Post-Thanksgiving post

Yes, it's been a while, and yes, it's because I've been extremely busy with work. It's not even putting up a "What's Currently on/in my..." post because the only things I've been reading is students papers (7 first drafts this long weekend!) and books to Nikita. And I STILL haven't finished Nikita's sweater even though I only have to tie up the ends and add the buttons - at least I got the buttons.

Thanksgiving was spent up here, with me cooking. I took off Wednesday to shop and found crowds in the stores mid-morning. Don't these people work? My biggest accomplishment - after hitting something like 7 stores - was finding 3 quart-size containers of Swanson's Natural Chicken Broth. Note to self: buy staples the Sunday before. I was so tired by the end of the day that I only roasted the pecans and put the turkey in brine. So, I didn't start cooking until Thursday morning. Here was the menu:

Curried butternut squash soup
Roast turkey
Wild rice stuffing with pecans and cranberries
Cranberry sauce with ginger and pears
Green beans and mushrooms in cream
Mashed potatoes
Giblet gravy
Assorted Russian salads (bought)
Pecan pie

2004 Ravenswood Zinfandel (Lodi)

The meal turned out well. Turkey was moist as usual, cranberry sauce and gravy tasty, and the pecan pie was delicious. Thanks Cook's Illustrated! However, I put too much cayenne pepper in the soup, and the garam masala completely changed the color. Still trying to hone in on the soup Igor and I had on my birthday last year at a local French/Hungarian restaurant. Maybe next year. The wild-rice stuffing was a nice change from my usual stuffing, but I should have remembered that nuts - even when toasted - don't maintain their texture in moist rice. I should remember to add them right before serving. And the green beans were okay. This is also another attempt to come up with a veggie side dish (Igor and Galina don't like sweet potatoes). I'm ready to throw in the towel because the Russian salads suffice (and one less dish to cook!), but I just came upon an updated green bean casserole recipe from Cook's Illustrated. Should remember it for next year.

There were tons of leftovers because I was the only one who really ate. Galina doesn't eat much, and we all know how well Nikita eats. Igor only had turkey and mashed potatoes (and pecan pie), which deflated me after all the time I put into the dinner. He did say that the turkey was the best I've ever made, bbuut he always says that. Over the weekend, the mashed potatoes were gone, Igor did try the other side dishes, and said they were really good. Conclusion: remove mashed potatoes from the menu?