One week ’til Turkey

Wohoo, it’s almost Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving has become a favorite holiday of mine over the last few years. I mean, what could be better than a day dedicated to cooking an obscene amount of food? Awesome. I believe I’ve managed to host my own Thanksgiving four out of the last six years. In large part, that was because I was always working on an academic schedule that didn’t allow for extra time off at Thanksgiving, and I decided I had absolutely no interest in joining the hordes of people who travel for a long weekend. You practically spend more time attempting to get to your destination than you actually have while you’re there, and you choke up a ridiculous sum of money for the privilege. So, instead, staying at home and hosting whomever wants to join us has turned Thanksgiving into a pretty relaxed holiday.

This year, it will be me and M (and the kids, not exactly partaking in the food), M’s sister and her boyfriend, and possibly a classmate of hers who I’m told is from Sri Lanka and has never experienced an American Thanksgiving. Lucky her! Yes, that’s only five adults, but it won’t stop me from cooking as though there were a dozen. Cooking will, admittedly, be trickier this year now that I’ve got two infants in the mix. But there will be extra hands around, and some things can be done ahead of time, so I can make things over the course of a couple of days.

So, because I know you were dying to know, here’s this year’s menu:

• Turkey, of course – my recipe is a brined bird courtesy of my geek crush, Alton Brown. I’m half tempted to try his fried turkey someday, and if you haven’t seen that episode of Good Eats, I strongly recommend it.
• Gravy – Because why else was there a gravy boat on my wedding registry?
• Green Bean Casserole – Excellent recipe courtesy of Cook’s Illustrated, which I tried for the first time last year. Just like the one you grew up with. Except really, really good.
• Stuffing – courtesy of my sister-in-law. Don’t know what recipe it’ll be, but I’m sure it’ll be good. Filled with the relief of someone who hasn’t had four days off of work in almost six months. Yet another reason I didn’t go to medical school.
• Mashed Potatoes – M has requested mashed potatoes instead of smashed. He somehow felt they were more appropriate, especially when there’s gravy involved. Can’t say I disagree.
• Salad – Something fresh and green in the hopes that we’ll be able to digest everything else. I’m thinking about mixed greens with apple, craisins, candied pecans, and goat cheese. But we’ll see.
• Pumpkin Bread Pudding – My sister-in-law will be making this again this year, and I’ve made it myself in the past. Oh. My. God. It’s just scandalous how good it is. And how easy. Also, though I love pumpkin “things,” I’ve actually never been a fan of pumpkin pie. (I know, it’s practically un-American to admit it.) But with this in place of pie, you’ll never miss it at my house.
• Apple Cranberry Pie – I’m physically incapable of making only one dessert for a dinner party. And this one was in the most recent issue of Cook’s Illustrated. how could I pass it up? I know, it’s ridiculous. Just don’t remind me that neither dessert includes chocolate, or I may have to make something else.

There you have it. The menu is created, the shopping list is prepared (you know it’s a good one when it includes heavy cream and butter). Let the festivities begin.