Happy Canadian thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian friends and Happy Sunday to everyone else! I am at home this Thanksgiving, and I find myself thinking about what I would cook if I were on a ship today. I like to go with the traditional Thanksgiving dinner: Turkey, lots of gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, mashed turnips, peas, and homemade cranberry sauce. I can see the finished plate in my imagination as I write this to you. I would also have pecan pie and pumpkin pie on the menu; I like both of them! My mom didn't make pie; it wasn't something she grew up with in Germany. She loved apple pie when she tried it, but never really liked pumpkin pie, if my memory serves me correctly. Thanksgiving dinner also makes me think of my Dad, since he was the one who made the Turkey. I can't think of that memory without seeing the living room windows steam up. I'm sure that didn't happen for Thanksgiving and probably only occurred at Christmas, but my childhood Turkey memories always include steam on the windows and the delicious smell of Turkey roasting.

I love to make and eat Thanksgiving dinner.

I would have to have a piece of both pecan and pumpkin pie. How can you pick just one?

This was my Thanksgiving lunch menu on the Algoma Hansa October 2019. I had just started sailing again six weeks before and was still finding my beat. I wasn’t used to the small crews which were half the size of what I used to cook for when I left sailing in 1994 to open my own restaurant. I made a prime rib dinner for supper that same day and I remember the Captain coming to me saying, it was all delicious but everyone ate so much nobody could work after. I thought that was funny.

This was the prime rib that I served for supper after serving Turkey to my mall crew on the Hansa. I love a prime-rib dinner, but for me, Thanksgiving dinner has to have Turkey on the menu.

As much as I love Turkey dinner, it is not on my menu today. I have a plan for pork tenderloin with fresh Brussels sprouts. I couldn't resist buying the sprouts. They were still on the stem. I was surprised the first time I saw them on the stem. I hadn't really thought about how Brussels sprouts grew; all I knew was that I loved them. The first time I had them, my mom made them the way she ate them in Germany, and they were served in a creamy sauce. They were delicious. I like them roasted, steamed with a bit of butter, or my most favorite way, shredded and sauteed with bacon. That is my plan for today. I'm not sure yet how I am going to cook my pork tenderloin; I am waiting for the inspiration to hit me.

I saw the fresh Brussel sprouts still on the stem at the grocery store and could not resist buying them.

I grabbed this photo off of the internet. I think it is interesting to see how they grow. They sure are delicious.

Yesterday I made my kale and sausage soup. I like the idea of making soup in the Fall. We have had warm temperatures, so the idea of wearing a warm sweater and eating a nice bowl of hot soup isn't appealing, but I had a craving for kale and sausage soup. I see a picture of it every day as I flip through my e-magazine that I am working on. The recipe is included, and the finished image of the soup tempts me each time I see the two-page spread. I made a good-sized pot and portioned some out for Lorraine and neighbor Susan. I promised a portion of my pork Tenderloin to Lorraine today, but I shared with her that I wasn't sure what it would be like. She said it didn't matter; she was sure that whatever I decided to do, it would be good.

This is the image I used in the e-magazine for my kale and sausage soup. It tempts me every day when I flip through the pages of the almost completed e-magazine. I finally decided I would have to make it and made enough to share with Lorraine and neighbor Susan. It was delicious.

As usual, before I sat down to write to you, I looked back at the week's photos, and there were only two. I thought this was going to be a really short story, but after going back to read what I had written, I realized that I can talk/write about food forever. It's another beautiful day, and I look forward to going for a walk with Lorraine.

The colors were beautiful this year. It was odd walking through the leaves in 27 degrees C (80 degrees F)

We had a few Fall like temperatures which I enjoyed. I like the cooler weather and was happy I had a jacket with me.

Yesterday I announced to Lorraine that I was "locking" the pages on my e-magazine, which is one of the last things I do when completing a publication. It's so satisfying to go page by page, re-read the story, tap "select all," then go to the other tab and select "Lock." I hope to share a few sample pages of the interactive e-magazine with you next Sunday. I also hope to share with you soon that I got a job call. Lorraine mentioned the other day, the planner needs a plan," referring to the fact that I am starting to get restless and would love to get a call for a job. Fingers crossed that it comes soon. There are seven people ahead of me at the Union Hall, but I am hopeful the office will call me directly. As soon as I get the news, I will let you know. Have the most wonderful day.