thanksgiving without a recipe (and two new recipes)

It’s not really about thanksgiving, it’s about giving thanks. It’s got nothing to do with pilgrims and their silly hats or the day before black friday. It’s about the flavors that give you comfort and the people you know will comfort you. It can be big like the event we will go to on this November 27th or small like the tester thanksgiving for two I threw last tuesday to take these pictures.

By no recipe I mean that this year (on tuesday) we had turkey breast because it was on sale but I would’ve been happy with salmon or ham or green bean casserole. I did a dry brine on the turkey breast in the morning and an internet search for cooking times and temperatures thinking I would bake the cheesecake first and throw the rolls in with the turkey at some point.

I made the dishes that mean thanksgiving to me- yours may differ and that is great-one year I made sweet potato casserole with marshmallows because that was what thanksgiving meant to our next door neighbor and this year, on actual thanksgiving, I will make a pecan pie-
straight up no fancy for someone else. For the things I didn’t grow up making -or watch being made-I do use actual recipes because they are out of my wheelhouse. But I don’t need a recipe for gravy or stovetop cranberry sauce (or apple pie) because even if I mess up and put too much water in the cranberries (like I did on Tuesday because I made only a handful just for me) it’s fixable. And if the gravy has a lump or two that’s fixable too (straining is the solution in both cases BTW).
Or you can say lumps in the gravy are a family tradition like my mom did one year.
just remember…
Lumps don’t ruin gravy.
Lumpy gravy (or dry turkey) doesn’t ruin thanksgiving.
Being alone or sad doesn’t ruin thanksgiving either. But gratitude and thanks do help make thanksgiving, and every day, better (It’s science!)

so thank you.

1

Soft and Tender Pumpkin Rolls

Deliciously golden and tender pumpkin milk rolls baked in cast iron if you choose (a baking sheet works too).

Check out this recipe

2

cast iron pumpkin basque cheese

Basque cheesecake with pumpkin- made in a six inch cast iron skillet. perfect for smaller groups and smaller food processors.

Check out this recipe

it turns out that back in 2020 (you remember 2020 don’t you?) I went with the holiday without a recipe theme you can check out that here if you want to make whipped cream in a mason jar (now that we are back to doing the giant thanksgivings again I’ve abandoned the mason jar and returned to the whisk)

3

mason jar whipped cream

all you really need is heavy cream and a mason jar with a lid. things that make it better are a good beat to shake to and some flavors to add.

Check out this recipe