Thanksgiving recipes

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I am doing some serious cooking for Thanksgiving. I have always helped with this meal, from being a little girl helping to "clean" spoons, to getting a little older and helping to set a table, serve and clear, to becoming a young adult and beginning to contribute first one, and then a couple of dishes at each Thanksgiving meal. This was the first time that I was cooking so heavily for the meal, but I was so excited to dig into most of a Thanksgiving menu . . . you will notice that I had nothing to do with the protein. That is most definitely the way it should be - as someone who recently returned to meat eating after a 12 year absence I am so not worthy when it comes to buying, much less preparing meat! Luckily, I had a good friend who not only made the turkey and stuffing, but invited me over.

Here is what I made, and how people liked it.

Butternut Squash soup
Credit: adapted from www.epicurious.com

This was a big hit. I made this mostly because I wanted to do something with a butternut squash, but was surprised that it was yummy and that I wasn't the only one who was really into it!

Ingredients:

• 4 large shallots, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, chopped
• 1 celery rib, chopped - I excluded this since celery isn't my thing
• 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 3 large thyme sprigs
• 1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into (1-inch) cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)
• 5 cups water - I used three cups of veggie broth and 2 of water
• 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 12 bottled cooked chestnuts, chopped (1/2 cup) - I am unsure I'll do this
• I added chopped fresh rosemary

Preparation

I halved the squash, oiled it, and baked it at 400 degrees for 45 minutes

Cook shallots, carrot, celery, tomatoes, thyme, and bay leaf in oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.

Add squash, water, nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and simmer, covered, until squash is very tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Discard thyme and bay leaf.

Purée soup in batches in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Thin soup if desired and season with salt and pepper.

Ladle soup over chestnuts in bowls - I did not do the chestnuts

Cooks' note: Soup can be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered once cool. Thin slightly with water if necessary.

I also whipped some heavy whipping cream and served a dollop in the soup. Yummmmm.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Credit: Michelle Brazier and Heather Robinson

I was probably the only person there that was really into these, but I loves them. I wasn't going to roast veggies and not make them!

Ingredients

• Fresh brussel sprouts
• Coarse salt (I use a Himalayan pink sea salt)
• Olive oil (about 3 tablespoons)
• Crushed red pepper

Preparation

Cut the tough end off of the sprouts, and halve them. Toss them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, and crushed red pepper. Place on a cookie sheet, bake in high heat oven (400 - 450 degrees) for 15-20 minutes or until crispy and carmelized to taste.


Roasted Cauliflower
Credit: Me

This was another hit. I think the thing that makes them so good is the special salt I used.


Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower
• Olive oil - about 2-3 tablespoons
• Salt - kosher salt, or smoked grey salt

Preparation

Slice the stalk and leaves off of the head of cauliflower. Cut the heads and stems into pieces that are Goldilock's-sized - not too big, not too small. Toss with oil and salt. brown in the oven at about 400 degrees for about 10-15 minutes until the tops begin to brown.


Fork Mashed Potatoes with fresh herbs

Credit: Me

These went over VERY well. I had tested these potatoes at three previous Thanksgivings so I was glad they fit well into this Thanksgiving too.

Ingredients

• 2-3 bags of mini-red potatoes, soaked but skins on
• butter
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• Fresh herbs - chopped (Rosemary, Thyme, Sage)

Preparation

Boil the potatoes until tender (but not mushy). Drain and cool for a few minutes, and leave the skins on. Split the potatoes with a hand-masher, and then add butter a tablespoon at a time - start with a couple of tablespoons. Sprinkle in salt and pepper and begin to use a fork to mash the potatoes. Slowly add more butter, and the freshly chopped herbs.


Chocolate Chess Pie

Credit: My Mama.

This is not everyone's thing, but for those who like, it, they really like it.

