For the past few years I have posted a lot of cookie recipes in December. I thought I would do that again this year, but I wonder…doesn’t everyone HAVE all the cookie recipes they need in a lifetime? Or would you like more? Do you make the same cookies each year? No cookies? Do you have a recipe you really want to find again? Can I play matchmaker of holiday recipes of yesteryear?

Also, Chelle wrote to me way back in June looking for a family favorite and I haven’t found just the right thing yet. Maybe one of my other readers can help:

When I was a kid, my late grandma made a peanut dip for the holidays that was delicious. I think the main ingredient was peanut butter, and it may have had some onion in it. It was crunchy, salty and sweet and she always served it with Triscuit crackers. I never thought to ask for the recipe while she was alive, and none of the other women in my family have the recipe.

Could it be something like this? Peanut Butter Onion Dip or this Peanut Butter Cheese Dip?

It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving day here and I hope it has been at your house too. We had a day full of tradition, love and laughter and togetherness. We missed the grown up or think they are grown up kids but it was so fabulous to have the little (but not so little anymore) kids home for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving meal prep started last night with a bit of a disaster:

I am clumsy and messy in the kitchen and on a (temporary) new med that makes me shakier than usual. The pie flipped as I pulled it out. Unrecoverable. I mildly swore. Denise grabbed a picture. I grabbed a spoon to scrape the pie back into the pie plate on its way to the trash. We both laughed-a lot.

I had extra ingredients. Denise always needs a pumpkin pie or two extra as long as I will make them. So, after an overnight oven cleaning, (which really was sort of a bonus!) we started over with the pie.

Joseph helped make the pumpkin pie. Liz made cranberry bread. RJ helped with the Witchy Pooh cake and the red hot Jell-o. I remembered the stuffing this year. The biscuits that RJ helped with came out this year too. Two kinds of cranberry sauce, turkey, green bean casserole and of course, sweet potatoes with marshmallows rounded out the meal.

We celebrated my 16 yo’s birthday on Sunday. He chose breakfast-my Eggs Benedict, of course. He chose dinner: Cheese Nip Chicken, collard greens, pineapple upside down cake.

In between meals, we went to Ikea. Why Ikea? Because when his older sister turned 16 she got a trip to Ikea. (then a five hour drive) We re-did her bedroom. Last year, after we moved we did the big Ikea trip for furniture for the kids rooms. We were unable to move their beds and bedroom furniture for the most part. A five bedroom house doesn’t move without giving up some things. At the time, we talked about desks. We had gotten a desk for the “art room” which really was a computer room. The kids mostly do homework at the dining room table. We thought about the 16 thing for Joseph and decided on a trip then. Or sort of decided. This year when the topic of his birthday came up, I said we are taking him to Ikea. Denise laughed and teased me about it. She had gotten him some Christopher Moore books, an author he recently discovered and one we loved. Denise bowed out of a trip to Ikea.

She knows shopping isn’t a Joseph thing. She also knows that the two of us get overstimulated by Ikea. Ikea with crowds, even more so. Joseph was game for the idea. As he explained to Denise “It is a mommy thing.” So, the two of us set off, faced a really long wait for a train to pass and then we were there. I took some pictures.

First-we encountered bedding. He needed bedding. At 16, Yu-gi-oh just wasn’t quite right. Though when asked about changing before-he was against a change. Change isn’t a thing Joseph likes much. We picked out a duvet-but couldn’t figure out the cover, so we left that and went to look for a desk. Nothing excited us as far as desks, until we ran into Gustav. We kept looking. But, Gustav ended up as the choice. Then a chair. He tried a number-growling about who could find some of them comfortable. He really liked the one that Denise covets. He knew that that wasn’t the one for him though-price mostly, but also he knew that Denise loves it. He chose Moses instead. We made fun of Ikea art. (except for the really cool huge map. Ok, we sort of made fun of that at the same time we thought we would buy it if…) Then we found the lights and picked a lamp. Back to bedding. He picked a black and white duvet cover and black sheets. At that point, I declared “I have a teen boy!” Then off to find the escalators down to grab the desk and chair.

