We do our best to make all of our posts relate—somehow—to fabric collage. But sometimes we want to talk about something that has no obvious ties to our favorite art form.
Take Thanksgiving.
In this highly unusual year, in which we are being encouraged to forgo travel and family gatherings, what are your plans? We thought maybe we could talk about that. We’ll tell you our plans and maybe you can tell us your plans in the comments below.
How are you and your family staying safe? What is it like in your community? How are you adapting your traditions? Even, simply, what are your favorite recipes for the holiday?
For our part, we’ll describe how we plan to meet with our nearby relatives, share some of our favorite recipes, give you an update on Oma’s Pumpkin Patch, and for a bit of serenity, Tom will share one of his most recent sea kayaking videos.
A Very COVID Drive-In Thanksgiving
First off, since it is the season to be thankful, Tom and I have to acknowledge just how lucky we are. We live in a state (Maine) with very low incidence of infections, though it is now going up again. Our state leadership has been proactive and engaged with the public, businesses, and our medical workers. Our CDC director Dr. Nirav D. Shah, has been recognized nationally for his response to the pandemic.
Though we did lose family members this year, it wasn’t COVID related. We’re lucky that we don’t know anyone personally who has been severely impacted by the virus and only a couple people who have either been exposed or have had mild symptoms. Our families have been (touch wood) safe so far and as healthy as can be expected.
That said we are taking the virus seriously this holiday season. In the past we’ve had a table of up to 12-14 sitting down for the turkey that Tom cooks. Thanksgiving is Tom’s favorite holiday of the year, a gathering of his cousins, his mother, my family and others in one place to catch up and share old stories. And he loves the tradition of a roasted turkey and gravy, with mashed potatoes and good ol’ frozen corn—polished off with his home-made apple pie. It would be a blow to give it all up, but he’s willing to if it helps ensure future Thanksgivings will include everyone he loves.
When we discussed what the heck to do this year, we decided to take the family gathering outside, along with (some of) the food. 2020 is the year of spending more time outside, after all. So on Thursday we’re hosting what we’re calling a “Drive-Thru” Thanksgiving.
We’re very lucky that our immediate family is all quite local, from next door to within a half hour drive. We expect only 7-9 folks to meet here, outside and distanced. After listening to an interview with Maine’s Dr. Shaw earlier this week, Tom and I have decided to also gift a mask to anyone who shows up (if not already wearing one) as we greet and chat.
We’ll be preparing and cooking Tom’s favorites of the Thanksgiving feast, but will be sharing it with our family in take home packages—no need for all that timing in order to set out food nice and hot! Others are bringing their own specialties to share and disperse. There will be appetizers and desserts set up on the porch, hot drinks, and spaced out chairs. With the urging of three family dogs, a short walk after awhile will probably help fill a couple hours of (weather permitting) visiting.
We do know how to bundle up in Maine, and we’ll light up the fire pit for extra ambiance—with various crocheted afghans set out for use if needed. (I love granny-square afghans and have rescued a few from yard sales and thrift stores. Who knew a pandemic would give me a practical use for them?).
It will be another small part of a year to remember. We wish the best to you and yours for a warm and special day, whatever it may look like. Happy Thanksgiving.
Photos from Thanksgiving 2018 above, my mom wearing a granny-square sweater I deeply covet. On the right, my sister Heidi, with her alternative main dish contribution to the menu. She and I, and now her daughter, don’t eat meat, so she learned how to do Tofurky, correctly. It’s something like a three day process of marinating, and it was delicious—creatively presented on an especially appropriate platter (note red cabbage tail feathers).
On Our Table
Not eating meat, or dairy, or wheat and sugar, can be a special challenge when cooking for the holidays—but I’m up for it—I’ve been eating this way for over 8 years now. So along with Tom’s favorite traditional Thanksgiving eats, there will be a few untraditional options to pack up and send home with family.
Since folks have asked me for such alternate recipes for themselves or visiting family members, I’m going to include a few links for what’s on my Thanksgiving favorites menu.
Now, there’s probably a few of you out there who know this, but Thanksgiving Lasagna is a real thing. Last year I was searching for a new plant-based main dish idea for the holidays, and stumbled upon lasagna. I tried a version from a favorite cooking website: Minimalist Baker, and I’m making it again every year until further notice. This site’s claim to fame is 10 ingredients or less and under 30 minutes to make.