Ingredients:

1 stick butter (melted)
1 1/2 C sugar

2 eggs

3 T cocoa

1 small can of evap milk

1 t vanilla

Preparation

Stir sugar and cocoa into butter.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well, that's beating, not heating after each

(** BEAT-NOT-HEAT is a joke from back in my high school days. On a boring Sunday my bestest friend everest came over and we capriciously decided to see if their were ingredients to bake cookies. We scoped out a recipe from my mom's giant recipe box, and got started. My mom has beautiful handwriting, but her "h" curls back towards the stem, looking a little similar to a "b." On a faded recipe, we couldn't tell the difference and thought it said to HEAT the butter and sugar.  So . . . we did! And as we added the other ingredients the dough turned into cement. Without baking. Beat! Not Heat!) 

Add vanilla and milk.

Pour into an unbaked pie shell.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Apple Bundt Cake

Credit: www.epicurious.com

I took this to Thanksgiving and then brought it as a dessert to another friend's house. It was well liked by several people, and honestly, once the apples are peeled it's super easy so I think it may become something I make more often.

Ingredients

• 4 medium Golden Delicious apples (about 1 1/2pounds), peeled, cut into 1/3-inch pieces - I added one gala apple as well
• 5 tablespoons plus 2 1/2 cups sugar - I used only 4 T of sugar on the apples and only two cups of sugar in the batter
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup orange juice - I used a little extra.
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• Powdered sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Mix apple pieces, 5 tablespoons sugar and ground cinnamon in medium bowl. Combine 2 1/2 cups sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, orange juice, orange peel and vanilla extract in large bowl; whisk to blend. Stir flour, baking powder and salt into egg mixture. Spoon 1 1/2 cups batter into prepared Bundt pan. Top with half of apple mixture. Cover with 1 1/2 cups batter. Top with remaining apples, then batter.

Bake cake until top is brown and tester inserted near center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 15 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen. Turn cake out onto rack. Cool at least 45 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Cranberry Sauce

Credit: Adapted from www.allrecipes.com

This was the easiest thing I made, and it was . . . ok. Most people don't really care about the cranberry sauce, and I think that's how this one went.

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces cranberries
• 1 cup white sugar (I only used 3/4 C)
• 1 cup orange juice
• sprinkle of Cinnamin
• Sprinkle of fresh ground nutmeg
• Sprinkle of orange zest
  

Preparation

In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the orange juice. Stir in the cranberries and cook until the cranberries start to pop (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and place sauce in a bowl. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

Pumpkin Bread

Credit: adapted from my Mama

Ummmm, on second thought, this is one of the only things I bake really well, to the point that people ask for it. And I don't want to reveal how I've altered my mom's recipe. So, this, and one other recipe of something that I cook (black bean soup!) will remain the creative property of me. But I'll make them for you!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and had a lot of reminders of things you are grateful for.

An open letter to my future relationship partners

Hello lovely man/woman,

Thank you for your interest in the Christie. It's always flattering to be found attractive, funny, and interesting. Before we embark on this period of seeing how we might fit together and enjoy each others company (aka "dating") it would be good for both of us to take a long hard look at ourselves.

I can promise you that I will work to not be needy, demanding, irrational, or manipulative. I also want you to know that I understand that when people try to spend time together, sometimes there are misunderstandings, or even the chance that one or both parties feelings get accidentally hurt. I will work to communicate well, and to work through those hard moments productively and without games, deceptions, or dramas if and when they arise. I acknowledge that I have flaws, and am open to hearing how I can work on them. I ask the same from you.

I will not change who I am for you, but I am interested in being the best version of myself as often as possible. I know I will sometimes fall short of that, but in turn, I know that you will not be perfect. I have high standards, but compassion for humanity's imperfections too.

Now, being a woman in my thirties, this is not my first circus. I expect the same is true for you. This means we have both probably had some bad partners, disappointments, and horrible, soul-maiming experiences. I am so not in the dark about that, and if sharing those stories is something that is important to you, I will listen with tenderness and understanding. I may also need to talk about some of my stories. However, if you have unresolved feelings for your ex or exes, that's a different matter. I will not be your rebound. I will not judge you for your past relationships, or how they were concluded - I know from first hand experiences that when dealing with the complications of two people's feelings we all sometimes do or say things we regret. On the other hand, if those experiences have you left you too wounded to walk upright into another relationship, then let us not burden one another with damaged and diseased expectations carried over from the past. I am not your ex, and I will not do or say the things s/he did or said whether those things were/are good or bad.

