I love three day weekends…especially the sunny kinds in October that are also known as Thanksgiving. It’s definitely true that a three day weekend is much more meaningful when you actually work away from home. For that 3-day break, I’m so thankful! It was a wonderful weekend filled with bike rides, boardgames, and food. For once, I didn’t host the Thanksgiving dinner at our little 400 sq. ft. apartment. Instead, we stuffed our panniers with sauteed brussels sprouts topped with pecans*, spicy cranberry chutney**, green salad with apple dressing***, and of course, pumpkin pie**** topped with maple whipped cream all the way to our friend’s lovely home. All of this plus our host’s amazing coca-cola ham, roasted roots with bocconcini, and lots and lots of delicious mulled wine. Definitely a meal to be thankful for.
* I love brussles sprouts and I see no reason to gussy them up with extras, but this recipe from Elise was simple and lovely. If you’re not a fan of the humble sprout, try this recipe and become a true believer! As for my own interpretation of the recipe, I substituted lime juice for the lemon and added pecans instead of almonds. Delicious!
** Every wintery holiday, I make this chutney. It’s a time-honoured favorite that I’ve tweaked and twiddled with until it reached perfection. This time around, I was all out of oranges so I couldn’t add the juice. I could have subbed in some plain ol’ water, but oh lucky me, I found a half bottle of reisling in the fridge! Saved the day and the chutney. Yum!
*** I love green salad and I love apples in salads. This was a winner. Of course I didn’t have the walnut oil the recipe called for, so instead I added olive oil with a couple drops of sesame oil for added flavour. Again, I added some toasted pecans for crunch. And who eats Red Delicious apples? Not me! Granny Smith all the way. I’ll definitely be making this salad again.
**** I’ve made this recipe for a few years now and it’s never failed me. In fact, dare I say it, it’s the best damn pumpkin pie I’ve ever eaten. Did I mention it’s way too easy to make?
I love the salad idea!
I don’t even understand why Red Delicious apples exist. They’re the worst of everything that can happen to apples.
It all sounds so wonderful. I wish my Thanksgiving dinner had been that wonderful – we had boring plain food. Boo!
What a feast!
that meal sounds so good and a very pleasant evening! You are the second person I know to have ham on thanksgiving….though I love my familiy to bits…I sometimes envy you people from elsewhere in canada…who don’t have family here…you are free to enjoy holidays, as you like!
rachel, that salad was awesome and i’ve made it again since thanksgiving. so good!!
maven, i agree. red delicious suck.
aww, nothing wrong with traditional turkey, sara. i’d love some right now.
thanks, ivonne.
hag, yup, one of the benefits of having family in another province! however, being married to someone who grew up here does make the holidays more tricky. oh well!
The most interesting part is the “chutney”. Would love to try it out. could you mention the recipe?? The salad idea is also great. The entire dinner sounds wonderful. Wish I could be a part of it. You can check out this Thanksgiving Blog as well. I found a lot of great ideas and suggestions.