11/22 with tony being in town, we had to make our requisite stop at ford's fish shack for dinner! they make the most amazing grilled salmon. a perfect sear on the outside that adds a little snap when you bite into it. with the center being an ideal medium rare. i am amazed at how they get this beautiful fish so perfect every time we come here!!! i had mine on their chopped salad. a bed of cabbage and romaine tossed with cranberries, corn and an herbed ranch dressing. i never would have guessed this combination of flavors would be so delicious!
11/23 it's thanksgiving eve!!! i've been busy in the kitchen all day prepping for tomorrow's feast. and we officially have no room in our fridge. so tony and i skipped over to ice house to meet some friends for a pre-holiday meal. this place is old-school classy. dark paneling with forest green decor. live jazz bands. a manhattan that can't be beat. and oysters! i splurged and had the oyster's rockefellar. so wonderful!!! not the cheapest place in town, but definitely good for a night out!
11/24 oh the most blessed wonderful nigh of the year!!!! the night of giving thanks. of enjoying a meal with friends and family. THANKSGIVING!!!!! once again tony and i opened our doors to anyone who was looking for a night of good conversation and massive amounts of food!! to keep people's stomach's from growling while the turkey was finishing it's roasting time, i laid out a table of appetizers. a cranberry cheddar cheese ball served with green apples. spinach stuffing bites. a spicy red pepper jelly and goat cheese dip. and my personal favorite this year? sweet potato tater tots with a bbq ranch dipping sauce. so tasty!!!
for dinner we had enough food to satiate a small army. which is how it should be! mashed potatoes, bourbon sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, corn, green bean casserole, apple hawaiian bread stuffing, a mushroom gruyere tart, brussels sprouts. and of course.....macaroni and cheese!!!! and those are just the sides!
a thanksgiving isn't thanksgiving without roast turkey. and i was so happy with how this year's bird turned out! tender and juicy. with a hint of sage and thyme. i alway panic that the turkey will be dry. so far i've had the best luck with brining the night before, and then rubbing herbed butter under the skin of the turkey while it roasts. and this bird was definitely a success!!! as good as the turkey was though, i know my audience. and i know they are ham people. so we had tender slices of honey slow-roasted ham as well! oh and the fresh made yeast rolls. just to have that smell in the house when people walk in, makes it worth the trouble of making them!
i have to give my thanks for all this wonderful food, and for the joy i have sharing with my friends and family. those that were here, and those that were not!!!!
11/25 holy leftovers. my fridge is a mountain of tupperware. in trying to work my way through the chaos, i made a simple (and wonderful) meal tonight. dicing the leftover ham and mixing it with the leftover macaroni and cheese. such a perfect combination!
11/26 gluttony: habitual greed or excess in eating. see also: "luther fest". have you heard of the luther burger? the monstrosity that is a cheddar bacon cheeseburger served with a krispy kreme glazed donut as the bun? oh yes....it exists.....and oh yes.....it is as absurd as it sounds. our friend and neighbor chuck decided to honor this urban food legend years ago and hosted a dinner where he served one to all the guests. rumor has it the entire party succumbed to epic food coma within an hour. and thus a tradition was born.
annually, chuck hosts "luther fest". a party where luther burgers are only the beginning. guests are encouraged to bring outrageous dishes that utilize twinkies, spam, bacon, more bacon, velveta and any other processed food you can think of. and if it can be fried? there are two deep friers ready to go at a moment's notice!!! i admit my weakness, i can only have 1/4 of one of these burgers, and then i'm out for the count. but i have seen some amazing acts of chowing at these events!!!
11/27 *sigh* it's back to facing the fridge of leftovers again tonight. after a few moments of reflection, i opted to go for a simple sandwich tonight. starting with one of the yeast rolls, i spread a little of the pepper jelly-goat cheese spread on each side. and then placed a few delicate pieces of turkey in the middle. i'm not sure which is better.....thanksgiving? or the thanksgiving leftovers????
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