Saturday, November 28, 2020

Thanksgiving 2020

 

Candied Yam Muffins

I didn't grow up with the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving on the third Thursday of November.  My first Thanksgiving was when I first arrived in the U.S. and one of my roommates invited me to spend the Thanksgiving holidays with her and her family.  I had my first taste of candied yams, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie at that Thanksgiving dinner.  Since then, I've had several Thanksgiving meals over the years, but, it had always been in the company of others - usually family and friends.  

Thanksgiving 2020 was a little different, of course.  I had been hoping that my daughter would be able to come home to celebrate with me, but, that wasn't possible.  Of course, I was disappointed, but, eventually, after moping about it for a day or two, I decided to make the best of the situation.  I would still make a Thanksgiving meal and I would share it with others who were also observing the day on their own.  

So, on Thursday, after I had spoken with my aunts and cousins and wished them for Thanksgiving, I prepared a meal with roast chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, and corn, along with the cranberry sauce and corn bread I had made earlier.  I took a plate of food over to my neighbor T and another plate over to friend R.  Contactless deliveries meant, I left T's plate on the railing by her door and friend R took her package from the trunk of my car.  But, both were happy to know that they were thought of and I was happy that I was able to bring a little happiness to their day.  

Afterwards, I came home and served myself a plate of food and ate it while video chatting with my daughter, who had also prepared a Thanksgiving meal for herself, but, with a Japanese twist because she prepared her chicken, potatoes, squash, etc. following Japanese recipes!  I opened a bottle of sparkling apple cider and my daughter had some peach nectar and we toasted each other.  

We had finished eating, but, were still video chatting, when friend S called; she and her husband had brought me Thanksgiving dinner!  As well as some disposable masks and a canister of disinfectant spray!  What a lovely surprise!  I quickly put on my mask before I opened the door to them and they stepped just inside the door (they were all masked up, too) so they could say hello to my daughter.  I gave them the last few pieces of corn bread that I had and two freshly picked pomegranates to take home.  I know they took a plate of food over to friend R, too, afterwards.

On Friday morning, my neighbor S called; would I like to have some roast turkey and mashed potatoes, with vegetables her mother had cooked and a piece of the pumpkin cheesecake her daughter had made?  How could I refuse?  I accepted the plate of food and the dessert, gratefully.  I froze the turkey for another day (maybe now I can make that tetrazzini with turkey, after all!).  Needless to say, I had leftovers for my dinner, last night.  They were even better the next day!

Today, I decided to do something with the candied yams that friend S had included in the dinner she brought me.  While I like sweet potatoes and yams baked or fried, I am not that fond of candied yams by themselves.  But, I was not going to let them go to waste, either.  Instead, I mashed them and added them to my favorite basic muffin recipe, tossed in a handful of sunflower seeds I had in the freezer, and baked a batch of candied yam muffins!  I took some of them over to neighbor S to thank her for always thinking of me and bringing me a plate of food just about every time they have a celebration.  I left them in her mail box and called her to tell her, so she could collect them.  We are getting good at contactless deliveries!  

We are going to have to resort to more contactless deliveries in the next three weeks as the announcement was made, yesterday, that Los Angeles County will be under a new "safer at home" order, starting on Monday and in effect until December 20.  I haven't read up on all the details as it won't impact me that much, anyway, because I have been staying home for the most part, only going to medical appointments and contactless pick ups and deliveries.  I have one more dental appointment scheduled for Monday and I am hoping that would be the last one, but, that's the only medical appointment until next January.

Today has been a quiet day.  I made the muffins, put water to the back garden, practiced the piano, etc., and relaxed.  

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for:

- The technology that enabled me to have Thanksgiving dinner with my daughter, online

- Being able to share my meal with a neighbor and a friend

- Friends blessing me with portions of their meals 

- Phone calls with family and friends

- Leftovers!

My joyful activities included video chatting with my daughter, sharing Thanksgiving with friends and neighbors in a contactless manner, and knitting.

How is your weekend coming along?

