"Slices of Gratitude" | #Thanksgiving #WordlessWed

8 Things The Boy is Thankful For this Thanksgiving on Parents Magazine - http://bit.ly/IgTQqE 

My Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

The first time I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for my family, my mother said:

You're not a great cook, you just buy fancy ingredients. 

Oh my mother…she's quite the character. 

Growing up our Thanksgiving dinner was pretty much a typical Puerto Rican dinner: arroz con gandules, potato salad, tostones and/or sweet plantains. And we ate turkey. But there was no stuffing, sweet potatoes or cranberry sauce. In fact, I didn't have any of these things until I married The Husband and I learned that this is what he wanted for Thanksgiving dinner.   

I don't cook full meals often. But I enjoy cooking for friends and family when I can.  And I am so excited to be cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year for my family. Even though I know my mother will have something to say about what I prepare. It's okay, she's amusing. And I'll ask her to make arroz con gandules. 

What I'm Cooking on Thanksgiving

Truth be told, I'm not crazy about turkey but The Husband is, so I make it. This year I'm making a Mojo Cubano Turkey. I've never made it before but this recipe got rave reviews on Food.com. 

Every year I ponder the same thing: Sweet Potatoes versus Yams. Are they the same?  What's the difference? Seriously, does anyone know?! I just started to like sweet potatoes this year and I'm super excited about this Pomegranate Lacquered Sweet Potatoes recipe my friend Ericka from Nibbles and Feasts shared on her site.    

One thing I absolutely love is stuffing made from scratch - none of that box stuff over here.  I especially love corn bread and this Chorizo Sausage Pistachio Pear Stuffing by my friend, Nicole of Presley's Pantry sounds scrumptious!   

And now…for the Cranberry Controversy! 

The other day I got into a heated debate with my BFF over cranberry sauce. I like fresh cranberry sauce and she likes the jelly canned stuff (gross). And it surprised me, because my BFF is sort of a food snob. We spent a good 15 minutes discussing cranberry sauce. I feel like cranberry sauce is a hot topic and everyone has an opinion about it. Which do you prefer? 

Anyway, since I prefer fresh cranberry sauce, I'm going with this recipe by Alexandra Guarnaschelli - one of my favorite Iron Chefs on The Food Network. Do you know about Alex? (I'm going to call her Alex, because even though I don't know her, I think she'd be cool with it.) I mean, the way this woman talks about food and bacon - I know we could be friends. I just know it. And so when it comes to food, I trust her completely.  

As for dessert do I want to make:

a. Horchata Cupcakes 
b. Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake 
c. Apple Yam Crumble 
d. all of the above

So…what are YOU making for Thanksgiving dinner? And seriously, if someone can explain the difference between a Sweet Potato and a Yam I'd appreciate it. Thanks. 

AND  for the kids check out this cute DIY Thanksgiving Placement for the kids by Ruby of Growing Up Blackxican.

Curious to know how I'm teaching The Boy about Thanksgiving? Check out my latest post on Babble, click ---> http://bit.ly/1iOiMnq

On This Thanksgiving I Am Grateful...

For the warmth of my humble apartment. There are so many still without heat.

To have someplace to go tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner. There will be many who will be alone.

The Boy who has not yet discovered that I am not perfect. To him, I am close enough.

I have a husband who knows that I am not perfect. He loves me anyway.

I have family and a handful of friends who I can count on - no matter what.

I have a job. It's not the dream but it pays the bills. 

The Boy has made SO MUCH PROGRESS. Every single day, I am amazed. I haven't really had a chance to write much these days. But I am so very proud.    

I got one whole hour to myself today. I was completely alone. I ate my lunch in one sitting. I watched Parenthood on Hulu without pressing pause once.

My gratitude list could go on and on. But I'll stop here. Click HERE and visit my post on Parents.com/ToTheMax and find out what some of my autism blog friends are grateful for. 

The Boy made this at school. I cannot take credit for such creativity. I just don't have it.

Friday Fragments (The Day After Thanks) 11/25/11

~~ While I'm sure everyone is still munching on Thanksgiving homemade leftovers - tonight we will be dining on restaurant leftovers.  I just didn't have it in me to cook this year.  I do have half a homemade flan in my fridge that I plan on devouring.  Normally, I could do without flan but there's this woman at work who makes them and they are AMAZING! 


~~ We took The Boy to see the Thanksgiving Day Macy's Parade yesterday - luckily my office hosts a viewing party and we had a sweet view of floats.  Best part?  We were in doors!  Free bagels, free cupcakes, free cotton candy - Oh My!  Because there's nothing like cotton candy at 8:30 in the morning.  

~~ Today I ran some errands with The Boy.  Had to stop at the eyeglass spot to place an order for new contacts.  The Boy was restless.  Bad mommy that I am, forgot to bring a fidget toy.  


"I want to go home," he said.


"After here, then the meat market and then home," I explain 


The lady at the eyeglass place said, "The meat market?  They are going to chop you up."  I know she was just trying to be friendly and playful.  But damn, my kid has autism aka LITERAL THINKER.  Please don't tell him Joe the Butcher at the meat market is going to chop him up.  Thanks.  


~~ Black Friday Shopping: PASS.  

Play along! Don't know how?  Check out Mrs. 4444 at Half Past Kissin Time for more Friday Fragments.

     

"Thanksgiving is more than eating..."

"...Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck...We should just be thankful for being together."  

~ Marcie, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Tomorrow, I'm going on strike. I'm not cooking.  I cook 364 other days of the year, I'm entitled to a break. Okay, that's a lie - I don't cook 364 other days of the year.  But I do know that I've spent the last 8 years slaving away in the kitchen for days before, during and after over a meal I don't even like.  I don't like turkey. Or sweet potatoes or gravey.  Hell, I just started to eat pumpkin pie last year.  

Tomorrow, we will take a trip into the City and watch the parade (fingers crossed that The Boy likes it) and order Chinese or Mexican.    

For me, Thanksgiving has never really been about the meal - it's about the feeling of togetherness - whether it's with family, friends or the friends that have replaced family.  Thanksgiving is about sharing. Talking. Laughing with the ones we love.  But most of all - looking back and reflecting on all that we are thankful for.     

Last Thanksgiving I created a Top 10 List of the things I am most thankful for.  My list is pretty much the same - with a few tweaks. 

10. My job. It may not be ideal, but it pays the bills.
  9. My cozy little apartment - it's home.  
  8. My writing - it's therapeutic
  7. The network of support I've created through my writing.  (That's YOU - reading this!)
  6. My friends - They make me laugh even when it's really hard to.

  5. My family - I have a great support system. 

  4. My Mother: I'm lost without her & The Boy is lucky to have her as his Abuela.

  3. The Husband: A phenomenal partner & father.  He believes in me when I cannot.

  2. The Boy: (my list within my list)

• He's said "I Love You" all on his own
• he's pointing; jumping
• clapping 
• singing
• reading
• dancing
• playing appropriately
• riding his bike and starting to ride his little scooter
• He's day time potty trained - woohoooooooooo 
• he's asking questions
• he says please and thank you
• he's realizing that on Halloween you get candy, on Thanksgiving you eat turkey and for Christmas Santa comes and brings presents
• he's building his imagination
• He's cutting and coloring

  1. That I'm able to appreciate all the little things every single day.  


What are YOU thankful for?