I never manage this sort of timing on any recipe, but this 8-Ingredient Zucchini Lasagna was easy to put together and quite tasty—other adventurous eaters at our table agreed with me on this one. Basically, the time is put into assembling the vegan ricotta (made with nuts and delicious!), and then it’s just creating the layers with ready-made sauce and sliced zucchini.
An optional ingredient in this recipe is Vegan Parmesan Cheese, made with cashews. Since last year, I have a jar of this sitting around to sprinkle onto pasta dishes, soups and chilis, salads and sandwiches.
Photos below are from last Thanksgiving: zucchini lasagna; my plate-full of goodness with Tom’s corn, the lasagna, roasted root veggies, mashed butternut squash with maple syrup, and my mom’s German red cabbage; and lower right, Simple Vegan Meatballs.
There’s a good chance the tempeh “meatballs” will be one of my choices to serve as appetizers this year—they work as finger-food as well.
In searching for these recipe links, I just came across Minimalist Baker’s “ULTIMATE Thanksgiving Recipe Round-Up” of another 150 recipes. Hmmm, I may find something new to add to our 2020 menu.
Apple Pie and More
Tom is the pie-meister in our house. He says he doesn’t have a recipe to share since he follows the recipe in the Betty Crocker Cookbook. He does have a couple hints though. He always uses Cortland apples; he says they are tart enough to withstand cooking. He adds about half the sugar suggested. He uses an egg wash to brown the crusts. And he sprinkles the crust with coarse Turbinado sugar before cooking.
The photos above showcase Tom’s culinary creations—three apple or berry pies, and a vegan/GF Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Oat Crust (from another favorite cookbook author, Angela Liddon), a slice of which is pictured below left with whipped coconut cream and cranberry sauce as topping. Below right is a pumpkin pecan pie, also of Tom’s making from 2016, unfortunately the recipe has escaped me, for the moment.
The ultimate finish for every holiday meal for over 35 years of Tom and I being together, has been a recipe from his mom. These Peanut Butter Blossoms were always part of Thanksgiving and Christmas in his childhood. Tom remembers helping his mom by unwrapping the kisses (eating a few along the way) and pushing the kisses into the dough.
I know other families have these cookies in their family cookbooks, but in case yours doesn’t, Tom is willing to share the recipe below.
Peanut Butter Blossoms (Kiss Cookies)
Blend:
1/2 cup Crisco, 1/2 cup peanut smooth butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar
Add:
1 egg, 2 TBS milk, 1 tsp vanilla
Add:
1-3/4 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt
Blend all. Roll into small balls, coat in sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes, until the cookies start to crack. Take out pan and press a kiss into each cookie. Put back into oven for 1 to 2 minutes to soften the kiss.
Oma’s Pumpkin Patch Update
We received an amazing response to the offering of pumpkins we put up on Etsy last weekend. Oma sold out between Saturday night and 10 o’clock Sunday morning!
Being sold out is a temporary situation. Oma is working—at her own pace—on new Holiday-themed pumpkins. We’re letting her enjoy her creativity. After we’re through with our scaled-down Thanksgiving, my sister and I will be helping her by doing some of the grunt work of cutting circles and stuffing pumpkins (though they will need to pass our mom’s approval). Then she can spend her time decorating them, which is what she enjoys the most.
But Oma will be 88 years old in January and already accusing me of cracking the whip, so don’t expect them immediately. We hope to have more pumpkins available by Sunday, December 13 at the latest, which should be in time for Christmas delivery (in case you’re waiting and wondering).
Expect to see some Northwoods-plaid sort of pumpkins and pumpkins in traditional Christmas colors. Also, some may have a glittery New Year’s style. And then she plans to move on to her selection of Winter Pumpkins….
Stay tuned for a reminder in early December in one of our regular posts.
Above, Oma sends a holiday kiss out to all of you.
