A rather calm Thanksgiving. . . . . .

Here it is, the day before Thanksgiving and I actually feel relieved at having nothing

pressing regarding roasting, baking, setting, serving, cleaning, scrubbing, washing up.

You know, the myriad chores associated with producing a groaning table of food 

for others. Does that sound mean? Hope not. I am very thankful for very many things. 

Over the past 50+ years, in kitchens of my various abodes, I've produced those huge

meals requiring two days of preparation, followed by 24 endless hours in a hot kitchen.

My hair got frizzed from opening the oven while basting a big old bird I never 

tasted, all while trying to get the lumps out of the gravy with one hand and mashing 

rutabaga and butternut squash with the other.

I won't expound on the clean-up and dish washing late into the night, other than

to say thankfully my lovely man always insisted in helping with that part.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't mind the cooking, I love cooking, but these days I love it 

on a smaller scale.

Now, if not invited elsewhere - and I'd be only too happy to bring along a dish of 

something delicious - a restaurant is the place I want to be. Being a non-turkey eater 

I don't require a traditional Thanksgiving meal other than some great veggies, perhaps 

a nice portion of tasty meatless stuffing, cranberry sauce. . . . . . and the ultimate 

splurge for me, a slice of pecan pie with real whipped cream please!

 This morning. . . . . . . . calm, and quite delicious.

What did I decide to do early as I sipped my first coffee? As there's no big bird 

chilling in my 'frig requiring my attention, I baked a big batch of our now favorite 

muffins, The Mennonite Girls Can Cook carrot raisin beauties. 

See my recent post HERE for more on this fabulous recipe, and the link is there 

if you would like to make them. I measured all the dry ingredients last night 
making less work this morning.

The recipe makes 18 and they freeze very well. I store two to a bag

and freeze them until we pull them out for a morning breakfast or teatime snack.

Once again I used Trader Joe's lovely bag of mixed tricolor carrots - more interesting

than just orange. Tossed the remaining carrots, not required for the muffins, 

into a baking dish with a quartered red onion, a sweet red pepper, and olive oil, 

and now have a lovely roasted veggie dish to enjoy also.

Happy Thanksgiving preparation if you're the chef at your home. 

Hope you get some assistance and can then sit down and enjoy a lovely meal 

with family and friends on the big day.