Crab Avocado Salad

This was the surprise hit of the feast! First off, you will need some fresh corn. The corn was boiled and then the kernels cut from the cob. See above photo. Doesn't that look good enough to eat already?

Then I made some fresh salsa out of Rome tomatoes, sweet onions, cilantro and some lime juice, salt and pepper.

Then, using a 2 inch round mold, layer the following ingredients: fresh Hass avocado sprinkled with lime juice, corn, grilled red peppers, avocado, salsa and a generous handful of fresh, lump crabmeat that's been tossed with more lime juice and sea salt. Make sure everything is compact in the mold and then remove. For garnish, I piped in my favorite soup: creamed tomato and basil soup. But you can use a nice homemade thousand island dressing or creme fraise.

Potatoes And Yam Casserole

I tried something new this year with my smashed potatoes. First off, I saw some novelty potatoes: purple, red and white ones. I bought an assortment, scrubbed and boiled them. (Keep skins on.) Then mashed them to death. In a separate bowl, pour about 2 cups buttermilk that has been scalded with about 3 tablespoons of Knorr's Alfredo sauce stirred in. I then poured this concoction into the potatoes as we mashed. Add some unsalted butter and then salt and pepper to taste. YUM. Creamy with a kick!

This year, I decided to finally try cornbread stuffing. I went to our local Whole Foods Market where they have very good cornbread. I bought 1.5 pounds of corn bread precut into squares that I gently placed in a bowl. I added one can of water chestnuts, chopped and 2 cups of grated Monterey Jack cheese. I made sure I folded these dry ingredient into the cornbread so as not to smash the squares. Then in another bowl, I mixed 2 eggs, 2 cups free range chicken stock, and 4 tablespoons Italian herbs. Again, I folded the liquid into the cornbread mixture and poured everything into a casserole dish that I painted with extra virgin olive oil. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees F. Voila! It was a hit.

Squash And Apple Soup

This soup was so easy to make, it's insane. First, caramelize 1 cup of chopped leeks. (Use only the white part---that's 3 leeks...)

Then I caramelized some butternut squash in EVO oil. To make things easy, I bought the squash already peeled and cut from Whole Foods Market. That made it painfully easy! Then add a little soup stock to finish cooking the squash. This time, I also added one big apple. After everything is fork tender, I processed the leek-squash-apple mixture in my Cuisinart. I already had some free range chicken stock in a soup pot and all I had to do was add the processed mixture. Add spices of your choice. I added 1/4 cup of maple syrup, ground white pepper, sea salt, and a little cumin and nutmeg. Then I creamed it with half and half. Correct seasonings before you serve. Everybody loved it!

Overwhelmed.... Again

All my children will be home today. I am so excited. But overwhelmed. I just finished my fifth load of laundry and I'm not done! I had 7 college students, 3 boys and 4 girls over the weekend. I set up 3 aerobeds, 1 trundle bed and 2 beds. Yesterday, I deflated all the aerobeds, stripped all the beds and laundered loads of sheets, blankets, towels and quilts. Egadz. My back is sore. I also put together a brand new portable playpen/changing table/bassinet all by myself. Then I unpacked a spankin' new LCD television/DVD player combination. Got that baby hooked up good. The most challenging task was, amazingly, installing my new Mighty Mouse wireless Mac Mouse. Turns out my OS needs updating to install the extra features. Nevertheless, this new mouse works like a charm. I love the tiny, scrolly wheel. What's next in my list? Yikes. I am exhausted.



Today, I have a long list of groceries to pick up. I am going to start cooking for Thanksgiving today. I am making it easy. Turkey will be brined tomorrow and then stashed in the roaster early Thursday morning. Yams will be mashed, prepared and ready for the oven. Fruit salad will be in the fridge. Squash will be processed and ready to be made into bisque on Thursday. I am going to boil the potatoes already so all we have to do is smash it on Thursday. Pies have been ordered. Ice cream in the freezer. Breads will be picked up from the bakery on Wednesday. I am setting the table on Wednesday night. It'll be good.



Then on Thursday, after the meal is over, I am going to sit and crash and watch foreign movies with the kids. Clean-up....not for me. I'll leave that up to everybody else. And then soak in the joy of being together. Good plan.



I'll make sure I take pictures. Right now, I need another xanax. I think I dreamed yesterday happened.