Well, poop. Back to reality tomorrow. Back to getting up early and working and going to bed early and less pie.
Can we talk about pie for a moment? My mother made pecan pie for Thanksgiving. I’d never had it before and let me tell you. Life changing. I only ate one piece of pumpkin pie and that never happens.
Never.
But one. One might be the loneliest number. But it’s my blog theme of the day! One. And won. It’s been a fun filled, “one more piece of pie” kind of long weekend. Every weekend needs to be like this.
The Baby turned one today. I’m having a hard time wrapping my brain around this. I mean, seriously, this time last year I was in post turkey/Christmas decorating after glow and BAM. Four hours later I popped out a baby. And looked good doing it! The above photograph is his smash cake. I had never heard of smash cakes until I was in high school. For the uninitiated, a smash cake is a one year old’s personal cake. To wriggle in. Nay, says I. Call me an old meanie, but I refuse to let the birthday boy roll in delicious cake when we could be eating it. Cake covered children is not my idea of fun. But now my baby is a whole year old. I’m a little devastated. I might be eating the smash cake on my own.
Won. Something I won’t be doing with NaNoWriMo! Yeah, I know, there’s still 5 big days left, but I’m waaaay behind. I wrote about ten pages last night and topped 36,000 words. I cooked too much, ate too much, and hosted too many parties. I kept falling asleep at the keyboard. A big line of xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx, alas, will not add to my tally. So, although I’m not a “winner” by challenge standards, I’m pretty darn happy with my progress. I’m 130 pages in and, just because November ends, doesn’t mean I have to.
One. I cooked one of the biggest turkeys my family has ever had–upside down and in champagne. It. Was. Amazing. Okay. It was cheap champagne. And it was a 21 pound turkey. But it was insane. On a side note, I almost passed out when I fought with the still-frozen-to-the-inside-turkey-neck for ten minutes and it still refused to budge and I, stupidly, hadn’t eaten breakfast. So, yeah, note for next year: take out of the freezer a day earlier. Or partake in a sizable breakfast.
Won. Something I’d like to do if I decide to enter a writing contest. I’ve never entered a contest before. I prefer to stay undefeated by not competing. But, I’m part of a writing group and for their annual conference, they have a writing competition. One of the categories is Novel Beginnings. It’s only 15 bucks to enter and you get a brief critique of your piece. I’m leaning towards entering. I’m terrified.
One. Tonight was a one piece of cake, one piece of pecan pie kind of night. I have to get up by 4:45am tomorrow so I’m figuring, hey. Savor the night.
It was a fabulous weekend, guys. I’m happy. I’m five pounds heavier. More importantly, I made progress on “manuscript” and that’s awesome. Only like…130 more pages to go.
And maybe another piece of pie.
Won. Made a reader laugh.
Poor mom…it’s got to be so bittersweet watching your baby grow. Congrats on your turkey! Pecan pie is good…chocolate pecan pie is great! Hubby makes that…and a pumpkin swirl cheesecake that is to die for.
Chocolate pecan pie sounds amazing! There’s something about fall baked goods that is so delicious. Truth be told, I almost want a pecan pie for my birthday instead of a cake. That’s real life, there. Out of control!
Congratulations on turkey! My mother in law made a late Thanksgiving dinner last night and she couldn’t find her big roasting pan, so she had to shove, and I mean shove the turkey into a small pan. I don’t know if she ever got it out, lol. And, now you have me curious about pecan pie, my faves are apple and lemon, so I’ve never had pecan either.
And, I have to say, even though you didn’t hit the 50k in November, you are still a winner. Your novel is still 130 pages longer than it was at the beginning of the month and you are one laptop richer. You are writing. That’s what counts. Just keep writing and don’t even think about winning, think about the story instead 🙂
I feel like the lap top is prize enough, lol! I’ll just keep plugging away. At least I’ll have less cooking this week to distract me! Out turkey almost didn’t fit in the oven, which was horrifying. I should have taken a picture because it was a thing of beauty!
I have bombed out on Nano this year too. Go for the critique. It is scary but nothing compared to getting reviews once it is printed and out there. At least at this stage it is people you know and you can revise if necessary.
Delightful blog! I am not a subscribed Follower. Does that entitle me to the recipe of your turkey-cooked-in-champagne? Pretty please???
Sure thing!! I actually made mine with a larger turkey this year, and the amounts listed below still were plenty. Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com
Prep: 20 min. Bake: 3-1/2 hours + standing
Ingredients
•1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
•1/4 cup butter, softened
•1 teaspoon salt
•1 teaspoon celery salt
•3/4 teaspoon pepper
•Fresh sage and parsley sprigs, optional
•2 cups Champagne or other sparkling wine
•2 medium onions, chopped
•1-1/2 cups minced fresh parsley
•1 cup condensed beef consomme, undiluted
•1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
•1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
•GRAVY:
•1 tablespoon butter
•1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Directions
•Pat turkey dry. Combine the butter, salt, celery salt and pepper; rub over the outside and inside of turkey. Place sage and parsley sprigs in cavity if desired. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan.
• Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the Champagne, onions, parsley, consomme, thyme and marjoram; pour into pan. Bake for 3 to 3-1/2 hours longer or until a meat thermometer reads 180°, basting occasionally with Champagne mixture. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes before slicing.
• For gravy, strain drippings into a small bowl. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add drippings. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with turkey. Yield: 14 servings (1-2/3 cups gravy).