I like most of America am busily planning for Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays just beyond. I've read the newspaper articles that argue for abundance but being thrifty and the recipes that throw all caution to the winds. (Who wants stuffing with foie gras and chestnuts, anyway?)
I don't know about your family but mine are definitely stick-in-the-muds. I can ADD anything I want to the menu, but subtractions are definitely frowned on.
Over the years, this can lead to a very long menu, just as your family size shrinks. I threaten rebellion, but no one takes me seriously.
So once again we are having roast turkey with herbed bread stuffing and giblet gravy, three kinds of cranberry sauce (we have four one year), mashed and sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts with bacon and pine nuts, white corn, yeast rolls, and no doubt something else. And then at least three kinds of pie. I still haven't figured out whether to have a first course (why?) and what to have for hors d'ouerves.
I know the solution. Invite more guests! We have plenty of dishes and silver and everyone offers to serve and clean up so we're only limited by the size of turkey I can lift and the size of our oven (fortunately, the new stove has a big one).
Now all I have to do is avert my eyes and not read any wonderful recipes between now and the 28th.
