CRAZY TOWN WAITING ROOM - TESTS coming up? All Stages Welcome.

queenmomcat

Sorry about the delay--I've been wrestling with my computer networking class and mopping up all the drool. thinking about this virtual Thanksgiving dinner. And yes, Beppy will be at the head of our table, and all those we know and love there with us. Otherwise what's the point?

So far it's, in no particular order

Amuse-bouche appetizers, all through the afternoon:

• Crudites and skordalia (never enough garlic!),
• cheese-cayenne pennies (rainnyc)
• Crisp crackers, goat cheese, lox/caviar (me)
• And of course, dry white wine, a sparkling or two, and the amazing fizzy juices from Lemon Creek, near me, for them as don't partake of alcohol

The dinner itself

Soup:

• Roast butternut squash soup (octogirl)
• Escarole/Italian Wedding soup (duckyb)

The Main Dish (what else?): Turkey. Or rather, turkeys (or is that turkies? I"ve never been sure.)

Sides (this is half the fun, no?)

• Cornbread stuffing (Molly50)
• Sage dressing + gravy (Italychick)
• World's Best Dinner Rolls (sorry: gottta look this one up, I'll be back)
• Yams with praline crunch (poppyk)
• Minted pineapple carrots (ChiSandy)
• Green bean casserole (eggroll)
• Cheesy potato casserole (mommyof2)
• Mushrooms stuffed with savory sausage, cooked in butter (Di2012--hey, it's a virtual dinner, no cholesterol, no calories)
• Brussels sprouts+bacon (me)
• Creamed onions (my husband--he's so into this, it's not even funny)
• Mashed potatoes (whoever wants to volunteer to mash the suckers)
• Gravy, gravy and more gravy (me)
• Choice of wines: I'm inclined to think a couple of reds--the dishes are strong enough to stand up to that--and as many whites, dry or mildly sweet.

Dessert:

• Apple Crumb pie (proudtospin)
• Pumpkin pie (Molly50)
• Sour cream pound cake (duckyb)
• Apple pie with a handful of cranberries
• Lucy55: pavlova
• Sweet(er) wines: Riesling, Sauterne, Icewine

For afters, taken on the porch:

• Hot drinks with ativan sprinkles, taken on the porch. May include your choice of brandy, rum, or tequila.
• Chocolates
• Mini-doughnuts

And of course, the next day:

• Pie for breakfast, the breakfast of Champions!
• Turkey soup cookoff: matzoh balls, rice, noodle, whatever floats your boat
• Turkey sandwiches with your choice of French or Italian bread, gravies, stuffings, and of course, the all-crucial cranberry sauce!

If I missed anyone, I apologize! I haven't Our Beloved Mayor's skills with a spreadsheet. But all are welcome. This is CrazyTown, after all, so the table is infinitely expandable, the conversation always audible yet not overwhelming no matter where you're sitting, and the tablecloth never stained by splots and drops and tipped-over wine glasses.

rainnyc

Brilliant, QMC.

Ahem: Cranberry sauce. I usually make it the old-fashioned way.

Also, didn't someone mention the best rolls ever?

Also, also, I'll bring the chocolates for 2 hours after dinner, when you just need a little something to seal off your esophagus. Maybe a nice box of something from here: http://www.mrchocolate.com/shop/products/thanksgiv...

Or a bag of peppermint patties.

Italychick

and my sage dressing and gravy that my kids fight over....

Di2012

ADD my Stuffed, cooked in butter, Mushrooms ( stuffed with savory stuffing mixed with cooked Italian Sausage)

Still waiting for MRI results......thank you all for being pocket pals.....

I told the tech that a FOOB MRI was just a little less painful than BOOB MRI.....although I came home with black eyes from being in the face down position,,,old thin skin did not like IT!......now black blue and green face....lovely!

hugs,

Di

ChiSandy

My mom used to simmer a 1-lb. bag of baby carrots till tender, and then braise them for 20 min. on low in a covered skillet with a glaze of crushed pineapple with some of the juice in the can and about a T. of maple syrup, sprinkled with cinnamon and crushed mint leaves, salt to taste. Then uncover and continue to cook until glaze is fully reduced.

I’ll also bring cranberry-orange-walnut relish spiked with cognac.