Now, a few other matters:

• I believe in God. I do not require that you do (though sharing ideas about God and deeper questions would be nice. Being able to talk about this is important, no matter what you believe). I do require that you are respectful of my beliefs and the beliefs of people I share time with who also believe or worship. You do not have to agree with their beliefs, traditions, or lifestyles but making fun of them or making blanket assumptions is unacceptable. Likewise, if you do believe in God and look down on my friends who don't believe in God, that is also bad form. They have values and beliefs and are my friends because they are good, generous, lovely, funny, intelligent people.
• I believe in marriage, so if you are married, please move along. You are free to re-apply if your circumstances change and your marriage ends. Formally. Officially. For good. For reals.
• In that vein, I believe in marriage between any two consenting adults. My best examples of what healthy marriage can be come from two same sex couples. So, while we may differ in our opinions about many political or philosophical positions, you are kidding yourself if you think telling me "gay marriage is wrong" will do anything but cause the beginning of a full-scale war.
• Addicts need not apply. I have the utmost respect for your struggle as an issue of psychological health and as a disease, but if you are not well along the road of recovery, if your problem is still overwhelming to you, you can bet adding another person's feelings and wants to the equation won't help.
• I have issues, you have issues, we all have issues. I try not to blame anyone for mine, and have a lot of affection for anyone who has the self-awareness and sense of personal responsibility enough to take charge of theirs. 
• Lying - let's not.
• Cheating. I see no need. Isn't it better to break up with someone instead of adding someone else in, secretly? Ewww. I'm an adult about this, you can be too and if you can't, we're not a good match.
• Secrets. I don't have them. I may not tell you everything-everything-everything all the time each and every day but I won't hide anything from you and will answer any questions you ask. I'd ask to have the same consideration from you. 
• Physical attraction. Ummm, it's important. On the other hand, I'm not a model and I don't need you to be.
• As to relationship status,  and "where we are at," I think it's important to communicate about it. I don't date casually, but I also don't think this means we'll be moving in right away. I don't want a friend with benefits, to be sure, so if you do, please head to the neighborhood bar for a quickie. On the other hand, I'm a bit cautious before diving in all the way. I don't want to take a leap off the cliff and then find myself in the water alone.
• I am extremely loyal and will be there for you if you let me. If you are someone who plans to leave when difficulty strikes in my life, to walk out during a time when I'm dealing with something else major, or who can't handle ever making a commitment then please, for both our sakes, find companionship with someone who has not already done that in their life. You can be THEIR lesson. I don't need another one in that category.
• I have my own life, and my own friends. Of course I'd like to share that with you, but some things are going to be "my" things (getting pedicures with my mom comes to mind), and I expect you will have things that you do without me too. I do not have velcro on my hip for you to attach to.
• I like a lot of music, but country and I aren't quite friends yet. Just so you know. Also, I hate all scotch, bourbon, and whiskey. This will not change.  :)

Finally, it's nice to meet you. Please be yourself, and be honest about what you want. It really will save us from investing time we end up wanting back. I'm done with with games, words that are not backed up with actions, and with having people take more than they give. If you are too, then a cup of coffee would be great. Thanks for your application!

All the best,
Christie

The giving of thanks

I have four bags of mini-potatoes in my house.

Normally there is just no way that purchasing this many starches and having them here and readily available for munching would be a good idea. But food rules sometimes don't work at the holidays. The dilemma is that if I add up all the holidays, parties, nights out, weddings, baby showers, birthdays, Super Bowls, etc. there are in a year, I'd have to throw in the towel on roughly two months of every 12. I'd have to give up on 1/6th of my year, and then dig myself out of that the other 5/6ths of the time. Not a good plan. For instance, I can't throw out my food rules and good nutrition for all of Christmas and New Years.

