Thanksgiving

Sorry I've been so neglectful of my blogs! I have not been spending much time on the computer in the last few weeks, but I have been spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

My family spends every Thansgiving together at a cabin at Algonkian Park, which is within walking distance from my condo. I have a full house, and all the out of towners stay in the four bedrooms at the cabin. It's nice that it's no one's home base, and everyone pitches in with the food for four days, including the BIG meal. We've got it down to a science! We do send around a long email list of who's bringing what, but by the 8th or 9th year it's pretty much in stone. Here's a peek into our list:

ANYTIME SNACKS
Chex Mix - Jamie
Cookies - Jamie
Artichoke Dip - Carroll
Fruit - Henry & Lauren
Pimento Cheese - Hank

WEDNESDAY DINNER
Taco Soup - Patti
Corn Bread - Jamie

Jessi's Chocolate Cake - Jessi

THURSDAY BREAKFAST
Breakfast Before - Jessi
French Toast Casserole - Carroll

THANKSGIVING MEAL
Turkey + Turkey Breast - Patti
Gravy - Patti
Broccoli Bake - Patti
Stove Top - Patti
Rolls - Patti
Potatoes - Carroll
Sweet Potatoes - Jessi
Creamed Spinach - Jamie
Mac & Cheese - Jessi&Jamie
Henry's Cranberries - Legard
Canned Cranberry Sauce - Carroll
Legard salad - Legard

Pumpkin Pie - Jamie
Chess Pie - Hank
Pecan Pie - Jamie

FRIDAY BREAKFAST
Buttermilk Biscuits - Jamie
Apple Butter & Pumpkin Butter - Andy

FRIDAY DAY
Turkey & Dumplings - Patti
Leftover King - Erol

FRIDAY DINNER
If we need dinner Friday, we can all pitch in to make a spaghetti and meatball dinner?

SATURDAY BREAKFAST
Fried egg sandwiches - Patti

BEVERAGES
Coffee -
2% Milk -
Half & Half -
Apple cider and/or mulled cider - Hank
Beer - Erol & RT
Wine - Joel
Punch - Jessi&Jamie

NON-FOOD OTHER
Table cloths - Patti
Paper plates - Legard
Turkey time paper plates - Legard
Napkins - Legard
Paper towels - Jamie
Dish washing soap/sponge/gloves - Jamie
Hand soap for bathrooms - Jamie
General merriment - Andrew

Next year we probably won't even need a list. The only thing that changes is who's making Wednesday dinner and the breakfasts, for which we usually don't stick to the list anyway!

I just love Thanksgiving time. The food, the family, the games, the predictability, the everything. My recipes will be listed soon, and some pictures too, but I wanted to let you know that I'm still here in my messy kitchen!

Fakesgiving!

Today some of our family held the first annual Fakesgiving at my folks house in Richmond! We all love Thanksgiving food so much that we decided to add a second one to the year.

Our feast was excellent, but is no comparison to all the festivities, atmosphere, and the rest of the friends and family around during the real Turkey Day, at least in my book! My mom, sister, and I spent hours and hours in the kitchen and that's my idea of a good time. My sis Jessi is not a natural cook ("How do I cut the ends off the green beans? Is this right? Do you feel like you're cooking with an 8-year old?" "Yes."), but she's a natural at doing things like refinishing old tables, decorating, and gardening. My mom is great at pretty much all things, so I got the cooking and nurturing stuff and Jessi got the other stuff and common sense and logic stuff (sometimes I lack there, too).

I will post all of our recipes, so there is a LOT to come! Here was our menu:

Poinsettia Cocktails (champagne punch)
Gougeres (cheese puffs)
Spiced Pecans and Walnuts
Turkey and Gravy
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Glazed Carrots
Sausage Stuffing
Cranberry Sauce with Blueberries and Candied Orange
Peppermint Chocolate Cake

Aunt Carroll brought the Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and it was a complete Thanksgiving meal! Most of our recipes came from my collection of holiday issues of Bon Appetite, Gourmet, and other cooking magazines. So I have a lot of typing to do! The star recipe is my mom's gravy, which she's been using for years and it's always incredible.

A happy oven:

P.S. A messy kitchen, and it's not MINE! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was from dinner the night before: sloppy joes, fried fish (that my dad and Jessi caught that morning), salad with croutons and ranch dressing, and apple cream cheese tart (I'll post these recipes if I ever finish posting the Fakesgiving recipes!).