It's Thanksgiving this week in US pixie world. In honour of the day, feel free to share recipes and enjoy hearty debate about important matters such as "Cranberries: Whole or Jelly?"
How is your week shaping up?
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Sue! Thanks for hosting!
Here are all of my Thanksgiving tips from this year (most of them are squash related):
- Butternut squash makes a better "pumpkin" than actual pumpkin for pie, and it's a billion times easier to prepare and cook.
- If you're using canned pumpkin for pie, throw the puree in the blender before you use it: it turns out way better that way.
- Roast your turkey upside down for most of the time, and then just flip it up to crisp the skin near the end. Then the juices will run through the breast meat while the turkey cooks.
Whole berry sauce is the only way. Although, my dad really wanted slices of the jellied stuff, and called normal cranberry sauce "sticks and stones."
I'm just taking some parts to the feast at son's future inlaws' house -- sweet potato gratin; veg/dip appetizer platter; some kind of chocolate dessert.
Thanks for your support on the problems my friend the caregiver is facing. There's been some movement by the younger adults, but still a pretty awkward weekend.
Kathy: may I suggest a cranberry sauce compromise, for those who can't agree between whole cranberry sauce and jellied? Check out Alton Brown's cranberry sauce recipe, which is a whole cranberry sauce that sets in a jelly mold.
Since I'm not hosting, I need not mediate the cranberry sauce opinions. :) Although last year, there were 2 kinds of chunky: regular and spicy.
There will be 22 people at dinner, and the kitchen is not so large -- so the preparation involves some hilarious choreography in the kitchen! Oven, stove, counter, and fridge space are all at a premium.
Usually, two of the future FotB's best lifelong friends are there with their families -- which is just great. The stories!
Cranberries: cranberries and whole oranges, put through the old fashioned grinder. Some sugar. It's that or nothing. Anything jiggly is right out for me.
We'll be heading out to my parents' house tomorrow sometime. Which is great, except too many people in too few square feet for too many days. Sweet is already acting out.
Today: glasses adjusted, tree trimmers finally got here and did a nice job, plumbers arrived and replaced garbage disposal with no problems. Floors swept and mopped. Now I think we're going to get started on the Christmas tree, since we won't get back till Saturday and will need to have everything in place for a Open House the following Sunday.
Thanks for hosting the U.S. Thanksgiving festivities, Sue!
We are old skool "no tree until 2 weeks before Christmas" people, and also we have cats, so this sounds very early to me, Esperanza! Wishing y'all luck and calm on the trip.
I keep looking at the news, and it is not making me feel any better about this election thing.
Cooking might help.
Look at all those accomplishments, esperanza! Huzzah!
I'm so jealous of all the pixies that get to put up trees after US Thanksgiving. My family has a rule (which we have continued) that trees don't go up until after my birthday (December 8th). I want to put up our big Christmas tree! But I bought such a big one that I really shouldn't do it too early!
Mr. Q's "QWP Catching Him Up on Today's News" session today (he doesn't have time to follow much news lately) involved a lot of me shouting and throwing my arms in the air and substitutes for swear words. It's a stressful time to be a German historian, you guys.
Point of clarification: it is a significantly more stressful time to be a member of pretty much any marginalized group in the US, and I am in a privileged position to be watching this from another country.
Our tree generally goes up the first Sunday of Advent which is this Sunday. However, this is the first year we've had the kittens and they are very curious, not to mention destructive. We may hold off a week or two...
In particularly kitten-intensive years, we used table-top trees. Although I'm not sure that helped a lot, since they still sparkle and are laden with toys; but there was less to fall over.
W: I did not present myself at my most mature today, when the first issue of a magazine I renewed for my SIL arrived at my house instead of her facility. Do they not understand "gift" subscriptions? Anyway, they assured me that by *February*, they'll start getting it to her actual location. And then they wanted her email. The email for my SIL who has dementia and cannot manage anything at all -- that's the part where I got less patient, needing to explain that again.
Um, that's not the only reason I'm wearing the cranky-pants this season... But they cramp my ability to muster patience and grace.
