Carefree Gourmet by Joyce McCombs - Thanksgiving

Everyone knows the Thanksgiving rules, and get ready because it’s just two weeks away! Turkey is always the star of the show. Stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy are a must. Cranberries will appear in one form or another, followed closely by sweet potatoes, rolls, and canned green bean casserole with French fried onions on top. Corn is usually on the menu as somewhat inaccurate tribute to our Pilgrim ancestors. Jello, with canned fruit suspended inside is a tribute to my own ancestors, who couldn’t get through a major holiday without it. Appetizers, leafy greens, and soup are sometimes invited to the party, but are often left on the sidelines during this annual carbohydrate fest. Oh, and don’t forget the pie. Pumpkin, pecan, cherry and lemon meringue top the list of favorite Thanksgiving desserts. Nobody will request fat free sorbet, trust me.

Yes, we who cook know all the rules and on the fourth Thursday of November we bake and baste and mash with a happy heart for the people we love, knowing full well that an hour after dinner everyone will be slinking toward the couch to pretend to watch football. In just minutes, some will be listing to starboard and snoring softly. Later, they will deny even closing their eyes for a second - they were certainly not napping, no sir!

We invite you browse our Carefree Gourmet Cook pages to get the list of recipes that Joyce has shared with our readers celebrating Thanksgiving.