And here it is, a year later and it is again Thanksgiving day in the USA (and one year to the day since Isaac's last post.) The world has changed in some ways, not so much in other ways. There is a tentative cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, which is a good thing. The USA Progressive Liberal movement took a serious hit, which I think is also a good thing. Some of it seems to be echoing in the E.U. which is at least interesting, and which doesn't bode well for immigrants. The USA's favorite Cackle Jackal is no longer in power and in the aftermath has proved her uselessness to all and sundry. The money mismanagement of the Democrats during this campaign is out there for all to see, which cannot hurt future elections. The layoffs of union workers with the Democratic organization has given "big labor" pause. Change is in the air. So the USA has some things for which thanks are in order.
As to my family, we are mostly well other than both getting up in years. My sweetie's feet are acting up a bit. I'm still doing OK, just slower than I used to be by a small margin. My step-daughter re-married and through that marriage we now have a new (adult) granddaughter. A few deaths in the family, a few births... and life goes on. We finally got our new driveway poured and are about two weeks away from our new fence, both having needed replacement for some time since they were both nearly 40 years old and becoming more than a bit decrepit. (I've already admitted that much about myself, except I'm 76.)
We appreciate what we have and what we have done. And maybe that low-key statement is appropriate for this year's Thanksgiving. Our dinner attendees today will be me and my wife plus two friends who otherwise would be alone on this holiday that isn't about being alone. The "brood" will come for Christmas dinner this year. Today, we will have our share of entrees and desserts. We will probably have food comas in the afternoon. Our celebration will not be boisterous and excited, but rather will express contentment and another year of survival. Maybe a couple of centuries ago, the original Thanksgiving celebrations were no more than that.
Earlier in this thread, there was some mention of deep-fried turkey. This year, my sweetie and I will serve a roasted turkey but with a trick that my brother-in-law told us a few years ago. Our "big bird" gets cooked in an aluminum "Dutch oven" with the breast side down. Cooked overnight at about 225 to 250 degrees F. We never have to carve the turkey because you can take it apart with lightweight tongs. It completely falls apart and the breast stays moist because all of the juices follow gravity and go down towards the breast. With the moisture that is in the things cooked inside of the turkey (apples, celery, onions, etc.), the bird ends up nearly floating in juices. It is probably too late for anyone to cook their bird that way, but save the thought for the next time you would normally roast a turkey.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all, even if today is nothing special for the non-USA members of the forum.
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