Ugh, kathy. It's more difficult to deal with the everyday garden-variety annoyances when the world has gone mad.
I was listening to a podcast on the way into work this morning and the hosts and guest were talking about the grief of the nation in the US. I've heard those words a lot in the past few weeks. How sad that a presidential election results in a nation's grief. It breaks my heart and infuriates me at the same time.
Sending hugs to everybody.
Actual neo-Nazis met openly in an actual government building and had a banquet at an actual restaurant not 30 minutes from my house.
They actually asked the question of are Jews even human out in the open, with the knowledge that they were being filmed by an actual news outlet.
They actually said, "Heil Trump". They actually did Nazi salutes.
This happened. And one of them is Chief Strategist to the President-Elect.
I was so hoping that my fears of a country run by Trump were overblown. Apparently, they may have been underblown.
On the question of cranberries, whole berry sauce with dinner, and on top of the vanilla ice cream on warm pecan pie. Canned for the next day on sandwiches.
T'giving is at my SIL's. I'm bringing the gravy, the stuffing, and the (pumpkin) pie. I may do a pecan pie, too, but there's only six of us for dinner I think.
If my BIL's family is coming, I will definitely do two pies.
I've noticed that many regard pie as a perfect breakfast food, so there is no down side to variety. ;)
Yeah, that "feeling better" part that is supposed to come with time passing after a horrible event? Not really happening so much....
What's to feel better about?
Hugs all around. So many hugs.
Liz!!! Cranberries on the ice cream which is on the pecan pie!!!! That wins everything. And yes, pie is obviously breakfast food. :)
I wish I could take credit for the idea, but it was my other BIL (my sister's husband), who makes an incredible bourbon pecan pie, that introduced this concoction to our family.
I feel it works best with a basic whole berry sauce, but I'm in the minority in my family. The majority like it best with an orange/ginger whole berry sauce.
Variety is the spice of life!
Hugs, Liz. I heard about that same event, and spent the evening clattering around the kitchen, and occasionally shouting, "ACTUAL NAZIS!" And the media mainstreaming/whitewashing of these people is beyond troubling.
I want that cranberry/ice cream/pecan pie very badly.
W: terrible night. I coughed until 1:30, and then E woke up screaming because of her clogged nose and coughing at 4:40. We're both wiped today. I'm still in my pyjamas.
AW: at least we didn't need to be anywhere today. And I'd had the foresight to make Mr. Q sleep in his office/spare bedroom, because he was going to need to write essays until late, and I didn't want him waking us up. It ended up working in his favour, because he wasn't awaken at 4:40, and then he didn't wake us up when he got up for work. And so we all had a better night than it could have been.
QWP, sorry for the continued bleh in your house. It's great that you have the extra office/spare room in the house so everyone can get at least a bit of sleep on rough nights.
Warning: If you don't want your brain to explode, don't follow the live updates of the meeting between the PE and NYT. It's fireplaced up. Asked about the Nazi conference, he said, "I disavow and condemn them."
That's it. That's all he has to say about it.
Fireplace.
AW: Lunch is over, I'm on my way to have tea with a nice lady.
Given his unending ranting at Hamilton, SNL, the Khan family, the former Miss Universe, ad nauseum, that's a bit.......telling.
OMG I love the cranberry sauce on pecn pie idea.
A question for you all, because you'll know.
Does pecan pie have to be refrigerated? I usually haven't (I think), but it is kind of an eggy custard, so now I'm not sure. With all the fake news stories on the web, I can't decide who to believe on this. ;) Then, decided I would believe you all. So..... what do the pixies think?
:)
I don't recognize our country. Realized that PE has a resemblance (perhaps my imagining) to the dictator in Hung3r G@mes. That is not a good thing. Wish I could say it is unbelievable about the meeting with actual nazis. terrifying.
I think we pixies should run the country!
--Neighbor Lady
I agree we pixies should run the country.
My feeling is Pecan Pie does NOT need to be refrigerated. I mostly feel this because none of my local grocery stores have it in the refrigerator case.
