopefully means a coming to something else, like a huge family for Thanksgiving, then returning home. I braved a storm to take our dog to her initial location, tomorrow it should be smooth sailing. Happy Thanksgiving! Cheers, Dee

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Why I Don’t Make Chili

Posted on October 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Many years ago, I decided to make a turkey and corn chili. All was going well, and I’d bought a really cute plant at the farmers’ market that I wanted to use. I’d never tried it before, it was called Thai bird chile. I used 1/3 of the amount called for to taste and re-season. Aaaaaaaach!!! Over the next couple of days I threw in everything but the kitchen sink to tame the fiery beast but to no avail. I froze it and threw it away on trash day.

The second reason is that I spent six years in Texas and chili is quite a conversation starter and ender. There are no beans in Texas chili. I have looked up LBJ’s (that’s our president Lyndon Baines Johnson for you young uns’) recipe for Pedernales chili, which his staff served up for thousands on the ranch in the 1960’s and would like to try that recipe one day.

The weather is turning and after this weekend, as it’s supposed to be nearly 80 degrees tomorrow, it’ll be time for hearty soups and stews. Just as I look forward to spring and summer for fresh fruit and asparagus, I look forward to winter and the opportunity to create tasty one-pot meals.

Today I made spiced almonds and cashews from a 20 year-old recipe. They won’t allow me to use it on the blog so I won’t tell you where I found it. So there. I kicked it up with more black pepper and used pure chipotle chile powder as I never use Americanized “chile powder” any more. Thank Penzeys.com for that. I need to put in an order there before I start cooking for the holidays! Half of the nuts are going as a hostess gift to a dinner party this evening, and the other half will be sent out Monday to Jim’s mother to freeze for Thanksgiving.

It’s a family rule (or perhaps my husband just thinks it is) that those traveling to Nanny’s for Thanksgiving don’t need to bring food along. Permit me a correction, the women in the family and those who’ve married into the family don’t have to contribute food. The men are content to bring themselves, eat, belch and watch football. Most of the ladies bring Southern desserts and there’s no way I’m going to compete in that arena. I’m no baker. I concentrate on “nibbles” that stay on the kitchen table throughout the day and evening, like spiced nuts, herbed cheese and crackers, and spinach balls. Though I gave spinach balls to the newest wife in the family as her signature dish.

We don’t have any idea how many people will be at the house this year, only that we missed a year and look forward to seeing everyone. I’m sure Jim’s brother will go out deer hunting early in the morning and I’ll help cook breakfast for however many there are. Jim’s mom Margie makes the greatest potato rolls and they will have been rising overnight and ready to bake before we head out to Nanny’s. Over the river, if not through the woods. I never knew my grandmothers so Nanny agreed to be mine nearly ten years ago! Thank heaven for grandmothers. Cheers, Dee

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Yea Cooks!

Posted on November 29, 2009 | 1 comment

Several bloggers who tap my site now and then have made it big with sponsors et al. Congratulations! I wish you well. To my fellow cooks who photograph foods and make them look fantastic, bravo. I want to know how things taste.

It doesn’t matter that no-one has plumbed my exhaustively researched cookbook list or even the essential pantry. No-one is sponsoring that or my blog. That’s just me being there to share thoughts and writings on food, family and friends. And the love goes out tonight to everyone who is cooking a special meal for a loved one.

I multi-tasked this afternoon making an Italian bean salad with red onion and sausage, turkey soup, grilled NY strip steak (Jim grilled it, I prepped it), rosti potatoes (a Swiss dish that is a potato cake) and a simple salad.

How does Monday come around so fast? This is a non-traditional Thanksgiving because we saw no family, but got to talk with them over the weekend. I hope that you like that I write about food. I might do that even better than cooking but we’d have to a contest for that and I can’t think of another gal that would fit this profile. I’m thinking and might have the right rival if it’s food, writing and music. Nah, forget about that, the best candidates I can come up with would wipe the floor with me on all counts. With a great deal of love and gratitude on this Thanksgiving weekend I bid you a good evening. Dee

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Thanksgiving 2009

Posted on November 26, 2009 | 1 comment

The dog let me sleep 39 minutes “late” until 7:30 this morning, then was kind enough to wait ten minutes for me to put on my boots, two coats, hat, and gloves, get her leash (keys are missing again so I left the door unlocked). Then I fed her and the fish, and determined to let Jim to sleep in because he has to work tomorrow.

I spent the morning catching up online and with laundry, dishes, dishwasher then served Jim breakfast in bed. Our neighbor called with the time of the Shuttle flyover, which we went out to see precisely at 6:10 p.m. It was a gorgeous day, starting off cold as usual and going up to a balmy 54 degrees! We dressed in Western garb (Jim in a Stetson shirt, me in a snap shirt with different colors and embellishments) in order to call his family back home. Since Jim met my family at Mom’s in 2001 shortly after we met, in 2002 I got introduced to his large family in Texas and we’ve been there every year but this one since.

