After all the work and sweat in the kitchen, it was time to enjoy the feast. We had turkey with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, stuffing, green bean casserole, broccoli with cheese sauce, and wonderful rolls fresh out of the oven. We even had homemade gravy! That was the only time I broke my rules of “homemade or dead” and made some more gravy out of a can, and good thing too, because my gravy, which took the longest to make (turkey notwithstanding), ended up being the least tasty of all treats. But it was there, nonetheless. Next time it will be better.
We drank wine (the father had bought a HUGE bottle of rose wine that none of the others wanted to drink (not then, anyway), but I sipped most of it by the time I left three days later). I had started the previous night, while cooking, continued that morning, and settled into the drinking at lunch. I thought the taste went great with turkey. Not many agreed. Oh well, more for me. We told stories (it did get a little morbid when the father talked about his recently deceased wife – I felt really sad for him, it must be hard especially at times like these), praised the food (hihihi) and enjoyed the company. What a great time!!
Two hours later, it was time for desert. The valiant 8 people crew managed to clear the table and clean the dishes in record time, so that when the pies came out, they were well received. Between the 8 of us, we had 5 pies. I had made pecan pie that day (I actually only supplied the recipe and some guidance, Cori’s friend, the other Diana, put in the labor 🙂 with delicious results). The father had bought a lemon pie (again, delicious), our guests had brought a lemon tart, super good and tart, and a pumpkin pie (the black sheep of the evening), and Cori’s bf made a chocolate pudding pie. I put away so much pie, I thought I wasn’t going to get out of that chair. YUMMM – the pink wine went deliciously with that too, I don’t know why others kept insisting on opening one or another red or white wine. I was fine with my hugilistic bottle for the night.
Then it was time for games. Thanksgiving is usually a time when family comes together to celebrate, have fun and rejoice, so of course most families have family oriented games. This Thanksgiving, it was time for me to try Pictionary for the first time – it’s like Sharades (or Mime), but with drawing instead of miming. SO much fun!! Our team lost, which I hate, but we were so close, and so good, I didn’t even mind that much. I was also pretty happy (meaning pretty far gone) by that time, so nothing really bothered me at all. I was all warm and fuzzy inside 🙂
And this concluded a perfect, PERFECT Thanksgiving. Nothing could have made it more perfect – I got to cook, people enjoyed my food, we were together, we played, we drank, and we had an overall wonderful, warm, enjoyable time. A weekend to remember!
Diana Goes to America 