We were back together again after missing a year: Mom, Dad, my sister and her family, my niece and her family, and the four of us.
We had Mom’s stuffing and sweet potato fluff, though she has passed the actual cooking and baking along to us. She shows up these days with snacks and sides from Whole Foods. I guess she figures after cooking for five people for 30 years, she can outsource it. I get that.
We brought a salad of fresh-from-the-farm greens with dried cherries, pecans, apple slices and blue cheese; roasted winter root veggies (also from the farm); a cranberry tart; and tofurkey. There was also real turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and other dishes to enjoy.
I skipped making the labor intensive rolls I have made every Thanksgiving for the past 15 or so years, and nobody noticed I hadn’t been kneading and punching dough in intervals over the past 24 hours until we arrived at my niece’s house in Manassas this afternoon.
“Where are Meme’s yeast rolls?” Edwin asked. He was flabbergasted when I said I just didn’t feel like it this year. He was mightily disappointed, and I vowed to make them for Christmas.
After a cozy post-dinner family hangout, it was time to head home. Eyes were glazing over and Chris was hoping to watch the Bills game.
It sure does feel good to resume our traditions (even if I did skip the rolls). Onward to Christmas!
My Corner of the Village 