Somewhere in the vast blogosphere, punctuated along the enormous annals of history, reside other of my Thanksgiving Day blog posts. Please don’t assume I’d be sad about this fact, I’m not, at all, really. I know they exist and will endure and withstand the currently blustery, albeit sunny (for which I’m thankful), weather conditions, and, the sometimes harsh tests of time.
Also not sad about the facts enumerated, following, though without numerals preceding, because I didn’t see the option to number my subsequent paragraphs, via my current article-publishing interface.
The fact I’ve once again chosen to be alone for what I thought might be the majority of the Thanksgiving Holiday date. Of course, I’m open to occasional meetings with friends and neighbors, who may or might not become figurative staples in the non-literal, and liberating literary pantry of life’s goodness, indifference, or complete ugliness. Some of my friends may stop by to say hello, enjoy a modicum of imbibement and not drive home, or may been seen at a local carwash, where we’re each preparing to make our appearance at favorite holiday haunts, unlikely for me today, since my expectations of leaving the my residential place today are on-hold at high noon and I’m currently 1 hour 3 minutes passed that of my own prime-times.
The fact I’ve once again chosen to prepare a somewhat traditional holiday meal, including traditionally renowned North American Thanksgiving ingredients, for myself with enough leftovers to share with loved ones, whom I actually do love and admire, though sometimes from a distance. :)
The fact my surviving immediate family is spending this year’s (2021) holiday in the heart of California’s central valley, probably enjoying the wafting aromas of roasting turkey and the exuberant auditory reactions of faithful Dallas Cowboy fans during a traditionally and muchly anticipated holiday game day and a greater possibility of stormy cuddle-up weather than I currently enjoy! Though, cuddling with one of my favorite blankets and pillows, was in my nearer future than I was willing to admit, even during yesterday. Somewhat sadly, I may choose to name the pair of my cuddle partners, but am definitely avoiding utilizing the monikers “stupid and stupider” or “dumb and dumber”, even ;)
The fact that I tentatively agreed to meet with some seemingly newfound longtime friends who might not remember meeting me, long ago and not exactly so far away. ;) None of us have dementia, at least not to my knowledge, and my memory is keen and sharp like a carving knife ready for “the” T-Day bird by some afternoon hour between 2 and maybe 6!
My freakishly fervent knack for recounting my holiday kitchen stories had been somewhat underrated, though highly entertaining… you may remember or you might be joining for the first time, or what feels like the first time, either way, you’re welcome.
The fact I enjoy doing the mashed potato, however monstrous it may have seemed, during some very special occasions. This year, I chose “twerk it out” and cubed the potatoes to add them to a baked dish after a brief period of par-boiling goodness.
The fact that I miss listening to Kasey Kasem during Saturday mornings and hearing him encourage me/us to keep our feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars… sometimes a tremendous distance, sometimes as easily accomplished as doing the pledge or washing the dishes with a certain brand dish soap. Yes, a Sun is a star, too; but it was a star, before other stars became stars, and that my friends is raw, undeniable science.
The fact that I will be including some personally-taken photos of my own personal holiday-centric culinary victory is a bonus in my book and with some of my nearest and dearest members of my fandom community. Boom! <<< there came the “boom”.
I did decide not to roast an entire turkey today, and to not even cook a convenience-packaged bird breast. HOWEVER, I did ensure some turkey’s included.
Today, I’m preparing a Thanksgiving meal fit for me, and, potential dropper-inners, and possibly, a nearby deep-freezer for later enjoyment. I’ve been known to enjoy an occasional holiday dose of Meatballs with my meatballs; on-demand television, we love you, too! ;)
I cubed and dried some sourdough bread I’d placed into my kitchen freezer a several weeks ago, to be utilized in a dressing-bed including finely diced celery, minced onion, diced carrot & homemade turkey stock I made recently; the dressing also includes cranberries, crystallized ginger, orange zest and a little extra lovin’ from the oven. ;) I butter-browned the meatballs in a smallish skillet and deglazed with some turkey stock and added some warm-savory-spiced butternut squash puree-laced homemade turkey gravy… a little extra sumthin’, sumthin’ before the November drizzle strikes.
My homemade cranberry sauce was ch-gellin’ in the nearby refrigerator… and promised to be a 2021 delight… this year, feeling I wanted a little flannel for my face (a musical reference I make occasionally), I opted to utilize some almost surprisingly tasty Bud Light Apple Crisp seltzer I found at a local convenience store. I used it as my cooking liquid for the fresh cranberries and utilized a small portion as a not-de-alcoholized gelatin bloomer before having popped the cooked cranberries in to chill.