On the way home we discussed our successful trip but decided that Ikea labyrinths suck energy from people, in order to power things at Ikea, so to lower prices. We decided not to stop for cherries for the pineapple upside down cake.

We had a great time-the two of us. This boy child of mine-the one who was three weeks late and a month of slowly progressing labor before he finally sprung into our world.(from 5 cm to 10 to delivery in 15 minutes) His labor and birth should have been an omen. He has always been a foot dragger at something and then suddenly he is there and stunning. He is the observant child, the one who knows the rivers and eddies of our life. You won’t know it unless he wants you to know it. He loves to listen to others talk-studies them like a method actor. He loves to spend time with us as long as it is his choice. He needs his quiet time, time away from the noise and craziness. He is in many ways my easy child. I know there are those who would disagree. I would disagree at times. I am crazy in love with this boy child, the baby he was and the man he is becoming. The conversations where he sends my thinking to that place of ideas and existentialism and his enthusiasm for his ideas leave me in awe.

But, as his father and I sang to him at 16 days and 16 weeks and 16 months…and sometimes in between. He came on like a dream, like peaches and cream. Lips like strawberry wine. He is 16. He is beautiful and he is mine. And yours-and all of ours-and his own.

We have given Honeybeast a hard time. Now I will give you a chance to give me a hard time. Here are my-in no particular order-least favorite Thanksgiving dishes:

1. Green bean casserole. Didn’t eat it but a couple times growing up. The big kids and Denise love it. There is nothing offensive about it but shrug. Not a favorite-besides you can have it at other holidays. Actually, it would be ok, if no green veggie made it to my Thanksgiving table. (Though in honor of our vegetarian boy, sometimes vegan boy, who won’t actually be here-we have “Surprisingly Good Salad” on Thanksgiving…and like it)

2. Gravy. Huh? I don’t get it. At all. I buy a jar, because I care so little about it that it doesn’t seem worth the last minute prep. (Though I can make gravy just fine. Thanks. No, your special recipe won’t change my mind.) It harkens back to Saturday morning tv and “Don’t drown your food…” (This may be related to the fact that I don’t serve #4 on this list on Thanksgiving. I like gravy on my mashed potatoes-sometimes)

3. Pies. Already mentioned this though I do like a slice of pumpkin pie. I adore a piece of mincemeat pie-though not enough to actually make it and have everyone grouch. The rest of the pie parade? Save them for the rest of the year.

4. Mashed potatoes. Who came up with MASHED POTATOES for Thanksgiving? I had never even heard of such until about 10 years ago. Mashed potatoes aren’t special. They are an every day food.

5. Macaroni and Cheese. Again. Not a special Thanksgiving food-that is normal fare.

I made ham salad (along with ham mac and cheese-which I liked-but the kids didn’t) tonight as I made dinner. I remember loving ham salad as a kid but I hadn’t had a way to make it. But, we had a lot leftover ham-we bought a big ham on sale last week-had it for dinner Tuesday night. I served leftovers to Mama for lunch and dinner yesterday. Then tonight in the mac cheese-then made the ham salad.

Here is how-
Chopped/ground the ham in the Cuisinart chopper/grinder thing. It came out very fine. Then chopped a stalk of celery and an onion in there as well. Mixed with mayonnaise, relish. I may add a bit of mustard and more mayo in the morning. Perhaps a bit of Worcestershire sauce. We will see.

Ok…I know not everyone finds traditional foods as tasty as I do. No problem. But Honeybeast has gone too far!

5 Dishes I Wouldn’t Feed a Dog but I do eat to be polite on Thanksgiving

Surely there is some story behind that right? Childhood trauma maybe.

Some people have a lot of problems with pastry-I do not. Unfortunately, the clean up crew has a problem with the mess I make making pastry. Unfortunately, the clean up crew also DOES NOT LIKE pastry. It doesn’t matter what kind. Flakey, not flakey, doesn’t matter.

However, this one is an easy peasy one for all of you and pretty much the pastry I can make in my sleep. (Yes, I grew up with a biscuit recipe and a pastry recipe in my head) Use shortening. It is good for you. I am sure of it. It certainly makes a better crust.

