Thanks and Some Weekend Inspiration
Bosco, Calvin, Clyde and I don’t want to keep you from your leftovers for too long—I plan to crisp up some of the Hasselback potatoes one of my magnificent guests brought as soon as I’m done writing—but I must say a Thanksgiving thank-you to you lovely humans.
I’ve been a writer-journalist type for a long time, but few jobs have been as satisfying as connecting with you all here on Substack. I am grateful for the inspiration you provide, the encouragement you constantly offer and the community we have built.
I also want to give a shout-out to all the new subscribers who arrived c/o the Great and Wonderful Joyce Vance. Welcome! You’ve joined at a very exciting time of the year, as the big cookie countdown starts momentarily.
Some of you have already made a few recipe requests, but if there is a holiday cookie you are on the hunt for, let me know. I have some good ones planned (including recent requests for biscuits that will ship well, along with some gluten-free options).
I hope the rest of the weekend brings you time to relax, take a page from your favorite pet’s life and enjoy some leftovers and a snooze on the couch.
Best and worst dish this Thanksgiving? Did you actually find anything worth it in all those Black Friday sales? Was anyone else pleased that Liverpool tied Manchester City? Will any of you admit to a secret passion for crappy Hallmark holiday movies? Have you ever asked Chat GPT to write you a Hallmark Christmas movie? We did. Hilarious and spot on. Let me know.
More soon!
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I have a secret addiction to Hallmark Movies - mostly for the beautiful settings. I love how comfortable it is to have them be so predictable. I found out this Thanksgiving from my SIL - who loves cruises - that there is a Hallmark Cruise & it sold out in 1 hour!
Also I was longing for a romantic movie yesterday & watched Paris Can Wait with the beautiful Diane Lane & for my age demographic it was absolutely delicious to have this chubby charming frenchman taking her to all these fab meals in his roadster filled with roses!
As for fails - I was the side dish person this year & had two grand ones!!!
One was a great traditional dish a basque friend taught me 30 years ago who everyone used to swoon over & I thought I’d unearth it. It sounds wonderful Cauliflower with Bechamel. My recipe was a scribble & must have missed a step - note to self really write out your recipes for posterity. Essentially I made a cauliflower fritter covered in Bechamel. It was not the sum of its parts! Thankfully I had roasted a cauliflower for people who don’t like creamy & people served the sauced dish on top of the roasted - so the moral is roasted cauliflower w/bechamel is delicious!
Second grand fail was a homemade green bean casserole where I so perfectly recreated the flavor of Campbell’s Mushroom soup that it didn’t taste homemade with the exception of delicious meaty mushrooms. Moral is make simple green beans & separately make creamed mushrooms. Add French’s Onions if you must!
Glad we are having such a beautiful sunny weekend to connect with friends & family. I am calling up old friends who never call me to tell them I still love them & miss them.
Cherish all your friends! 🤗
My sister and I have cooked together for over 60 years — alas she couldn't come for Thanksgiving. My son who has become a great cook and has become indispensable on Thanksgiving could not come until 7pm Thanksgiving. I was the sole cook!! I planned ahead and was able to make the dressing (out of bird) and broccoli gorgonzola the day before. I also made overnight yeast dinner rolls. The dough looked great and I divided it perfectly. After I covered the rolls and put them in the downstairs fridge for their second proof — ready to cook on Thanksgiving — I came back up to the kitchen and saw the eggs I was supposed to add!! So...one more item to cook the day of.
Marissa thank you for your great recipes and sense of humor and fun. I did not come via Joyce but I do follow her too.