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?