The Turnips

At Thanksgiving there are certain dishes that we associate with the holiday, whether it's the cranberry relish your Aunt would bring, the stuffing, the sweet potato casserole or the Poppin' Fresh crescent rolls, we all have that dish we need to have on the table or it wouldn't be Thanksgiving. 
At my mom's house it was mashed turnips, and I have to admit that it really wasn't my favorite food on the table.  Some years she would just mash them, and serve them smothered with copious amounts of butter, or some years (and these weren't my favorites) she'd mix them into the mashed potatoes. 

When I began to make my own Thanksgiving dinners, I would leave out the turnips.  I know they are really good for you, but they didn't belong on my table.  After my mom died, I asked  my brothers if the turnips were on their Thanksgiving table, and they both said, "we don't like turnips."  Then, I got it; the turnips were my mom's favorite dish. 
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I wish you all a joyous day filled with the love of family and friends.  Aloha and Mahalo. 

Thankful

As I write this I am looking out at the rain over the mountain in Maui; yep, I'm in paradise and it's raining!  But I am thankful that I am here with Dr. C. and our son, and we get to celebrate Thanksgiving in this beautiful place, and there is college basketball.
This year has been full, with travel and new experiences and Dr. C. retiring from his Oral Surgery practice.  I am so grateful for our family, friends, colleagues, my students, and the cooking schools that have welcomed me in and allowed me to teach their customers.  As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I'm also remembering those that aren't with us this year, and celebrating what they taught us. 
Family holidays can be difficult for some, and this year I'm adopting an attitude of gratitude, that I hope will continue, since the consensus seems to be that having an attitude of gratitude makes you live longer, and I'm all for that!
Wishing you all a happy, healthy Thanksgiving filled with great food, wine, and the love of family and friends.  Aloha!