But store pies might have preservatives, and home pies have eggs. I'd lean toward refrigeration until a few hours before pie time, maybe a little reheating in that over that's already hot.
*oven.
See, that is why pixies should rule. We can self-correct.
We won't propose constitutional amendments against whatever pie storage decision is made within a family.
We condemn neither the jelly, nor the whole berry, nor the only with orange, nor the must have ginger beliefs within our community.
The turkey, the lasagne, the torfurky among us -- whatever works, friends.
All types of foods welcome!!! From all parts of the globe! And not just "tolerated", but celebrated!!!
(Of course, that's me, and if you lean toward vegetarian or vegan, I still love you and celebrate you too!!!)
:) Neighbor Lady
p.s. Neighbor Guy also said that pumpkin pie doesn't need refrigeration due to presence in grocery stores, but I always thought it did, so now am confused about that as well. Good point about preservatives.... hmmmmm........
maybe we should take a (I hate to use the word) poll on that too.....
Internet research says homemade custard pies (ie pumpkin), and pies with eggs in the filling must be kept in the fridge (and then can be reheated to eat, if you like your pies warm). Either can be stored in the fridge for up to four days. Fruit pies do not need refrigeration.
And there are a lot of articles devoted to the question of why store bought pies aren't refrigerated! And the answer is: preservatives, as was already guessed.
I have left homemade pumpkin/butternut pies out for a day or so after baking -- until they are sliced. Then it is totally time to find fridge space. Pecan, not much experience there.
We almost got a photo of the dog and the elder cat snuggling, but then the dog got embarrassed and had an important appointment elsewhere.
I just heard via a good friend that there's a call for boycotting T@rg3t because they support communities and *welcome LBGTQ folks*. So, I have put off doing anything about the holiday next month, but believe I might have reason to make a major shopping run next week. Aloha!
kathy, it's good to know that no constitution or charter will need amendment in the matter of Piegate. :)
When in doubt, refrigerate. When a great big turkey is taking up all the space in the fridge - it's more important to chill that bird than to chill the pie.
The shopping boycott on the part of the haters will be as ridiculous as their protest of St@rb^cks, where they showed up in droves and bought expensive coffee to protest the expensive coffee shop. Ummmm..... :) Likewise, the more they protest T@rg$t, the more community supporters, LGBTQ folks and their friends and family will shop there.
Falalala
Or, the ridiculousness of people calling for a boycott of H@milt0n, which will MAYBE result in three more tickets being available for fans in the next three years.
W: I got to be the parent with the screaming child at preschool dropoff today, to the point that she was late for school. I really thought she'd recovered enough to go to school, and she was happy the whole way there (and excited because they were having a special costume day), but we arrived just after another kid got to press the door buzzer to be let in, and I refused to close the door and let her press the button a second time (because running to buzz everyone in takes up a lot of time for the teacher and EA, and it was freezing outside). So: screaming meltdown in the stairwell. I came very close to turning around and taking her home, but I correctly guessed that it would be easier for her to see her teacher and cheer up for school than for me to drag a screaming costumed child all the way home. (Did I mention that we had freezing rain last night, and the whole world is slippery?)
AW: I'm home alone.
QWP -- My kids used to fight over who got to press the elevator button! Sometimes I let them both press the button.
(((QWP))) I hated those mornings with a passion.
Here is a joke that I heard at my church auction on Saturday (Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Sterling).
"How many UUs does it take to change a lightbulb?"
"We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb. During next Sunday’s service, we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted; all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence."
Alternate answer:
"None. We believe the lightbulb is beautiful and valid just as it is and welcome it to be its full self here"
Holy guacamole, there are lots of them!
Q. How many UU’s does it take to change a light bulb?
A. One, who will affirm the rights of all bulbs to screw into the sockets of their choice, regardless of the bulb’s illumination preference.
______________________________________________
Q: How many UU’s does it take to change a light bulb?
A: This statement was issued: “We chose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that a light bulb works for you, that’s fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship with your light bulb and present it next month at our annual light-bulb service, in which we will explore a number of light-bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life, or any additional non dark resources-all of which represent equally valid paths to luminescence.”