Count me in for a Beaujolais Nouveau 2016, a dry Riesling from northern MI, and a bottle of Mumm Napa Brut Prestige.

Molly50

I'm drooling over the menu ! The anniversary party sounds wonderful . Best news today . Wyatt's doing GREAT today ! ! Took a bit of a hard stance with DD today . I need to be strong . Love you all . You are my sanity savers .

queenmomcat

Gah, I knew I'd leave something out; maybe I should set up a spreadsheet like Beppy's! Cranberry sauce and World's best Rolls going on the menu straightaway. Thank you for the wines (suggestions), ChiSandy, a Michigan Riesling should go well with the desserts and the sweeter side dishes.

GmaFoley

And my mini donuts!!!

octogirl

oh yes, we have to have mini donuts: with coffee on the porch for second dessert!...and maybe spike the coffee with brandy and ativan sprinkles?

Molly, glad you took a stand with DD.Yes, be strong. She lives with you right? Your house, your rules. Daughters can be tough, but once they are finally real adults (which can take a lot longer than reaching the age of majority), they can make you so proud. Yes, we have your back. Sending love and hugs.

xox

Octogirl

proudtospin

wonderful menu, and please do spike the coffee for me

Hicup

Feeling better every day but dang but memory is shit

Can't remember the exercise he told me to do, think it was knee bends while holding back of chair?

queenmomcat

T-day dinner duly updated. I think I've got everyone, but I'm sure you'll let me know if I missed anyone or there's something we've overlooked. Def spiked coffee with ativan sprinkles to sip with second dessert.

M0mmyof3

No spiked coffee or tea for me please.

queenmomcat

Never fear, Mommyof2: spiking's optional. So is the coffee/tea--take your choice of any hot or cold beverage. (I'm partial to hot chocolate with those cute little marshmallows.)

Molly50

I have been drinking hot chocolate with peppermint marshmallows lately. I am peppermint obsessed, lol. Great menu. Yes, DD wants to live an "adult" life on her on with my $$. Not going to happen. If you move out it is with your $$.

Lucy55

Molly ..We have hot chocolate with ordinary marshmallows bobbing up and down in it ...I didn't even realise peppermint marshmallows existed ..How could I have been so ignorant all these years. ??!? Anyhow they are now written on my next shopping list as a "must have " 🙂

Is your daughter wanting to set up home with her boyfriend. ?? I think she definitely has to do it with her own money ..it's not until you do that you appreciate appreciate all the comforts you had at home , and the value of things ..

Di ..Hope you get your results soon ..The waiting is dreadful ..

Queen ..you've done a great job of organising our Thanksgiving ...My First Thanksgiving ever 🙂

PoppyK

I'm sitting here drooling over our feast!

Can you imagine the love, laughs and support at this Thanksgiving Feast?!?

Lucy55

Poppy ..Yes. !!!! Especially if Beppy were here to share it with us. !!

Molly ..Hmmm...been googling peppermint marshmallows ...Did you buy them ...or do you have to make them. ?????

octogirl

OMG...Lucy! When I come to Oz we should redo Thanksgiving there just for you....

Although I will say that the last time I has Aussies for Thanksgiving, they were not fans of the pumpkin pie. Come to think of it, neither is my SIL who was raised in North Africa, or my nephew's wife from Japan...I'd say pumpkin pie really is one uniquely American dish.

Hang tough, Molly.

xoxo

Octogirl

rainnyc

Just a guess: American pumpkin pie is an entirely sweet dish, heightened by sweet spices and usually served with something sweet like whipped cream. I think pumpkin/hard squash in other cuisines tends to be a foil for very spicy/savory seasoning. So maybe it's just expectations? I've been roasting sweet potatoes with zataar, which is salty and savory (includes sumac, which is acidic, and thyme). It's very different from the typical presentation with maple syrup or OJ, but I love it. Anyway, I don't know, just guessing.

Meanwhile, I'm drooling, just thinking about the food AND the company. How nice it would be!

I'm at my mother's house now. DH and DS are coming Thursday, and one of my sisters and a niece on Friday, so that's when we'll have our meal.

