I heated up a bowl of homemade turkey-vegetable soup
and cooked a cheeseburger with "the works."
Then I watched my football team (Patriots) kick some ass at NY Jets.

I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"

One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.

Anyway, I didn't have time for all the prep and just wasn't in the mood to
do all the things on Thursday so I postponed my big dinner for Saturday. It
has worked out great too weather-wise. Thursday was fairly warm (almost 60F)
but Saturday will only be about 42F. That's a much nicer day for me to stay
inside a warm house with all the good cooking smells.

I'm tempted to cook mine upside down as Steve did too. I've heard about this
method for years but have never tried it. I think I will this year.

Gary

Gary wrote:
> I heated up a bowl of homemade turkey-vegetable soup
> and cooked a cheeseburger with "the works."
> Then I watched my football team (Patriots) kick some ass at NY Jets.
>
> I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
> Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
> Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"
>
> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked
> "lonely?" I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just
> seeing a pic
> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.

Yes. That's what I thought too. If I were dining alone I wouldn't even
bother to put things in serving dishes.
>
> Anyway, I didn't have time for all the prep and just wasn't in the
> mood to do all the things on Thursday so I postponed my big dinner
> for Saturday. It has worked out great too weather-wise. Thursday was
> fairly warm (almost 60F) but Saturday will only be about 42F. That's
> a much nicer day for me to stay inside a warm house with all the good
> cooking smells.
>
> I'm tempted to cook mine upside down as Steve did too. I've heard
> about this method for years but have never tried it. I think I will
> this year.

Our meal came out quite nicely but... I didn't buy enough gravy to make up
for all the leftovers. But that wasn't my fault because two boxes was all
they had. Doubt I will be able to get any tomorrow. Might just pick up
some that my daughter can eat, if I can find that. Surely someone must
still have a packet or can laying around. I think this was my best stuffing
ever! And I should have made more baked apples. Daughter loved them!
There is one serving left. Of course they were dead easy to make and I can
make some more once I get some more apples.

"Gary" > wrote in message ...
>I heated up a bowl of homemade turkey-vegetable soup
> and cooked a cheeseburger with "the works."
> Then I watched my football team (Patriots) kick some ass at NY Jets.
>
> I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
> Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
> Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"
>
> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
> I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.

No. I thought it was especially nice that she took the time to do all of
that for herself. It's been my experience that people who treat themselve
well are rarely lonely.

Cheri

On 11/23/2012 7:55 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
> Gary wrote:
>>
>> I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
>> Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
>> Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"
>>
>> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked
>> "lonely?" I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just
>> seeing a pic
>> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.
>
> Yes. That's what I thought too. If I were dining alone I wouldn't even
> bother to put things in serving dishes.
>>
Most of the time I don't, Julie. When John is visiting we eat in the
kitchen but everying is served out of whatever vessel it was cooked in.
When I'm alone, I usually eat parked in front of the TV in the den.

I'm aware it looked "lonely". But I wanted to use Mom's china. There's
no point leaving it just sitting in the sideboard. It's really no
trouble to wash a few serving bowls a few times a year. (I wash the
pots, pans and mixing bowls as I go along.)

This was the dinner I'd planned for my mom in 2008. I talked it up all
month. I'm going to make us a really good dinner Mom! I was trying to
raise her spirits and coax her out of bed. Sadly, she died on November
22, 2008. Five years ago yesterday. She died on Tuesday, two days
before Thanksgiving.

Obviously I didn't cook Thanksgiving dinner that year. I was too busy
contacting family and making funeral arrangements. I haven't really
cooked a "big" Thanksgiving dinner since. Certainly not with a formally
set table.

Dinner was nice. I raised a glass to my mom and thanked her for being
such a good mother and friend all those years.

