I knew from the start that I wanted a very traditional Thanksgiving this year. I wanted to have all the flavors of my childhood in this meal, and I wanted it to be really chill! We had the dinner at my mom's beautiful house that has an amazing kitchen (*heaven*). My mom and I split the menu so that I could contribute to the meal and so that we wouldn't be absolutely crammed for time. My menu of items to cook were: Stuffing, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Sauce and Yams. These items also happen to be my favorite parts of Thanksgiving, heavily imbued with delicious memories.
My stuffing recipe came from my step-mom, Mary. I want to preface this with the fact that I did not do her recipe justice. My stuffing was good, but it lacked something - which my dad later told me with exasperation in his voice, "You don't have the right kind of sausage; you have to use sausage from Sanders Meats." Well, I think there is more to the equation of me perfecting my recipe than sausage. Sanders Meats, is a small, local butcher shop in Custer Michigan, close to where my parents live. I am not going there to get sausage, but I may consider shipping myself some next year...they also have these super nummy rib-tip things that I adore! So, if you are in middle-Michigan near where the Badger crosses (can you see me pointing to my hand shaped like a mitten?), it would behoove you to visit this fine meat emporium.
Pecan and Pumpkin pie are typically shoe-ins for me. However, I struggled this year. My heart actually broke a little when I saw my pecan pie and tasted my pumpkin pie. You may know (or not) that I am a baker of great renown. I LOVE to bake and have gotten quite good at it. So, to produce pies that are less than perfect - and dare I say, not absolutely delicious (*cringe*) - makes my heart break a tiny bit. My goal was to bake pies that were low cholesterol, to help out my step-dad who is cutting back. So, I used Smart Balance and Egg Beaters. This produced inferior pies to say the least. My pecan pie nearly exploded and my pumpkin pie was just plain lame. Oh well, next year I am making pies with everything bad in them.
The cranberry sauce is the easiest thing ever, I just make the whole berry recipe on the bag. I have these memories of my step-mom canning cranberry sauce, so that we would have it with all our meats. I especially remember it accompanying venison - yuuuuuuum. Cranberry sauce is one of my favorite condiments. I really enjoy sweet flavors with my meats, so I love it with almost anything. My favorite pairing (not counting turkey) is cranberry sauce on my burger. Yes, you may be thinking, "Oh god, what the........ewww!", but it really is very good and I suggest that everyone try it. I prefer it with a grilled patty and bun, with some mayo. Yes, I was pregnant when I discovered this tasty treat, but my cravings have held on, and I still love it to this day.
Yams, yams, yams. I love yams, and they are so good for you. I will pass on mashed potatoes, french fries, or potato chips if a yam or sweet potato substitute is offered - EVERY time. I prepared them with the simplest of ingredients and got rave reviews. Smart Balance, brown sugar, salt and pepper were all they needed. In fact, I should have grabbed more as leftovers...next time.
My mom made the turkey, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, rolls and the gravy. She brined the turkey this year, and I swear to GOD, we will never make a turkey another way. The turkey was so moist and delicious, we couldn't stop talking about it. So, brine away my lovely readers - brine away!
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| Awww, isn't she cute?! |
All in all, it was a wonderful meal. But, the food was not the highlight for me, the guests were. What a glorious thing it is to sit around a table with people who really like you - some may even cherish you. For me, my day-to-day life does not have this relaxed and inviting setting at meals. Breakfast is usually on the go, or hurried with steady glances at the clock and crusts of toast shoved in my cheeks like a chipmunk hoarding for the long winter. My lunches do not surround me with loved ones, unless you count my dog. If I am lucky I have really good friends to accompany me. Dinner, well that is a wash. I don't have Lyric in the evenings until after dinner time, so there is another meal alone with the dog. As you can see, Thanksgiving is especially nice for me. I really enjoy a family dinner. Don't get me wrong, my life is great, it is exactly what I need right now. In fact, I crave alone time and try to get as much as possible. If I did have Lyric at night for dinner time, how would I ever get my homework done? So, I take these moments of delight, lock them away in my place of happy memories, and I transcribe them here, so that they cannot be lost.
Om Nom Nom,
Errin
XOXOXO
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