Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Tonight’s turkey
Some of our dinner - turkey with gravy, mac and cheese, mushroom stuffing, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes, cranberry sauce, cornbread.
25 Likes
Our Thanksgiving in NY for 9 (6 adults, 3 kids) started with lunch of slow cooker beef brisket chili that I brought. It became more like a stew as I made it non-spicy and added carrots. Lots of beans, some green bell pepper. Served over mom’s good purple rice. Big hit with the family, even Spring Onion had some after I removed all manner of ingredients except the brisket. 
In years past, when we’ve hosted, there was always a mishap when I was charged with the turkey-making. My bro made the turkey but I still managed a mishap—I left all the fancy cheeses at home in Boston. So appetizers consisted of octopus and I made NYT crab cakes, which were really good but fell apart. I will use a tiny bit more panko filler and more Kewpie mayo/dijon next time. Delightful yuzu jalapeño dressing from Brooklyn as the dipping sauce I bought from our local farm.
Main event was a group effort. Bro made turkey (he didn’t do anything special and it turned out beautifully) and ribs (because 1 protein isn’t enough for him); I made mashed potatoes with a bit of cream cheese, homemade cranberry sauce with lemon rind; B made tasty crispy stuffing balls; SIL made Brussels 2-ways (delicious Parmesan/Brussels crisps and sautéed), lemony kale salad, mushroom barley soup, and roasted carrots over farro and chickpeas with labne. No Korean side dishes this year. Lots of good wines/beer throughout the day and my bro made Moscow mule-ish libations. Store-bought tiramisu. Everyone was full, happy, and thankful for the bounty and each other.
We’re here until Saturday when we head to B’s sister’s in CT to watch the big game (Ohio State v Michigan…Go Bucks!). We’ll be feasting on leftovers until then, where my SIL will surely have more luxurious food and wine (Silver Oak and Caymus are their house wines).
ETA: we ate the crab “cakes” on the fancy crackers that I brought to go with the fancy cheeses, drizzled with the yuzu dressing, so at least the crackers came in handy. Still kicking myself about forgetting the cheeses. 
24 Likes
That bird looks spectacular!
3 Likes
When our friends sent out their Thxgiving invitation, and one guest proposed to bring two roast ducks as his contribution we were …. confused. Amused. Certainly, a bold choice for a meal that practically revolves around a ginormous poultry centerpiece 
He does have a way with duck, the hosts never declined or suggested something else, and so we got to munch on juicy morsels of fatty duck along with the deviled eggs, cheeses, and other nibbles before the main event while sipping Mimosas.
The turkey was pleasantly salty & juicy, dilled green beans the German couple brought delicious, and I even had a spoon each of mashed & the two different dressings/stuffings. I also tried a Korean dish someone brought that seemed to be seasoned rice & carrots in an open dumpling form (?).
I didn’t count the ridiculous number of πs brought, and I personally only tried a tiny slice of untraditional but delish Boston cream pie & had a teeny taste of the hostess’ key lime pie (made GF for the one guest who was no longer around for dessert 
), but I wasn’t going to waste my time on any of the store-brought πs.
My salad was snarfed up, leaving just a tiny bowl I may enjoy for lunch, along with some of the turkey we were sent home with.
Overall, just another wonderful evening with good friends 
22 Likes
Wow! That looks like some feast!
I’m in a food coma just looking at the pictures 
4 Likes
Nobody went home hungry, that’s for sure. But I think this might’ve been the first Turkey Day where I didn’t feel uncomfortably stuffed 
2 Likes
I just came down with an eye infection the doctor asked if I had any sneezing or other cold symptoms so maybe it is viral, not pinkeye at all? Feel better
5 Likes
Everything looks great and thanks for showing a pic of your fennel & pomegranate aril salad!
1 Like
You’re very welcome. Finishing that bowl of salad for lunch as I type this
2 Likes
Dinner last night was a second thanksgiving meal, but turkey-less this time.
My friend made rack(s) of lamb crusted with mustard, garlic, and herbs as the centerpiece, accompanied by the usual sides of mashed potatoes (2 kinds: butter & olive oil), roasted Brussels sprouts, zaatar-roasted carrots, sausage stuffing (Ina Garten), white gravy, and an endive and celery leaf salad to cut through the richness of everything else.
Dessert was the NYT recipe for self-saucing chocolate cake, prepared by my friend’s 15yo.
We started with some of the beet-cured gravlax I made, but my friend’s husband loves it for breakfast so insisted we put it away and eat it for the day-after breakfast 
Still, everyone snuck a few pieces between my slicing it and it being packed up and put away.
The lamb was wonderful, as were the vegetables. The cake was delicious, I’ll have to try making it myself soon.
It was quite lovely to be a guest for a change, and sit and chat and watch and be taken care of instead of doing much of the heavy lifting myself. (I did help serve and clear up, of course, but that’s basic minimum engagement.)
22 Likes
NICE house wines! Dinner looks wonderful!
4 Likes
I bought some as backup 
2 Likes
What a feast!
1 Like
(post deleted by author)
Yeah, the NP told me pinkeye could be bacterial or viral. I think this is viral as the drops didn’t really make a dent.
Beautiful meal. Good you got the chance to let someone else take care of you for a bit.
3 Likes
Not the prettiest looking plate of food, but boy oh boy it was tasty 
Fried ham steak and leftover gratin Dauphinoise smothered in beef shank gravy/sautéed romaine with garlic and cherry tomatoes.
20 Likes
Reminds me of an old friend who has gone on to that big vineyard in the sky, RIP, his house wine was Opus One!!!
3 Likes