It's interesting after the breast cancer treatment adventure to be thrust intensely into the role of caregiver. I know that some of you, like Molly, have never had a break from that. My mother is in her 80s and has some dementia; we're having her evaluated next week to see where she is on that front. Meanwhile, she's had a terrible several weeks of illness and probably will need surgery soon. So there has been an array of docs, and I find I'm using every bit of experience in the cancer care mill to figure things out. She doesn't have cancer, but it's more the complexity of the problem and the tendency of specialists to kick the can down the road, i.e. "Nope, not me," says the pulmonologist. "Try the cardiologist." I don't even think that anyone on her medical team is incompetent, exactly, quite the opposite. But they see the world through their particular lens, and it's an effort to find someone who's got the whole picture. I think we're getting there, but it has been a journey.

Enjoy the holiday, everyone!

Molly50

(((rainny ) ) ) big hugs from me . I went through a lot with my dad and doctors just don't coordinate or communicate . The peppermint marshmallows are sold at our grocery store . They are yummy . I love pumpkin pie but not sweet squash . I would rather have spices and butter on it . Yes DD wants to live with her boyfriend but he rents from us . We don't want three people living in the apartment and it would mean that she's still living off of us . Plus we still pay for a lot of her expenses . She actually demanded once that we give her $$ to move . I think her entitlement is a result of us being so tied up with Wyatt we gave in a lot .

queenmomcat

I'll toss in another vote for "Americans tend to expect anything with pumpkins to be sweet". I don't know enough about the other cuisines to speak knowledgeably about their take on things like pumpkin, acorn squash and the like. Only a vague notion that I remember a spicy African soup based on one of the things in that group. Though that said, the sweet potatoes with zataar sounds delicions!

Following all the non-Thanksgiving drama/external events with sympathy.

ChiSandy

I don’t mind pumpkin but am getting tired of “pumpkin-spice” everything. (Last straw is that the frozen-custard joint on our corner has added as its third flavor—besides choc. & vanilla—pumpkin maple soft serve. Eeeeuw). I do keep some sugar-free pumpkin-spice syrup on hand for those who want it in their lattes. And the trend over the past few years towards pumpkin beer & ale is just gross, except for one “nanobrew” (available only on-site) at the Lost Duck Tavern in Ft. Madison, IA. Its pumpkin IPA is terrific. The name “Lost Duck” stems from the town’s location on a portion of the Mississippi R. that runs E-W rather than N-S. During fall & spring migrations, the waterfowl tend to fly over the river to guide them north to their summer home and south for the winter. When they get to Ft. Madison, they utter the avian equivalent of “WTF????"

octogirl

Sandy! Your post about the Lost Duck made my day...you may be wondering why, so here goes:

First of all, I collect ducks. of every possible type: rubber duckies, pictures of duckies, ducky shot glasses, decoys...you name it. I think I've posted the story here as to why..but it has to do with hubby and I watching the sunset on our first date along with a mated pair of mallards who stayed on the Ocean Beach (yes, on the Pacific, where you don't often see ducks on the beach)...to watch with us...

but the Lost Duck really rang a bell, because when I first moved to the town I live in now, I was *always* getting lost! It never failed! I even remember one time driving along with the setting sun in my eyes wondering for a few minutes how the heck that was possible, because I was sure I was driving north....and normally I have a good sense of direction and am a good navigator, so it was odd that I could get so lost in a small town...

It took several weeks to figure it out: the town I live in is located on Highway 99, a major California North-South artery that extends though a good chunk of our state. Except for about ten miles right when it cuts through my town: where it runs East-West! I couldn't get oriented because I thought I was going north when in fact I was going west, and so forth (using the 99 as a landmark). WTF indeed...

A Lost Duck...that is what I am. I wear the term proudly. :-)

And clearly I have to get down to Ft. Madison one of these days to check out the Tavern.

Octogirl

proudtospin

I do not do pumpkin spice stuff, I like mine spicy rather than sweet but hey, for a party all is good

Dang but tired tonight so see you later all,

Lucy55

Octo ..I can't wait for you to come ..We will get on famously ..We are duck collectors too ..So many of them !!! Right down to a few years ago we thought we'd get a tattoo each ...which is always hidden under clothes , ( except for Hubby's when he's in the pool ) ..We got them to shock our adult children !!!...HaHa it certainly did .!!!

