THANKSGIVING '08

To give thanks, I like to try to provide and the only way I can do it right now is to cook. Since I'm a starving/struggling artist, cooking is one way I can give back to my family.

So today, I cooked up everything I bought from Trader Joe's. I cooked the pumpkin bread and corn bread early, since I wasn't sure I could do it at the end of the turkey process. These were eaten and the pumpkin bread was especially enjoyed. It wasn't too sweet and wasn't too strong.

The turkey obviously took the longest. I used a Paula Dean recipe that had a honey glaze at the end of the process. The turkey looked great, but I overcooked it because I didn't take its temperature until the end. I should have monitored it much earlier and also tinted the breast area so it wouldn't get so dry. So it turned out too dry for my taste and I was disappointed. I also should have made extra glaze so that people could put it on the turkey.

On a brighter note, the mashed potatoes that were microwaved were great. What a great treat these are. So easy to make and tastes great. I also fried some sweet potato fries that were pretty good. We also had a little salad to complete the meal. Mayah my sister-in-law warmed-up the honey baked ham I purchased earlier in the week.

All in all, people seemed to like the meal, but I think I could have done better. I guess that's the joy of cooking. It can never be perfected - only enjoyed.