Below, my own Thanksgiving collection of Oma’s pumpkins, collected over the years and made from old sweaters, afghans, draperies, and other fabric remnants. The very first pumpkin my mom made is the large one, far left, from 20 or so years ago. My “Halloween Collection” just got put away, and my “Holiday Collection” is ready to go out next month. Over 20 years, they accumulate. And no, I don’t want to part with any of them. 😉
Tom’s Sea Kayak Reflections
While Tom is sea kayaking he also shoots video, which he later edits into short movies. Since he recently passed his 500th mile of paddling this year, he had lots of juicy footage to pick from when creating the video below. If you have the internet bandwidth and a large screen, Tom encourages you to watch this at the highest resolution (4K) and at full screen.
Hoping this brings you a little serenity during these days of missing time with our family and friends.
Thoughtful words and beautiful video created a lovely start to my day. With everything happening around us, there is so much for which to be grateful. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you Tom for a wonderful Video. I have never been to Maine, sure looks pretty. This year, like most, it’s only me and my Husband. We will make Turkey and mashed potatoes that we grew in our garden. Football will be on tap and some sewing. I will miss the Black Friday sales. I love to see the crowds and excited faces. I’m usually in Fabric or Craft stores and love the sight of all things for the Holidays. In Nevada we are going thru the second wave of the virus, so we will be staying home and keeping warm. Oma love your pumpkins. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for sharing your safe family plans for thanksgiving. We normally visit your state of Maine for the holidays but will be staying put in center New York. We will miss the family and the ocean air but will be getting together with our neighbors who’s family is divided because of Covid. The family that is here has been part of our social pod all along so we are looking forward to a traditional dinner with the six of us. We are smocking our turkey this year!
I’m struggling with what to say about Tom’s amazing video. It was stunning and I cried at the quiet beauty. Maybe it’s the season or missing loved ones or just quietly experiencing the natural cadence of nature, sunrises and sunsets. Thank you for sharing it.
We will be celebrating quietly at home this year. Usually, our home is filled with about 20+ friends and family, but we are choosing to celebrate as individual families this year–but with a chaotic zoom call planned for visiting with socially distanced loved ones! Your drive-in gathering sounds perfect. Wishing you the happiest of Thanksgivings!
My husband I live (we are snowbirds from Oregon) in a retirement resort in Mesa, Arizona for 6 months (Fall, Winter, early Spring). There’s usually many Canadians here but they are unable to cross the border now. So, it’s a little quiet here at the resort, as many others (snowbirds) have decided to stay home also. The weather will be clear and 73 degrees on Thanksgiving Day, so we plan to eat outside on the deck. We’ll have one neighbor couple join us, dining at their own table at a social distance, but close enough to have a conversation. We’re making a traditional meal with turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie and pecan pie for dessert.
My husband and I kayak on lakes in the White Mountain region of Arizona. We have volcanic cliffs and rock faces, some with petroglyphs. A beautiful thing we do together. Love the video, beautiful dawn venture into your lovely Maine coastline.
What a beautiful video. We really do need to visit our friends in Maine. My husband and I are kayakers. Our favorite spot is only 20 minutes from our home. If we go west on the Chickasaw Creek, the larger boats can’t follow us. A good book and a couple of hammocks makes a quiet afternoon. If we go east, we can hit the Mobile River. So far, we’ve had no close encounters with alligators.
Thanksgiving will be different this year. We should be non-contagious of the virus on Monday. We’re thankful that our symptoms have been mild. We’ll celebrate with a feast of shrimp, crab legs, corn and potatoes boil with our daughter and two grandchildren.
I’m thankful and blessed.
This is such a lovely post. I love the idea of a drive-in gathering – safely being together will be extra special this year. There’s only the two of us, and this year I will be preparing our meal. I’m looking forward to it because I have missed it. It will be all the traditional, just in smaller quantity. I love my Oma’s Pumpkins. Sure hope i can get some more to give as gifts. Thanks for sharing Oma with all of us. And thank tom for the beautiful video. Happy thanksgiving to all
Thank you for sharing your family plans for Thanksgiving; sounds like you’re making the most of the Covid reality we all face. Tom’s video was stunningly beautiful, and moved me to tears. I have been wanting to visit Maine and Acadia National Park for years, and the video just lit a fire to make that happen (once travel is safe). Like many folks who visit Louisiana wanting to see alligators, it has been on my bucket list to see a live, in the flesh, moose! There is so much to be thankful for in this tumultuous year. In spite of the stress of the plague, I’m learning to adapt. Participating on-line with you, Susan, has been one of the highlights that I’m grateful to have experienced.
