This is the first chance I’m getting to post about all the cooking that happened in my house over Thanksgiving. I love this holiday simply because it’s an excuse to cook. We didn’t have to make a whole lot, but I CAN tell you that I now sport two (somewhat gross) battle burn wounds on my right arm from not being careful as I reached into the oven to test the dishes for doneness. I know, I know, I should be more careful. I sometimes wonder how a klutz like me has survived in the kitchen all these years.

An interesting that happened was that I was actually able to cook with my mom. I’m sort of a cooking recluse/monk, you see. I take this after Lola Pinang, my mom’s mom, who didn’t like people in the kitchen. When I cook (and especially when I bake), it’s just me, the ingredients and maybe Radiohead on my iPod. People know to stay away when the apron makes an appearance. I was anticipating a lot of frustrated sighs and eye-rolling (from me) with having another person in the kitchen, but I actually really enjoyed the whole thing. (Hi, Ma!)

Instead of boring you with how these were made, I’ve decided that this is going to be a massive food post, with images recounting all the flavors that only greet the palette during the holidays. I’m sure these can be made any other day of the year, but they somehow seem that much more festive when they’re made at Thanksgiving!

French Bread Stuffing
French Bread + Celery + Onions + Black and Green Olives + Walnuts + Raisins + Oregano + Thyme

Cranberry Sauce
Fresh Cranberries + Sugar

Kale-Mushroom Bundles
Bella Mushrooms + White Mushrooms + Enoki Mushrooms + Blanched Kale

Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Butter + Milk + Cream Cheese (my mom’s trick!) + Salt + Pepper + Fresh Parsely

Sweet Potato Casserole
Vanilla + Cinnamon + Cream + Brown Sugar + Pecans

Creamed Corn
White + Yellow Corn Kernels + Butter + Whole Milk + Parmesan Cheese

And for a post-Thanksgiving Italian dinner with friends:

Chicken Cacciatore with Asparagus-Fennel Risotto (can’t speak for the risotto because it was a yummy treat made by the host, but for the cacciatore…)
Fresh Tomatoes + Thyme + Baby Portobello Mushrooms + Onion + Garlic

Tiramisu
Lady Fingers + Ricotta + Whipped Cream + Coffee Liquer + Cocoa Powder

Seeing all these pics made me hungry. How true that we feast with our eyes first! Happy feasting!