Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours. If you're reading this at all you're either from somewhere outside of the good old U.S.A. or you've ordered your gourmet Thanksgiving feast direct from Safeway and you're killing time until you get to go pick it up. Either one doesn't sound like such a bad idea because quite honestly, like most foodies, I've been planning for weeks and cooking for days and now the moment of truth has arrived and the food better be good. Isn't that what it's all about? Erma Bombeck said it best "what we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"

I'm not going to bore you with the long list of things I'm thankful for - actually, the first one is in the kitchen right now ripping the bones out of the turkey and taking pictures as he gets the job done. There she goes, bragging again! Oh, and if this holiday should seem a little redundant to my Canadian readers, just think - you'll have your Christmas menu all taken care of by the time you get to the bottom of the page!

After all a menu's the only thing I have to show you this morning because, as you know, J'Bug's Kitchen Antics works in real time so I can't brag about another thing yet. Tune in tomorrow and there'll be plenty of pictures and recipes. Actually I'll likely stretch this all out for a few days because for sure we'll be eating leftovers for at least that long. 

Sweet Potato Soup with Maple Syrup

Braised Stuffed De-Boned Turkey

Madeira Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Cranberry Pecan Stuffing

Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate and Vanilla Butter

Angel Biscuits

Kumquat Cranberry Compote

Pumpkin Charlotte

For the record, the cook maintains artistic license just in case something terrible happens in the kitchen. If it does, it would only be history repeating itself. I once dropped a perfectly cooked bird flat on the floor while taking it out of the roasting pan. Needless to say the turkey didn't require a lot of carving.

Another time my sister and I were making turkey gravy when the guy in the apartment next door banged on the wall. Hard to believe, but I guess we were making too much noise. Of course we immediately thumped back our "love you too" message and the "oogie" dusty grate above the stove fell off the wall and landed smack in the gravy. Note to self - remember to give thanks for the 5 second rule.

Good thing I didn't have a dog either time which gives me another thing to add to my "thanks" list. Thank goodness the Maxer dawg didn't take to the Pepto Bismal because we may be using it ourselves in a little while. Gotta run. May your day be filled with love, laughter, great food, happy memories... and/or all of the above.

Comments

[Nanan]

Love love love your house!!! The landscaping makes it - that tree that grows up and away from the house with no leaves - I think frames it perfectly! I would want to live across the street to see it every day! HAHAHA I would be thankful for that! Now for the menu - OH MY - I think you may have out-done yourself!!! Sounds yummy yummy in YOUR tummy! Since I am here and you are there! We are going really casual so I am not slaving in the kitchen - ha! The gumbo was already made by my sister! I just have to cook rice. The pork roast is marinating - about to pop that in the oven... all in good time... life is great. I am thankful... for you!

[June]

Lea - I'm thankful for you too my friend, and agree that life is GREAT! I have to admit that's last year's picture. The ocotillo you mention is flying a toilet paper flag at the moment, and it's much bigger! Ha. Now you've got me craving gumbo and pork roast - oh yummer. Wish we were across the street from each other right now. I'm making biscuits and gravy for breakfast and we'd share

[Tom @ Tall Clover]

Thankful for the two to three pounds I acquired trying out your fine recipes!

[June]

Happy Thanksgiving Tom. We're thankful for you, your recipes, beautiful photo's and prose that nourishes our souls until we can get back to the Northwest we love.

[pam]

Happy Thanksgiving!!

[Nanan]

Is that a javelina in your yard? with her babies? I swear it looks like a javelina in front of the bougainvilla!

[June]

Shhh - the big guy went hunting for it. Ha.

[Mags]

Happy Thanksgiving and I love you.

[June]

Ditto Mags. I'm thinking about you with your house full of family and all the cookin'! Enjoy yourself and try and delegate some, OK?