feast

When I was a kid, I don't think I ever would have identified Thanksgiving as my favorite holiday, but as an adult, I definately appreciate a day/week of preparation dedicated to making the sensual experience of eating into an art.  I'd like to share with you some iconic images of my childhood that are the same every year for thanksgiving.

Every year as a child, the week before thanksgiving would be welcomed in by the baked goods.  About 8 dozen rolls are stored on cookie sheets in plastic bags to keep them fresh, and pies of all types and varieties are stored in the utility room off the kitchen where they are least likely to be bothered by little kid's fingers.  Something I learned this year about my mother's roll recipie is that she butters the tops before they go into the oven AND after they come out.  It keeps them soft for the next day, and flavorful even without butter or jam during the meal itself.  This year Nanette and I spent all of Wednesday baking the rolls you see here and polishing my grandmother's silver while my Mother focused on the pies.

Everyone helps out in the kitchen.  Mom usually got up at about 5 am to put the turkey she'd prepped the previous night into the oven, then went back to sleep.  Later in the morning everyone got up to pull pomegranite seeds, peel and mash potatoes and sweet potatoes, thaw peas, prepare garnishes, fruit salad, prepare crystal serving ware, make gravy out of turkey drippings, carve turkey, prepare any canned or jarred items for presentation on the table or anything else my Mother had in mind for that year.  In recent years my mother has gotten cable access to cooking shows, so this year's garnishes included tomato peel rosettes, scalloped citrus fruits, and--my favorite--two peeled out orange skins to bowl the cranberry sauce.

There is also precise artwork included in the setting of the table.  Polished silver and china from my grandmother, fancy fall leaf glasses for apple cider, ALWAYS a table cloth with fall themed colors with cloth napkins, placed perfectly so that every table setting is a masterpiece.  Nanette was the perfect one to arrange this year.  She has an eye for detail that is pretty amazing. Fork on the left, with napkin benieth, spoon and knife on the right with knife blade in toward plate for safety and class, individual butter knives placed horizontally over setting with blade to right and down, glass above right side, roll pate above left side, bowl on dinner plate all set to perfection.  On other memories, please appreciate the delicious California sun coming through every window in the house.  Green leaves still on trees, you can't see the Santa Ana breeze outside, but it IS breath taking.



My plate before the meal begins



And then the experience begins.  After a prayer, a cloth napkin is placed in lap as Mom serves the first course.  I had never had nor imagined that I would like squash soup before, but it was truly a masterpiece.  Imagine, if you can, a creamy goodness with curry spice and pureed pears, cradled in your perfectly shining silver soup spoon.  I pause just to think of it.  Everyone had seconds if not thirds of this beautiful starter even before the meal began. 

 

Then, thanksgiving is served

 

  I think that this is the only time in my life that the word smorgasboard comes to mind.  Before digging in, everyone just looks, appreciates, and feasts their eyes once again on this collected labor of love for the artwork that is thanksgiving meal.  Notice the citrus and pomegranite garnishes, each selected to complement the color of the base meal, the tomato rosette in the stuffing, the baby onions in the peas, the individualized jam and special silver spoons for serving them.  This meal is the artwork that we all worked to make in the week.  Eating it slowly and sumptuously is the tradition of thanksgiving day.

 

 

And this is what every thanksgiving plate of mine has looked like in my mother's home since I was old enough to sit at the adult table.  Only things missing, a roll on the top plate with square of butter on side, cranberries nestled between sweet potatoes and stuffing, and turkey dripping gravy poured over stuffing, turkey, and potatoes.  I was too busy eating later to catch the full picture. :)

I'm sure that this post seems a little over the top and corny for some, but it really is a labor of love with people who love eachother, united to create a series of moments. I love my mother's house, and my family all knows how to work together to get this done.  All knowing what to do and just how to do it to create excellence.  It's a tradition that resonates with what I like about myself at my core.

So Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  I hope that we all get to take part in some culinary art this week.