Jim’s mother was lamenting her old PC and a few weeks ago finally succumbed and bought a refurbished MacBook. After initial installations it should require very few problems for her and much less long-distance tech support from her sons. We had a trial videoconference last night with parents, brother and family, then she took the MacBook to Nanny’s for Thanksgiving dinner. After the meal we engaged in a 2+hour videoconference with Nanny and many of the 50-60 people in attendance, even got to see all the new babies online and a quick shot of the little girls’ tea party in progress.

Jim wanted to go out to lunch because we’re both kind of down that we couldn’t see either of our families this Thanksgiving. The only restaurant that was open had only a full Thanksgiving meal available. I picked at it, Jim had a full meal and we came home. Moments after getting offline with Jim’s family my brother called. He and my Dad are halfway across the country and went to feast at lunchtime.

Now I’m about 20 minutes from dinner, very beautiful NY strip steak, loaded baked potatoes and fresh green beans. I’ll save the Brussels sprouts for the weekend. Jim has to work tomorrow and we may see a movie over the weekend or try the chic bowling alley that opened yesterday, either for lunch or to see how horrific we are at bowling!

Hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends. Hopefully we’ll be able to join the festivities next year. Cheers! Dee

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Tea Party

Posted on November 24, 2009 | 1 comment

Talk about missing family. I’d like to be packing up the car and husband and dog and driving to Nanny’s but that is not to be this year. Now I hear that two of the young girls (under ten) are hosting a tea party for all the other girls coming in for the weekend. My apt cooking school pupils (teens) are making petit fours for the event. I hope to receive a photo of the final product that I can share with you. It’s so sweet of the girls to host and cook for this new family tradition, and I’m sorry to miss it, but I’m probably over the age limit for attendance anyways!

Not having any children, one of my favorite things to do on Thanksgiving is play outdoors with all the kids. One year it’s trampoline, usually pushing the young ones on the swingset, and remarking to Jim how sweet these children are, and how smart as well. There may be near 60 people this year, with all the new babies, and everyone gets along. The parents may not agree, but as a cousin/aunt at a 12-hour Thanksgiving feast it looks pretty cool to me.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Here’s the menu I’ve come up with and probably will not make, because Jim wants steak and probably a loaded baked potato and iceberg wedge with Thousand Island. That’s a breeze for me, and means we could even go downtown to see Pirate Radio! I’ve never been able to go to the movies on Thanksgiving Day, even as a kid, because I was too involved in preparing the “sides.”

Dee’s Thanksgiving Menu starts with appetizers Spinach Balls (I think I posted that on the site) and Spicy Almonds and Cashews (my version is different but check out Epicurious); Roasted Winter Squash Soup; Roasted Capon with Sausage/Apple Stuffing and Gravy; Brussels Sprouts with Leeks and Bacon; Braised Carrots in Consomme; Mashed Garlic Potatoes; Orange-Cranberry Sauce (fresh, of course); and Mincemeat Tarts.

I’m liking the steak idea, but will save the menu for a dinner party. Take care and enjoy the holiday. There’s a new, trendy bowling alley opening up in the neighborhood tomorrow. If I can round up a couple of gals we can bring canned goods for the Food Bank and bowl for free tomorrow afternoon! Sounds like Thanksgiving to me…. Dee

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Nanny’s

Posted on November 23, 2009 | 3 comments

Our family Thanksgiving was immediate family. When I met the man who was to become my husband, I girded myself for a long weekend with his parents, and Thanksgiving with fifty of his relatives. It was a life-changing weekend and we eloped two months later.

Now, Jim’s job prevents him from taking even one day off during November/December and he’ll miss his annual joyous union with his parents, brother, grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. I should have titled this “Over The River, and Through the Woods…” but this would be my eighth year there. We’ll miss all the folks who get together only once a year. It’s some consolation that Jim’s mother has a new computer with video capabilities so we can have a video conference after dinner.

There may be near sixty this year. More babies were born. A dear one was lost. This is the closest to a grandmother I’ve ever had. You should see the spread. Of course there are turkey and ham but the sides are very southern and that tends to sweet, not what this Yankee initially expected. I never tried to bring a dessert because all the other ladies do so and dessert is a sumptuous feat in and of itself! As my husband is not very adept at culinary traditions (forget female hierarchy) he always told me to bring nothing.

Now I’m known for teaching teenagers how to cook, the day after Thanksgiving, and also for my spinach balls, spiced almonds and cashews, and boursin. I’ve already given spinach balls to my newest married cousin Brenda. We’ll really miss that big hug from Nanny when we walk in the door, plus conversations with family we haven’t seen in a year: Zoe’s hip surgeon Val the Vet; brother John and Patti and their children; Sharon and Mary and their kids; Scott and Jen and two babies, one we’ve never met; and on and on. And Gina’s going to be there this year. We’ve both been rooting for Gina for years, and she’s successful and living on the West Coast.

