Post-Thanksgiving post

I am having a kale smoothie as I write this, but make no mistake, I will be tucking into that leftover pie come teatime.

Thanksgiving was lovely – from snowy walks with my favorite borrowed puppy (not mine!) to football excitement and neighborhood cheer, it all came together beautifully.

The hustle and bustle of the kitchen is much more familiar to me than having a full house, and I did not feel rushed at all this year having spread out the cooking over two days.

It also helped that we kept the menu fairly traditional this year: Stone Barns turkey, Dad’s mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts with roasted garlic and pistachios, a farm fresh spinach and pomegranate salad (which was a great refreshing starter), cranberry-pomegranate sauce (this may have been my favorite)… and pumpkin-carrot bread (adapted from this muffin recipe), a bigger and better version of the goat cheese & quince tart (this time with a goat cheese & quark filling), and a deep dish cinnamon apple pie made with five layers of fresh Pippins, my favorite baking apple.

All in all, every year, I grow more appreciative of having the opportunity to travel home (or having people come visit you) to enjoy a cozy weekend full of exactly the things we are all most grateful for having.

And sharing our homes and our tables with others on this day is really what this great holiday is all about, to me.

I hope you enjoy your weekend  – and your leftovers {ps. these mini turkey shepherd’s pies are still my favorite thing to make} – and lets hold on to those holiday moods throughout December.