The obligatory and time-honored left over supper; games of dominos and Continental Rummy; Law and Order; now on my third steeping of Canton Tea Co. Jasmine Pearl tea made with Silver Needle white tea. Favorite with my kids and meditation group.

Turkey tackled.
Side dishes summarily dispatched.
Gravy gorged upon.
Pies plundered.

Tryptophane coma.

Stuffing made- much wreckage ensued.
Turkey rinsed, warmed, stuffed, trussed, buttered, and roasting.
Giblets simmering.
Livers sauteed and nibbled.

Kitchen a shambles. This is what sons are for.

Vegetables next.

Last night the house smelled of cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, pastry, and apples. At the moment it smells of coffee, sage, Herbes de Provence, and sauteed celery, parsley, and onions. And is there any better foundation to good food than sauteed celery, parsley, and onions?

I love feast days. :-)

One son home for Thanksgiving this year. No other guests, so it will be a laid back day.

So far: (3) pies made, two pumpkin, one apple-- we're doing Leftover Night with friends Friday.
(1) turkey soaking in brine

Other ingredients staged and ready to go.

Since I will be away from the computer all day tomorrow, happy turkey day to my American friends!

There will be only 3 of us eating, so we are just doing a ham. This is probably the simplest Thanksgiving meal I have put together in years...honey and pepper ham, stuffing, the sweet potato casserole thing for Hubby, cranberry sauce from a can(gasp!), mashed potatoes/gravy and just fruit salad for dessert. Hubby has made several pumpkin cheesecakes in the past weeks for "practice" and we are all tired of pumpkin desserts now. Oh, and I am going to try making that middle-America staple, green bean casserole, for the first time.

Yeah, yeah, I quite realize that a green bean casserole with canned cream of mushroom soup and French's fried onions is probably something that all foodies should flee screaming away from. But Hubby loves traditional middle-America food, and since his dear mother passed away few years ago he has been making puppy eyes at me to cook his favorites instead. So I have learned to make sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, rice pudding, and fruit salad with orange jello and whipped cream. Rather alien to somebody raised on kimchee stew. I can deal with curry paste and sambal. But what the heck do you do with that gelatinous goopy mushroom soup from a can? The answer, scary enough, is EVERYTHING. XD

After stuffing ourselves, we will spend the rest of the day sitting in front of the TV, playing board games and calling up far away family and friends. Boring probably, but I like my quiet life with the boys, out here in the boonies.

What are you ladies cooking?