tellhimfred.com

News flash: Thanksgiving 2007 has passed. Holiday shopping has begun in earnest, retail stores are beginning the media blitz (a German word that means “fisting”) to assault us with the need to consume, and I am dreading going to work tomorrow.

HOWEVER…this year was an interesting one at the Hoffa homestead. I traveled down to traditional suburbia for the traditional family feast, and spent the traditional weekend of eating, drinking, and then drinking more, waking up with a hangover and watching traditional TV on mom’s couch. But this year, I brought the food and cooked, my sister brought the booze and the apps, and we let our mom and my grandmother sit back and watch the fun unfold.

Not only was it a role-reversal, but we had fun giving back to the women who a) put us on the earth and b) raised us. My grandmother taught me most of what I know about cooking, and is still going strong with a Seagram’s V.O. and ginger ale at 92, and my mom taught me everything I know about knocking back some drinks, having a good time and still staying responsible. And, you know, a lot of everything else.

That being said: I love to cook. I put together a feast that put us all into the requisite food coma, was fairly uncomplicated, and was easily done on a schedule.

I won’t brag about the menu, but everything went over well, and the leftovers sit happily in my fridge waiting for me to eat them.

My favorite this year was green beans with diced drizzled tomato and parmesan crisps.

What about you?

Oh by the way, I just made some fresh gravy to put on my leftovers for lunch, and tomorrow night I’m making a spicy turkey tortilla stew. Want to come over for dinner?