When you ask my mom what her favorite holiday is, she doesn't even have to think about it. The answer has always been & will always be Thanksgiving. She loves the cooking (most of it), the food, the entertaining & especially spending time with family & friends.
We always start off the morning of Thanksgiving by making the stuffing/dressing. My mom & I have the EXACT same conversation each year about the quantity of the vegetables, chicken stock, stuffing & seasoning we use because we never write down the winning amounts. Needless to say, it turns out delicious each & every year! After the stuffing, we then tackle the turkey. This year my mom bought this contraption, it's called a
Nesco & apparently it's magic. It cooks your turkey for you without having to give up precious oven space.
Pictured here: my parents trying to figure out how to work the Nesco.
My mom told me that it's time I learn how to cook a turkey. I grudgingly agreed. I have issues with raw poultry (probably because I've had salmonella poisoning before). But I sucked it up & watched mom my give the turkey the royal treatment. I will now say, I understand the steps, but I just cannot reach my arm into the carcass of a turkey. I'm just can't. Luckily for me, my husband can - so I've once again hit the husband-jackpot!
The bird has been oiled, stuffed, seasoned & is ready to cook. Then we tackle the sides. We make potatoes, spinach Au-gratin (thank you Ina Garten) & cranberry sauce. We know out limitations & buy Ruth's Chris' delicious sweet potato casserole ahead of time. Our guests all bring a dish to share & we finally get the party started.
All-in-all the day was a great success, the table is set & the food is hot. We enjoy a traditional turkey dinner, eating enough to ensure that we will all be sleeping upright as we are too full to lay flat in bed. The only casualty of the day - my left thumb. Note to all readers: CutCo knives are really well made & can slice through anything, including my thumb.
As we enjoy the holiday with family & friends, we think about how grateful we are to have a group of people who, while may not be blood-relatives, they are without a doubt our Madison family. We are thankful to have a beautiful setting in which to enjoy the holidays together & know that as our families grow & change, so will our traditions. We look forward to the upcoming holidays, as it's a way to spend more non-work related time together & to relax & enjoy.
So yes, I wrote another non-real estate related blog post. However, I wanted to give you a glimpse into our traditions. We'd love to hear about yours & we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Holiday Season!
