Fake Thanksgiving

Dear Mom,

Thank you for making all of the usual delicious Thanksgiving food, and for inventing Fake Thanksgiving [this is the day after Thanksgiving, where we invite the other side of the family; you know -- the one that's not presentable enough for Real Thanksgiving], which is just as awesome as Real Thanksgiving.

This year, you really outdid yourself; we had celebrations the two nights before Real Thanksgiving. I declare them a tradition and will henceforth expect them every year. Today, we are only going to discuss one of the pre-Thanksgiving meals, since I had a throwing-up-illness and didn't enjoy the other one as much as I would have liked.

Pre-Thanksgiving Risotto:

First, microwave 1 cup of frozen peas, chop up 2 cups of asparagus, and dice some shallots. Sautee the shallots in a few tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest. Then add 1 cup of arborio rice and sautee that until you can't handle how dry it's getting. Pour in 1 cup of white wine and let it absorb. Slowly ladle in 4 cups of hot veggie broth (this should take about 20 mins, keep stirring). When you're down to the last ladle (and the rice is not too al dente), add the veggies and the juice of 2 or 3 lemons. Cook just until the veggies are done.

Serve with a beautiful salad without cheese on it because Lt. Veggie Nugget is being vegan (notice I didn't say that she is vegan).

For dessert, Pear Rosemary Cake from Real Simple Magazine [some language changed by Tofu]:

Butter a spring-form pan (if I were making this at home, I would just use a pie tin) and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then whisk together:

1 stick melted butter

1 1/4 c flour

1/2 c cornmeal

2 t baking powder

1/4 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1 c sugar

1/2 c buttermilk

2 eggs

Then fold in 2 pears, sliced

Bake 45-55 mins.

Meanwhile, heat 1/4 c sugar, 1/4 c water, and some sprigs of rosemary. Cook until the sugar melts. When the cake is cool, brush the syrup onto the cake. 

Then go running, even though there was an ice storm. 

Bonus Material: Sweet Potato Chili from Fake Thanksgiving That Everyone Loves:

Here is the recipe (we also added some diced red and green peppers, we added 1 T butter to the olive oil, we doubled the honey, and omitted the cayenne [not my idea]). Next year, I plan on puking again so that I'm not available to help, and then have another miraculous recovery right before it's time to eat. Tradition. 

Thanks, Mom,

Tofu