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| What was left of the sugar donuts, very sad photo, I know! |
It came and went and won't be here for another 70,000 years. I know I won't be here then, so it was only fitting that we celebrate in style. Thanksgiving and our anniversary do coincide often enough...but never Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. Some might call it a miracle-I just call it fun.
We ate. And ate. And I didn't snap many pictures. It is hard managing cooking, eating and entertaining all at one time. So here is a menu to justify why I am so exhausted.
I hope we are in total agreement about why I have the right to be drop dead tired. Even the dogs are asleep.
We had glorious weather this holiday weekend but now we are getting ready for the Arctic blast. Which really means I should be at the grocery but I am here writing to all of you. Preserving these memories for posterity...And still feeling very full. Of life. And food. I am satiated-at least for a short while-until my heart starts aching again.
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| Thanksgivingkuh Table |
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| I love flowers and feathers! |
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| My Hanukkah and New Year's Plates! |
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| Thanksgivingkuh! |
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| Gotta have the turkeys! |
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| Alex and Zoe and childhood friend |
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| Bucknell friends here Teaching for America! |
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| Manservant and Neighbor! |
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| Zoe and Neighbor's Wife! |
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| Pumpkin Creme Brulee (Pre Torched) |
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| All Gone! |
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| Sugar Donuts |
Giada's Sugar Donuts
Serves 10 very full people
NOTE: Last year I saw these donuts on the Food Network site. I made them then and everyone loved them. This year I suggested them to my daughter who is a donut freak. She thought it would be too messy and time consuming to make them after our big turkey dinner. I convinced her that it would be OK and OK it was. No fuss, no muss. These are truly a winner. I took out a big jelly roll pan and let the dough come to room temp while I was having help doing the dishes. As soon as the counters were cleaned, I started the oil heating. I then threw a tiny bit of flour on the jelly roll pan and using my hands, I flattened the dough and made little donut holes, using a shot glass. I then placed them in the hot oil. 45 seconds on each side and they were finished. (They might not need even that. These donut holes should be very pale and not golden or they will become too crispy.) Zoe was standing by with a large zip lock bag of fine sugar. She threw them in, shook them up and they were ready to be served.
Ingredients:
1 bag of white pizza dough from your favorite market at room temperature
Fine Sugar
Flour (For dusting)
Canola Oil
Olive Oil
Using a large nonstick skillet, pour oil into about a 1 inch depth. Heat to about 350 or until a piece of pizza dough sizzles.
While oil is heating, place your pizza dough on a large jelly roll pan. Dust the pan with flour. Using your hands, flatten the dough until about ½" thick. Cut out rounds with a little shot glass.
Place dough rounds in hot oil and fry about 45 seconds on each side. Do not crowd them. I use a timer. Do not let them brown. Place on paper plate or paper towel to blot off the oil. Throw in a large bag with super fine sugar and coat them well. Serve warm.
These are good all by their lonesome but we served them with pumpkin creme brulee and some Calvados caramel sauce. Everyone sighed.
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| And it was over all too soon! |
December Treats:
Gingerbread Waffles
German Apple Pancake
Belgian Liege Waffles
Cranberry Chipotle Wonton Cups
Mushroom Lover's Pastry
Onion Dip
3 Ingredient Artichoke Dip
Smoked Trout Pate
Savory Sweet Potato Latkes
Not My Mama's Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken, Artichoke, Mushroom Casserole
Porcini Mushroom Lasagna
My Mother's Brisket
Boneless Rib Roast and Baked Rice
Hot Brown Sandwich
Sweet and Hot Green Onion Mustard
Fresh Cranberry and Apple Salad
Shortbread Nut Bars
Spritz Cookies
Fool's Toffee
World Peace Cookies
Chocolate Icebox Toffee Cookies
Shortbread Cookie Cut Outs
Double Chocolate Mocha Macadamia Bark
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites
Marshmallows
Chocolate Krantz Cake or Babka
Liz Silow says
Zoe and Freddie look great!
(and everything looks delicious)
Sharon D says
Beautiful family, decor, menu and donuts *sigh*
Everything looks magical! Will you be my fairy godmother? ^.^
shannon @ a periodic table says
so much fun! it looks like all of you had a fabulous time, for sure. and good for you for not elbowing everyone out of the way for photos: i did the same, and tried to make it a minimal-photo holiday. it all looks beautiful, and that menu? WAY more ambitious than i could ever do. nice work, Abbe!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
Wow what a meal. I doubt I could have fried donuts after Thanksgiving dinner - I was exhausted! Well done for you. I loved the peek into your life.
NancyC says
Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast! 🙂
Laura Dembowski says
It sounds like your holiday was amazing! All of the food sounds great. Brussels sprouts and all those desserts. Can I come over next year? 😉
Nazneen Hamilton says
Nice! Looks like everyone had a wonderful time and your menu is fantastic! Quite the feast, no wonder you're exhausted! I only cooked part of the dishes and I was laid up I for a few days! Hope you're feeling energetic again! Looking forward to your December treats 🙂
yummychunklet says
Your Thanksgiving meal looked awesome!
CQUEK says
Wow! This looks so pretty and delish that made me speechless…
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You says
What a lovely Thanksgiving table, beautiful family and friends, and delicious dishes. I am glad that you had a great time, Abbe!
Cathy at Wives with Knives says
Your menu is absolutely amazing. I think Thanksgiving dinner, with all the sides, is the most demanding meal of the year. So many things have to be prepared last minute...and getting it all to the table hot...very difficult. You are entitled to be drop dead tired...you earned it!!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks, Cathy. We really tried to combine a Southwest thanksgiving with Hanukkah! I think it worked out pretty good, too! I try to do most things ahead and I'm not afraid to reheat in the micro!
Angie Schneider says
What a feast! Love your beautiful table set up...
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Angie. I'm thankful to have so many great things I've collected over the years. It was a feast-you are right!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Wow, Abbe! What a celebration! The menu looked nothing short of amazing, your table was gorgeous, and I loved, loved seeing all the photos (especially of Alex and Zoe)! And you are very right - when even the dogs are tired, you know it's been one heck of a party! I vote you get to sleep for a week! 😀
Abbe Odenwalder says
Awww Shelley. I wish you were my neighbor! We had a lot of fun and setting the table is something I really enjoy!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Oh, my gosh! Can you imagine how much fun we'd have (and how much we'd eat!?!?!?) if we were neighbors! 😀
Kitchen Riffs says
These big meals always do end way too quickly, don't they? They're definitely worth all the work, but gosh are they over soon! Sounds like a terrific feast - really nice menu. And those donut hole do look easy. Glad you had a swell time! And thanks for sharing it with us.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Way too fast, John! These donut holes are outstanding! Hard to believe, but true! Thanks John, hope you had a good Thanksgiving, too!