Never Fail Pastry

1 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons water.
1/3 cup shortening

Sift flour and salt together into bowl. (Yes, I mean it-use the sifter. I know it says pre-sifted and modern folk don’t need to pay attention. Just do it. Your kids will love doing it even if you don’t). Measure 1/3 of mixture into a smaller bowl. Add water, stirring to a smooth paste. Cut shortening into flour mixture in the first bowl with pastry blender until like small peas. (oh forget the pastry blender-use a fork. Pastry blenders bug me.) Then stir flour paste into dough. Form dough into ball with hands. Chill if desired. Turn onto pastry cloth. (oh um I have never owned one of these- I toss some flour on the counter or cutting board or wax paper-especially if the kitchen is warm) Roll 1/8 inch thick. Fit into pie plate and flute the rim. Bake in a hot oven (450) for 15 minutes.

Non parenthetical instructions and actual measurements courtesy of Mary Meade 52 desserts of the week, Chicago Tribune, 194*.

Denise doesn’t do pie-except pumpkin. This time of year I could probably make a pumpkin pie daily and as long as I didn’t undercook it or burn it-she would be happy.

This recipe though-combines a gingersnap crust (I adore gingersnap crust!) into tarts-a bit tough if you have a big family to feed but a nice choice for a smaller one. Do note the uncooked egg portions-either use pasteurized eggs or skip serving to folks with sensitive immune systems.

Crust:
1 1/2 cups fine gingersnap crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar

Filling
2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
3 tablespoons cold water
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 eggs, separated
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
Whipped cream
Pecans

To make crust, mix gingersnap crumbs, butter and sugar, blend well. Pack into bottoms and around sides of eight small tart pans. (What? No tart pans? Use a muffin tin. I do) Chill for 1/2 hour. Meanwhile prepare filling by softening gelatin in cold water for 5 minutes. Combine pumpkin, slightly beaten egg yolks, 1/3 cup sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Stir in the milk, mixing well. Cook in the top of double boiler until mixture thickens; remove from heat and add softened gelatin, blending thoroughly. Cool. Beat egg whites until stiff. Gradually beat in remaining sugar. Fold meringue into pumpkin mixture. Pour filling into crumb lined tart pans. Chill until firm. Pipe a whipped cream garnish around edges of tarts and sprinkle centers liberally with buttered, salted, toasted pecan meats.

From Mary Meade Recipes Booklet-from The Chicago Tribune. No date-sometime before 1950 based on other Mary Meade booklets I have.

For the last three weeks the commissary bananas have been green. Not “yum, yellow with a bit of green” or “Yellow, but should be ripe by Tuesday.” They were green, green, green. ALL GREEN. You know-the ones that will never ripen.

My mother has been having a yen for bananas. Oh well. But she was very grouchy when I told her that yet again there were no bananas. (like this would be something I wouldn’t buy for whatever reason.) Caregiving is fun! Woo hoo. The secret banana (and also avocado-really Mama out of season avocados here are rock hard and if we let them ripen in the house they become inedible)

So, we stopped by Trader Joe’s, they had bananas that were yellow-but they also looked like some horrid blight was upon them. We picked up a few but…what is going on with the bananas? Is this an Illinois thing? A result of the tropical storms/hurricanes/typhoons? That blight on banana plants much publicized a few years back?

Another in the realm of my family won’t consider this but…this one sounds pretty good. (If you like deviled ham and relish…and catsup. I would be tempted to choose a mustard in place of the catchup.)

Holiday Sandwich Package

1 2-pound loaf unsliced white bread
2 4 1/2 ounce cans deviled ham
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped sweet pickle relish
2 tablespoons catsup
Radish roses

Cut out center of loaf leaving 1/2 inch shell around ends and sides. Slice bread thinly and spread with a mixture of deviled ham, relish, mayonnaise and catsup. Place sandwiches in bread shell and garnish with radishes. “Tie” loaf with holiday ribbon. Makes 24 small sandwiches.

Sandwich and Party Snack Cookbook, 1964