giving thanks.

I hope that all the Americans had a wonderful and loving Thanksgiving! I have so much to be grateful for this year, and I'm just lucky to have had such a pleasant holiday with smoothly prepared food. A shocker, considering the kitchen mayhem we've endured in past years and will endure in the years to come. I didn't do much in the way of originality for the feast, so I'll just leave you with a few recap shots.

Sourdough Stuffing w/ Apples & Mushrooms; Mom's Stuffing's Veggies (later nonvegan)

Clockwise from bottom: cranberry sauce, candied yams (non-vegetarian), delicata & butternut squash, tequila-lime yam hash, roasted brussel sprouts with garlic.

Impossible Vegan Pumpkin Pie from Fatfree Vegan Kitchen

I also made a seitan "turkey" loaf with the Mustard Sauce from Veganomicon, but it was not particularly gorgeous and I left it unphotographed. Of course, we have been living solely off of leftovers for the past day or so. Pumpkin Pie Milkshake, anyone? That was my balanced breakfast this morning...

back from the whirlwind.

Whew; so. Excuses. I was honestly, truly, and terribly busy up until about a week ago. Sure, I could have gotten my lazy ass into a gear and posted this crap over the weekend, but even then I was busy and then just wanted to rest. So let me give you the wrap-up.

Bat Boy: The Musical (the segment starts on the video at about 2:40 left) closed last Saturday. I worked the show as assistant stage manager, so my life had revolved around it for the last couple months. Over the course of the run, I brought plenty sweets for the cast to share, but it didn't even cross my mind to snap any shots. ...I'm just glad it's done.

But let's get to the real meat (so to speak) of things. I'm incredibly fortunate enough to be one of Hannah's testers for her latest cookbook, and we've already been put to work on two recipes. The latest is a Cherry Macaroon Tart.

Oh, Cherry Macaroon Tart. It's not such a secret that I'm infatuated with you. I've made you twice already. How many eyes have seen me sneak into the kitchen time and time again to steal bites of you? Perhaps it's a bit much to presume, but I think that you feel the same way. After all, you come together so easily for me - how can we not make the perfect match?

Alright, enough lusting. But it's true - I've made this twice. Sort of. My first go was a bastarized version to bring to an Obama Day! Election Day party made with a modified crust. I red-white-and-blued it up by replacing most of the cherries with frozen blueberries and raspberries. This was mostly because upon receiving the recipe, I only had a few ounces of Trader Joe's cherries in the freezer and was dead-set on bringing this SUPREMELY QUICK AND EASY treat to the party. I made it a second time entirely against my will for the sole purpose of using Hannah's determined ingredients. It wasn't at all because those selfish Democratic bastards left me no leftovers to take home and eat later. No. Not at all.

I will note how versatile this recipe is. Both fillings - berry-variety and all cherries - firmed up beautifully.

Additionally - I finally got my hands on some matcha powder (thank god for Uwajimaya)! $10.99 for 1 oz. Eesh. Still, I didn't have to pay shipping and I could use the EBT card. And it goes a long way, right...?

Oh, I almost forgot: OBAMA!

AND PROP 2!

AND GREGOIRE!