Turkey. God I love that smell, and the coziness the house gets when the windows fog over for all the moist, tasty air from the kitchen.
I am a baker. There is no doubt. It's my schtick. I know and love a lot of chefs, but I'm just not creative that way. I like recipes, tried and true. And I love that my very very first pie, and not an easy one (a lattice-topped cherry pie) came out frickin perfect. Bliss...
I've been angsting about Tday prep for a few days, but have come way down after a helpful hand and soothing words from a kind lady. Thank you, Nice Lady (in the best Jerry Lewis Nutty Professor voice you can produce.)
Menu planned
To do lists listed
Recipes printed and ready
Shopping list waiting for my credit card
I've been quiet for a while of late - taking a much needed internal reorganzing and rebreather. I'll post more regularly soon. So many things on the front burners these days. Lots of ideas, and plans. Giddy. More later.
Another season has passed, and it seems, so has another band member.
All the best, Allan. Hope you find your new path with happiness.
What's next? The future...
We're 80% there folks, just working on appetizer spreads and one dessert.
Macy's Day Parade sippings (at least the chef will be):
--Pumpkin Liqueur Cocktail
--Cranberry Daiquiri
Appetizer:
--(In)famous Duffy Relish tray
--something crunchy/toasty with a spread (red pepper, mushroom?)
Main Course/sides:
--Thyme-Roasted Turkey with Fresh Thyme Gravy
--Cornbread Dressing with Oysters
--Chestnut-and-Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing
--Tart Cranberry-Orange Sauce
--Oceanspray Jellied cranberry sauce
--Mashed Irish potatoes (or somesuch)
--Mashed sweet potatoes (or somesuch)
--Clover Leaf Bread Rolls
--Green beans with shallot something or other
Dessert:
--Quinn Duffy's pumpkin pie
--a berry pie with crust from scratch (if I dare)
Wine:
--tastings from Navarro's 2004 Winter shipment (2003 Gevurtz, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon)
A nice lunch with Mom, then a Le Creuset hunt in South San Francisco.
A shared bottle of wine pouring over Bon Appétit and Sunset magazines.
A menu planned, delegated, and several copious lists put together.
I think I'm ready to host Tday. Lord love a duck.
An early Sunday morning, a flatware hunt, and success. Shiny. Deep spoons.
A hasty retreat from a matineé. Kids are bright and cute, but toxic.
Peanut butter smeared on a pancake. Naughty but nice.
An evening blowing things up, a walk in the clear darkness, a birdie.
Not a bad weekend at all.
f.u.b.a.r. = Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition
Well, I'm entrenched in a depression of sorts. On the way to work I was numb until NPR told me that 11 states voted to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage. 8 of those want to ban the creation of legislation supporting civil unions, and 3 of them want to ban creation of domestic partnership beneift laws in their states (Arkansas, Michigan, and another I can't remember.) Newly (re)elected Christian Republicans are all over the airwaves talking about how they'll use their Faith to guide them in their policy-making decisions. I cried on the way to work this morning. Not good during a morning commute.
I went to work early to get this off my mind today. But it's not working.
Duane - expect the need for a lot of hugs for the next few weeks. I'm going to wrap myself in my security blanket of denial and marvel that I'll be 37 years old before Bush is out of my life for good. The only light at the end of this tunnel is that at least by then, the Bush family can no longer lead their personal, private wars against the leaders of countries that hold some sway over the oil industry (and pretend it's all about something else.)
Enough. I need to zen out now. Denial, at least temporarily, can be a bandage of sorts.
Adam