Thanksgiving

Thursday 22 November

The extended Parker clan, 16 in all plus Eric our guest, gathered in Carbondale for the Thanksgiving feast.  Not only did the Shaffers find room for everybody to sleep, but the two turkeys could be shipped out to find oven-room in the church kitchen, where they were barded with bacon and roasted brown and moist.

Along with them went the classic accompaniments: mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar topping; cornbread and sausage dressing; mashed potatoes; rolls; and three kinds of cranberry sauce. 

We had to wait a while, and there were a few tryptophan naps, before we were ready to tackle dessert.  Having gone to the trouble of pooping that pumpkin two nights before, Holt made a couple of pumpkin clafoutis on the spot; this one fit perfectly in Becky's pi plate.

JoDee and company had brought luscious apple, fudge, and pecan pies, plus a platter of Martha Washingtons, while Jo Linn provided her version of Uncle Plem's famous buttermilk fudge.  Thus the family tradition of the unlimited dessert buffet was fulfilled - with whipped cream on the side, and alternating games of dummy rummy and reruns of The Gilmore Girls for those who could stay awake that long.

Happy thanksgiving to all!