Thursday, November 24, 2005
Bountiful
:::satisfied sigh::: What a lovely holiday! I'm just now coming out of my food coma, happy and oh-so-thankful for the people in my life.
Two years ago, just a couple weeks before what The Food Whore rightly calls The Most Adored Food Holiday in All the Land, I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Stuffing, green bean casserole, rolls, gravy, pumpkin pie? All off-limits. Not only could I not eat what I wanted to, I was still too new to cooking gluten-free foods. Not the healthy stuff -- but the creamy, gooey comfort foods required for a family Thanksgiving. I couldn't even bring the variety of homemade breads that I made every year. So I concocted a wild rice/cranberry/hazelnut dish at the last minute and pictured myself picking at a bare slice of turkey and drooling over the pies. But my family "got it." Immediately. Mom thickened the gravy with cornstarch and brought me a "special" pumpkin pie (no crust). My sister whipped up the mashed potatoes with gluten-free sour cream. (She actually read the label!) And they all snarfed up my casserole.
Fast-forward two years. They still "get it." Boy, do they ever "get it." I had to laugh when I saw all the dishes lined up on the buffet. You wouldn't even know that one of our throng required a special diet. Almost everything was creamy, gooey, comforting -- and gluten-free! Each time I express my gratitude, they shrug and say, "It's family. Why wouldn't we do this for you?" Yeah, I'm truly blessed. I'm surrounded by people I love, who love me, and make me feel safe and secure. How can I ever be thankful enough?
My contributions to the meal? Three types of homemade breads, an autumn vegetable gratin [with a few recipe modifications] and polenta-sausage stuffing. And again they snarfed it all up.
That concludes the sentimental portion of the blogcast. Now on to the holiday fun:
Two years ago, just a couple weeks before what The Food Whore rightly calls The Most Adored Food Holiday in All the Land, I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Stuffing, green bean casserole, rolls, gravy, pumpkin pie? All off-limits. Not only could I not eat what I wanted to, I was still too new to cooking gluten-free foods. Not the healthy stuff -- but the creamy, gooey comfort foods required for a family Thanksgiving. I couldn't even bring the variety of homemade breads that I made every year. So I concocted a wild rice/cranberry/hazelnut dish at the last minute and pictured myself picking at a bare slice of turkey and drooling over the pies. But my family "got it." Immediately. Mom thickened the gravy with cornstarch and brought me a "special" pumpkin pie (no crust). My sister whipped up the mashed potatoes with gluten-free sour cream. (She actually read the label!) And they all snarfed up my casserole.
Fast-forward two years. They still "get it." Boy, do they ever "get it." I had to laugh when I saw all the dishes lined up on the buffet. You wouldn't even know that one of our throng required a special diet. Almost everything was creamy, gooey, comforting -- and gluten-free! Each time I express my gratitude, they shrug and say, "It's family. Why wouldn't we do this for you?" Yeah, I'm truly blessed. I'm surrounded by people I love, who love me, and make me feel safe and secure. How can I ever be thankful enough?
My contributions to the meal? Three types of homemade breads, an autumn vegetable gratin [with a few recipe modifications] and polenta-sausage stuffing. And again they snarfed it all up.
That concludes the sentimental portion of the blogcast. Now on to the holiday fun:
- Mystery Science Theater 3000's Turkey Day marathons are long gone, but you can rediscover the (c)harm here.
- A Thanksgiving tradition at my place: I pop in an old tape of WKRP in Cincinnati's infamous "Turkeys Away" episode. Oh, the humanity! (And WHEN is this series going to come out on DVD?)
- Another tradition: Listening to Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant (with full orchestration and five-part harmony. Shovels, rakes & implements of destruction are optional. )
Have a safe & happy Thanksgiving!
# posted by Peggy @ 5:34 PM 
