Home, Thankfully Home

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. It's not why we celebrate, but how. I can't count the years that we would watch Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving Special (from a million years ago and on VHS, I might add), dreaming up our feast. Inspired and motivated, we go all out which is why I have never missed a Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Every year it gets better and better, and this year naturally followed the pattern. Even though there was an apple pie mishap (the crust fell off mid-bake, thanks Martha) and my chewy Molasses cookies merged (thanks, again, Martha), the kitchen was crisp, cozy and gastronomically scented. Below are some highlights from the night.



With gravy makers eagerly waiting, my dad carves a 23 pound turkey.

With squashes and flowers strewn about as decoration, my mom sets the dinner table, impeccably.

Creamy goodness seeps from baked brie wrapped in puff pastry---my favorite appetizer in living history. Did I mention the layer of pumpkin butter inside?

Whether or not you're bursting at the seams (stuffed turkey style), it's time for desserts: pies of pumpkin, pecan and apple, then cookies of molasses, gingerbread and chocolate. Sweet tooth anyone?

p.s. Re: chewy Molasses cookie merge.
Yes they did and after about 5-7 minutes of cooling, I got handy with a perfectly round cookie cutter. One large flat cookie turned into 22 perfect circles, which I find hard to do anyway. In the end, voila! Cookies! And, scraps from all the cut-outs, to munch on pre-dinner.