Someday I’ll tell you the story of the first Thanksgiving with Jim’s family. Not now. Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving, Dee

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When to Call Your Parents

Posted on November 30, 2008 | 2 comments

As one ages, one wonders when to call the folks upon safely arriving home.  We called Jim’s parents to let them know we arrived safely this afternoon, but would not call them if we had flown to Chicago or LA.  It’s strange to be a grown adult and call your parents to say “I got home OK.”

Of course if it was overseas that’s a reason, or working in the Congo.  It must be that parent-child bond that kicks in.  Jim’s mother gave me an antique green glass lemon reamer because she knows that mine was broken many years ago.  There’s more to the story, which makes her gesture even sweeter.

We had an activity-filled several days that was punctuated by quiet time and reading and sleep.  I’d give you the address but you can’t afford this B&B!

Zoe is nearly 40 lbs. and impeccably groomed for her visit.  She’s an Aussie shelter mutt.  Coco is a five pound, five month-old Yorkie.  They played, then slept, like crazy.  At one point yesterday Zoe had Coco’s head in her mouth, but only very lightly for a fraction of a second and to say “Gotcha!”  We had to give them a few “time outs” but they both slept through the night, which allowed us to do so as well.

It was wonderful to see Jim’s family and spend some time together on Thanksgiving.  We got to see Nanny and all sorts of relatives, older and younger.  The weather held up for us on turkey day, with a temperature of 74 degrees, so the kids could go out and play.  It rained all day Friday.

This morning as I was packing the car, it was about 48 degrees and I had to go to the car to get a jacket.  The nippy temperatures must have led to friskiness as within a moment two bulls and two billy goats (in separate pastures a few feet away from me) showed an amorous nature.  Gives farming a whole new meaning.

We saw some fall foliage upon the return but under cloudy skies the colors are harder to appreciate.  Back home, the sun came out and everything is unpacked.  We unloaded the car and I went to the closest store just to take care of dinner and breakfast, as I cleaned out the frig Wednesday morning before we left.

When I got home I started unpacking groceries and Jim asked if there was anything he could do.  I knew I had an hour of unpacking and other things to do, and said “yes, please call your mother and tell her we got home OK.”

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Farm Life

Posted on November 29, 2008 | Leave a comment

I’m sitting here in the living room checking my email, Mumbai news and the blog.  Twenty feet from me are five black bulls eagerly awaiting their breakfast.  Zoe wouldn’t walk anywhere near them this morning!  A few feet  yards away are twelve Boer goats who aren’t getting their breakfast this morning because they’re recieving worming medication shortly.

All the kids are up so I awakened Jim.  There’s a new addition this year, a five month-old Yorkie named Coco.  She needs a bit of work in the training (potty and otherwise) departments but has a sweet personality.  She and Zoe are playing a bit rough (five lbs. vs. 40 lbs.) but are enjoying each other and Zoe slept without moving, except rolling over, for eleven hours last night.

It rained all day yesterday and is cloudy today and we may have a few showers.  Jim has to help with the goats, do some other farm work with his Dad, and we’ll make a visit to Nanny.  I’m teaching a cooking class to two teenaged cousins and have packed the car toward that end.

I haven’t taken the camera out yet, hoping for a few rays of sunshine.  It’s going to be a busy day, and we’re headed for home first thing tomorrow morning.

Oh, my cranberry-orange relish turned out ok, quite tart even when I heated it and added more sugar, orange juice and zest.  We heated up a portion of the spinach balls I brought last night.  Margie (Jim’s Mom) and I made three quiches yesterday, which we all ate for dinner.  They were a hit.  I thinly sliced potatoes, blanched them for two minutes and layered them in a circle on the bottom of all three blind-baked crusts.  Placed crumbled bacon on two, diced ham on the third.  I used a few sprigs of rosemary on the bacon quiches.  Then we added shredded Fontina, poured in the custard and baked until done.

We sat them aside to cool, then lightly warmed them for supper with a salad of romaine, carrots, celery and scallions.  It was a nice dinner.

As for Black Friday, I don’t know the numbers yet but it seems there was a shopping frenzy.  Not here in the country, where Jim and I spent an entire hour yesterday afternoon at three chic shops: TSC (Tractor Supply); Wal-Mart; and the local grocery picking up milk and a few staples for my class.

Thanksgiving day I placed Zoe in the back of our car with the windows down and “doggie prison” in place.  Five minutes later cousin Mary and I went out for ice and Zoe was sitting in the driver’s seat!  Yes, she scratched the leather console for the second time.  So we went to the horse section of TSC and found a tie-down that will give her full range of the back third of our SUV without jumping the barrier.

Off to make breakfast.  Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!  Cheers, Dee

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