I'm in Houston at one of my son's houses and the cooking has started. I've got sweet potatoes in the oven roasting and onions parboiling for the golden creamed onions. The onions are a pain to prepare. You have to parboil them, then clean each and every one of them. After that they are best cooked slowly and gently stirred until they turn a lovely golden caramelized color. I wasn't going to do the onions but one of the "boys" wasn't going to be happy without creamed onions for Thanksgiving.
Also on my to-do list is Jalapeño Quiche for either tomorrow or Friday morning while we are all together. The Jalapeño Quiche is usually a Christmas morning thing but we will not all be together on Christmas morning so again a "special request" from one of the "boys." Of course, I'm sure you realize that the "boys" are actually 50 year old men but to a Mom they are always her boys.
My sister-in-law is bringing oyster dressing because it is good and her family can't imagine turkey without oyster dressing. She is also the fudge and french silk chocolate pie maker. In fact, there are some 50 year old boys that might send her back home if she didn't bring those desserts.
Daughter-in-law, Betsy, is making a bread/sage dressing that her family always made. She will make her cranberry sauce and a wonderful pumpkin pie from a new recipe that she has already tried on her family.
Then from Gary, turkey gravy, green beans and wonderful yeast rolls requested by a nephew who could eat a dozen of them when he was a little kid. Now that he is in his 20's he has cut back to ½ dozen. Dotye will come and bring her Mom's chocolate cake that was always present at every family gathering when Kackie was there.
The family can't all be together for every holiday meal and what I miss most even though I have a lovely dinner with friends, are the old recipes and traditions that bring back such wonderful memories of all the times that we have been together. I'm especially thankful for this Thanksgiving and being with my family.
What are some of the absolutely must have recipes on your Thanksgiving table?
The turkeys in the picture…..they will be on someone's Thanksgiving table tomorrow.
Billie, as SWMBO is overseas taking care of her Mom, I'll be doing an UN-traditional thanksgiving with my two sons. Turkey breast done in a crockpot, haricot verts almodine, garlic mash potatoes, roast potatoes, and scallop potatoes ( did I mention we're Irish?) Apple, sausage, & brandy stuffing, and pumpkin pie along with fruits of the Forrest struddle with cream and ice cream... With some version of a football game in the background!
ReplyDeleteHappy turkey day to all!
Really, three kinds of potatoes? LOL
DeleteI've never had a apple, sausage & brandy stuffing but I'd like to try it. Hope your teams won.
Love your story! I get those "requests" too, for cornbread dressing and pecan pie. "real" mashed potatoes and gravy along with corn souffle.
ReplyDeleteAll I care about is the turkey and cranberry sauce, ha. Actually I like the day after when you can have a hot turkey sandwich. But, alas, one must do what the family enjoys. It's been a long time since I"ve had all my children and grandchildren together. I'm praying it happens again......some day. Not cooking this year! Feels weird.
Barbara, After all we ate yesterday I don't know how I could have been hungry when I woke up….but I was. I'm sure by this evening I'll be ready for the leftovers. Betsy cooked two turkeys just to be sure we would have plenty. It is a time to treasure when you can get all of your kids together. I do feel blessed.
DeleteAlas I will spend Thanksgiving day packing and moving, so no dinner for me. Yet it brings me that much closer to retirement and my move to San Miguel in 18 months so it's all right.
ReplyDeleteI'd love it if you shared your recipe for jalapeno quiche! Sounds absolutely yummy!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Barbara, I put the recipe up on the blog. Check it out.
DeleteFor my family, the center of the Thanksgiving meal had to be either a prime rib roast or a rack of lamb (a leg would suffice now and then). But not this year. I will be eating turkey in a restaurant -- but with good friends. And that is what counts. Not so much the food.
ReplyDeleteI can change up the Christmas dinner to prime rib or rack of lamb but just gotta have turkey for Thanksgiving. In fact I really do love turkey and use to cook it all during the year when I was trying to fill up teenage boys.
DeleteBut you are right about being with friends and family. That is what counts.
I eat pureed turnips. Only once a year but without fail.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes make mashed potatoes and turnips together and instead of much butter I add buttermilk. It is a nice different flavor.
DeleteAre the pureed turnips some tradition from your family's origins?