my favorite holiday11 / 26 / 12

last year i shared one of my favorite volvovski family secrets: we love video chatting, specifically when discussing thanksgiving menu options.

this year was no different, other than the fact that we were planning for about double the amount of people that we have had at the thanksgiving table over the last couple of years. while planning this year’s menu, we all referenced my review of last year’s recipes to figure out which ones were going to make a reappearance. for the sake of next year, i’ll make sure i document this years highs and lows:

apperitifs classic mojitos. no recipe needed. jason was the bartender. rating – 4/5.

appetizers a couple of guests brought some really delicious things, which i don’t have the recipes for (but i very much plan on getting them, specifically anna’s). however, from our kitchen we produced this great pumpkin rugelach. it’s a little fussy, but worth it. rating – 5/5. the table was also filled with pates, which were all appropriately fatty and delicious. rating – 4/5.

salads horseradish + beet salad. two of my favorite things combined into a delicious concoction. rating – 5/5. arugula, pear, and dried cranberry salad. we subbed the dried cranberries for the pomegranate. rating – 4/5.

turkey this one is my mom’s specialty, and she managed to make the 20 pound turkey as perfect as always. even though it was ready an hour ahead of schedule (she got a new convection oven since last thanksgiving), it was still exactly as it should be. rating – 5/5.

stuffing ciabatta + chorizo + sweet potato + mushrooms. the sausage really adds a new twist. rating – 5/5.

potatoes sweet potato + apple kugel. simple, sweet, and plain. rating – 3/5. and the mascarpone + leek mashed potatoes made their [at least] third annual appearance. rating – 5/5.

vegetables dijon-braised brussel sprouts. without a doubt the best way to eat brussel sprouts. rating – 5/5.

cranberry sauce same oranges and walnuts recipe as last year. good on everything. rating 4/5.

dessert i was responsible for the tarte tatin, which did not turn out at all how i wanted. it tasted fine but looked nothing like the picture. i know what i messed up, i’ll try it again. rating – 3/5. in addition to these we had isaac/lauren’s pumpkin pie, which was a classic, and a cake called ‘the chocolate bomb’ from a french pastry shop in ohio (brought by our ohio guests).

if you compare the ratings from this year to last year’s, you’ll see we had a decent improvement. not that last year was anything but great, but this one was even better. until next year.

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