End of a long day, but a mostly nice one filled with laughs and hugs (“I’m a hugger” said middle nephew as he gave me a hug before leaving — with me, because I’m spending the night at their place 
).
Final apps / grazing table over a few hours:
— Cheese board
— Gravlax on crostini with mascarpone and lemon
— Baked brie with spicy onion jam
— Bacon-wrapped mini irish sausages
— Puff pastry bites with Brie and cranberry jelly
— Baguette with goat cheese, pistachio pesto, and caponata (remember this?)
.
Meal:
— Turkeys (2, because everybody wants some leftovers)
— Mashed potatoes
— Stuffing balls
— Green beans in butter
— Roasted brussels sprouts
— Roasted squashes
— Gravy
— Bread sauce / white gravy
.
Dessert:
— Apple pie
— Pumpkin pie
— Blueberry pie
— Ice cream
.
The turkey was lovely and moist. Not spatchcocked after all, but dry brined and slow roasted again.
The stuffing balls were crisp and moist, though some of them fell apart a bit because they were moved around so many times.
The Brussels sprouts were crisp but a bit under-salted (me), the green beans were overcooked (not me).
No one ate squash 
(will become soup, no worries).
The gravy was delicious but too salty, might have been the drippings at fault again. The bread sauce was fabulous.
Mashed potatoes were less than. Cousin 2 finally had his shot at them as Cousin 1 was arriving later than usual, and he blew it 
— too much salt, not enough milk, really not enough butter. At least we don’t have to wonder anymore when he complains that he makes amazing mash but isn’t ever “allowed” to
I didn’t eat any dessert as usual.
The dishwasher broke at the end.
Hope you all had mostly good days!
