November 2019
grat·i·tude
/ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/
noun
1.) the quality of being thankful
2.) readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness
Typically, Shaun and I like to keep Thanksgiving very low-key. We prefer to give our staff (along with ourselves) the day off. This year we are super happy to include my brother, Chris, who has recently relocated to Seattle. More on that later…
We often begin the day with coffee and biscuits and gravy before we start our prep for the dinner. We also tend towards a movie-marathon in the background: something like all of the Daniel Craig James Bond movies back-to-back. We snack on truffled deviled eggs and something as simple as ice cold sliced kirby cucumbers tossed with fleur de sel, toasted sesame seeds and crushed red pepper.
We usually pick wines for dinner that tend towards white and crisp to start (if we are really splurging we pop open some Billecart-Salmon) moving towards an Italian red as the meal progresses. Shaun likes to prepare a small suckling pig for the main course. It’s moist and rich with that tasty crackled skin, so I normally make the sides and keep them pretty healthy and light. Maybe simple roasted sweet potatoes with soy maple-butter and lots of cracked black pepper. Pan roasted brussels sprouts or green beans are always great alongside a salad of bitter greens with fresh herbs, preserved lemon, toasted pine nuts, currants and good Moroccan olive oil. We sometimes order a tart or pie from Macrina Bakery if we feel like we want dessert. The point is simplicity and things that are pretty easy to execute; we just relax and get to enjoy each other’s company.
On a more personal note, last year I spent Thanksgiving with Chris in Minneapolis, as he had an important surgery scheduled for that week. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have been there with him and that a year later he is now living here in Seattle. It’s so vital to take a breath and be thankful for what surrounds you, not just on Thanksgiving, but every day. As I get older it has become more important to put aside that extra 15 minutes a day to reflect. It’s a work in progress for sure, but something I now consider part of my morning routine. When you can see the forest and appreciate each tree that goes into creating it, that’s when you’ve really experienced gratitude.
Wishing you a beautiful Thanksgiving…
Jill