Tuesday, November 4, 2008


Fall is my favorite season. Not only is it the season of my birthday, fresh donuts and cider, finally cooler temperatures, agricultural bounty, but it's also the start of the holiday season and the time for my favorite annual publications - the thanksgiving editions of the food magazines. Oh there's nothing better - it's food porn and I'm an addict. I love the pictures decorating the shiny pages of perfect food; golden turkeys, fluffy potatoes, browned casseroles, vibrantly colored vegetables.

My addiction to Thanksgiving isn't limited to the food. The seasonal decorations and the table settings are also a focus of my addiction. Autumnal colored linens, elegant holiday china, cornucopias, leaves, pumpkins and gourds, mums; I can't get enough. I hit the store to collect all the Thanksgiving editions of magazines I don't already subscribe to (yes, there are ones that I don't subscribe to thankyouverymuch), then I head to the library to check out all the cookbooks they have too. I plot and plan the menu, the table, the snacks, and the dessert with my mom and sister beginning more than a month in advance - discussing holiday menus past and assigning items for preparation.

This year we have an additional reason to be excited (and thankful) - two new family members trying holiday food for the first time (well, one actually trying it herself, one trying it second hand).

We have favorite dishes that return yearly to grace the holiday table (sausage stuffing, sweet potato casserole) and new items being tested for the first time. What are favorites on your holiday table?

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Green bean casserole!
It's so gourmet, hahaha--it's like 3 ingredients total (and that's why my mom lets me make it for Thanksgiving dinner).

Unknown said...

Bacon stuffing and bacon mashed potatoes with turkey.

Mmmmm.

Jen said...

@Lisa - I'm ALL about the green bean cassarole. In fact, I think I'm going to cover every dish in cream of mushroom soup this holiday. What could be better than that?

@Laurie - Have a told you that one year I covered the turkey in bacon before I roasted it? True story!