Thanksgiving Flashback

I often trot through our nearby wooded parks and recently stumbled upon this fire pit.  Most of our trails were built by volunteers in the mountain biking community…can you tell?  Knowing some of this crew I would guess this pit will be used well into the winter months, for “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” …or at least from having fun in the woods with their buddies.  

It’s a brilliant design—-aren’t you thinking of adding a back yard fire pit?

Up here in this northern hemisphere we’re breaking out all things cozy: sweaters, leggings, scarves, hats, mittens…all the clothes that I love the most.  And as those Swedes say, “Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder”—there is no bad weather, only bad clothing.

It’s also a time to cook a dish all day long so the warmth of the stove and aromas make you happy to be alive.  Applesauce, pot roast, bean soups, baked squash, roasted turkey—a small amount of heat over a large amount of time produces magic with food and brings us to a warm fuzzy place while the mercury drops.  Bring it on.

Prepare to eat heartily these next few months, and as you’re pondering a menu or a side dish for the upcoming Holiday Feasting Fests, check out these previous posts and revisit the love!

Appetizers

Cilantro Pesto Mini Pizzas

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Balsamic Maple Walnuts

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Smoked Salmon Cakes with Horseradish Dill Sauce

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Mushroom Walnut Pâté

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Stuffed Mushrooms with Bacon, Caramelized Onions and Gouda

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Roasted Tofu Skewers with Peanut Sauce

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Bacon and Liver Pâté

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Mini Spinach Frittatas

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Salads

Winter Kale Salad with Feta

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Fennel Maple Salad

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Scott’s Waldorf Slaw

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Roasted Beet and Corn Salad

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Strawberry Salsa and Spinach Salad

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Pear Apple Chutney

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Side Dishes

Sweet Potato Rutabaga Latkes

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Potato Croquettes

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Wild Rice Dressing

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Polenta Pancetta Dressing

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Smoked Sweet Potato Puree

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Mashed Potatoes with Leeks (dairy-free)

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Roasted Vegetables with Cider Syrup Vinaigrette

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Desserts

Pumpkin Coconut Cardamom Custard

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Riskrem

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Chocolate Cake with Port, Craisins and Lime Zest

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Ostkake

beet photo by David Cavagnaro