Thank you so much for sharing your unique, drive-in festivities. It will be my husband and me, and possibly one friend, who will sit together to enjoy our bounty. We’re being responsible because we’re looking forward to seeing our family members after Christmas. Tom’s video was beautiful and serene and the music appropriate; I will be playing it again. Stay safe & healthy.
I so enjoyed your memories of Thanksgiving with your families and the sea kayaking video from Tom was wonderful!
Love your sentiment, Tom’s video, and Oma’s pumpkins, of which I need more! Thank you all!
As for my plans, every year I go to my daughter’s house 15 minutes away and she and I make my mother’s traditional turkey dinner for our current family…daughter and husband, their two children (my beloved, beyond perfect grandchildren), and me, and the occasional extended family members. This year, due to my advanced years of 75, I am having Thanksgiving home alone with my critter family…I know my daughter would never forgive herself if I got sick because I joined them for Thanksgiving. I am somewhat of an introvert and live alone, these days, so am usually pretty content to be home alone, anyway. This year I am going to make my own turkey dinner. My 12 lb turkey will be taken out for thawing in a few days, and because I do not want to spend hours cooking, I have purchased ready-made sides to go along with it, although I will be making my own cranberry sauce and green bean casserole. I am laughing at myself for preparing an entire turkey dinner just for me, but on the positive side, I will be able to have some of this turkey for my Christmas dinner, as well, as I expect to have lots of leftovers. One of my favorite songs at 13, I remember, was “Look for the Silver Lining” and I think I am doing that, this year….I am even thinking of rescuing my big Christmas tree, hidden in the garage for the last decade, and putting it up this year, just for me! I wish you and yours many Holiday Blessings!
Tom’s video was lovely. The reflections are amazing. I have always wanted to kayak. I appreciate hearing about your Thanksgiving plans. We are in Portland, Oregon. My daughter lives nearby but because of COVID concerns she has only visited on the deck since early March. No hugs. So we will eat in the garage, at 2 tables, social distancing. My husband just diagnosed yesterday with a GI issue so we will have to rethink some of the usual dishes this year.So yes, it will be different. But we are thankful to be alive and hoping the world can lasso this crazy virus and get back to normal, whatever that is. Happy fibering everone.
I loved this beautiful post, all the family pics, ambitious recipes, pies, Oma’s pumpkins and the way everybody humors her and honors her 88 years, and of course Tom’s kayaking video. I am thankful I have met you all and kinda feel like part of the family. Wrist surgery and 10 days in splint make this brief; TG feast may be from the freezer. But that doesn’t interfere with thankfulness!
Hi Martha and Happy Thanksgiving! I always enjoy reading your comments–so positive and upbeat. I hope your wrist heals quickly and you can enjoy your Thanksgiving feast! Best wishes, Juliet
Susan, Thank you for sharing your holiday plans. It sounds wonderful. Ours will be a quiet one since we ended up canceling a trip to Tx. to see family. We have had 4 family members with Covid so we are staying home as our Co. governor has recommended. We are counting our blessings though that they are all recovering and that we are healthy and able to get out for a lot of hiking.
A very Happy Thanksgiving to you and Tom.
Susan & Tom: Thank you for an uplifting post! On many levels! I’ll be looking up some of your recipes (no wheat/Gluten for me! ….& I signed up with the minimalist baker)!
The kayak video …… sigh …… I really need to wipe the cobwebs off my yaks and get out on the water …. though my local coastline is not the beautifully epic experience yours is! Nonetheless …. something very peaceful in being on the water! Have you kayaked the San Juans off the coast of Washington?! I visit my sister there …. and one of my solo morning paddles along the beautiful forested coast included moments watching the graceful movement of a jellyfish …. and the majesty of spying bald eagles. Nothing like nature to quiet the soul and mend the frazzled mind! Trail rides on my horse provide my favorite ‘therapy’ …. and, of course! …. creating with fabric! Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours!