And no, I will not explain what this all means exactly, because if you don't know, then you don't know! And that's just the way it is!
I LOVE Thanksgiving. Much of my love of Thanksgiving centers around control issues I've harbored since I was a child. For years and years, I'd be served Thanksgiving and just itching to take over and cook the meal the way I wanted. I know this is not the spirit of modern Thanksgiving; but I do argue that the original, controversial, dark, slightly murdery Thanksgiving was filled with the spirit of control issues.
And we all know how much I love a good theme!
I have an entire repertoire of recipes I make each year. Our Thanksgiving crew varies from just us to us plus my glorious in-laws and this year, it's us plus my glorious in-laws and some very fun friends who are like family! I am so excited!!!
Anyway, I love planning and cooking this meal. My family helps the night before with cooking and making a giant creative mess in the kitchen. They actually seem like they enjoy helping; but they might also be afraid of me and lying to my face. Whatever their motivation, they get it done!
Here's what's on our menu:
1. Turkey under the bridge.
It begins with my fresh turkey, purchased from a turkey broker who delivers between 4-5pm under a train bridge less than one mile away. Her name is Amanda. Then, comes the brine and then on the big day, that giant bird is wrapped up in cheesecloth and coated in butter and white wine. I drink some of the white wine, so you know the bird isn't basted in the cheapest of all white wines. It is also not the nicest. It is more like the second bottle of wine, if you know what I mean.
2. Nana's stuffing.
I always make my Nana's stuffing. It is the best stuffing in the whole entire world. I really just want this for dinner; but bread and butter is frowned upon and considered prison food. Anyway, it is so savory and buttery and toss in mushrooms and I don't care if you don't like mushrooms because you can eat around them and be GRATEFUL
3. Thanksgiving Sangria
In addition to the "second bottle of wine white," I make a very boozy Thanksgiving sangria. When we have outsiders, I have to triple the recipe for them and make one single batch for me. It's wonderful and features star anise which makes it seem fancy and elevated. But in the end, the real star is vodka (as usual!).
4. The traditional things with butter.
So, there are mashed potatoes and candied sweet potatoes and creamed corn and green bean casserole. The green bean casserole does not technically contain butter, but I slap some on so it doesn't complain. There are also rolls with butter shaped like a turkey. That turkey butter is a must have and I'd cancel Thanksgiving without it.
5. Cranberry everything
We make homemade cranberry sauce. We buy it in a can. We put cranberries in Bourbon. We shove some on our morning chai pudding (NEW THIS YEAR!). And Nicholas wants to make some retro cranberry fluff and then a cranberry jello mold. It is very festive and tart and sticky.
Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving, from my turkey under the bridge to yours!
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