Item #21 - Prepare a Feast
November 23, 2017. The day Gayle was born.
40 Things for 40 Years in 40 Weeks: Item #21 (Cooking Goals) – Prepare a Feast!
I cook for my husband and the kids on a regular basis so it seems that most days I somewhat prepare a feast at our house. When I think of what is a true feast though… making everything from scratch comes to mind, setting the table with linens and really taking the time to prepare it fits my definition. Since the holiday season was upon us and my dad was planning to join us at Thanksgiving this year – I could think of no greater feast than making a full Thanksgiving dinner! And so this became #21 on my #40for40in40 list.
I had never cooked Thanksgiving Dinner start to finish all from scratch on my own. I had done it a few times with my mom and when I had prepared the meal without her I would often cut corners – only cooking a turkey breast instead of a full turkey, packaged stuffing, or a pre-made pie crust. This year I decided to do it all from scratch (well except for the gravy…). I gathered the family recipes, found a few new ones online and got to work!
I started cooking the day before Thanksgiving and let’s just say it was a rough start as I realized some of the instructions I had received on the family recipes were non-existent or incomplete. Luckily I was able to phone a friend (or a sister as the case may be) to try and help me piece the puzzle together. Admittedly, I made the pie crust for the pumpkin pie THREE times before it came out right and there may have been some yelling, cursing and throwing of dough in the kitchen but I finally got it right.
After a day of cooking, chopping, setting the table and brining – I was ready for Thursday. All of that preparation and working out the bugs a day prior paid off because on the day of it was just assemble, finish and enjoy!
After all of the hard work and frustration – I would dare to say it was the best pumpkin pie I’ve ever made (especially after the pumpkin pie curse I suffered for several years.) The turkey came out great, the sides were mostly successful but those that weren’t became lessons learned for next year. It was a nice day and a great meal with my dad, my husband and the boys. All of the men in my life thanked me and we enjoyed the meal in the formal dining room (which we have not used since the kids were born). It was a great day and a an even better way to kick off the season.
And although my mom may never be able to travel to my house and is no longer able to cook for herself… I thought of her all day as it was also her 71st birthday on Thanksgiving Day. I think if she was able to comprehend that I was carrying on her and her mother’s recipes and traditions for my family she would be proud.
And so that completes #21 on my list. 17 items checked off the list and 23 to go! Stay tuned for more… #40for40in40