It’s almost here, the best day of the year! The time for a veritable feast!
Creamy pumpkin soup, crispy skinned roasted turkey, two stuffings, old fashioned bread and savory sausage, buttery mashed potatoes, nutty sweet potatoes, sliced canned cranberries (a must for the child inside us all) and whole berry cranberry sauce (for our adult side), earthy rutabagas, a green vegetable, fluffy hot biscuits and butter, and herbed lemon turkey gravy topping it all.
Are you hungry yet? Then comes apple pie, pumpkin pie, ice cream, fresh fruit, nuts and mints. The day, of course, is Thanksgiving!
I counted. I’ve made that same Thanksgiving dinner every year for the past forty-six years! I never serve it anytime but Thanksgiving. And the menu never changes. I never tire of making it or serving it. But, oh, the cleanup!
Once I hired someone to serve and clean up, but everyone rebelled saying “Nooooo, it’s too formal.” It was. But no serving meant I’m still cleaning up for two days after.
Am I complaining? Maybe. I love to cook but I hate the cleanup and I really wouldn’t mind if some little genie appeared and the mess disappeared.
The only thing on the menu that ever changes is the green vegetable. I try a new one each year so I won’t get bored! (I’d hate to stagnate!)
Don’t laugh but that one vegetable causes me the most grief. It needs to work with the rest of the dinner and must be something that everyone will like. That’s a lot to ask of a little green vegetable!
I love tradition, I love my family and friends. They fill my life and bring such joy. I hope you have people in your life who make it special every day of every year. I wish you a Thanksgiving filled with friends, food and fun.
Turkey Gravy: Stuff turkey cavity with a large onion halved, three Thyme sprigs and one lemon halved. I use broth made from the turkey neck and giblets in place of water to flavor the pan drippings and give the gravy great flavor. Also use broth in your cornstarch slurry for thickening. Add 2-3 tbs. vermouth just before the gravy is done for more flavor.
