Thursday, November 27, 2008

Giving Thanks





Today I am giving thanks for a simply wonderful day. We spent the whole day with family. Everyone helped cook or clean something. It was a relaxed day. No major kid meltdowns. Lots of really cute loves from my niece Aubrey who is a couple months younger than Camille would have been. 

And the food ... ahhh yes the food. Did I mention my family is full of great cooks? And Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE meal. And I am thankful I got to enjoy the meal fully with no sick stomach to hinder the enjoyment.

We had all the traditional foods. Turkey with my dad's stuffing that he, Jon and my brother Darren made together last night. Darren then took half and headed to Utah with his wife. It was unbelievably good. I wish I could give you all a bit. My dad knows how to season things so well.

Mom made an old family favorite jello salad. I made homemade sour cream rolls. Hot out of the oven, they almost melt in your mouth. I also made my grandmother's candied yams. No marshmellows allowed. We actually "candy" the yams by baking them for hours in brown sugar and butter. Pretty much they turn out to be dessert, and they are my favorite dish at Thanksgiving. 

Jon's sister Marleen and her husband Spencer brought fresh green beans and mashed potatoes. Yummy! And my mother in law brought a pecan pie, Dixie salad (a Las Vegas pioneer dish with pomegranates, apples, nuts and other things in whipping cream), and 2 amazing homemade cranberry relishes. 

Just before we started our dinner, our friend Chris Herrin (the head pastry chef for the Venetian Hotel) showed up with a culinary student assistant named Lenny. He brought us some extra pies from the Bouchon. A pecan, 2 apple, and the best pumpkin I have ever had. 
Pumpkin pie with roasted pumpkin seeds on top of whip cream that looked like marshmallows because it was so perfectly piped.

To top it all off, Lenny brought us some of his "homework." A chocolate yule log mouse cake with pumpkin truffles on top. It was beautiful! And it tasted even better than it looked, though that seemed impossible. Thanks Chris and Lenny!
Chris and Lenny had a tasting plate of our food. Chris said it was better than anything they were serving at the restaurant. Normally I would think he was just being nice. But today -- Thanksgiving -- well we do Thanksgiving right. And I honestly don't think there was a better meal anywhere in the valley today. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I am thankful for all of you today and everyday. You truly enrich my life in so many ways. Tonight my heart feels full in a way I have long wondered if it ever would again. I know Camille is feeling that full joy as well which tops off the joy in my heart this day. It is a wonderful thing to have your heart as full as your stomach at the end of the Thanksgiving meal.

17 comments:

Randi A. said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I am jealous of all that food. Our dinner wasn't that fabulous. My cute little grandma insists on cooking it all... and bless her heart but in her old age her cooking skills are slipping. But it was lovely to be with family. Glad you had a nice day!

Anonymous said...

Lots of calories in your post, Stephanie - I think I gained a pound or two :-)

Glad you had such a wonderful day!

love 'n hugs,
kathryn_m

Annalee Kelly said...

I've never heard of sour cream rolls. Care to share your recipe?

Catherine Noorda said...

don't you just love thanksgiving food? after two heaping servings of yams i decided i couldn't eat any more. i REALLY want to try your candied ones. they sound so amazingly delish. i'm hoping you have leftovers and i can come raid your fridge.

glad you had such a happy day!

Posh Ideas said...

Will you share your roll recipe with me? Please post or email me!
poshpetals@gmail.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Unknown said...

I know this is one of your "firsts" since Camille's passing. I'm so happy to hear that it was a good day for you. So much to be thankful for.
By the way, I'm always looking for a good roll recipe. So, here is another vote for a requested recipe post. Thanks bunches!!

Chell said...

Wow! You seriously baked those rolls? Very impressive! :)

Im so glad that you had such a wonderful day and didnt feel sick..

Tracy said...

Here is the third vote on the roll recipe! God Bless you and your family. We are still praying for you. Stay healthy and happy !!

Jill said...

I have to add my request to the roll recipe and candied yams as well. Sounds like a perfect Thanksgiving.

a.k.a. Jack said...

I am so happy to hear that you were able to enjoy the Thanksgiving food without feeling sick. There's little worse than feeling sick when there are so many delectable treats around.

Anonymous said...

I'd love the recipe to the candied yams and the sour cream rolls. I think yams are sweet potatoes??? I'd need to check that before trying to cook it, eh?!

Glad you had a lovely day.

Love to you

Jane

Anonymous said...

mouth watering!!!!!! recipe, please!

The Real Estate Talker said...

I just found your blog earlier tonight. I don't even remember how I found it right now. I have read thru every post you have written. Your posts have left me feeling a greater sense of faith than I have been feeling lately. I am so glad you found comfort in blogging. You writings are so true from the heart and soul, your sense of strengh amazes me, it has to be from you Faith and from your little angel Camille. I am so sorry about Camille. You will see her again in Heaven. I would love for you to stop by my blog and say Hello
Blessings~Cheryl

Anonymous said...

Please get in touch with this mother, she can use you. Christine at gilesgazette.blogspot.com.
Thank you...

Anonymous said...

We must share family or family acquaintances somewhere in the line because you are the only person I've heard of (outside of my extended Tucker family) that candys yams the way we do!

Mimi's Toes said...

What a perfect day you had. Those rolls look just like the kind my daughter-in-law made. It sounds like you had a wonderful feast and I am glad you & baby were able to enjoy every bite. How neat to have a friend who is a chef...

Sadie said...

Hello - we don't know each other but I happened upon your blog. I hope that you are able to find more days of happiness.