I just realized that one reason it doesn't seem difficult to me is that those stories made me aware early on of "modern conveniences." It's not difficult to wash and salt a turkey that's already cleaned and dressed, and stick it in an oven that has a thermostat, so I don't have to carefully feed the fire to keep a steady heat. I have a refrigerator (and a freezer!) so I cooked the dessert yesterday, and today after work I made the sweet potato pudding, and fixed the turkey in its roasting pan ready to go in the oven in the morning, and since due to work conflicts we're having the dinner on Friday, when it has cooked I'll put it back in the refrigerator. There's running water, too, a wonder I never tire of. So preparing a feast for somewhere between seven and twelve people for a time not yet determined on Friday does not intimidate me.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
grateful cooking
I spent today at work listening to my co-workers and a number of our clients complaining about how much work Thanksgiving dinner is, or stating happily that they were going to eat out. I think what I'm most thankful for at the moment is not seeing it that way. Three of my grandparents came from large families, where just the people in the household were around a dozen, and they were hardly ever without guests, expected or otherwise, so I grew up on stories of meals with three meats and seven vegetables and four breads.
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This is so true! I never had to deal with trying to cook in anything but an electric oven (thank heavens), but my MIL didn't have any of these modern conveniences until sometime in the 1970's, so I've heard lots of stories about it!
ReplyDeleteWe are so lucky to be living in these times.
Happy Thanksgiving, Mary Ann.
OOPS!
ReplyDeleteSorry, Mary Anne - didn't hit the "E" key hard enough, then didn't notice until after it posted!
So very true. :) I think a thankful attitude is key...it puts it in perspective.
ReplyDeleteMy family always has a big meal and invites everyone around, especially those who can't get back to their family, for dinner at thanksgiving (and christms...and easter...). This year it was 25 people! I wouldn't have it any other way. We all pitch in and everyone brings a dish and I help my Mum and we all spend the day prepping and then eating and talking with friends.
In my mind, if you don't want to cook dinner, don't...it doesn't have to be fancy. It's more about the getting together to visit part than the feasting part. I think it's the striving for perfection that gets us down at holidays...
Very hard to leave an insightful comment after Geosomin :)
ReplyDeleteDitto.
Days like Thanksgiving make me especially glad of conveniences such as dishwashers ;)
Thank you for coming by my blog today and commenting on the 'giveaway' post! I really appreciate it!!!
ReplyDeleteWe only had FOUR people for dinner this year. Unprecedented. It's still quite a job to cook everything, but I LOVE cooking Thanksgiving dinner. It's a whole ritual in itself! And the lovely AC made the mashed potatoes! (I'm sorry we didn't make it to KY; we're going after the first of the year. They're having Thanksgiving all together down there today at the farm.)
ReplyDeleteI have recovered from nine hours of company. They came, they brought a lot of food, they ate, they talked, they sang. There was enough food for a couple of dozen people, so the seven of us were able to exchange leftovers, even considering the three special diets. (The wine went back to Ohio unopened, since my friend failed to remember that I'm allergic to it and so don't have a corkscrew.)
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