We travelled to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving with my in-laws and had a wonderful time. And now IT’S DECEMBER 1ST…
Time for eggnog.
And peppermint.
And chestnut (etc), oh my!
December 2024
Thankful
No post last weekend because we were busy moving into OUR condo. We all (Webster included!) love it here and I feel very thankful.
Things from the past week…
Thanksgiving-themed foods abound!
I was in a celebratory mood and bought eggnog from my coffee one week early.
11/10 yogurt bowl – plain skyr with frosted bran flakes, blackberries, and persimmon.
I am a big fan of these chia Smash Bites. Blueberry and cashew butter.
Baskin Robbins seasonal ice creams – eggnog and pumpkin cheesecake. <– way better than I was anticipating, the pumpkin was loaded with cheesecake pieces and marshmallow swirl.
It’s soup season. This one was great. Chicken broth / canned diced tomatoes / roasted zucchini / sauteed onion and celery / baked chicken meatballs with garlic, panko, half and half, and hot sauce. Plus Trader Joe’s ciabatta.
Thanksgiving dinner-inspired fried rice. Leftover white rice and roasted cauliflower rice refried with eggs, smoked paprika, celery seed, butter, spicy candied pecans, dried cranberries, Trader Joe’s oven-roasted turkey breast, and sauteed onion, celery, and cremini mushroom. I topped my bowl with cranberry sauce and chipotle Cholula.
Thanksgiving dinner-inspired crunchwrap from Roast. Turkey, white cheddar, stuffing, cranberry jam, crispy onions, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Plus leftover zucchini and some blackberries.
Thanksgiving dinner nachos! Stuffing chips with Trader Joe’s unexpected cheddar, smoked turkey ham, spicy candied pecans, dried cranberries, poblanos and scallions sauteed in butter with celery seed, and topped with cranberry sauce. Plus leftover Thai green beans sauteed with gojuchang and cranberry.
Gourd Eats
Things from the past week…
Current yogurt bowl – plain Greek, blueberries and blackberries, and frosted bran flakes.
Target’s version of Thanksgiving stuffing potato chips. I don’t think they are as good as the original Trader Joe’s version but Adam loved them (I am a kettle chip loyalist).
The Nuts Factory birthday cake bar was good but not what I was expecting (some sort of cake butter); it was literally a slice of cake enrobed in chocolate.
Butternut squash bowls. Roasted with roasted shredded brussel sprouts, dried cherries, Trader Joe’s sweet and spicy pecans, duck fennel sausage, and sauce (mayo, German mustard, honey, lemon juice, and Crystal hot sauce).
A take on our favorite broccoli salad. Roasted broccoli, red onion, and white beans with dried cherries and a fantastic sauce (food processed – cilantro, macadamia nuts, smoked sardines, gochugaru, pepper, evoo, honey, and Trader Joe’s sweet and spicy pickled jalapenos). Plus roasted delicata squash.
Leftovers on leftovers. Plus Whole Food’s buffalo chicken nuggets.
Turkey Tour
We had great weather for long city walks this weekend (Williamsburg and Midtown) and ate so many good things…
Maple caramel mochi donut from Bear Donut.
Our favorite Pekin place in Long Island sadly closed but opened a new dumpling spot in Manhattan. We had steamed veggie and pan-fried chicken and corn dumplings and they were fantastic.
We tried a plethora of Thanksgiving turkey themed pastries. Trader Joe’s – cornbread stuffing, turkey, and Neufchatel cheese in a tortilla.
Starbucks – turkey sage sausage with Bechamel sauce in a danish.
Milk Bar – turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce in a herbed croissant.
Dinner at the newly reopened Kellogg’s Diner. The service/atmosphere and alcoholic drinks were meh but the food was worth it! Pimento cheese with saltines.
Short rib hash. This was great but Adam’s fried chicken and waffles was the best dish on the menu.
Desserts were the standout. Strawberry jell-o pretzel salad and passionfruit icebox pie.
