Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday for many reasons.
Fall weather and those lovely colors.
Not to mention the charming decor.
Family & Friends!
Some years our group is on the smaller side and other years, the house is bursting at the seams with big folk, little folk, and dogs. Either way, there is love and goodwill throughout the space. Some of these folks, this is the only time we may see them throughout the year, what with distances and busy lives and such. We make the most of our time together.
It is a thrill when the next car pulls down the driveway. It always makes me feel a bit like Bilbo Baggins. Groups of twos and threes, or more, arriving in intervals, knocking on the door, wanting food and celebration. Without the element of surprise, that is. And without, of course, the forthcoming Big Adventure.
Feast!
For me, this has increasingly meant incorporating local, seasonal foods into the dinner. My sweet potato harvest this year was, once again, meager. These are the sweet potatoes I started back in the spring. One of these years, I am going to learn the secret to big, robust sweet potatoes. I must be missing something, but what… is… it?? And where, oh where, is one to cure them?? I placed them on the window ledge that gets the most sun…prior to moving them to a cool place.
The sweet potatoes will end up in a roasting pan, with pecans, butter and maple syrup.
The man usually brews a keg o’ imperial stout, often using locally grown grains and hops.
Other items on our menu this year:
Cranberry pear crisp – a perennial favorite
Mashed potatoes – can we even think of skipping these babies?
Stuffing – we do a vegan one and my mother in law brings her sausage one
Turkey & gravy – I am vegan, but the man is not, nor are most (none…) of our guests. So, we still do a turkey.
Last year I made a Lentil Walnut Loaf to have an alternate main dish – very yummy! This year I am trying a new recipe from the New York Times cooking section: Country ‘Meatloaf’ with Golden Gravy.
Our fabulous friends and family bring so many other goodies…green beans, broccoli, squash, so many other good vegetables. And desserts to stop the band!
So much to be thankful for.
Do you celebrate Thanksgiving, according to your local traditions? And what is your favorite dish?
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