18 comments:

  1. Happy Thanksgiving, Bless. It's wonderful that you were still able to sit down with your daughter and enjoy a mean together, albeit over video call.
    I love to read how you share food with friends and neighbours, it isn't something that often happens here but it's such a nice way of showing people you care. X

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    1. Thank you, Jules. I was so happy to be able to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner with my daughter, online! I love to share food with others and when they share food with me; I agree that it is a way of showing you care. :)

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  2. So good that so many friends delivered Thanksgiving dinners to people alone. We're planning a similar thing on Christmas Day, preparing 60 meals in our covid19-safe church kitchen. Hoping our local supermarkets will donate turkey & trimmings!

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    1. That is so nice of you to plan Christmas meals for your community. The holidays are hard for a lot of people who are alone and receiving a plate of food lets them know that they are being thought of. I hope you'll receive lots of donations to help with the cost of the meals.

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  3. Happy Thanksgiving Bless. I'm glad you were able to enjoy your meal with your daughter, albeit via the marvels of technology. You definitely have plenty of food for a few days thanks to the generosity of your friends.

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. I certainly do have plenty of food for the next several days! I am freezing some of it for later, too. I've been so blessed by my friends.

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  4. Your circle does a lot of food sharing. How fun and thoughtful. How long have you lived in the neighborhood and how long have you been sharing your bounties?

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    1. I have lived in the neighborhood for almost 29 years. At first, any food sharing we had was between my cousin (who lives two doors down across the street from me) and me. But, gradually, over the years, as I made friends with my other neighbors, we've come to share plates of food and fruit from our gardens, etc.

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  5. How thoughtful of you to cook for others for Thanksgiving and nice of others to think of you too! Sounds like you had lots of delicious meals and your muffins look delicious too! Looks like you had a very nice Thanksgiving! :)

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    1. It was a very nice Thanksgiving, Martha, even if my daughter couldn't be home in person. I like to cook for others and it was very nice to know that others thought of me, too. I wasn't sure how the muffins would work out, but, they turned out great! I am now trying to think of ways to use up the stuffing (I am not a big fan of bread based stuffing). :)

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  6. You and your neighbours and friends are doing your best to keep the virus at bay while still supporting each other. It is lovely to read about this great community which thrives in spite of adversity. It's really what life is about, isn't it?
    I had a surprise phone call last week from an old friend, to wish me for my birthday. I can't remember when we last spoke together and it was great to catch up on news.
    The dog next door came round at dusk yesterday and was given treats and petting at the front door. Then he raced round to the back of the house and stood looking hopeful for more treats at the patio door, thinking I wouldn't remember his visit at the front door! I may be old, but I'm not that forgetful yet!

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    1. Happy birthday, Bushlady! I'm sorry if I am late in wishing you. I didn't realize you've had a birthday recently.

      I am so thankful for the community of friends and neighbors that I have and I hope I am being a good neighbor and friend, in return.

      Oh, that dog next door is too funny! He gets full marks for trying, though! :D

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  7. Glad to hear that you had such an enjoyable Thanksgiving. I need to read up on the new stay at home order. You have been busy with your cooking and baking! Like you, I am knitting. I am so thankful for home and a fireplace.

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    1. Thank you, Stephenie. I'm glad you were able to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal before the power was cut! A safe home and fireplace are good things to be thankful for. I must get my fireplace checked and chimney repaired (a neighbor said a flue or something was missing from the top and should be replaced before I use the fireplace); it would be good to have a working fireplace in case the power gets cut during the winter!

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  8. It sounds as though you had a lovely, special day, in spite of the circumstances of the moment. Very well done on having such a positive attitude and beating the initial disappointment! The stories of the shared meals really touched me. 🍠🍠

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    1. Thank you, Lady Ella. Yes, I did have a lovely Thanksgiving Day and being able to share meals with friends and neighbors really helped to make it a happy occasion. :)

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  9. I'm so glad you managed to have a meal with your daughter - what a marvel modern technology is and thank God for it during these times.

    Lots of good will being spread around by you and yours.
    It's very nice to read all about it and your food all sounds delicious.

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    1. Thank you, Debra. Yes, thanks to the marvel of modern technology, we were able to share our Thanksgiving! I am so grateful that we didn't lose power (several people here, in so. Cal., had the power shut off during Thanksgiving day, due to concerns about high winds and fires).

      Yes, lots of good will being spread around, one plate at a time! :D It is such a blessing and I am so glad that I can participate, myself. :)

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