Whilst in midst of the aforementioned big-chill, I baked a whole sweet yam, and some frozen-fresh cauliflower and popped my Thanksgiving Day turkey meatball casserole into the oven with approximately 29 minutes of the bake time remaining.
Incidentally, one of my personally favored big box retailers, Target, stocks really good packaged pre-made meatballs, including turkey meatballs, in their grocery freezer sections; the chain offers a brand of high-quality, reasonably priced packaged foods labeled as “Good & Gather”, I still believe and will remain a loyal customer for many reasons. and a long time to come ;)
Anyway, during a much-anticipated Thursday afternoon in an area some might refer to as America’s desert southwest, I happily enjoyed an early dinner, no strings attached (that’s both, a turkey-tressing and current relationship status reference; if you didn’t recognize it, I don’t blame you or hold it against you! ;) I dined before 3pm and after a traditional holiday phone conversation with my “little” brother. My subtly sweetly spiced gingerbread cake was at the ready and I enjoyed, perhaps just a little too much by 7pm and didn’t feel an ounce of guilt.
Yes, I chose to bake a gingerbread cake, nearly according to a recipe I developed and wrote years ago, but choose from which to diverge mildly, (this year I added some ginger mango chutney) because it’s more fun that way, and the pirouettes really do keep the dancers on their toes even without store-bought cookies. ;) It’s simply delicious and once it cooled, I topped it with a thin pour of royal icing (to give a crisp moisture-barrier) and then dabbed on and swirled lightly sweetened and whipped fresh cream and finished with a brilliantly orchestrated somewhat sparing sprinkle of sugar in the raw, dried cranberries, crystallized ginger, some orange zest and include some optional recently-roasted pumpkin seeds atop, too.
The aforementioned is the dish I originally planned to take-with in attendance at a lunch gathering upon the invitation of a friend. Not any longer still unsure whether it’ll see the light of day, or whether during the next 4 days time (some holiday time off from work), I’ll bake another and maybe admit, I wasn’t quite ready to want to share it. I’m not normally lacking willingness to share such a homebaked confection, but the 33 mph winds were swaying local trees and, indeed, my choice leave my residential place; incidentally I per-swayed myself to not leave home to celebrate and spend the holiday at home. I taste-tested, and the cake’s not going out today either, it’s awesome!!! Yeah, I’ll bake another and probably some gingerbread cookies for good measure and share them with the people whom I normally choose to do and that population includes some of the individuals I chose to spend some time with during Thanksgiving but didn’t. One of the beautiful experiences about friends/friendships is that understanding is offered and certain kinds of judgments are left by the way-side; for that, I’m thankful.
Anyway, earlier, I made reference to the fact I chose to spend the majority of the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday, alone, (i.e., sans others) and am not bitter about the fact or experience. I rather enjoy spending quality alone time, and most especially when being in a kitchen is involved. I truly enjoy cooking and baking, as I’ve mentioned via various of my other articles and definitely don’t render myself lonely; most true when I’m doing some activity I make enjoyable for myself.
Aloneness and loneliness are certainly two different experiences, and they aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t say grace aloud during Thanksgiving, but I am thankful, and incidentally, I didn’t forget to thank me for making the positive experience possible.
I’ll mention briefly that during some of my pre-holiday conversations with some of the people whom I met and with whom I enjoy interacting during the course of my day job, at a 55+ residential community; we discussed various experiences pertaining to the holidays… and some of us agreed and some disagreed pertaining to the enjoyment gained regarding holiday meals. Some don’t want to fuss with the sometimes extraordinary amounts of effort involved to produce what is considered a traditional meal, some choose to do “the whole nine yards” regardless, and I mentioned, with a little adaptation, a truly delicious (holiday) meal may be experienced without overexerting or exhausting oneself, most especially if cooking for only one or two people.
My 2021 Thanksiving dinner is one of my culinary prides… traditional and inclusive enough so as to not elicit feelings of deprivation or missing-out and easily enough accomplished to foster feelings of experiential satisfaction.
Aging is an ultimately important societal experience and we should oft consider ourselves getting better with age, rather than feeling as if we need to forego certain experiences because of possible age-related physical or other limitations. ;) With a positive attitude almost any experience can be enjoyed, or, at the very least, fulfilling, with or without a piece of cake!
I offer my personal best regards for you and your loved ones to enjoy Happy Holidays, 2021!
