Thanksgiving

Thankful for Being Thankful

Jeanna G1 Comment

At a Thanksgiving dinner with friends, everyone was asked to share one thing they are thankful for. It was hard for me to pick just one thing. 

As a kid, when I was asked to say the blessing, my siblings would groan because they knew the food would get cold before I’d finish. I’d thank God for kitty cats and flowers, friends and sunshine, rainbows and toys, family and tv shows, music and games, and the list went on. 

Now don’t get me wrong. I, like many of you out there, haven’t always lived in a world full of laffy taffy and bouncy houses. I’ve spent a lot of time down in the dumps. And if you’ve been there, I feel you and I hope your situation changes soon. But the fact that my life has changed direction makes my gratitude authentic. I have so much more to be thankful for than to complain about. And so, it’s just easier to think more about the good. 

My childhood friend, Nicole, calls me an eternal optimist. And she’s right! I do tend to see the sunny side of things, and I point those out to others who need a little more light in their lives. Optimism isn’t just about seeing the glass half full; it’s a way of life for me, an instinctual commitment.  

As usual, my overthinking lead me to the most simplest of answers: I am thankful for being thankful. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you today, and every day! 

Luck of the Pot

Jeanna GLeave a comment

I was at a Friendsgiving on Sunday evening, and it was a potluck. I brought stuffing…easy to identify. Some other dishes, however, got me thinking about the true meaning of the word “potluck.”  Like you could really be pressing your luck by trying some of these mysterious concoctions! 

One pot was filled with a pineapple and cheese casserole, apparently a Thanksgiving table staple in the south. I’d never heard of such a thing, which is delightfully surprising to a self-proclaimed foodie. This introduction to a new recipe also got me excited about the fact that potlucks are making a comeback post-Covid. As someone who grew up on family reunion and church potlucks, I felt a loss when sharing homemade food came to an abrupt stop four years ago. But I digress. 

Later that night I decided to research potlucks. What I found out from my internet search is they have always been about sharing, but not necessarily with friends and family. Back in the day, people would keep their leftovers warm in a pot in case someone in need knocked on the door unexpectedly. During the Great Depression, communities of families would gather their food together to make more nutrient-complete meals for one another. What a beautiful practice! 

I hope that this Thanksgiving brings an opportunity to all of you to share something with someone. Whether it’s a casserole or a loaf of bread to break, or something that costs you nothing, like a smile and a handshake. Share a recipe, an anecdote, a laugh, or a turkey bone wish… that the luck of the pot will always land on your dish. 

The Moist Maker

Jeanna GLeave a comment

I am by no means a chef, but I do love to cook. Cooking has become a hobby of mine, and I love that it keeps my hands busy while calming my mind. One hiccup is that there tends to be a lot of leftovers in the home that I share with my 8 year-old. This Thanksgiving I decided to put the leftovers together into a sandwich, and not just any sandwich, but Ross’ Moist Maker. (Technically it is Monica’s recipe, but it was Ross’ sandwich that got the storyline.)

Friends first aired in September of 1994. I was just beginning high school at that time. Regardless of what was going on, I sat home on my couch every Thursday night to watch the Must See TV NBC lineup of Friends, Seinfeld, and ER. That was my happy place for 10 seasons! I now own all of the DVDs, and every November I practice the tradition of watching all of the Thanksgiving episodes. Every time I watched “The One With Ross’ Sandwich,” I thought, “I want to eat one of those.” So finally, this year, I made one. And although it wasn’t “the only good thing going on” in my life, it was a dream come true.

Here’s my version of the recipe:

In addition to what I already had in the fridge, I bought brie and Farmer’s Bread (thick and durable) from the bakery at Lidl. On the outer two slices I spread some Simon & Garfunkel herbed mayo. On the bottom slice I laid down some mixed greens and a few cuts of brie. I topped the cheese with warm mashed potatoes that had been mixed with butter, sour cream, salt and pepper. Then came the Moist Maker: a slice of turkey gravy-soaked bread. Next came the final three ingredients: a layer of warm turkey, warm turkey stuffing, and a spoonful of my grandma’s cranberry relish*. I also spooned some green bean casserole onto my plate because, well, why not?

*Grandma Fyfe’s Cranberry Relish:

Chop a bag of fresh cranberries, an orange, and 3/4 cup of sugar together in a food processor. Add in some chopped walnuts. Voilà!

If you still have these leftovers taking up space in the fridge, I recommend that you get your gobble on and let a Moist Maker take up room in your belly, instead! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!