Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
I am finally back in DC, cozied up and ready to remember this past weekend. I arrived Wednesday night to an apartment filled with tantalizing food smells, as my sister Alice had already begun preparations for the next day's feast for 14 people. Since it took the bf and I about 6.5 hours to drive in hideous traffic up the NJ Turnpike (it usually takes 4.5), we quickly soothed our pain with some fancy drinks and breakfast sandwiches. This did not bode well for prep work, which was realized in the next day's frenzied cook-a-thon. This is ALSO why there are not as many fabulous food pictures as I may have promised...however, all the dishes were very, very delicious and I am prepared to share all available recipes!
Everyone who came brought something so tasty, fun and heartfelt. AND they were all willing to put in some time chopping pears, peeling lemons or otherwise assisting some crazed Twins in the kitchen.
So I'll cut to the chase...here is what we dined upon!
The Menu de la Casa (what we made):
Salted Roast Turkey with Herbs and Shallot-Dijon Gravy
Sweet Potato and Apple Puree
Lemon Roasted Green Beans with Marcona Almonds
Goat Cheese, Walnut and Pear Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Quick Cranberry Relish
Quick Pickles
Brie slathered with Fig Jam
Algonquin Bar Punch
From Los Amigos (what friends brought- if you read this, please post your recipe in a comment!):
Herb-Rubbed Roasted Leg of Lamb from Kevin
Mashed Potatoes from Kevin
Corn, Cream Cheese and Green Chile Casserole from Sarah
Delicious Cookies from Robert
Various Tarts from Leslie
Banana-Pumpkin Mousse Tart from Becca
Turkey Treats from Renée
Lots of Wine and Prosecco
I think the two stars of the meal were the Lamb and the Turkey.
I am impressed with both Alice and Kevin's ability to just hack apart these various proteins.
Here is Alice in action:
Here is Alice in action:
My predictable but delicious salad:
What it was like to finally sit down:
Ah, I can't believe we ate the whole thing....
The fabulous desserts. Please note the Turkey Treats, which involved Oreo cookies with fudge icing, red hots, cherry cordials (I think) and candy corn. I like how these Turkeys look like they are about to escape from the confines of that tray...only to be gobbled up by guests on a rampage.
Again, apologies for photography- as the day progressed, the level of punch in the punch bowl dropped...not all my photographers maintained their photographic standards (and that mostly applies to me).
Again, apologies for photography- as the day progressed, the level of punch in the punch bowl dropped...not all my photographers maintained their photographic standards (and that mostly applies to me).
And finally, Alice's beautiful rendering of her turkey, before she met him. Brown paper tablecloths + colored sharpies + feast = artistic skillz...
All in all it was a wonderful day that included a ferocious dance party, some kind of game that resembled charades, watching Wall-E and a football game (GO TITANS!) and meeting some new friends. And in my humble opinion, that is what being thankful is all about.