The boy and I ventured out into the world today in order to give my husband some study time at home - UVA played beat! Virginia Tech here in town today and this old rivalry pretty much guaranteed that he'd be unable to find a quiet space on campus. Plus, his parking pass allows him to park at the stadium every day but game days. So we worked out that he'd stay at home while the rest of the family ran errands.


    After all the news yesterday about people being so enthusiastic about getting out and starting their shopping I was pretty surpised at how quiet the stores seemed. Then again, we weren't gift shopping, just procuring our standard household items - things like sponges, coffee filters and so on. I also bought two new cookie sheets to replace those that have mysteriously gone missing (I plan to put these to use this evening). My fellow shoppers didn't seem to be buying out the house, so I guess the ol' patriotic shopper syndrome was confined to yesterday.


    Although I cannot claim to anywhere near match Sue in the baking department, I do my humble best and tonight will kick off the season with some basic chocolate chip cookies. Tomorrow I'll do some thumbprints (my favorite) and perhaps some Russian tea cakes. Sue's posted a new gingerbread cookie recipe on the site that sounds really great and and which professes to solve the problem of too-hard-to-eat cookies, so I'll give that a whirl too.


    Rayne and I had an exchange at her blog about our respective cranberry sauce productions. Although I did not make any for our Thanksgiving dinner, I did set about canning four pints for use as Christmas gifts. To my surpise, it came out somewhat different than last year's batch, although I guess that's what happens when one uses a "bit of this and a bit of that"-type recipe as opposed to an actual, scientifically-developed in a test kitchen recipe. This year's chutney included:


    • two bags of cranberries, softies and broken ones picked out
    • three tablespoons chopped candied ginger
    • quarter cup chopped walnuts
    • a can of crushed pineapple
    • the juice of one orange
    • about a cup of white sugar
    • about two tablespoons of crushed red pepper
    • three-quarters of a cup or so of mixed raisins


    Put all of this in a large saucepan or Dutch oven on medium heat, stirring frequently. As the cranberries cook, they will bubble and pop and the whole mess will gradually become somewhat jam-like in consistency. When things are pretty amalgamated, taste and adjust as you see fit - maybe add more pepper, citrus or sugar. Whatever you think it needs. Pack into prepared mason jars, seal and process in a boiling hot water bath for 15 minutes after the water returns to boil after the cans are added.


    Rayne suggested that carmelized Vidalia onions might make a good addition, as well. I agree completely, but didn't quite get around to it. Perhaps next year.


    Today's other holiday activities included cranberry and popcorn garlands for our woodland friends, decorating the mantle, pulling the advent wreath and candle holder out of storage (Advent starts tomorrow!)and positioning the now blooming paper whites around the hearth. We rounded this out with a really nice (if I do say so myself) beef stew with dumplings and are now just sort of lazing around resting. Tomorrow will be another busy day filled with decorating and more pedestrian chores such as laundry. But tonight...tonight is all about resting, with nothing more strenuous than cooking making and, possibly, enjoying a cup of hot cocoa.

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    Because we've been holed up here at home, just the three of us, we've been blissfully able to avoid Thanksgiving hype and hysteria, concentrating instead on family time. It's been very nice - long naps for everyone and an afternoon of cooking some of my favorite things.


    I just pulled the stuffed shells from the oven, the bread pudding is cooling and cranberry chutney is bubbling away as I type. I give thanks, indeed.


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    Well, we're back. It was a good trip in many ways but I am relieved to be back. In addition to the joys and stresses of spending so much time with people I typically see only a couple times per year, I have brought back a medical condition that I call the plague (although my doctor seems to think it's a cold - I wonder where she went to med school). The boy has officially contracted Over-Indulged, Under-Rested Toddler Syndrome, a malady more dreadful than most of what Hollywood offers up in horror films. It's very nice to be home.


    As a result of my coughing and hacking and my husband's study load, we've cancelled the Thanksgiving trip to Philadelphia. I have some mixed emotions about this, but mostly I'm feeling insanely glad not to be going. We're going to miss an awful lot that we wanted to do and see, but with so much post-vacation laundry/cleaning to do, not feeling well, being way too pregnant to be pleasant and just plain tired it's probably all for the best. So it's Thankgiving at home for us and I'm actually pretty pleased about it.


    I won't be making a turkey, but rather will dust off a favorite recipe from an old Martha Stewart Living: pasta shells stuffed with crab. Basically, you make a bechemel sauce with crab, stuff it into prepared shells, top with more sauce, garlic, cheese and bread crumbs and bake. It's rich, filling, indulgent and wonderful. With a good bread and salad dressed in a nice sharp vinaigrette it just can't be beat. For dessert I'll make the chocolate bread pudding I neglected for the bonfire party. Our little family, all together, (mostly) healthy, happy and as safe as it's probably possible to be in this world. Excellent reasons for thanksgiving.


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