Poppy Seed Dinner Rolls

It has been awhile since I made this Poppy Seed dinner roll. This buttery rolls are delicious and fun to eat. Layers are peeled apart to mop up gravy. The important thing to remember when making these dinner rolls is to prepare the dough the night before. I made some this Thanksgiving weekend to accompany a rack of lamb dinner.

Cornbread Stuffing with Chestnuts, Leeks and Chanterelles

Cornbread Stuffing is a constant staple on our Thanksgiving menu even if the turkey is not!! This year I perused a number of cookbooks and magazine for ideas to make it even tastier. I was challenged by the fact Thanksgiving dinner would be not be hosted at my house. I wanted to break it down to a number of make ahead components especially since I like to make everything from scratch including roasting those chestnuts! 

For the Love of Turkey

This Thanksgivings I had a reunion with my nemesis, the Turkey. Oh Turkey, how I ..........you! This bird is my nemesis not because I ever failed in cooking it, so maybe nemesis is not the correct word but the antagonistic feeling I have towards it, makes me declare it a nemesis.

My son requested the roasted turkey for Thanksgiving declaring it "the best lean protein around". In a weak attempt to get out of roasting a turkey, I said as long as we find a small turkey, I would do so. Normally, all we see are huge birds. However, we were at Barons in Temecula- they had not one but 2 small turkey of about 10 lbs each!! Admittedly, a small part of me, deep down, was happy to find the small bird. One's perspective changes when a child leaves for college.You try to make occasions like Thanksgiving they way they want. Dear daughter is home for Thanksgiving. It is the little things... When I look at my son, I see that he will be leaving us for college soon, albiet 2 years time. The departure seems more imminent and real because of `losing' my daughter to college. We were joined in our celebration by A, a dear friend/honoree son of the family, 1st year college returnee, pre-gaming Thanksgiving with us! Nice!