My mom was a kitchen perfectionist. She had precise ideas as to how most things had to be done, and I never quite was able to live up to those ideals. I never stirred correctly, never measured properly, never quite made anything to Mom’s specifications. I’ve always blamed her for my not learning to be a better cook, but truthfully I never enjoyed kitchen tasks.
Every year as Thanksgiving nears I wish I’d paid more attention to Mom’s directives. Even though I’ve now successfully prepared two dozen or more holiday dinners on my own I still have at least one hiccup in the preparation stage every single time. One year I almost forgot to buy a turkey. Another year I accidentally prepared sweet cornbread as the base for my cornbread dressing. That’s a definite no-no! No amount of sage or pepper could counterract the sweetness. There’s no telling what will happen this year. You see, I’m a bit of an imperfectionist.
On Thanksgiving morning I can always imagine my mom looking down from her perch in heaven shaking her head and saying, “Oh, sis, not like that!” But she’s also probably beaming in amazement that I manage to pull the whole thing off, and that so far no one’s been rushed to the emergency room after one of my meals.
Studly Doright and I wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. May your heart be filled with love and gratitude and your belly filled with good food.
Peace, people!
Thanksgiving Day at Doright Manor
Roast Turkey
Cornbread Dressing
Green Bean Casserole (Studly’s favorite)
Grape Salad (from Chicken Salad Chick-my favorite)
Cranberry Sauce
Deviled Eggs
Yeast Rolls
Pumpkin Pie
Wine
Praying for Eyebrowz 
pefection can be boring – sounds delicious, Happy Thanksgiving to you 🙂
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Looks good! We tried to roast a turkey last year but unfortunately it did a double back flip when we took it from the oven and ended up on the floor. We salvaged as much of it as we could. On the plus side, it scored a perfect 6.0, 6.0, 6.0.
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I’ve come close to having that happen. And the day’s not over yet.
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I’ve got my fingers crossed for you! 🙂
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It went well.
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Phew! Safe for another year. 🙂
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Well, I have to cook again at Christmas. Sigh. Twice a year I have to cook. It’s true what they say about a woman’s work never being done.
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Oh, I’d forgotten about Christmas, but of course you’re right. So it sounds like there may a chance for that double backflip after all.
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Why do I feel like you’re rooting for that? Harrumph.
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No, no, not at all. (p.s. please remember to set the video camera.) 🙂
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👏👏👏
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Expectations are funny things! I never mastered swirling water to rinse a bucket to my grandfather’s expectation. What I excel at is the culinary arts- an arena where no family member held any expectation for me!
This years thanks giving has been entirely my show.
Smoked a turkey, baked and glazed a ham, baked dressing, baked a spinach mushroom cassarole, sautéed portobellos, onions, garlic, and artichoke hearts in a Marsala wine reduction, sautéed asparagus, steamed briccoli, baked yeast rolls, baked a loaf of cracked black pepper and four cheese wheat bread. Gave up and bought a pumpkin pie and a peach pie. Did all this between Sunday and midnight last night. Now we are on our way to my mother in law’s with this shmorgasboard where I will reheat it all before serving it all. Wish me luck!
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Oh wow! I’m impressed! Let me know how it turns out.
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Well… 4 for 5 across the board. The sole dissenter was the cook. Here is my breakdown- turkey was moist and smokey; perhaps the poultry rub was a little to cayenne heavy but no body else complained- the ham: it pays to buy quality! In this case a Neimen Ranch uncured applewood smoked ham. Glazed it with brown sugar, Russian tea spices, and high pulp orange juice- absolutely perfect- spinach mushroom casserole; perhaps a little bland but again no complaints- sautéed asparagus; oops, I used a Vidalia instead of a yellow onion, made the whole thing too sweet for my taste- Ian said it was the best I’d ever made- steamed broccoli; up to standard- garlic knots; fine- four cheese black pepper bread; yum- did not do the artichokes but the sautéed portobellos, onions, and garlic; well that’s where the yellow onion went, slightly bitter- dressing- very good. Have not had any of the desserts yet; maybe later. All in all, a qualified success.
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Yummy! I’m totally impressed. Ours was a very basic meal, but everyone seemed to approve. My pecan pies were really good. I hid a piece away for my breakfast.
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hehehe, I was wondering how you got on with Thanksgiving, knowing your LOVE of cooking lol, sounds like it all went well. My mother was the exact opposite and cook not cook a decent meal (still can’t), like to experiment too much lol………….I still love her dearly but I cook at Christmas!
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Everything turned out great! I’m always amazed when it does.
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Hope it was a good one
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It was wonderful!
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I am sure you are perfect. Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend!
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