Thanksgiving n'at

Please excuse the wonky font. I give up.

Hi all! Thanksgiving is in two days and I am extremely excited. No, really, I am. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Yes, slaughter of Indians and all. The origin of the holiday is horrible, I will not argue that. But a holiday that requires no buying of gifts? And lots and lots of food with people you love, be they friends or family? That's my kind of day.

And then there's leftovers!

And this is what we plan for our leftovers! Che and Victor will be coming over Friday for those and birthday cake, as it is Che's birthday.

And then! There will be naps followed by Linguine with Clam Sauce and Neighborhood 3: REQUISITION OF DOOM!

So spoiled will I be, two consecutive all day Fridays spent with J, just eating and kicking it. Nice life!

This is what's on the menu for this evening:

Pumpkin and Bacon Soup

from the Whole Beast, Nose to Tail Eating. By Fergus Henderson

Olive Oil
3 Onions, peeled and chopped
3 Leeks, peeled and chopped
5 Garlic Cloves, peeled and chopped
2 1/4 lbs Streaky Bacon
4 Canned Whole Tomatoes
1 Pumpkin, peeled and seeded and cut into 1" chunks
3 Bay Leaves
a bundle of Thyme and Curly Parsley
at least 3 3/4 qts Ham or Chicken Stock
salt and pepper

Ok, Streaky Bacon is a British Thing. I used house-cured bacon from Parma Sausage down in the Strip. (I also got their mild Italian Sausage for Txgiving stuffing...!) And I only used a pound.

Chop bacon and saute in soup pot until fat is rendered. If you have more than a tablespoon of fat or so, pour it off. Add onions, leeks and garlic and saute until soft. Add tomatoes. Either squish up whole ones or use crushed, a generous spoonful per tomato. "Let all this cook down until you feel that they have really got to know each other."

Add pumpkin. Add broth. I used a qt of chicken stock and a couple cups of water. Let it simmer away for about 1/2 hour.

Delicious.

With this we had

Haluski

1 onion
a sprinkle of sugar
1/2 head of cabbage
1/2 package of egg noodles
1/2 stick of butter
2 T caraway seeds (optional. I love caraway, but some people, HI DANA!, do not.)
salt and pepper

Put 1/3 of the butter in a big pot, melt it and add the onion. When the onion is soft, sprinkle it with sugar, this will help the onion to caramelize. After the onion has started to brown, add the balance of the butter and the cabbage. You may need to add the cabbage in stages, if so, add the butter in stages as well.

When the cabbage has started to soften, add the caraway.

Meanwhile, cook egg noodles.

When the cabbage is melty soft, toss with cooked egg noodles, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and VOILA. You have made a traditional Pittsburgh Polish dish.


And as an extra added bonus today, you get Regan's Family's Wicked Easy

Microwave Marmalade

2 oranges, ends cut off and discarded (1 orange usually makes 1 cup chopped)
Equal amount of granulated sugar

Slice and chop the oranges, rind and all, very fine.
Measure the sliced and chopped oranges, stir in an equal amount of sugar. Mix well in a large glass measure, and zap on high for 6 minutes. (Sometimes it take a couple of minutes more)
Stir once during zapping to make sure it's well blended.
While the marmalade cools down on the kitchen counter, stir a few more times to make sure the orange pieces are distributed throughout the marmalade. Cover and refrigerate. Sets up as it cools.

So, my Christmas lights are up, my wreath, the first one I've ever bought! is hung in the window, the lone candle is in the upstairs window and I am ready for Thanksgiving!

Did I say I'm hosting? I'm hosting. My parents, my brother and his wife, J, Regan and my downstairs neighbor. We believe in Pot Luck over here!

And this is what we're having:

A Big Turkey
Oyster Stuffing
Sausage and Apple Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Brussel Sprouts with Walnuts
Cranberry Sauce with Pears and Ginger
Sis in law's Family's Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
Squash
Kielbasa
Salad

Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Homemade Vanilla and Pistachio Gelato
Carrot Cake

And lots and lots of wine.

My brother is doing the turkey. I have been permanently removed from Turkey Duty because I can never get the damn thing cooked on time.

And I will be making that marmalade to have on toast Friday morning!