We hosted Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday - Husband and I, our two daughters and their guys, our two grandchildren (7) and (2), two sisters, one brother-in-law, one niece, one great-nephew, one cousin about to join his wife and baby son in Moscow, and one neighbour friend. We switched the living and dining room furniture to accommodate everyone around the table. We had sun and shirtsleeve weather. So we visited outside and in the porch before and after dinner.
I had snacks/light lunch waiting at 2:00 pm: a bowl of seasonal fruit and a platter of dried fruit and nuts, a cheese and cracker board plus a variety of nachos and flatbread with antipasto, a plate of raw veggies, plus a stunning loaf-shaped pie with a chestnut mushroom onion sage and cranberry filling. Beer, wine, tonic, pellegrino, juice, limes etc for drinks.
Then for the dinner feast:
A 23.5 lb beautiful turkey, savory stuffing, gravy (proclaimed 'epic' this year)
Individual baked savory stuffings for vegetarian sister and daughter plus a large casserole of the delicious sweet stuffing for everyone (butternut squash, maple syrup, onion, sage, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, dried bread cubes, vegetable broth: yummy!)
Mashed potatoes
Sister's roasted veggies and tahini sauce, and her green beans and almonds
Daughter's new wonderful beet salad plus her kale recipe to which we added to my garden chard
Cousin's fab salad and dressing
Neighbour's little biscuits and butter
Other sister's pumpkin pies and whipped cream
Niece's lemon squares and incredible vegan hazelnut cookies
On Tuesday, I made broth from the carcass so the freezer is stocked and ready for soups and stews. Meanwhile, I don't have to cook for the rest of the week because there are so many leftovers. Well, Wednesday I did make my mom's easy leftover turkey casserole which we will finish tonight: layer turkey, leftover veggies, potato and/or stuffing; pour on the leftover gravy/broth and put in hot oven; when bubbling, unroll Pilsbury crescent roll dough and cover casserole; bake as per crescent roll directions. Husband and I just got over bad colds so I am all for an easy week. Otherwise everyone is fine, including our son's family out in Victoria. Mom is having a few health issues. But she is getting some physiotherapy this week and we hope she will be fine soon. Of course, she is 98. We also heard from our Thanksgiving friend who moved to live with her family in St. Lucia a few years back. She is 95, and still remembers to get in touch with us every year. We all have fond memories of sharing Thaksgiving with her. That is what Thanksgiving is for, isn't it? Sharing the bounty.
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