Thanksgiving Menu

We are celebrating Thanksgiving early this year.  My family had a large extended family feast on Sunday.  About 30 people came representing 4 generations of my Family along with a couple close friends as well as my grandma's caretaker (who seems to be a family friend at this point).  I believe my second cousin was the youngest at 3 years old and my father's mother, at 84 years, was the oldest.  The menu was fairly traditional with many of the guests bringing a dish of some sort. 

I brought a hickory smoked brisket that was slow smoked for seven hours.  Also brought some potato cakes prepared with scallions and flat leaf parsley.

My wife's family will be joining us for a Thanksgiving feast tomorrow to allow for more family to be present.  Of course the meal will be held at my home and, thanks to my mother-in-law, a great cook in her own right, the bar is set high.  I enjoy cooking for her more than anyone else in my family because she gets it.  She understands what it takes to prepare a family meal of this magnitude, appreciates the intricacies and nuance of the food prepared and really savors the actual food for what it is.  Sure, the others appreciate a good meal and seem to genuinely enjoy the experience but She just gets it. I often find my self wondering if she would approve of a certain dish...even in a professional setting.

This Thanksgiving seems to hold particular importance for me.  Having experienced both a bit of extended family turmoil and a relatively serious health scare in the last few months, I have really come to appreciate the family network.  The concept of a strong, cohesive family safety net has been re-energized within my family.  Thats a good thing.

Thanksgiving Menu for Tomorrow...so far:

Applewood Smoked Tenderloin of Beef

Slow Braised Pork Shoulder with Cider

Brown Sugar Roasted Acorn Squash

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Tasso

Sauteed Green Beans with Brown Butter and Pecans

Cornbread and Chorizo Stuffing

Traditional Bread Stuffing with Fresh Sage (garlic too!)

Corn Gratinee

Mashed Yukon Potatoes

Caesar Salad

Pumpkin Pie (hopefully with crystallized ginger)

Pear and Cranberry-Gingerbread Crisp

Vanilla Scented Whipped Cream

Yes, its turkey free!