Thanksgiving is around the corner and what are we to do with the pandemic and the growing rise of Coronavirus cases? We’re not supposed to get together with anyone outside of our “pod”. I get that.  But. It. Is. So. Hard. 

I really get it. As I have been alone for the majority of this time and missing my late husband Steve so very very much.

Perhaps your “pod” is larger than most, due to the sheer size of your family? I know that is true with my brother in St. Louis. He has seven children, all married and 15 grandchildren. They are all very careful. And they see each other now. They did not, back in March, April and May.

One of my other brothers, Steve, and his wife Trish, came to live with me for a couple of weeks. They had no place to go! And of course, I was delighted. They had sold one house and their new condo isn’t yet finished being built. They were living in their other house in Vermont but if they passed the 6 month mark there, they would have had to pay a full year of income taxes in Vermont and Connecticut! (Bet Trump never had to do that.)

So they came to me in upstate NY and honestly, we all had a blast. You see, we used to travel together a lot in our younger days, pre-children. And of course, I sort of grew up with him – we are 8 years apart and he is older – but we certainly grew up in the same household. So we do things the same way in terms of kitchen stuff and cleaning up. At one point, when I woke up in the morning, I honestly thought I was at my parent’s house and all was calm and stuff was happening as they had been up, comfortably getting their own breakfasts, the wafting smell of fresh delicious coffee was coming upstairs. I was all smiles. All good. In this household.

So exciting to have new pots!

As a thank you and early birthday present, (my birthday is on Thanksgiving Day this year), my brother and sister-in-law sent me three All-Clad pots, all stainless steel, inside and out, almost too pretty to use. It’s so exciting to get new pots and these are gorgeous!!

A cookbook with recipes and a process timeline!

Because it is Thanksgiving soon, I wanted to remind everyone about my handy cookbook of all of my big feast recipes along with a hassle-free planning schedule to get everything done with ease and put a magnificent meal on the table, stress free.

You can get it on Amazon here – and I am donating all of the proceeds of the sales to Meals on Wheels to feed the less fortunate.

So pick up a copy and enjoy. I have a whole slew of folks who make my stuffing recipe every year. Yes, it is that good. 

Additionally, l know my Momofuku’s Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Fish Sauce Vinaigrette recipe in the cookbook menu is a little unique and not for the faint of heart, bursting with umami. This year I am switching up that side recipe to be Green Beans with a Warm Raisin Caper dressing. Still unique, but a little tamer.

It’s a Martha Stewart recipe and usually I am not a big fan of hers but this sounds good and I think, will be a nice contrast to the richness of the rest of the meal.

So pick up a book and give it a go. And please leave a review to help others find it easily. 

And remember to make everything with LOVE. Enjoy!

Have the BEST Thanksgiving ever!! It is sure to be memorable in this climate.