Thanksgiving 2013

Happy Black Friday! Instead of going shopping, today I'm going to 'Color Me Mine,' which is a pottery painting place.

Anyway, Thanksgiving in our house was quite successful. We had more people over than I'm used to cooking for but it was delicious and everyone had a great time and we were all stuffed and happy when the meal was finished.

Here's what was on the menu:

• roasted turkey (duh) with giblet gravy
• beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce
• cranberry sauce
• rice pilaf
• roasted brussels sprouts with crispy pancetta
• garlic & leek mashed potatoes
• three cheese mac (with fontina, gruyere, and cheddar)
• sautéed kale with bacon
• apple and herb stuffing
• green bean casserole
• arugula salad with goat cheese, dried cranberries, bacon bits, and fig balsamic vinegar
• sweet cornbread
• sweet corn
• sweet potato casserole (courtesy of my cousin)
• kimbap (courtesy of my aunt)
• stuffed mushrooms
• cheese plate
• crostini with bruschetta, roasted garlic, and pickles
• vanilla bean bread pudding
• and cinnamon ice cream (recipe to come in the next week or two)

I didn't take as many photos as I wish I had yesterday, especially of the finished feast, because the whole party was waiting to eat and I was too busy getting things ready, but I think I took enough photos for you to get a pretty good idea. Click after the jump to see my photo diary!

{cranberry sauce}

{cranberry sauce}

{turkey in brine}

{vanilla bean bread pudding}

{cornbread mini muffins}

{ooey gooey mac & cheese}

{mushroom sauce for the green bean casserole}

{gummy bear ice mold}

{bear!}

{comfiest slippers for cooking in}

{crostini}

{11 lb. turkey, massaged with butter, stuffed with aromatics, and ready to go in the oven}

{cheese board}

{roasted garlic | tomato bruschetta | pepperoncini peppers & pickles}

{green beans tossed in the mushroom sauce}

{stuffing}

{tenderloin being brushed with dijon mustard}

{beef tenderloin crusted with black peppercorns and rosemary}

{roasted turkey}

{white wine sangria with fizzy moscato}

{our banquet}
{we also had a sweet potato casserole with a brown sugar crust and kimbap, courtesy of my cousin (not pictured)}
{also not pictured: the cranberry sauce!}

{my full plate}
{the turkey was delicious, the beef tenderloin was tender, the rice was fluffy, the macaroni was cheesy, the cornbread was moist, I could go on but I should just quickly summarize and say everything was wonderful.}

{my sangria chilled by a cranberry ice bear}

Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving Days as much as I did. Now, it's time to plan the Christmas menu. This is why this is the most wonderful time of the year: because (for me) it's so food-driven.