______________________________________________
Q: How many UU’s does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Nine: A representative from the Green Sanctuary task force to approve the bulb type and wattage, three members to form a committee “for” the change, two to form a committee to research the history of past bulb use, a member of the Property Committee to check the building use schedule, & locate the ladder, the custodian to change the bulb and the minister asks, “Could we have a volunteer from the Hospitality committee support them in their efforts by making some coffee?”
______________________________________________
Q: How many Unitarians does it take to change a light bulb?
A. Unitarian Universalists accept and affirm that not everyone may find light bulb-oriented illumination useful, or even believe in electricity or the Electric Company. But we will support each and every individual’s search for illumination both on and off the grid.
(((QWP))) Those mornings are rough. As is freezing rain. :(
Lol, Liz!
W: We also have a mix of snow and freezing rain today, making driving a challenge. I have an appointment later on today to have my snow tires put on. Between now and then, I have to get to the hospital and visit my MIL because she's feeling abandoned/angry/sad and my FIL now has a full-on chest cold and can't get out of bed. I'm just hoping I get the car to the garage in one piece!
LOL, Liz!
W: I had to go to the dreaded supermarket, so I went early. All the carts were gone on the side where I parked -- this place has 3 megatons of carts. AW: Got almost everything. And, it will be much worse there this afternoon.
AW: Daughter's work gave everybody a pumpkin pie!
Liz, thanks for the laughs!
:)
Sue, hope the snow tires go on smoothly, and sending a message to the universe to give your in-laws a break already!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
-Neighbor Lady
Yesterday, the daughter of my elderly neighbor called -- she lives a distance, and he was complaining of pain, and his wife was out, so I went and sat with him a while. These neighbors are so lovely! (He's OK, they think; except for the dementia part.) Anyway, the daughter just brought us a tart! And my daughter is actually bringing 2 pumpkin pies home. We are your all-pie, all the time outlet. ;)
I think I still need to bake the brownies, because my daughter needs chocolate, and isn't into the usual pies.
I have to grocery shop for a few things. Tonight. Because when I tried to go yesterday after picking Teen Boy from scouts, he begged to go straight home. Because he had to go #2 and he do that in public and he was about to explode from holding it in all that time.
I love how 15 yo's still give their mother potty issues. /:
On the up side, Miranda -- he told you the truth! Best with the shopping extravaganza.
It is a good thing I'm not hosting, because I'd probably just say "fireplace cleaning," but still have a freakout. INSTEAD, the dip is made, the veggies ready to cut tomorrow, my recipe for a side dish is intact and ingredients aligned, and cupcake-sized brownies are in the oven.
Cupcake sized brownies...... brilliant!!!
--NL
The hospital visit was difficult, but she was genuinely glad to see me. She's confused and frustrated and didn't understand why FIL wasn't there.
Got the car to the garage...very slowly. It was tough driving. Courtesy car took me home. They were running behind schedule and mine was the last vehicle on the list (by my request), so I told them I could wait until this morning to pick up the car. I thought the woman running the service desk was going to hug me!
I'm glad that it worked out so nicely for you and the garage, Sue! What awful, slippery conditions we've been having. And so many hugs about the hospital visit, and the in-law situation.
Happy Thanksgiving to the US pixies! I hope you are all having a wonderful day, with non-stressful family and friends, and full of good food. I'm roasting a bunch of pumpkins in your honour today. (I'm tempted to make pumpkin pie. I will likely only get as far as pumpkin pasta today.)
I'm smiling right now. I spent the first part of E's quiet time weeding out all the outgrown clothes (but particularly the outgrown dress clothes), because I'm needing to get together a big donation to the local outreach immediately (big demand for warm coats and boots, and for holiday dress clothes right now). I was surprised to realise that E's closet was nearly empty once I eliminated all the small clothes (big growth spurt lately), and started wondering what E would wear to her Christmas concert and parties this year. But then I remembered to check the hand-me-down drawers in the basement: this past summer I received another shipment of hand-me-downs from my friend (whose mother loves bargain shopping, and who gives each of her grandchildren enough clothes to clothe three kids, and then the clothes from the one girl gets divided among three of us with kids the same age).