Jill

On 11/23/2012 9:11 AM, Cheri wrote:
> "Gary" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I heated up a bowl of homemade turkey-vegetable soup
>> and cooked a cheeseburger with "the works."
>> Then I watched my football team (Patriots) kick some ass at NY Jets.
>>
>> I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
>> Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
>> Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"
>>
>> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
>> I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
>> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.
>
> No. I thought it was especially nice that she took the time to do all of
> that for herself. It's been my experience that people who treat
> themselve well are rarely lonely.
>
> Cheri

Thank you, Cheri! I agree it *looked* rather "lonely", but I rarely
feel lonely. It was a nice dinner. Plenty of leftovers, too

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
>
> On 11/23/2012 9:11 AM, Cheri wrote:
> > No. I thought it was especially nice that she took the time to do all of
> > that for herself. It's been my experience that people who treat
> > themselve well are rarely lonely.
> >
> > Cheri
>
> Thank you, Cheri! I agree it *looked* rather "lonely", but I rarely
> feel lonely. It was a nice dinner. Plenty of leftovers, too

And that's me too, Jill. It just looked lonely and I'm sure you weren't.
I'll be eating alone tomorrow and I won't be lonely either. I tend to like
being alone most of the time unless I have some very close SO. I've always
been that way.

I don't have to eat alone here anytime though....just let out the ferrets
and at least little Jackie will want some of what I'm eating. She
always likes to sample my food. Occasionally, she will find something that
she likes. The other one (Mia) only likes official ferret food. She likes
the offers though even though she always declines.

Gary

On 11/23/2012 9:11 AM, Cheri wrote:
> "Gary" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I heated up a bowl of homemade turkey-vegetable soup
>> and cooked a cheeseburger with "the works."
>> Then I watched my football team (Patriots) kick some ass at NY Jets.
>>
>> I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
>> Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
>> Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"
>>
>> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
>> I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
>> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.
>
> No. I thought it was especially nice that she took the time to do all of
> that for herself. It's been my experience that people who treat
> themselve well are rarely lonely.

Agreed. Just because she prefers to have her dinner solo, she shouldn't
set a nice table? It's not everyone's thing, and it is hard for some
people to believe there are some who like their own company, but she
enjoyed it and good for her.

nancy

I ate by myself yesterday at the casino buffet surrounded by hundreds of
people in groups. I did have the thought that they should offer seating
at a "group table for strangers" (without any embarassing signs or
announcements) as there were a few widowers divorcees singles etc in
line. The hostess was peeved I didnt want to sit by myself in a
booth-most booths I find uncomfortable.

I love cornish hen (Jill managed to get a nice burnish on that bird-mine
are always too pale) and would gladly have driven thousands of miles to
share Jill's meal-I would want my own bird though :-)

My only thought looking at the photo was based on trying to take a
photo-you stage it to try to fit it into a small frame-obviously she
wasn't ready to sit down and eat yet-she just wanted to show us the good
china-the photo was a little dark but I think I've seen that pattern
before.

On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:31:51 -0600, (z z) wrote:

> (Jill managed to get a nice burnish on that bird-mine
> are always too pale)

Use a high temp for a shorter length of time.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 11/23/2012 4:25 PM, sf wrote:
> On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:31:51 -0600, (z z) wrote:
>
>> (Jill managed to get a nice burnish on that bird-mine
>> are always too pale)
>
> Use a high temp for a shorter length of time.
>
I roasted it at 350F for 1 hour... checked for doneness, let it go
another 15 minutes. I brushed it with melted butter first and brushed
on more melted butter a couple of times during cooking.

Jill

In article >,
jmcquown > wrote:

> I'm aware it looked "lonely". But I wanted to use Mom's china. There's
> no point leaving it just sitting in the sideboard. It's really no
> trouble to wash a few serving bowls a few times a year. (I wash the
> pots, pans and mixing bowls as I go along.)
>
> This was the dinner I'd planned for my mom in 2008. I talked it up all
> month. I'm going to make us a really good dinner Mom! I was trying to
> raise her spirits and coax her out of bed. Sadly, she died on November
> 22, 2008. Five years ago yesterday. She died on Tuesday, two days
> before Thanksgiving.
>
> Obviously I didn't cook Thanksgiving dinner that year. I was too busy
> contacting family and making funeral arrangements. I haven't really
> cooked a "big" Thanksgiving dinner since. Certainly not with a formally
> set table.
>
> Dinner was nice. I raised a glass to my mom and thanked her for being
> such a good mother and friend all those years.

Elegance, eloquence and grace.

