I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! This year was the second time I’ve hosted Thanksgiving dinner and it was a big success (well, with a couple of little hiccups…)
The cooking all went off without a hitch. I prepped on Monday and Tuesday so I didn’t have much to do on the day. We ate Celeriac and Apple Soup with blue cheese toast as an appetizer. It was delicious. I highly recommend trying this recipe – it was super easy to make. It’s also vegetarian and if you skip the blue cheese, vegan as well. Then we ate roasted veggies, mashed potatoes and Cranberry and Mushroom stuffed Turkey Cutlets. This was another easy recipe that turned out really well. I’m actually planning on making this with chicken and different fillings now I know how simple it is to make.
We had Grandma (my mother-in-law) staying with us for the holiday and it was lovely to have her share in our little Thanksgiving feast.
I tried to channel my stylish friend Tim, who founded Huddleson Linens, as I decorated the table. I don’t think I came close to his level of elegance, but it felt festive.
So….the hiccup part of the holiday. On Wednesday night, as Fran was rearranging the fridge for me to fit yet more food for the next day, he said,
“Honey? Can I ask a potentially awful question?”
“Ummm..yeah?”
“Did you remember to pick up the pies from the bakery?”
No. No, I did not remember. Luckily Roman was off playing with Grandma, because expletives were issued from my mouth.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry! We’ll pick them up on Friday! It will be Pie-Day!”
Except that the bakery was also closed Friday. We eventually picked them up on Saturday and here’s the funny part – they had forgotten to bake our order! The downside (for Fran) was that the apple pie he’d wanted wasn’t available, but the upside was that they’d just baked a pumpkin pie and a chocolate pecan pie, both of which were still warm from the oven, which we happily took home.
In the meantime, on Thanksgiving Day, I improvised. I had leftover Granny Smith apples from the soup prep, so I peeled and sliced those bad boys, topped them with granola, vanilla, cinnamon & butter mixture, sprinkled with sliced almonds, then baked it up. A cobbled-together cobbler.
We also met up with some friends who live nearby for a Brooklyn brunch over the weekend, which was lovely. Pretty sure I’ve mentioned before that virgin Bloody Marys are my jam when I’m preggo. They make me feel like an adult bruncher.
Roman showed Grandma his painting prowess. We’d been using watercolors a lot and I just bought him some washable finger paints, which he is in love with. They are fun – he had me paint one of his favorite storybook characters on his leg. 🙂
All that indulging was offset (a little bit) by working out. I had a great, great interval session on the treadmill, an okay-ish long run on the treadmill again (one day it was too icy outside and the other I just ran out of daylight by the time I was able to head out), plus a much needed spin class on Sunday.
All in all, it was a lovely long holiday weekend that really felt like a mini-vacation.
I also have to give a huge shout-out to my amazing husband, Fran. He grew a terrible, terrible mustache for MOvember, to raise money for prostate cancer research & men’s health. He was hoping to raise $1,000. As of Sunday night, he was up to $7, 825, which is just amazing.
For each and every person who donated, he would write a heartfelt thank you on Facebook, which, if you know my husband, were full of colorful language and funny anecdotes. It’s possible that people started donating just to see what he would end up writing about them. I am so incredibly proud of his fundraising efforts and I know he is loving that he made a real difference by raising such a substantial amount of money for charity in just one month.
Also, I am SO HAPPY this lip travesty is now gone.
What did you do for the holiday? Did you cook, or just enjoy?
Did any men in your life grow a stache for MOvember? Were you a fan?
Those desserts look too good! Glad you had a happy and full weekend!
Ruthie@She’sWickedHealthy recently posted…The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? How to Make it a Delightful December and Enjoy This Holiday Season!
Thanks, Miss Ruthie!! The pie was ridiculously good. I’m glad I left it to the experts to bake!!
I love hosting Thanksgiving! We’ve done it 3 years in a row for my husband’s colleagues and their families!
Jessica recently posted…Dear Olivia – One Month
That’s such an awesome tradition! Love the idea of a friendsgiving. 🙂
OMG I can’t believe that about the pies! That is so something I would do. You made an excellent recovery and the rest of the meal looked absolutely amazing and like something I could never, ever do. You are a hero woman!!! Speaking of heroes, Fran is also to be donning a cape for his fundraising. Holy wow!!!! You two are a super couple 🙂
Allie recently posted…The Rundown – Indulge
Those recipes were SO easy, I am not kidding. You need to try the rolled cutlet recipe – it looks fancy and is super simple. So proud of Fran & his fundraising – he ended up at just over $8000 raised! Amazeballs.
Looks like hall had an amazing Thanksgiving! Roman is clearly a gifted painted 🙂
Caroline recently posted…Toddler-Friendly Felt Christmas Tree [DIY]
He’s OBSESSED with painting! As an art history major, I am so psyched. 🙂
Your table looks great!!
You look so cute cooking!
So awesome that Fran raised so much money for prostate cancer research.
Thankfully Chris didn’t do the mustache thing in November – I don’t know if he will do it again in March or not – sort of hope not!!!
Kim recently posted…Happiness Is…..
I was ridiculously happy when he shaved. I am not a fan of the stache AT ALL.
Looks like a fantastic long weekend – and thanks for the shout out – very kind of you!
You’re very welcome! I love your linen patterns and seeing how you style them. So elegant, Tim G!
haha! His mustache wasn’t bad. Honestly. I’ve seen some doozies.
And the pie debacle. Oh dear. Good improvising!
I would have eaten the pears from the centerpieces too.
Tamara recently posted…Snowvember: The Holiday Movie.
I think that was Roman’s favorite part of the feast. They were perfectly ripe. It was pretty adorable. 🙂
Hilarious about the pies. I’m sure it wasn’t at the moment, but way to throw something together. Wish I were closer as the person I asked to bring A dessert brought 3 pies, a huge tray of cookies and a beautiful fruit platter. Can you say overload? Would’ve been more than happy to share!
Marcia recently posted…A Tale of 3 Turkey Trots
I just couldn’t believe I forgot the one thing I actually needed to leave the apartment to do! Who brings three pies when they were asked for one?? I hope you sent a lot home with guests!