Friday the 13th

One might think that a posting written on Friday the 13th would be all dark and gloomy, but that is not the case. I had a reasonable day and that is about all I can expect some days :)

Cold and flu season is officially here, and our son has been hacking and sniffling for several days. Of course, I suggested some time ago that proper amounts of sleep, water, nourishment and supplements might help him be well all winter, to no avail. So by the time I left work last night, I was feeling none too well. Throat sore, elevated temperature and general lack of energy. I came home, dosed myself with all the goodies like Echinacea and Goldenseal and Elderberry and went to bed. I pretty much tossed and turned and sweated all night, slept late and felt a bit better today. Thus the reasonable day, ok, but no bells and whistles.

I have not cooked in days. I did make a oil-free banana nut bread the other day, which several people liked and asked for the recipe. I thought it is just ok, but I used homemade chunky apple sauce and some coconut turned out to be a nice touch. I guess I will have to make it again and write it down, as I had the overripe bananas and went from there. It did turn out nice and moist though.

I do not know about you, but I am somewhat dreading the Thanksgiving holiday this year. My house is messier than ever, the yard is a disaster (and we actually had enough hail today that it stayed on the ground looking a lot like snow). I do not even know where to start to get the house cleaned up. When daughter left for CA she left her room in a "state" and it is that way still. I am quite sure I will have to work, some strange schedule and thus will have to prepare a lot in advance. I guess I am just whining...not a pretty thing. Sorry.

We have gotten so far from tradition that our tradition is to try a bunch a new recipes. I do know that we will brine the bird again this year, just a question of the type of brine. It just makes the bird so darned moist, impossible to ruin by over or under cooking. And I suspect the apple-sweet potato bake that is just divine. Beyond that I am clueless. Do take a look at Diane Morgan's Thanksgiving Table Cookbook. It is absolutely wonderful. www.dianemorgancooks.com

Well, I had a few days there when I was just sick. Not sure how I managed to get such an awful cold, but I did. Or maybe it was the flu, though I really did not have flu-like symptoms. But my two days off were spent in bed, trying to sleep. And when I went back to work I was no-where near one hundred percent. Finally, today, Sunday, I am feeling more human.

So, the G-man and I have been debating the bird to cook this year for the festivities. He of course wanted a Diestel Turkey, raised on a ranch in Sonora, CA. I opted for a Shelton Free Range Turkey, also from CA. I can only stretch the food-dollar so far. I think it will be a winner and we will see what next year brings.

So now as to the rest of the menu. My Mother always had bowls of nuts, canapes, olives and carrots and celery on ice. Grandma had enough food to feed 3 or 4 times the number of guests. I just like to get down to the business of dinner. Actually I would love to "entertain" but as the title of this blog is messy kitchen, along with a messy kitchen I have a small oven with only one rack, no counter space to speak of (ok, to be fair, that is because there is too much stuff on my counters), multiple cats that think that any flat surface, like table tops and chairs are theirs and thus anything set upon them is naturally for them. I have discovered that guests do NOT appreciate a cat leaping into their lap and demanding whatever they are having! So until we reduce the flock (unlikely) or move into a bigger house (doubtful) entertaining is out of the question.

See how I digress. The menu, and make it snappy.

No soup or salad. Why waste precious stomach space with such drivel. Thanksgiving dinner is hardly the time to worry about a truly healthy meal. The G-man wishes to make his Fresh Green Bean Saute with Frizzled Leeks. Daughter likes Diane Morgan's Apple and Sweet Potato Casserole. Fresh from the oven Cloverleaf Rolls. Garlic Mashed Gold and White's (Yams and Russets). The Bird. And for dessert, Pumpkin Pie with Brandy and Pecan Pie with fresh whipped cream.