..anyhow we decided to get duck tattoos ..Here's the photos. 🙂😵🙂

octogirl

Love them, Lucy!

RobinLK

Too cute! This thread is reminding me of a very old-fashioned fireside chat.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

ChiSandy

So yesterday started out with a trip to the dermatologist for my semi-annual full-skin exam. I requested that if she finds anything, not to biopsy it till at least after the Bar Show is over. She replied “let's not put the cart before the horse, but nothing I find is going to kill you if I let it go a couple of weeks." I held my breath as she went over every inch of me (even at the entrance to where the sun don't shine—I have a friend who actually got anal melanoma), until she said I was off the hook for the next 6 months. I have very few moles and freckles, and that's all they are. And the little pink warty-looking thing on my cheek is only “seborrheic hyperplasia," or an overgrown oil gland. Whew! She also complimented me on my lack of sun damage.

Next was LensCrafters, with my new Rx. I decided to use my current frames as spares—just AVP progressive + anti-reflective lenses. Cost more than I thought, but good to have in case I lose my glasses (the one casualty the insurance doesn't cover). And the new pair I got looks similar, except the tortoiseshell frames are lighter and warmer-colored and a bit smaller—fitting my face better. For them, I got progressive, anti-reflective and photochromic. (Ideally, I'd have gotten the “HD progressives" that have the widest field of reading correction, but there was a one-week special order wait and they were quite a bit extra). Then came my sunglasses. Just replacing the lenses with new ones (progressive only—no need for anti-reflective or photochromic) would haave been $350. Because of a special on sunglasses they were running, a whole new pair was less than $300.

I still have 3 pr. of drill-mount (rimless) glasses that neither VisionWorks nor Lens Crafters will touch. But there's a place in W. Rogers Park, I.F. Optical (run by a “shomer Shabbos" optician who is open only Monday through Wednesday) that replaced the lenses in my favorite drill mounts a couple of years ago when they developed stress cracks around the bridge, and did it for $100. (Just progressive, not anti-reflective, because I wasn't willing to wait the extra week due to Passover coming up, and I was about to leave for Madrid). I will bring them to him for formal-wear occasions (the temples have CZs on them) and for important performances when my tortoiseshell frames would be insufficiently dressy and going spec-less might impact my ability to read lyrics or set lists. For those, I will get anti-reflective. I want to donate the other couple pair of drill-mounts, as well as a couple pair of wire-rims (5-10 yrs. old) and my sunglasses whose lenses are now the wrong prescription. Bob said they’re too costly to do that. But they’re of no use to me as is, and replacing their lenses would set me back too much. There are people in developing countries who will be glad to get used specs that approximate their prescriptions. (I have a raft of drugstore readers, but I’ll hold on to those for awhile—the frames are cute and different colors, and can be used as props later on).

The toughest thing for me to accept was that even though I see well enough without glasses to drive legally (which I’ve been doing for almost 3 weeks now), I still need some correction. When I put my new glasses on, and especially when I drive now, I am amazed at how clear and sharp everything is. I feel like that little 8-yr-old third-grader who tried on her first pair of glasses almost 58 years ago—“so that’s what everything really looks like!” I marveled then as now.

Molly50

Sandy , how exciting to see clearly again !

Di2012

I waited for my Doc to call regarding my MRI....no call so I went to the hospital and requested my report and the CD of my MRI....got it no proplem.

report stated:

I have a 9 x 6 mm internal mammary lymph node, new since last MRI, (4 years ago )

located at approximatedly at the level of the main pulmonary artery (where is that)

clinical follow up is recommended with further evaluation, including decision to biopsy, depending physical exam finding

NOW I WAIT

RE: my dysfunctional Holidays

My 98 year old Mom and "normal sister" texted me that they decided not to come to our house for thanksgiving, because I did NOT invite my maniac mentally ill sister,. The reason being: out of the blue, tried to choke me to death, (about 9 years) I woke up on the floor. and ran for my life....also when I was DX with breast cancer, 4 years ago I called my Mom and told her I had BC and she said oH No, and turned around to crazy sister and told her and she grabbed the phone and said to me: I hope you DIE of Breast Cancer!!!! That hurt me to my Core.....I still tear up when I think about it

(she also has my deceased Father's pistol....which REALLY scares me.)

Hugs to all

Di