A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Thanksgiving Eve 2009

November 25, 2009 · Narrative

Midway through cooking for Thanksgiving tonight, I called my mom.

“I love our Thanksgiving menu,” I told her.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. It’s just so stress free.”

It wasn’t by design.  And it wasn’t always that way.  But somehow over the last few years, our standard feast has evolved into a menu that is totally doable.  Stress-free.  Manageable with two kids underfoot.  And most of all, delicious.  For the past few years, we have had the same core dishes.  I like that.   Maybe it’s because I make so many new recipes during the year, that it’s nice to have a familiar menu full of family favorites to look forward to.  I’m certain that’s why.  And this year, more than ever, I want the familiar.  The reliable.  The constant.  I almost crave it.

The Thanksgiving table will be filled with the usual suspects.

Cranberry Broccoli Salad.  When Nick was younger, he would eat this.  Now not so much.  Perhaps this is the year that the girls fall in love with it.

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes.  Good, comforting mashed potatoes that you can make ahead to free up much coveted oven space.

Cranberry Conserve.  At our office Thanksgiving lunch the other day, the conversation turned to cranberry sauce.  Particularly the kind from the can with the lines.  Ick.  I’m sorry, but ick.  If you try this, you will never have that one again.  I can almost guarantee it.  I’ve been making it for several years now, and I wouldn’t touch cranberry sauce before this recipe.

Stuffing.  We’re partial to the standard kind.  Nothing funky in it, ‘cept for the traditional flavors you have come to love.  Bread.  Sage.  I love Emeril’s version, although I skip the oysters when I’m making it for my family.

Spinach Cheese Squares and Sausage Cheese Puffs.  Finger food.  Unfussy.  Just good.  My sister is making those, along with a new sweet potato recipe.

My mom’s in charge of the turkey and this dessert that she made a few years ago.  Love that trifle.  Turkey cupcakes for the kids.

The only thing that’s missing is The Husband’s Overnight Turkey.  This is the first year in some 10+ years that I won’t wake up to the delicious smell of turkey wafting up the stairs.  I love that memory.  I debated about doing it myself but time got away from me, and it won’t be tonight.  Perhaps over the weekend.  Maybe that becomes the new tradition for the weekend after Thanksgiving.  An old tradition with a new twist.  Much like me these days, the old me with a new twist.

From the O’Malley clan to each and every one of you … may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with lump-free gravy, just-right potatoes and the perfect sweet treat to finish it all off with.  May you remember what Thanksgiving is really all about, and count your blessings.  I know I’m going to.  And they start with these little ones.

Miss Mad

Nick's Funny Faces

Excuse me while we go read this book and this book to them and we begin our holiday celebrations.  Together.  Thankful.  Blessed.  Happy Thanksgiving!

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Thanksgiving

Comments

  1. Halen says

    November 26, 2009 at 12:05 am

    These potatoes sound wonderful. I’ll have to try out this recipe tomorrow and hope the family approves!

    Reply
  2. mandy says

    November 26, 2009 at 12:51 am

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  3. Cathy says

    November 26, 2009 at 9:02 am

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  4. Joanne says

    November 26, 2009 at 10:47 am

    Happy Thanksgiving Cate! All of the food you are making sounds delicious. I love having some familiar things at the table along with a few new ones.

    Reply
  5. Casey says

    November 26, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    Happy Thanksgiving, Cate! I’m grateful for this crazy blogging world we live in and for your precious blog!

    Reply
  6. doggybloggy says

    November 26, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

    Reply
  7. Karen says

    November 26, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    Happy Thanksgiving. I need the familiar too. I know that feeling.

    Reply

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A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻

Pinterest

A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if A friend was taking a trip to Ireland and asked if I wanted her to bring me back anything. Would you believe me if I told you I asked for salt? I love picking up different varieties, whether we’re traveling or I’m just visiting a new shop. Maddie grabbed me a super cute one from her trip to Paris last year, and the Magic Unicorn Salt I get locally is another favorite. What’s yours?
One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍

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