It turns out that I had an entire drawer FULL of puffy dresses, all 4T size. Not only do we have something to wear to every event this year (and then to every wedding and church service imaginable after that), we'll be stocking the outreach with Christmas dresses next year again.
Sue, glad that at least your MIL was happy to see you. Continued wishes for things to work out. xoxo
Also, yay for the snow tires! These are completely foreign objects to me, but then again, have not seen those white flakes from the sky very often in person over my entire lifetime.
Woot, QWP! Pass-alongs are a very good thing, especially for growing kids! And yay for other little girls getting lots of dressy choices, too.
Happy National Turkey Sandwich Day!!!
T'Giving at my SIL's was wonderful. Except there wasn't any cranberry sauce...at all. Now I need to go to the store to get some for the Leftovers Sandwich.
I'm so glad the pass-along drawers were all set for E's Christmas dresses, QWP! I love it when clothes become favourites for several families along the way.
Liz, no cranberries??? Is that even allowed?? Enjoy the cranberry sauce on the Leftover Sandwich. Yum!
No cranberries? On purpose?
Such a great Thanksgiving at the almost-in-laws! 2 turkeys (one bbq'd, one from the oven); spinach; green bean casserole (somebody's homemade recipe, not canned soup); dressing; 2 kinds of gravy; mashed potatoes; cheezy potato bake; sweet potato gratin; 2 kinds of cran sauce. That was after the appetizers, and before the dessserts (pumpkin pie; 2 different berry pies; cupcake sized brownies).
Big crowd this year, 22 people. It was nice!
The wedding plans have been kind of stalled since first they need a place, and then a date. My son finally came and asked me to set up a time for him and his fiancee to come look at our community center, which is large enough, nice, has a fenced patio/grassy area adjacent to the hall, industrial kitchen, not required to hire from a set list of caterers, reduced rates for residents (like our family). YAY! They're aiming for early June -- which I hope is still possible!!
Bonus AW: The almost-in-laws live with a former foster kitten of ours! She was a little fluff-ball at our house; and now she is one of the most enormous cats evah. But there were purrs and snuggles when we snuck into her hideout room for a visit.
On purpose. Or maybe not. She was a little stressed.
OK, Liz. I can see that. xoxo
How great about your almost-inlaws and a nice dinner! And a former foster kitty! I hope the wedding plans come together without too much stress.
No cranberry sauce on purpose, I mean. But it just may never have made it out of the fridge because SIL was on call all night the night before. She works in Child Protective Services. She had 2 hours of sleep.
Liz on iPhone
Wow. Standing in awe of your SIL, Liz!
The MotB and I are fired up, ready to go on this wedding thing. As soon as the kids agree on a place and date -- and tell us more of what they want -- it will definitely fall into place. They have a catering friend, so that should take care of most of the food needs. In the family are a semi-pro cake baker and a flower arranger -- although they can go another way if they want! Whatever they want! They just have to decide, already!
It's been a rough week. We found out my mom's transplanted organ (k) is failing (because of her she and cancer she can't get on a list for a new one), my refrigerator got left or popped open and we lost several weeks' worth of groceries and the home-grown heritage-breed turkey I raised myself that was thawing for Thanksgiving dinner, my toddler came down with a horrible stomach virus or food poisoning on Thanksgiving day that meant we had to stay home from the family gathering while she had over a dozen bouts of vomiting over the course of about 10 hours (a couple of others of us had much milder symptoms, which may or may not have been illness-related), then Thanksgiving night we discovered a roof leak that is affecting the wall and ceiling in the outbuilding where the shop/barn and apartment are, my 15yo locked the chickens up and couldn't figure out how to latch the door so just propped a piece of wood against it and something got two of my 6 remaining laying hens, and I am stressing about a few other things, but surprisingly not feeling like breaking down completely yet.
