Monday of Thanksgiving week

Were I baking for the big Thursday meal, I'd be at it today. But I have long given up on that effort, limiting myself to cranberry cornmeal muffins, which I bake fresh on Thursday.

Let's talk about Thanksgiving foods: did you know that Wisconsin produces more cranberries than any other state, by far? Last year we harvested more than 4 million barrels. Many people think Massachusetts is number one in this. Ha! They didn't even bring in half that amount! And here's another fact to remember this Thanksgiving: Indigenous Americans picked wild cranberries for food (and for dyes and medicines). Insofar as Thanksgiving is a holiday that celebrates early eating traditions in this country, cranberries, and corn, and turkeys (well, wild turkeys) -- these should most certainly grace your table. Sweet potatoes and green beans are native to Central and South America. They were brought up north by Native Indians, so these, too, are a truly American food. Apple pie on the other hand -- you know, as American as apple pie? -- not so much. It originated in England. But you're good with pecan pie! Pecans are of the Americas.

Our own Thanksgiving meal has many of the traditional core ingredients, though I give them modern adaptations. So, turkey, but spatchcoked and brined, green beans but with ginger and garlic, corn -- with chilies for the grownups, potatoes -- a mix of sweet and russet, roasted in a cheese sauce, cranberries, but with oranges, more roasted veggies that actually originate in Central Asia and the Mediterranean regions, and lastly -- those cranberry corn muffins, ones that rely on the availability of buttermilk. And hold on to your hat Hannah -- for dessert? Not apple, not pecan, but chocolate cream pie, which, I'm sorry, but is soooo French in origin that you have to wonder how it ever made its way to our Thanksgiving meal. 

One has to remember that Thanksgiving is many things to many people, though we all, I hope, share in the belief that it is of gratitude and humility and kindness, over foods that traditionally have brought us together on this day.

Okay, but I am running ahead of myself. Today, is also memorable because we crossed over the freezing point. Arctic blast -- over and done with for now.

Chickens -- happy.

Breakfast -- lovely.

We talk about chickens once again. Our Bresse farmer will have roosters to sell in February. We will wait. I have some trepidation about our girls being without a hefty, protective guy all winter long, but on the other hand, Happy never seemed too devoted to his job of keeping the flock in tact. He just seemed happy to be around some of them some of the time. Perhaps gentle roosters aren't well suited to the task of keeping a stern grip on the hens and keeping intruders away from them. And we definitely want a gentle rooster. 

Walk -- accomplished.

We go to our park. The pond is nearly frozen, but all this will change: the snow will melt, the pond will unfreeze this week. We're in for some decently Novermberish weather for the next few days.

And Snowdrop -- picked up at school as usual, brought to the farmhouse as usual.

Though today she passed on outdoor play. Hungry for gingerbread cookies maybe?

In the evening Ed and I eat leftovers. Thanksgiving week is one with lots of leftovers -- before, because you don't feel like cooking much, and after, because turkeys are big. Even when they're small, they're big! 

Do I start cooking tomorrow? Nope. Tomorrow is clean the house day. After that -- I wont leave the kitchen until dawn breaks over a Friday horizon! (Okay, I exaggerate.)

with love...