I do cook

Every now and then, when Pat's preoccupied, I do cook!

This is homemade mint pea soup (thank you Barefoot Contessa) and yummy bread!

Making Mom's Cooking

What is it about the food that I (we in this case) grew up with that I so hated as a child, that is so satisfying now? During the week before the Lylas show, time was short. So as a departing Thanksgiving present, Mom helped me plan meals. Of course hard-shelled tacos with the taco packet flavored meat was a regular meal for both Pat and I when we were kids, but I don't think it ever crossed my mind to recreate this great American meal since I left home (a few) years ago (cheese and crackers is much more likely to cross my mind as a meal), but it certainly will again- YUM...and no wonder it was a regular meal as a kid- it's so easy!

I won't take pictures of it again, but it will be occurring more often!

Dinner with Mom and Dad

The day after Thanksgiving, Pat made scallops and fennel & onion gratin for a nice dinner with my parents. It was awful, you wouldn't have enjoyed it at all (okay, it was amazing and I was sad there weren't more leftovers).

Thanksgiving

So, I've gotten a little behind on keeping up with the blog, but here are some pictures from a great Thanksgiving dinner.

Mom and Dad came down for a great stay. We got to talk and catch up over several mornings of coffee and they got to hang out with the kids.

Thanksgiving dinner was at Betsy and Rob's house. They made two kinds of turkey and homemade sweet potato fries with pomegranate guacamole. Pat brought salmon mousse (brined and smoked at home) and bacon wrapped dates stuffed with spicy almonds.

Tsongus (the Alaskan Malamute pictured below) joined us (Pat likes him a lot and I like him when I visit Betsy & Rob.) Betsy & Jessica's dad, Harry, joined us along with their mom, Marge and her husband, Lee. The kids had fun at the kid table. It was great family time.

A hike with Marge & Lee

Pat & I went over to Johnson City last Saturday afternoon. We had a great dinner with Marge & Lee and then on Sunday we all went on a little hike on a bald round near Roan Mountain. It was a beautiful day, a great view and a wonderful reminder of how little we really are.

Then Pat and I took the backroads home to Asheville. What a great life!