On 11/23/2012 1:31 PM, z z wrote:
> I love cornish hen (Jill managed to get a nice burnish on that bird-mine
> are always too pale) and would gladly have driven thousands of miles to
> share Jill's meal-I would want my own bird though :-)
>
If you (or anyone else) had been here, there would have been a bird for
each I can only eat half of a cornish hen but hey, I don't mind
leftovers

> My only thought looking at the photo was based on trying to take a
> photo-you stage it to try to fit it into a small frame

This is why I don't like taking photos of food. Gotta have it looking
"just so". Meanwhile the food gets cold.

>the photo was a little dark but I think I've seen that pattern
> before.
>
I posted a photo of the table setting by itself before I even started
cooking The china is marked Fukagawa, it's Japanese and the pattern
is Arita. It's a good thing none of these pieces have broken (or even
chipped!) over the last 65 years because even replacementsdotcom doesn't
carry it. (Many other Fukagawa patterns are available.) Mom always
said that "silver" around the rim is actually platinum. I can't prove
or disprove it.

Jill

On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:59:40 -0500, jmcquown >
wrote:

>On 11/23/2012 9:11 AM, Cheri wrote:
>> "Gary" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> I heated up a bowl of homemade turkey-vegetable soup
>>> and cooked a cheeseburger with "the works."
>>> Then I watched my football team (Patriots) kick some ass at NY Jets.
>>>
>>> I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
>>> Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
>>> Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"
>>>
>>> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
>>> I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
>>> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.
>>
>> No. I thought it was especially nice that she took the time to do all of
>> that for herself. It's been my experience that people who treat
>> themselve well are rarely lonely.
>>
>> Cheri
>
>Thank you, Cheri! I agree it *looked* rather "lonely", but I rarely
>feel lonely. It was a nice dinner. Plenty of leftovers, too
>
>Jill

What left overs, either those extra large hollywood prop plates or
that turkey is really a pigeon. LOL

On 11/24/2012 11:53 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:59:40 -0500, jmcquown >
> wrote:
>
>> On 11/23/2012 9:11 AM, Cheri wrote:
>>> "Gary" > wrote in message
>>>> I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
>>>> Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
>>>> Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"
>>>>
>>>> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
>>>> I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
>>>> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.
>>>
>>> No. I thought it was especially nice that she took the time to do all of
>>> that for herself. It's been my experience that people who treat
>>> themselve well are rarely lonely.
>>>
>>> Cheri
>>
>> Thank you, Cheri! I agree it *looked* rather "lonely", but I rarely
>> feel lonely. It was a nice dinner. Plenty of leftovers, too
>>
>> Jill
>
> What left overs, either those extra large hollywood prop plates or
> that turkey is really a pigeon. LOL
>
DUH, it was a cornish game hen. Why the hell would I roast a turkey
when I don't even like turkey? (I barely even like chicken unless it's
thighs or drumsticks.) Cornish game hen I'll eat once a year.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
> On 11/23/2012 7:55 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
>> Gary wrote:
>>>
>>> I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
>>> Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
>>> Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"
>>>
>>> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked
>>> "lonely?" I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just
>>> seeing a pic
>>> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.
>>
>> Yes. That's what I thought too. If I were dining alone I wouldn't even
>> bother to put things in serving dishes.
>>>
> Most of the time I don't, Julie. When John is visiting we eat in the
> kitchen but everying is served out of whatever vessel it was cooked in.
> When I'm alone, I usually eat parked in front of the TV in the den.
>
> I'm aware it looked "lonely". But I wanted to use Mom's china. There's
> no point leaving it just sitting in the sideboard. It's really no
> trouble to wash a few serving bowls a few times a year. (I wash the
> pots, pans and mixing bowls as I go along.)
>
> This was the dinner I'd planned for my mom in 2008. I talked it up all
> month. I'm going to make us a really good dinner Mom! I was trying to
> raise her spirits and coax her out of bed. Sadly, she died on November
> 22, 2008. Five years ago yesterday. She died on Tuesday, two days
> before Thanksgiving.
>
> Obviously I didn't cook Thanksgiving dinner that year. I was too busy
> contacting family and making funeral arrangements. I haven't really
> cooked a "big" Thanksgiving dinner since. Certainly not with a formally
> set table.
>
> Dinner was nice. I raised a glass to my mom and thanked her for being
> such a good mother and friend all those years.
>
> Jill

Nice, Jill. And whether or not one is lonely is not in the eye of
the beholder.

