Sunday Roast

Late this afternoon Jessica and Winston joined Joe and I for a Sunday roast dinner.  I wanted to try my apple pie recipe on these willing participants to see if it would make it on the Thanksgiving Day menu.  And it is now officially a definite for Thanksgiving Day.

The day started out slow and relaxed.... I made breakfast for Joe as he read all of the big sales for the Friday after Thanksgiving to me.  I cleaned up the kitchen, went through all the coupons he so sweetly cut out for me, and headed off to Kroger to gather all my ingredients and turkeys for my big Thanksgiving dinner.  It is absolutely my favorite meal to cook and I look forward to it all year long.  I can already smell my sweet yeast rolls baking!

We have two turkeys at Thanksgiving.  One I stuff, and one Joe rubs down in cajun seasoning and deep frys..... both are amazing.  We have all the 'traditional' side dishes..... gravy, dressing/stuffing mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls, apple pie, pumpkin pie, derby pie.  And no matter how good it all is the first time....... and it is good!!!!!...... warm-ups in the late afternoon/early evening are sooooooo much better!

One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving dinner is the leftovers.  We make two turkeys just so we have enough leftovers to share with the girls.  I am not a big fan of leftovers in general, but...... Thanksgiving leftovers are just that good.  And I am one of those who saves the bones and make turkey soup out of them.  I can't believe this week is Thanksgiving!!!

This year started out with a serious health issue that resulted in pretty serious surgery...... but 9 months later.... life is so much better and I am soooooo blessed!  This year of being forced to rest and recoup made me do a lot of reflecting about myself and life in general.  It turned out to be a bump in the road that helped me see the path in front of me sooooo much clearer.  It was a big challenge for me to rest and recoup for that long of a period, but in the end it has been a big blessing that I'm very Thankful for. This Thanksgiving will have a very special meaning for me and I look forward to celebrating everything I am truly thankful for with several of my loved ones at my table.

And........ OF COURSE....... I'm thankful for my discoveries of Julia Child this year....... I read several of her cookbooks and biographies while I was recuperating and I have been completely smitten with her ever since.

Bon Appetite!