H still hasn't paid the GAL so she can get started yet. He did write a letter to the GAL arguing that I'm incapable of giving the kids the supervision and help they need and transporting them to things, and arguing that because the kids blame me for the separation they should be with him half the time.
The kids are still getting all As and in their honors school and have had 0 tardies, and have not missed any of their activities due to my health issues, so the longer that goes on the harder a time he will have convincing the GAL I'm not capable of handling the kids the majority of the time, I'm hoping.
That should say, all As and Bs.
Oh, pk, I'm so sorry for all your troubles. What a rough week you've had. You are doing an amazing job against ridiculous push-back from STBX. Stay strong and know the posse is with you.
Thanks. Toddler just threw up again, the entire contents of her stomach . . . Down my shirt.
Oh wow, pk. That is so much. So many hugs. (And a clean shirt.) I'm amazed by how you are continuing to get the kids to everything, and keeping up with their schooling and appointments, and all of that, while so much (but especially STBX) has been working against you. I have a feeling that his behaviour toward the GAL -- particularly his refusal to pay thus far -- will work against him in terms of his claims that he's the stable one. And I'm so sorry about your mom. I'll be praying, and I'm sending you more hugs.
((( PK ))) Too much! Sending love. xoxox
Thanks for checking in, pk. I had been wondering about you. I'm sorry you've had such a rotten Thanksgiving, and I'm sorry for all the rest, too.
I"m checking in now that we are back home, complete with the cousin's cold. Mini is a snot factory, and Sweet has a sore throat. I feel pretty good but think I feel it coming on. Thanksgiving was fine. We ate. We had a good time, mostly. Baby cousin is cutest thing ever.
((((PK))))) Sending love and hugs. Standing in awe of your strength during all of this. Xoxoxoxoxoxox
The really interesting thing is how much less stressful life is even in the middle of all this without STBX in the house.
(((((p_k)))) hang in there! Sorry things are so hard, but glad that STBX is not there.
Hugs and prayers that things improve quickly.
kathy- glad the gathering was fun!
((Sue)) sending good thoughts for your inlaws
((esperanza)) sorry about the colds
--Neighbor Lady
Returned from Thanksgiving travels late last night. So glad we went-- was great to see everyone. Have tons and tons of work today though. And thus, I am on the internet.
:)
P.s. husband is planning to make stuffing and pumpkin pie for me today, because the ones at in-laws house had milk (which I can't eat). LOVE stuffing and pie!
Milk in the stuffing? That's uncalled for.
Luzon iPhone
Milk in the stuffing sounds -- weird! Yay, Neighbor Husband, for stepping up.
Actually, it wasn't in the stuffing per se, it was in the bread used to make the stuffing (whey as an ingredient), so made the whole thing not worth it for me to try .....
Yes, our menu for tonight is stuffing, green beans, spinach salad and pie. I can barely explain how excited I am!!!!
:)
Also because I am not making it!
Although that is because I will be working on school stuff all day. :(
AW: daughter made pancakes this morning for us all. And, she put crushed oreos in some of them, which sounds...over the top.... and yet was just right!
(not our healthiest day, but there were blueberries!!!)
-NL
NL, it's still the holiday weekend. My beloved had pie for breakfast. :) Your dinner sounds very healthy and happy.
Pie for breakfast is my plan for tomorrow! ;)
-NL
The news, it sucks.
But today I remembered the "untied way," something made up by a columnist I used to read, and the general idea is: get a wad of cash. Give some to people in need. No strings, just do it. Gave a ten to a sad guy asking for quarters outside the pharmacy, and he hugged me -- so I hugged back. Not a solution. Just -- maybe we both needed that hug today.
Every time he throws a fit, I'm trying to remind myself to look for what he's distracting us from. Which is no less horrifying than the fit, but usually more important.
Baboos back to school! Mini seems somewhat better. Sweet seems somewhat worse. But nobody was running a fever, so off they went, in good spirits.
My to-do list, she is large today.
But giving away some money seems like a good idea. Thanks, kathy a.
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