On 24/11/2012 12:05 PM, jmcquown wrote:

>>
>> What left overs, either those extra large hollywood prop plates or
>> that turkey is really a pigeon. LOL
>>
> DUH, it was a cornish game hen. Why the hell would I roast a turkey
> when I don't even like turkey? (I barely even like chicken unless it's
> thighs or drumsticks.) Cornish game hen I'll eat once a year.
>


Darn it Jill. This means we could never survive as a couple. I am with
you on the turkey, once a year is enough for me, but I love chicken. I
could eat it 3-4 times a week. Heck, I do have it 3-4 times a week.

Gary wrote:
>
>One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
>I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
>of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.

I'd much rather dine alone than with a crowd where I don't know
anyone. I've often attended partys/dinners where I really didn't know
anyone nor they me, I was bored and felt like a fifth wheel so I
excused myself early. People I worked with would sometimes invite me
to a holiday dinner but everyone there was their family and friends,
they mainly conversed amongst themselves and on topics only they were
privy to the details, family drama garbage that I could tell they
wallowed in at every opportunity... it wasn't a setting to discuss
shop/the job either, and the job was really the only thing we had in
common... I'd feel more alone in that crowd than had I stayed home
alone... and after thinking about it for a while I realized their
invite was insincere, it was out of pity and to rub it in that I was
by myself and they weren't. Even when I have company I prefer a small
intimate group (no more then six) so people can actually communicate,
I abhor the typical meaningless chit chat people engage in with large
groups. I don't like too many people at once in my house anyway, if
more than a half dozen want to get together we're going to meet at a
restaurant and they can pick up their own tabs, I'm not going to do
like my mom, where she was the only one of her five siblings who'd do
holiday meals, none of them ever reciprocated, and they actually took
offence when she finally announced she couldn't do it anymore, she was
the oldest and really couldn't do all that work anymore. I see
nothing lonely about dining alone occasionally... I wouldn't like to
spend every holiday alone but sometimes it can't be helped, as a
mature a adult you deal with it. What are people in the military
supposed to say, they can be on base with hundreds and eat every meal
together, but they don't really know each other, it can be even more
lonely sitting in a mess hall with hundreds and all that they have in
common is that uniform... all that does is act as an extra reminder
that their loved ones are far away. I fed four hundred every day
aboard ship, even though they were all seated together they may as
well been alone for as little meaningul conversation there'd be...
pass the ****in' salt ain't conversation. People can be their
loneliest in a crowd. I'm positive that if Jill wanted company for
dinner she'd have no problem being with people. It's better to be
alone than with people you'd really rather not associate. I feel very
fortunate that at this point in my life I'm not alone but there were
times when I was through no fault of my own. A lot more people than
who are willing to admit spend holidays alone, I'm positive that many
here do but they'll never say... I give Jill credit for being adult
enough to be honest, she didn't have to post that picture, she could
have just as easily set her table for six and taken a pretend picture.
Many here who pretend to be part of this community and to lead perfect
lives are absolute frauds, and that's everyone without exception who
won't post their picture. As far as I'm concerned all yoose who don't
at least post your picture mean no more to me than some stranger who
misdials my phone number... I read your posts for the BS entertainment
factor but without a face and a real name I don't know you. Those who
disparage Jill they need to look in their own mirror, what they'll see
reflected back is nothing.

On 24/11/2012 2:41 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> Gary wrote:
>>
>> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
>> I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
>> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.
>
> I'd much rather dine alone than with a crowd where I don't know
> anyone. I've often attended partys/dinners where I really didn't know
> anyone nor they me, I was bored and felt like a fifth wheel so I
> excused myself early. People I worked with would sometimes invite me
> to a holiday dinner but everyone there was their family and friends,

People should not invite guests to family functions unless they are
prepared to entertain them. My wife's family always made a point of
extending invitations to people who had no friends or family around at
holiday time, but they were all very outgoing and sociable characters
who would make a point of engaging the outsider.