The thing is, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. My most favoritest ever. It's not about the food. I mean, it's not NOT about the food (especially since I grew up eating some of the best stuffing and pumpkin pie around at this time of year), but for me, what I like about Thanksgiving is that it's for everyone, equally. Every family has the opportunity to figure out what kind of holiday they want this to be (with maybe one caveat for the families that are subsisting in poverty and not able to make ends meet). A day to watch football? A time for all to gather round the TV and make fun of the parade? A formal holiday with crisp table linens and napkins in laps? A time to name things that everyone is grateful for? All of these are possible ways to bring Thanksgiving into your house. It doesn't matter if you believe in God. And if you do, it doesn't matter if that God for you takes the form of Allah, Hashem, Buddha, or JC. No one has to buy gifts, or figure out of their card is PC enough to fit all situations. There's no wrapping, and no returns. Just people who like each other deciding they want to spend this day together.


To be fair, my mom would point out that for every thing I name that makes this holiday awesome by not having to be done (hanging blinking lights!), she can come up with a task she has had to do to pull this holiday off in style in the past: buying and carrying in a heavy turkey, stuffing it, getting up early, early, early to stuff said turkey and cook it slowly. But since I never cared about the bird or eating it (and then went vegetarian for 12 years) I'm conveniently leaving that part out.

What I like is people who like each other sharing this day in whatever way seems like the best way to appreciate each other and the day. I do like the food, but for me it's more about the relaxation, and as an adult, the true enjoyment of sharing the preparation of food with others. For a couple of years now, I've been unofficially trading Thanksgivings back and forth between my mom's house, and my sister's house. I've enjoyed the differences in traditions and celebrations, the chances to catch up with separate branches of my family, and the food in both places. My mom's Thanksgiving is very much about her working quite a bit to have a very nice meal where everyone sits down at the same time, whoever everyone is. Although we wear jeans, that's relatively new at my mom's Thanksgiving so when she wants me to help lay out a table cloth or set the table, what I remember is the earlier Thanksgivings in my life where I wore dresses and tights. We do still sit down all together and say a blessing, jeans or no. So, I'd say it's a slightly less casual secular Thanksgiving. Not a formal meal by far, but a lot of work is put into presentation nonetheless.

My sister's Thanksgiving is a turkey of a different color. It bears saying that the first time I was there, the whole kitchen was torn up and two saw horses and a particle board were part of a makeshift table we prepared and served food on. So, a little different than the Thanksgiving I grew up with in Connecticut (smile). I remember calling my sister before that first trip to Texas and asking her if she had expectations for what people wear to her Thanksgiving. I laughed when she said she had three expectations about that particular Thanksgiving:

1. That everyone contribute a dish, even her youngest, who at the time was 6.
2. That her husband get the kitchen sink working before the meal (which we were actually having on Friday)
3. That everyone put clothes on and not be in PJs.

I laughed, but it's important to note that there was actually one child on that Thanksgiving who waged a brief and failed attempt to remain in PJs. And yes, the sink went in and got working before the meal . . . just. It was epic. Because everyone had to take turns in the kitchen to prepare food, and because absolutely each and every person at the meal made part of the meal, regardless of their age, other jobs (sink plumbing!), interest in or talent for cooking, it was much more about getting everyone's dishes done than about serving them nicely. I really enjoyed taking the focus away from perfection and presentation and putting it on contribution and collaboration. It made the meal-prep no less time-consuming but very entertaining. The food turned out great (as did the sink) and I noticed how everyone was very excited to eat, check out each others dishes, and see how their dish would be received. I still remember my oldest nephew tossing pecans and marshmallows while making the sweet potatoes (and trading stories about each others siblings. Ha!), my oldest niece talking to me very seriously about green bean casserole, my youngest niece's face when her pumpkin pie came out of the oven, and my youngest nephew asking for help with his chocolate pie. It was a great meal.

