Thanksgiving - For Lovers of Culinary Arts

[danaf]

I love Thanksgiving. I love spending time with the special people in my life - eating & drinking (and no gifts!).

Years ago I lived in Sicily (for 5 years). And believe it or not, up near Mt Etna (the volcano), chestnut trees thrive (as do many other types of trees and plants because volcanic soil is very fertile). So we would go chestnut picking and I developed a love for chestnuts. Also, in Italy, around Christmas time, they sell roasted chestnuts on the streets. Just so yummy!

So one year after returning to the States, I decided to try something new. I roasted chestnuts, chopped some up, and pureed some. I put the chopped up chestnuts in with my stuffing and I mixed the pureed chestnuts with my gravy. HUGE HIT. No recipee neccessary for this - just use your judgement. I did it last year for my mother in law and she wants me to do it again this year.

I'm also going to try something new in addition to the chestnut thing.

I'm going to attempt a pumpkin bread pudding. I got the recipee from King Arthur Flour Co. It's going to be alot of work because I'm going to make my own pumpkin bread rather than using regular bread. But I like trying out new things. So tomorrow I'll make the bread. And then Wed. I'll make the pudding. Hopefully it will turn out ok.

[MomIcantFindmy]

Yummmmm!!! Your making me hungry!

We had Turkey with friends last week and she made the best cranberry sauce. I am going to try it later, possibly at Christmas. This Thanksgiving we are going to another friends house. I usually make a low fat gravy by simmering the gizzards and neck in orange juice and apple juice. Then I take all of that and pour it into the pan drippings whisk that around and strain all the big chunks out. Let it sit on the stove until the fat rises to the top and skim it all off. Then whisk in some flour heat it up again and serve. My husband loves the orange and apple flavor with his stuffing.