November 2009 Archives

My dad was the family cook. Since he had been bedridden I had been planning on taking over this year anyways. There was no question in my mind that we wouldn't have Thanksgiving dinner. Ever. Even if, at first, because the big turkey is my favorite meal of the entire year. And even if, at last, I had already bought $200 worth of groceries that I didn't want to go to waste.

When the question over the holiday first came up my mom threatened...I mean offered...to make Thanksgiving dinner this year. Considering that her culinary expertise includes opening a can of Beef-a-Roni and her idea was to buy a Butterball (the thing pops up when it's done) and premade refrigerated mashed potatoes I knew it was up to me. I had always been the one to take after dad in the kitchen. Although we definitely had our differences in that he mostly liked to wing it and I mostly liked to follow recipes.

He also would plan weeks in advance and write a schedule on a white board in the kitchen. I went shopping the weekend before, looking up recipes right before and writing down ingredients without proportions. And then I researched for said recipes the night before because I forgot to make notes about which I had chosen. And I hastily wrote out how long things took to cook so I could get them in at the right time the morning of.

But I somehow got it done. And we ate a delicious turkey and all the sides at the same time. And no one complained that they didn't get to the table until an hour and a half after I said they would.

And I know I did my dad proud.

And here was my day. I made notes along the way.

***

10:00 - Thankful that Starbucks is open. Pumpkin Spice Latte is much appreciated, and holiday-appropriate.

10:30am - After making good time driving to the burbs I decide to stop at Jewel because I am freaked out I don't have enough butter. End up buying more of everything because I suddenly become freaked out I don't have enough of anything.

11:30am - Sweet potatoes "scrubbed" (my dad always said that dirt is an ingredient), punctured (I wasn't sure how many fork wholes I needed to put in so I put in a lot), oiled and salted. Put into the oven to roast. I have never made real sweet potatoes before. We always used can ones but I wanted to try something new. Actually there are two different types of yams and sweet potatoes in the roasting pan. The two different yams because I wasn't paying attention at Whole Foods to the fact that there were two different kinds in the bins. The Sweet potatoes because they were one of the items I freaked out about this morning. Note: I will be able to feed three times as many people as will be here. But mmm, leftovers.

12:20: Decide that the sweet potatoes are not soft enough. Bake more.

12:50: Decide that the sweet potatoes have to be soft enough because I am tired of them baking. Take out of oven.

1:10: Sweet potatoes whipped. Did I mention my thumb is permanently callused because I have the tendency to not wait for food to cool before I handle it?

1:20: melted the butter and cream. Mixed them into the sweet potatoes with brown sugar and maple syrup and nutmeg and salt. Added more brown sugar until it started tasting like sugar.

2:00: Unbrined the Turkey. Made stuffing.

Cuteness Break:

3:00: Dressed turkey all purdy. Olive oil rub and then butter mixed with fresh herbs. I didn't truss it because I didn't know how and forgot that I think you are supposed to do that.

3:07: Turkey in the oven!

4:00: peeled enough potatoes to feed a small country. I like leftovers, OK?

4:15: diced onion and garlic in preparation for the gravy.

4:45: Prepared the green bean casserole. Trying to keep ahead so when the time comes all i have to do is stick everything in the oven.

4:50: Luckily people understand when you say "We'll be eating late because I don't know what I'm doing."

4:53: Don't forget the cranberry sauce. Don't forget the cranberry sauce. My mom is the only one who likes it. And she likes the jellied kind from a can. Easy.

5:15: filled a giant pot with boiling water to eventually cook the potatoes in. Needed something to do.

5:25: Put out butter. Let it soften I guess.

5:27: Put out the cranberry sauce. I don't think it matters if it sits there?

5:30: Put the sweet potatoes in to heat up... Started boiling water for potatoes... Feel as if I am jumping the gun...but I am IMPATIENT! Also, took temperature of turkey: one said 190 the other said 145...

5:59: Potatoes are in the boiling water. Well, almost boiling water. Did I mention I'm impatient?

6:10: 150 degrees says one thermometer...come on 15 more degrees!!! Also, took out sweet potatoes...may have added a little more butter. Everything is better with a little more butter. Also, still cooking mashed potato potatoes. Probably too soon.

6:15: Drained potatoes. Too soon I say! But I can reheat them over the stove as I add the butter and cream.

6:45: ~ 160.

6:50: This turkey is never going to be done. I think I burned my finger. Can't find the potato masher. Using a whisk I found. Whipped the potatoes while I am waiting. Will add butter and cream later though.

7:00: GOGOGO!!! All three thermometers I found are now registering at least 165. Turkey out! Sweet potatoes back in! Green bean casserole in! Stuffing in! Mashed potatoes whipped! Gravy fixings stirred!

7:15: Stirstirstir! Don't forget the rolls!

7:17: In grand Bromann tradition...almost forgot the rolls!

7:30: Take everything out of the oven! Finish the mashed potatoes! Finish the gravy! Carve the turkey! DONEDONEDONE!!!!

7:35: Eat! Eat! Eat! I always take a drumstick for myself :-)

Later: Pies. From the store.

My dad passed away on Monday.