I say that, like I've ever had a bad Thanksgiving meal. (Though that one was particularly memorable, in food as well as in company) I have never liked turkey, though I don't dislike it either. Everything else - delish. I do like cranberry sauce, pretty much any vegetable that is dished up, most mashed potatoes, and let me not understate this, my mom's stuffing is THE BEST. I also need to be honest - I adore pumpkin pie. Over the years I have worked really hard to enjoy these things in moderation. One plateful, not four. More vegetables than anything else on my plate, no need for bread if I'm having stuffing AND mashed potatoes. Drink lots of water. Basic tips like that.

So, I'm excited to try all of this out at a new Thanksgiving table this year. For the first time, I am celebrating a major holiday in Colorado. Since my mom is coming here for Christmas in just three weeks, it seemed silly to buy a ticket and go there for Thanksgiving. Initially I thought I might just spend the day by myself, cook a yummy meal (Risotto and soup crossed my mind. So did nachos. I'm serious. ) and watch movies. That would have been completely fine, but I ended up with a better offer. My very good friend, the same one who invited me for a mini-cation up in Steamboat Springs invited me to her house for the giving of thanks. she's been to enough of my parties to know I can cook, so we kind of skipped over the niceties "oh thanks for inviting me! what can I bring?" and went straight to menu planning. Turkey or pork tenderloin? What kind of pie? Since part of our friendship was forged when we used to work together and I would bring her pumpkin bread, I assumed that it was assumed that I would bring that! So, now that we're just a couple of days away and my recipes are researched I'm getting excited to cook. I did my initial shopping last night (hence the potatoes) and will likely do my final shopping tomorrow morning. Here is what I think I am making:

• Pumpkin soup. This would be my first slow cooker recipe. (sidenote - anyone want to share slowcooker recipes with me?) I'm honestly thrown by how easy the recipe is - it seems like a trick! -  so I've also been looking up a butternut squash soup just in case.
• Pumpkin bread
• Roasted cauliflower
• I will probably also bring roasted brussel sprouts. And my host and hilarious friend is making another veggie. this gives me a chance to fill a plate that is mostly veggies
• Either chocolate chess pie or apple cake. Or BOTH!
• fork mashed potatoes with fresh herbs
  

It's actually funny that I'm making the mashed potatoes. For yeaaaaaaarrrs now, at my mom's it's been my job to ready the potatoes for making. My mom has a a bit of a gross-out ick-factor with washing and peeling potatoes. So, I've always done that, and then boiled and readied them for whipping. This recipe that I'm making this year is not a uniform whipped potato, but rather one with skins, fork mashed so that they're "real" with herbs added for taste. Butter, yes. But with all those flavors, no need for cream. They were a hit with my nieces and nephews so hopefully they'll go over well this year too.

I'm sure this sounds like a lot of food I'm making, overkill even. But thanksgiving is a little about that. My hope is the pumpkin bread will get tucked away by my host as a gift for her (since she has done so much for me). I can't really prepare for this meal without making a dessert. I may not even eat dessert, but making one has always been part of my mindset for this holiday since being three and watching my mom turn out pie-crusts and grease and flour pans. The potatoes and veggies will take me an hour for all three recipes so I'm so not worried about that.

I want to contribute. I want to be an adult helping to make this meal. I'd rather put more time into cooking than eating. I want to say thank you to my friend for giving me a weekend away and for having me for this holiday. And, I think this might be a good way for me to test some recipes and then post them here. (Would readers like that, I wonder?)

So, those potatoes will get made and brought, and left behind. I will not bring them home. They will find a better home with my friend and her family. I will eat protein and veggies, and yes, I will have some carbs too, though I will probably save some for drinking rather than eating them all in a pile of potatoes on my plate.

Final note: in addition to the four bags of potatoes, there is a can of whipped cream in my house. Such an item usually does not survive more than 24 hours despite my best intentions. I am determined it will accompany me to my friend's with no needs to hastily and shamefully replace it on the way to her house so I am writing it here to commit to restraint!