The Snow Family Thanksgiving, 2009

Below this post is our dinner menu, I would love to read your comments about it:)

This year we stay home and cook with close friends on the farm. I have been busy in the last weeks sourcing ingredients and preparing my menu and prep list to make sure I can enjoy my guests while at the same time putting out the meal in a timely, well-executed fashion.  I can guarantee I wont be calling the Butter Ball Hot line pleading for help because my frozen turkey is cooked outside but only 100 degrees inside at service time 🙂

Cooking a large meal like this takes planning, forethought equipment and the facilities to pull it off. We are often chided about the size of our dining room and the table. The dining room (or hall) is 22 x 18 with 10 foot ceilings, quite a large room. In order for it to be balanced, the table I bought is over 10 feet long and can seat 10 adults easily. We hardly use it except for holiday meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Come party or holiday dinner, the space pays dividends.

I really love the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years meals as they bring back great childhood memories of food and festivities.  Now as an adult and father of 3, I get very reflective and very thankful for the many blessings such as my family, our health, the roof over our heads and of course good friends.

This year’s Thanksgiving meal will be quite emotional too. For the last 4-5 years, we have enjoyed Thanksgiving day with our close friends who live up in the mountains outside Asheville North Carolina. They are tremendous people and great hosts who put on a very nice Thanksgiving Day meal that’s complete with amazing food and atmosphere. Sandy, the lady of the house is a Martha Stewart type who sets a table that could be featured in magazines. She takes great pride in making things look festive and always has plenty of food and drink.

This year,  I decided to ask them over to our house for Thanksgiving because it’s been so long since I cooked the famous meal here. They accepted and plans have been underway for them to come over. I was going to ask Sandy for help with decorating the table as we have tons of plate ware..but none of it can server over 4 people. We have all types and colors that we have acquired for filming purposes, but no large sets.

Tragically, Monday morning of Thanksgiving week, just three days ago as I write this post, Sandy and Norman lost their home to a devastating fire. Through the night the power in their neighborhood was flickering on and off several times. Sandy awoke early morning to the smell of smoke. The house was decimated by fire and when we left them the other day their house was 6 inches deep in water, soot, ashes and white foam from the fireman. The entire roof of the main part of the house was collapsed. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, all people, cats, and dogs got out alive, however, they lost just about everything including her cherished family albums, most of the furniture, Christmas decorations etc.

The toughest part of all is both Sandy and Norm love being home. They often have a fire going at night and love their chairs, their TV and each others company.  It was quite a scene the other morning and we felt so helpless as aside from just being with them there is not much we can do. They are going to have to be in a state of transition for many months to come and Sandy will not be able to have her famed Christmas party this year which I know is a tradition she really loves and we really love too.

So, this year when we pray before dinner and give thanks for what we have, the significance will be so much more than usual. If you’re the praying type, please say one for Sandy and Norm from North Carolina.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Keith

The Snow’s Thanksgiving Menu

Sides:

Parker House Rolls

Wild Mushroom Cornbread Dressing (contains local ingredients)

Fresh Cranberry Compote

Butter Chive Whipped Potatoes (contains local ingredients)

Rosemary Orange Roasted Squash (contains local ingredients)

Brussels Sprouts Gratinee

Green Beans w Shallot Cream (contains local ingredients)

Main Course:
Sage-Rubbed Roast Turkey
Giblet Gravy

Desserts:

Fresh Pumpkin Pie w Chantilly Cream (contains local ingredients)

Chocolate Roll

Beverages:

Coffee

Gewürztraminer

Mulled Cider (contains local ingredients)