Friday, November 28, 2008

Fabulous Dinner

Does it get any better than our Thanksgiving dinner celebrations? Is there anything more beautiful than that perfectly moist roasted turkey lying in a bed of cornbread dressing, surrounded by a big platter of greenbeans with new potatoes, a huge bowl of mashed potatoes and a side of giblet gravy? The thought makes my jaws ache for wanting more. I can't even think about dessert.

Years ago when I was little, my grandmother was the host for our dinners. She made the most delicious, unforgettable giblet gravy that I have ever drizzled over my mashed potatoes. My mom made the dressing and of course, I thought that my mom did NOT know how to cook, so I wouldn't eat her sage flavored cornbread dressing. What I wouldn't give today to go back and get a bite of her dressing! Besides the usual fare, I remember always having greenbeans that my Grannie had canned that summer, and of all things, we always had store bought Brown and Serve rolls! Store bought rolls were a big thing in our house.

When I married, my husbands mother was the host to our Thanksgiving Dinner. We always ate early, and if the UT/A&M game was in town, we always had tickets and the game was a huge part of our Thanksgiving. However, Dottie was an excellent cook and for many years it was her preference to do all of the cooking.

Today, Dottie's daughter, Gayle, has assumed the responsibility of hosting our dinner. She is a fabulous cook and everything she cooks seems to melt in your mouth. We are always glad to see Thanksgiving getting close so we can feast at Aunt Gayle's house. We try to make it a Pot Luck dinner so we can all share in the fun of cooking.

This year we had a Turkey and a Ham, mashed potatoes, yams, greenbeans with new potatoes, giblet gravy, cornbread dressing and an incrediblly delicious oyster dressing. Someone supplied us with one heck of a delicious salad. Desserts were Pecan Pie, Pumpkin pie, Chocolate Italian Creme Cake, Creamcheese Brownies...coffee, tea.
Someone brought a delicious Red Zinfindal which I need to track down. I am thinking that it was probably expensive. I will get back to you on that one. I was doing too much socializing to check out the label.

The food was superior, but the most memorable part of the dinner was the sharing with friends and family, and always making memories. Barry, Gayle & Sandy, Michelle & Ethan, Ethan's Dad and brother,and mom, Doak, Justin and Stella, my daughter, Sandra and her boys, Luke & Fran, My daughter Kayte and her friend Andy, my son Robin and his friend Michele, me, sheila and my grandson Caleb, Jessica's son.
Diep came later in the evening and so did my son Ben. We couldn't have watched the game without you!!

Hope all of you had too much food and created wonderful memories for the little ones.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

A note to Olivier

Hey...any suggestions for drinks for dinner next Thursday? Something other than Double Martinis to get one thru the day...
I am looking for a couple of bottles of a tasty white wine, or maybe a rose to compliment our Turkey and Dressing and to sate several different paletes.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Election Night! What's for dinner?

It must be something quick so we can sit around the TV and watch the election returns. We have opted out of the Lobster Bisque Choice...and champagne.

My son, Ben, Le Chef,is doing the honor of serving his own version of
Chicken Fajitas wrapped in homemade flour tortillas.

A good dose of Pinto Beans...good for the heart, I am told.

*Potato Salad ala Grace

Avocado slices, Diced Tomatoes, Onions, cilantro and serranos.
Of course, a little dab of sour cream if you wish.

For drinks, we have some juices for the little ones. Sodas, Fosters, Guiness for the bigger kids and Chardonnay for the real adults, since I am the only wine drinker and that is my choice of wines.

Our wonderful potato salad is a family tradition, handed down from my MIL, Grace Wilcox...mother of my 2nd X husband and grandmother to my 3 younger children.
Quickly, the recipe is:
5 Large Irish Potatoes or 10-12 New Potatoes
2 bunches of garden onions
Several sticks of Celery,
Cilantro
Vinegar
Oil
2 packets Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing Mix.
Mayonnaise
Hearty Appetite

After Boiling Potatoes until done...you know what "done" means, don't you?
Peel the skin off and cut the potatoes into chunks.
Sprinkle with Vinegar of choice(I like white, but then I tend to be a bit weird on some things), then a small dose of Vegetable oil.
Sprinkle chopped cilantro and 2 packets of Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing Mix

Refigerate for about an hour.
Fold in about a half cup of Mayonnaise.
Stir it all together and let it set for an hour or so...then eat.
Delicious!


What are you having for dinner/celebration?