I became obsessed with making a "real" Thanksgiving dinner. No. Not turkey...mostly because neither of us like turkey too much... but a good down home roast instead. Having never cooked a roast, I took a test run at it two weeks ago. It wasn't great, but I thought I could pull it off. Everyone says it's easy. Well, once more I'll prove I'm not everyone.
It started on Wednesday night when I tried - twice - to make the Pear Upside-Down Cake out of the Bon Appetit magazine. Aaron said he wanted it and I was determined to make it. Well, determined until I screwed up the caramel sauce twice in a row and spent the next hour cleaning burnt caramel out of my sauce pans. "Honey, pass me the All Cakes Considered book...I need something with pear...." Finding none, I picked Spiced Apple Cake. Apples and Pears aren't that much different, are they? Turns out that was WAY easier than the two-sauce-pans-and-it-still-didn't-work caramel cake! In a little more than an hour we had a near-perfect dessert. This will prove to be the most successful dish of the day.
Next up: Pumpkin Pie. Another first. This time I agree with the reviews. Pumpkin Pie is easy to make. I used cookie cutters from grandma Obermeyer to make a little edge on the pie. Doesn't quite look like the pictures in the Williams Sonoma catalog. How do they do that?
Thursday morning Aaron got up and before even eating breakfast he made his carrot cake. Really it's more like a "carrot bread", but he grew up calling it a cake, so cake it remains. Now we don't feel guilty having cake for breakfast! He knew I needed the oven for Roast 2011 no later than noon, so early morning baking was the way to go.
Now let the roasting begin!! This is Bessy. She was raised living a hippy dippy organic life on a farm in Oregon. I like to think of her as being scratched behind the ears and living a good cow life until I purchased her from the guy at Central Market.
Following directions from all my friends and family in the Midwest with a few hints from Paula Dean and the Neelys I forged ahead.... Except for two weeks ago I've never really cooked a hunk of meat before. Let's give it a whirl, why don't we?
I browned, I seasoned, I put in a roaster with veggies and a little water (later I learned, a little too much water and not nearly enough seasoning). I kept vigil with a meat thermometer in hand. Mom said, "you can tell when it's done just stick a fork in it". I'm sure she's right. Her and dad just push on the roast with a finger and declare it dinner time. Me? I'm filled with the fear of botulism and don't want to accidentally end up with beef tartar -- so I repeatedly poke Bessy with the thermometer starting about an hour after she went in. It doesn't seem to be done...but it's been hours, the appetizers have all been eaten and the men folk are getting restless. Now what?
Finally Aaron tired of the football game and waiting for dinner declared the roast finished. I do think the thermometer was correct...it was a little bit rare - thought I don't think the guys minded one bit.
The roast? Well, it was a decent second shot, but not anywhere as good as mom made. Since I know some of you are wondering...yes, this semi-vegetarian went right ahead and tasted the roast. I had to know for myself how it was and couldn't count on the polite nods from Aaron and Ed. It was a little rare, the veggies a little al dente and the au jus a little thin. *sigh*. Isn't that how it goes? All that prep and attention and it's just not quite right. Humpf. I give myself a B. Aaron gave me an A just for getting a meal on the table. Thanks, babe. You can have more spicy pear cake.
Me? Well, I'm thankful for guys who don't complain and eat what's put in front of them. THAAANK YOU!
This is our Splendid Table. At least it looked good. Oh! And Aaron said the fruit salad was his favorite. Eat up honey! Next year I'm going to carve a pineapple to look like a turkey and shout "dinner time".
And now for the most important course of the day - Dessert.
Yes, you count correctly. Three people = four desserts + whipped cream. Now it's a "real" Thanksgiving! Everything here is an A+. Yep, definitely stick with what you're good at!
And here's Ed. It's important that your guests get into the spirit of the holiday.
Next up? I will attempt to make beef stew with all the left overs. Wish me luck...I've never done that before either.