My parents also made a point of inviting people for holiday dinners, but
usually friends or extended family, like my inlaws or my brothers' inlaws

Some families just aren't very sociable. My recently deceased SiL's
family is about the most unsociable clan I have ever had to deal with.
Even my wife can't get them to talk.I used to think there were just a
very closed group who stuck to themselves. I came to realize that they
don't even talk much to each other. Conversation is simply not in their
repertoire.

On 11/24/2012 2:16 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 24/11/2012 12:05 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>
>>>
>>> What left overs, either those extra large hollywood prop plates or
>>> that turkey is really a pigeon. LOL
>>>
>> DUH, it was a cornish game hen. Why the hell would I roast a turkey
>> when I don't even like turkey? (I barely even like chicken unless it's
>> thighs or drumsticks.) Cornish game hen I'll eat once a year.
>>
>
>
> Darn it Jill. This means we could never survive as a couple. I am with
> you on the turkey, once a year is enough for me, but I love chicken. I
> could eat it 3-4 times a week. Heck, I do have it 3-4 times a week.
>
>
Take it up with your wife I eat chicken every few months. Boneless
thighs, mostly. Sometimes I buy leg quarters when they're on sale and
use them for making a big pot of chicken stew with dumplings.

I much prefer beef or pork to chicken or turkey. Sorry!

Jill

On 11/24/2012 2:41 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> Gary wrote:
>>
>> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
>> I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
>> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.
>
> I'd much rather dine alone than with a crowd where I don't know
> anyone. I've often attended partys/dinners where I really didn't know
> anyone nor they me, I was bored and felt like a fifth wheel so I
> excused myself early. People I worked with would sometimes invite me
> to a holiday dinner but everyone there was their family and friends
> they mainly conversed amongst themselves and on topics only they were
> privy to the details, family drama garbage that I could tell they
> wallowed in at every opportunity... it wasn't a setting to discuss
> shop/the job either, and the job was really the only thing we had in
> common...

Why is it everyone believes one must be surrounded by people, especially
on holidays? One year my boss overheard I was spending Thanksgiving
alone. I didn't have a problem with it but it bothered him. He invited
me over to spend the day with his wife and kids and who knows how many
relatives. I politely declined. I knew it would be exactly as you
described. Other than discussing work, I wouldn't have had a thing to
say to him and certainly not to his family. I am perfectly capable of,
but don't like to, make "polite conversation".

Even when my brothers and I were all located in the same geographic
area, I didn't like spending holidays with them. They always managed to
get into a huge argument over inconsequential bullshit. I opted out of
that nightmare years ago.

Jill

On 11/24/2012 11:53 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:59:40 -0500, jmcquown >
> wrote:
>
>> On 11/23/2012 9:11 AM, Cheri wrote:
>>> "Gary" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> I heated up a bowl of homemade turkey-vegetable soup
>>>> and cooked a cheeseburger with "the works."
>>>> Then I watched my football team (Patriots) kick some ass at NY Jets.
>>>>
>>>> I enjoyed all of your dinner reports and the few pictures.
>>>> Sheldon's turkey looks as perfect as they can get.
>>>> Jill's dinner looked very tasty too with the tiny "turkey"
>>>>
>>>> One question. Did anyone else think that Jill's picture looked "lonely?"
>>>> I'm sure Jill was fine eating alone as I will be but just seeing a pic
>>>> of a Thanksgiving table set for only one struck me as.....lonely.
>>>
>>> No. I thought it was especially nice that she took the time to do all of
>>> that for herself. It's been my experience that people who treat
>>> themselve well are rarely lonely.
>>>
>>> Cheri
>>
>> Thank you, Cheri! I agree it *looked* rather "lonely", but I rarely
>> feel lonely. It was a nice dinner. Plenty of leftovers, too
>>
>> Jill
>
> What left overs, either those extra large hollywood prop plates or
> that turkey is really a pigeon. LOL
>
I know what's missing. See, this is another reason I don't like to
photograph food. No parsley or other garnish on the plate makes it look
very plain and sort of "lost". That's the smallest platter that comes
with the china. *If* I'd roasted a small turkey or even a chicken, and
if I'd had company, I'd probably have bought a bunch of curley parsley
and arranged slices of lemon for garnish. Just for myself, no point and
more work.

Jill