Thanksgiving 2021

by Jon Sullivan - 2021-11-29 - Food

Thanksgiving is my pole star. All things revolve around an insane stunt of cooking and drinking. It's dumb. But it's mine.

This year's Thanksgiving was wonderful. On a planet rushing towards it's "dominant" species' end time, it was the joy I needed. It was so much happiness it wouldn't stay inside me. Beyond the walls of my cozy hobbit hole, beyond the drawn curtains... beyond the bubble I prefer to live in, there are bad things and bad people. But this Thanksgiving had none of that. It was the joy I needed and nothing can take that away. I am thankful I have that. And so so so thankful for those who shared it with me. You all made me very happy.

For those out of the loop on "Jon's Thanksgiving thing" - Every Thanksgiving I make up a crazy hard menu of delicious food, and then race through the day trying to cook and eat it all. It started decades ago when an ex-wife left me, and left me in a very bad state. I needed something to rescue me and lift me up. Something that was all mine. Something that no one could take away. Facing a Thanksgiving with little to be thankful for, I decided to cook myself a great feast. The most delicious food I could imagine. And I would eat it alone. And no one could ever take it away.

Most years I did it by myself, just me. People seemed to think that was sad. But I saw it as proper. Just me and my kitchen, eating fantastic food and cooking with selfish joy. Sometimes, like this year, I'd do Thanksgiving with friends or family.

I didn't take many photos this year, but all the ones I do have are here.

There was a first this year, as several other cooks helped. And I'm thankful for that. Couldn't have done it by myself.

The black bean sauce was a big hit. I'll post the recipe for that later. But I need to experiment and figure out what the ingredients are. As is typical of this event I sort of made it up on the spot.

There were many special vignettes. Cooking blackened halibut out on the lawn with Mike and Iris. The life changing treats Raymond brought. The surprise 8th course a guest brought that we all loved. The "blender incident" that could have brought it all down, but didn't. The mysterious Hanukkah-like flame that made the last dish possible.

And now I plan next year's Thanksgiving.

Jon Sullivan

2021-11-29 15:39:41 : 6am - Duck liver pate, brie, crackers, champagne.
8am - Crispy skin salmon with black bean sauce and mustard gremolata
10am - Herbed fresh pasta with scampi shrimp
12pm- Blackened halibut with tomatillo salsa and mushroom butter
2pm - Pork tamales with green mole and sun dried tomato cream
4pm - Dijon and Guinness Beef pot pie
6pm - French toast with port marinated berries and sweet goat cheese

Jon Sullivan

2021-11-29 15:53:01 : Oh.... I get that all this can come off as wasteful and ugly in a self-indulgent way. Rest assured - I also donate to groups feeding the homeless as part of this.

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