Dinner at Sweetbriar. American Beauty cocktail (Rose Hip Luksosowa Vodka, lemon, rose water, egg white, and rose buds) and The Elixir (chamomile tea-infused Fords Gin, honey-ginger syrup, lemon, apricot preserves, and Laphroaig.
Cornbread with honey butter.
Wood-fired carrots with stracciatella, and salsa macha.
Roasted beets with shiso cream, green apple, avocado, and wasabi crumble.
Duck ham crostini with fig and gorgonzola.
Pistachio-crusted grilled chicken with snap peas, and red pepper pesto.
Croissant bread pudding with ice cream. This was crusted in cocoa nibs like a peppercorn steak and it was amazing.
Butter And Pepper
Things from the week…
Still not tired of yogurt bowls. This one was plain Greek with granola, cereal, blueberries and pomegranate.
Nuts Factory released new versions of their viral Dubai chocolate bar and I obviously bought them. S’mores was a 10/10; almost as good as the pistachio flavor.
Mediterranean-ish rice bowls. Brown rice and black rice slow cooked congee-style with chicken broth / ground turkey sauteed with garlic, smoked paprika, harissa, and tomato paste / roasted zucchini / topped with local Za’atar chili crisp.
Pepper beef inspired tofu. Super-firm tofu and onions sauteed in this sauce and served on garlic sauteed cabbage.
Butter chicken inspired slow cooker meal. In the crock pot – chicken breast, sweet onion, serrano pepper, black pepper, celery seed, smoked paprika, curry powder, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and butter. I stirred in some half and half after the heat was off. Served with riced cauliflower and roasted zuccini.
Girl Dinner
Five things from the weekend…
Iced espresso with maple cinnamon cold foam at Wired Coffee House.
Pumpkin croissant from Buttercooky Bakery.
These Pop Daddy dill pickle pretzel sticks are delightful; savory but not too sour.
Dinner at Mekelburg’s. I ordered girl dinner – kale salad (with carrots, green apple, and candied sesame croutons) and curly fries with honey mustard.
Plus I stole half of Adam’s giant, wonderful tuna melt.
And had a spicy passionfruit mezcal margarita.
Baked buffalo chicken meatballs. Ground chicken with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, panko, Franks, half and half, green onions, sharp cheddar, and cream cheese. Plus roasted cauliflower.
Stuffed
Things from the week…
This Target brand stuffing-seasoned popcorn had a great flavor but the texture was a bit stale.
I was also left luke-warm by the cinnamon roll Noosa (Adam loved it though).
Spinach and artichoke dip-inspired salad. Spinach / chopped pickled artichoke hearts / Trader Joe’s 4 cheese blend / shredded chicken breast / homemade dressing – Greek yogurt, mayo, Dijon mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, evoo, salt and pepper, and a sprinkle of sugar / panko bread crumbs crisped in a skillet with evvo, garlic, and gochugaru.
Peanut sauce chicken pizza. This was great! Homemade 2 ingredient dough / peanut sauce – peanut butter, water, white sugar, Sriracha, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and rice vinegar / shredded chicken breast / sauteed broccoli slaw / green onion / sharp cheddar / sesame seed crust with egg wash. Plus roasted broccoli.
Cabbage salad. Sauteed with green onion and broccoli slaw / shredded chicken breast / dry roasted peanuts / sauce – rice vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce, Sriracha, and brown sugar.
Cranberry, Gravy, Stuffing, Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Maple
I – of course – have a stash of Thanksgiving Month themed foods.
I didn’t try any of those this weekend but I did have pie cookies from Whole Foods – pumpkin and pecan (6/10 and 10/10).
Another amazing Whole Food’s snack – salt and pepper kettle chips and caramelized onion dip.
The snack I will never tire of – plain Greek yogurt with cereal and blueberries.
We made the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever eaten this weekend. With sharp cheddar, cream cheese, blueberry jam, and gochujang. Plus honey mustard sauteed green beans.
Eating Chalk 