Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Semi-homemade, cooking talents and Zen

- This stack of ingredients makes me giggle a little every time I pass it. It is for the ton of sweet potato casserole I will provide for Thanksgiving dinner for 42 people tomorrow. I took over this dish from my mother, who pronounced it "just like hers" last year. I know fresh potatoes seems more like me, but this is faster and easier. I guess we would call it semi-homemade. :)

- A similar gathering on Tuesday at the printing company resulted in a potluck spread that showcased the cooking talents of office staff and pressmen. My favorite - the shipping manager's coleslaw with finely chopped jalapeno peppers in it - a nice (and fiery!) accompaniment to other rich food.

- My account of visiting a client that morning and the client's one-eyed and very loving rescue dog, Zen, sparked a conversation of everyone's pets. I loved hearing one co-worker speak of his dog and how the dog follows him around "talking" - he pulls out his phone and displays a screen shot of him that is passed around the table.

15 comments:

Jannie Funster said...

I'm all about semi-home-made at times too. I like the Pepperidge Farm stufing, with some of my own twists added to it. No jalapenos tho for this family! :)

Zen, cute name for a dog.

Umn, I'm hungry now!

Have a day that's as beautiful and blessed as you, Lynn!
xoxo

Blue Bunny said...

hay, ennybuddy seen fireblossim?? she must be asleeping. she snoozing, she loozing as FERST and SEKKIND komminter!!!

loves to yoo!

me -- BB

oxox

Fireblossom said...

LOL, I'm late, aren't I? I was posting. But here I am, now!

Cole slaw is generally kind of boring, i think, but made right, in can be simply delicious. And you're right, that zesty version sounds like just the counterpoint!

How neat about Zen. :-)

desk49 said...

Caned or pealed
I’m sure it will do grand
This sweet potato casserole
From your mother’s hand

Those jalapeno seem
to be just right
in the coleslaw you ate
the other night

rescue dog? Like saves people or was saved.

A rescue dog
as friendly as can be
And a talking dog
his photo you got to see

TALON said...

That's a huge gathering, Lynn. Sounds like it will be a lovely Thanksgiving for your family.

I love potlucks - you always get to sample something new and unique.

I love the dog's name - Zen is neat!

Lynn said...

Jannie -

Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful day, too. You are sweet to say those nice things!

xoxo

Blue Bunny -

FB was posting her blog, but was right behind you!

Loves to you, too!

oxox

Ellis -

There is an animal rescue group that takes in dogs and cats needing homes. Often they are up for adoption because their owner can't keep them anymore. My niece's dog Lucky was a rescue - his owner was dying of cancer and put him up for adoption so she could be at peace of about the home he was going to. It's a wonderful service. Zen's owner said, "She rescued us!"

Thank you for my poem and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Talon -

I love potlucks, too! And that was a very Zen moment - the pet discussion. You can just see blood pressures go down when they are talking about their pets.

Meredith said...

Aw, I love pet talk. Zen sounds adorable. As I type this, F. is outside my window calmly and gently introducing our black cat, Booty, to the neighbors teeny tiny puppy. Both of them have been wary of each other, & F. sees no reason they shouldn't be friends. :)

As for semi-homemade -- true homemade for 42 people, and you'd be at work in the kitchen all day, hon! My neighbor is doing something like that. She's been thawing and marinating three turkeys for about 72 hours now, and two pots of chitlins have been simmering away on the back of her stove since Monday. I prefer a more restful holiday, myself. ;)

Have a great one, Lynn!

Lance said...

That cole slaw sounds delicious!!

Happy Thanksgiving to YOU!!!

LL Cool Joe said...

I love coleslaw but I'm not sure I've ever had it with jalapeno peppers before.

Feeding 42 people is a huge task! Hope it goes well Lynn.

Riot Kitty said...

I hope you have some help with the cooking! Happy Thanksgiving.

Maude Lynn said...

Forty two people? Lynn, you can take any shortcut you want!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lynn said...

Meredith -

Sounds like F is a pet whisperer. How nice that he is facilitating that friendship.

I hope to never be offered chitlins to eat. Oh my. :)

Lance -

So good. You have a great holiday, too.

Joe -

Fortunately I just have to do this one dish - although there is a lot of it to make. :)

Riot Kitty -

Oh yeah - we all bring stuff. There will be massive food.

Mama Zen -

You have a great one, too, MZ!

Snaggle Tooth said...

Wow, I really want some yams! BBM is making some with marshmellows. Lucky to get free homemade meals at work! I can't have hot peppers either- burns me- lucky you can!
Also Lucky your work folks like animals.
I work with a girl who won't ever have one cus she can't tolerate the "smell"- tho she does have a young child. (I guess diapers don't smell?) I really don't know how folks don't like pets!

Enjoy all those folks n dinner too!
Happy Turkey Day!

Lynn said...

Snaggle -

It really does add so much to your life to have a pet - I do miss mine so much.

I wish you could be with your family today, but I hope some Thanksgiving finds its way to you somehow.

sage said...

I had that same sweet potato casserole (and often make it for church potlucks because it's so simple and up here, so novel!)