Another year has gone by, and with it, so has my favorite holiday - THANKSGIVING!!!
I had doubts this year - as menu planning was delayed even more so than last year...don't ask me how, but somehow, it happened. And somehow, with the help of my family, I was able to get it all together by Thanksgiving eve.
Another curve ball in this year's festivities was that we were going in to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from a sweet office view! How could I pass up that opportunity? And so, many of my dishes had to be planned ahead and prepped accordingly.
I hate to admit it, but I also had to cut down on some dishes I originally had on my menu due to time and the realization that there was way too much food planned (though isn't that what the holiday is all about? I mean...that and being thankful of course!).
The theme this year was
Pilgrim Style, and I wanted to keep it to more of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes - the idea of actually keeping it to what the Pilgrims ate went out the window as soon as I learned they didn't have potato dishes.
Appetizers
Sides
Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry Chili Meatballs
Entrees
Sticky Rice
Bibimbap
Malaysian Paella
Spanish Rice
Curry Shrimp
Desserts
Cake
Raspberry Cheesecake
Bread Pudding
**Dishes without links are what the other guests brought**
My sous chefs were out of the picture this year, but that's fine, as soon as I got home Wednesday afternoon, it was GAME TIME.
 |
| The Planning Process - taking inventory |
 |
| First part of business - get the turkey in the brine |
 |
| Then tackle the easiest dish so I feel somewhat productive/inspired - Cranberry Sauce |
Sometimes when you're going based on feeling and not actual measurements, you might sometimes pour in way too much heavy cream into your mashed potatoes...and then you have to peel and boil the rest of the potatoes to mix in...and sometimes you might also burn the bottom of the pot while you're at it...but it does make for a pretty cool design???
 |
| Round 1 - as you can see in the bottom right...just a tad too much heavy cream there...got a little...heavy handed! ::guffaws:: |
 |
| Super potatoes to Save the Day! |
 |
| Caramelized Onions |
 |
| Everything mixed together |
Something else that I learned this year was that it IS possible to get a chemical burn on your fingers from jalapeno peppers...was told to dip my fingers in milk...I think it helped? For sure though, the Southwest Cornbread was guaranteed to be muy caliente!
This was my first time ever roasting beets - I was slightly terrified, but it was so worth it and way easier than I thought it would be! I didn't have gloves either to avoid the stains, but was given the resourceful idea of using those plastic bags that the beets came in to peel off the skins. GENIUS I tell you!
 |
| Beet Tartine - the color is truly amazing |
 |
| Spinach Tartine |
This must have been the year of conquering fears or something, because I have never made traditional stuffing before (at least that I can remember). For some reason, I have always had it in my head an unpleasant taste of soggy bread and...I don't even know what. Whatever it was, I have always avoided it. But since I was going to be traditional, what's a Thanksgiving dinner without stuffing and gravy? So I was off to find what looked like the least scary recipe that called for bread crumbs instead of bread pieces.
 |
| Stuffing Adventures |
 |
| Dinner break - taking advantage of all the oils & grease that I had already in the pan! |
I almost didn't make it back into the kitchen after my dinner break - I swear I need to start training for this weekend next year. My endurance is not what it used to be! But somehow I found it in me to persevere...and here we go corn pudding inspired by my recent trip(s) to
Hill Country BBQ:
 |
| Pureeing corn & sauteeing shallots |
 |
| Corn pudding coming together... |
 |
| Brussel Sprouts! Why do kids hate them again? |
 |
| Prepping the lemon garlic mayonnaise for the sweet potatoes |
 |
| Roasting beets for the kale salad |
 |
| Apparently this was all that was captured for the pumpkin pie - I didn't focus too much on dessert this year |
 |
| The prep table |
**END SCENE**
Thanksgiving Day, after being woken up waking up earlier than I have in a long time, we made the trek into the city for the parade. I was pretty unhappy about the whole situation until I was finally indoors with coffee and donuts in hand and could see everyone else who would be outside in the cold for the duration of the event.
 |
| View from above |
 |
| Paul Frank Monkey, some Midwest Marching Band, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Russell Simmons, Ocean Spray Float, Aflac Duck Float, Hello Kitty, Snoopy & Woodstock |
 |
| Jump Rope Team (impressive), Spider-man (looking a little worse for wear), Spongebob, Zuzu Hamsters Float!, Ronald McDonald, Miss America on the Drake Float, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots on the Sesame Float, Toothless the Dragon, Marines Marching Band |
 |
| Santa!, Elf on the Shelf, Papa Smurf, Pikachu chasing after the poke-ball |
When we finally got home around 2, it was time to get that twenty-something pound turkey into the oven!
 |
| Out of the brine, slathered with thyme butter (under the skin of course), and rubbed all over with sea salt |
 |
| Apple Celery & Walnuts (I subbed) Salad |
 |
| Kale & Beets Salad |
 |
| Summer Kale & Beets Salad |
 |
| Southern Style Stuffing |
 |
| Sangria making & an homage to the Turkey |
 |
| View 1 of the table |
 |
| View 2 of the table |
 |
| Grown-ups, table & "kids" |
 |
| Dessert Time |
 |
| Even our guest dog Waffles McButton was tired out by the end of the night with me in my Snuggie! |
Thankful for this holiday dinner, family, friends and that life that I am living, as well as for the leftover mashed potatoes that I was able to make into the Shepherd's Pie on Black Friday.
Hope everyone has had a most wonderful Thanksgiving (or Thanksgivukah) weekend and a most Happy Holidays!
