Seat of Our Pants

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I’m going out on a limb to call Thanksgiving what it is: a foodie holiday. Sure, it’s a time to remember why you’re thankful. Yes, it’s a nice break from the work-a-day grind and OK, seeing family is pretty great. But let’s call a spade a spade. Thanksgiving is just a big excuse to eat good food.

It’s actually not unlike the original reason for the gathering. Following their first successful corn harvest, the Plymouth colonists grabbed their helpful Native American friends and had a feast – for three days (according to History.com). So when you think about it, what we’re all reenacting each November 25^th is what all good foodies strive for: the most famous dinner party ever thrown.

It is the unapologetic celebration of food that most appeals to me about this holiday. Stop at any grocery store on November 24^th and you’ll find it overflowing with shoppers. People all across the country come together to cook and share a meal that (for most people) have taken an entire day to prepare. In the age of microwavable dinners, meal replacement shakes and fast food, surely we should be thankful that people care to take a full day to cook a meal.

With that in mind, and in the name of all things slow-food, Martin and I cooked a full-blown meal even though it was just the two of us celebrating. This year’s menu was dubbed American-Swede with a dash of Italian:

Starter

Ramos Fizz (on an empty stomach, as every first-drink-of-the-day should be taken)

Appetizers

Smoked Salmon with Swedish Crackers (Rokt Lax pa Knackebrod)

Wine: Hook & Ladder Gewurztraminer 2008

Main

Caramelized Onions (Cipolline Agrodolce)

Char-grilled Vegetable Salad

Swedish Meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar)

Lingonsylt (Swedish berry preserve that taste like cranberries)

Stuffed Cornish Game Hens

Hawaiian Sweet Bread

Wine: Alexander Valley Sangiovese 2006

Dessert

Classic Homemade Pumpkin Pie with Basil Cream

All in all, the meal was a total success. We ate until we rolled off our seats, we drank until we felt sober and we did the dishes before we felt sober – the perfect combo. The night was topped off with a little dancing in the living room to Mom’s old Kenny Loggins’ vinyl and a ridiculous photo shoot – because really, what do you do at 10pm when you live in the country and have no television?

My hope is that all of your Thanksgivings were full of amazing food and people you love – because, really, it’s what the holiday all about.

That and the mystery that is drinking until you feel sober.

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