It was both expected and sudden. About a year ago he was diagnosed with tongue cancer. Chemo and radiation didn't help. A few months ago they removed his tongue and voice box. And despite the fact that he would never talk or eat again he seemed to be better. He was able to drive and shop and cook still. It was hard because besides me and my sisters one of his favorite things was cooking and going to restaurants. When the chemo started he was unable to eat from the pain. He started making a list of all the restaurants he would go to when he got better. But things never got better. When they did the operation we knew he would never get to eat at any of them. A few months after the operation he started getting worse again. A few weeks ago he went into the hospital again and they said that the cancer had come back and that there was nothing they could do about it.

He came home two weeks ago and hospice nurses started coming a couple times a week. And then he passed early on Monday. It was both expected and sudden.

I get sad because my nine month old nephew Dylan won't remember him. Or that he won't be there for the father daughter dance when I get married some day. Or that now when I need an oil change or need to cook a turkey I have no one to call and ask how it's done. Or that since I was going to come on Tuesday to brine my turkey I didn't stop by over the weekend.

At the end of the obituaries they always say "in lieu of flowers donate to so and so's favorite charity." My sister asked what his favorite charity would be and my mom jokingly said "you girls were his favorite charity." And it was probably true. He was the kind of guy who would photograph every play rehearsal in high school for me, or buy me every magazine in the store to keep me occupied after my boyfriend broke up with me, or drive me 600 miles and back because I really wanted to see a hamburger eating contest. He was always there whenever I needed anything, and I will miss him so much.

Edited to add: If anyone wishes to stop by the memorial service will be Friday, November 27 from 2pm to 8pm (with a small service at 7pm) at Mt. Auburn - 4101 Oak Park Avenue, Berwyn, IL.

1. This morning's Starbucks of choice was the new holiday Carmel Brulee Latte. It was delicious...but I have found lately that with drinks, the last bottom part is all syrup and no coffee, like it doesn't get mixed enough, so I have an insanely sweet ending note.

2. The worst part about shooting a friend's wedding is that you forget to listen to the vows. The second worst is that you don't get to be in any of the pro pics...Unless you are like me and take a lot of self portraits...

3. I apologize to anyone who ever eats my cooking. You will find one of my hairs in your meal.

4. The other day my mom debated whether Pittsburgh and Cincinnati were in the same town...

5. The cat doesn't appreciate it when I tell him that i could probably fit his whole head in my mouth.

1. I would be one of those people at my corner Starbucks who they'd know my order as soon as I came in if I ever ordered the same drink twice in a row. I bounce between mochas and carmel macchiato, and pumpkin spice lattes, and white mochas, and espresso truffles (when I am having a really depressed morning) and other froufrou seasonal drinks. This morning I ordered, for the first time ever, a peppermint mocha. I always argued against it because I am not a fan of the taste of mint. But despite that I do like chocolate mints so I thought I would give it ago. And it was tasty but I don't think it was anything I would crave to have again.

2. I am a very rational person if you give me five minutes.

3. Yesterday I texted Mat to ask him if he wanted to do something. We decided we'd watch a movie and get food. We were debating between going out or me cooking. I wasn't really feeling like cooking anything in particular so I asked him if he was craving anything. He replied tacos. I said I could make tacos. But then, of course, my mind started churning and I thought of the recipe for green chili chicken enchiladas I had come across that looked tasty. And it was the same principle as tacos. So I stopped by the Whole Foods after work to pick up the fresh green salsa and chicken and onions and tortillas. I used chicken breasts instead of thighs, omitted the cilantro (I couldn't find any), used the fresh Whole Foods salsa verde instead of the "chili verde starter" and used goat cheese on top (again, couldn't find queso añejo). And I totally wung the proportions because I just bought packages in whatever size they came in and only had a small pan and didn't need to feed 12.

I could have just made tacos. I could have cooked some meat in packaged spice mix and called in a night. Instead I boiled chicken and oiled tortillas and stacked them and topped them and baked them twice.
When Mat came over as I was pulling the chicken I said I was making enchiladas and he looked at me as if I had broken his heart. "You said you were making tacos." Of course, he was just kidding and of course I spent the rest of the night apologizing for not making tacos (also kidding, of course). But he said he loved them.

We watched Audition. It's a Japanese horror film and I thought since he liked anime he might like it. Of course, I remembered why I thought it was like anime: it makes no sense. And I forgot why I hadn't watched it in forever: it has some of the most disturbing scenes in horror films ever.
We then watched Heather's Galaxy Quest and, she was right, it is hilarious because you don't expect it to be funny at all.

1. This is probably never a good error message to get:




2. Heather and I came across this lovely display for carpets on our way to get Thai food and were rather confused. Note the scary sheep...and the dead one...






3. Speaking of sheep, I kind of want to get this T-Shirt. Because it is cute. And totally ironic. What kind of asshole? This kind of asshole...



4. Speaking of eating dead lambs, I made this for dinner tonight. Garlic-Rosemary lamb chop. Garlic-Rosemary potatoes. Maple-glazed pineapple thrown in to say I had more than two food groups in one meal.




5.
Val: I've so far made $6 on my website.
MattyK: Is that after expenses?
Val: I am down $300 on my website.



6.
Jeff: "oh well then good for you for fucking and dodging"
Val: "fucking and dodging?"
Jeff: "hah sorry ducking"



7. No one in my family understands the concept of the cell phone.
First my mom emailed me and asked how much a Blackberry costs because she wants a new phone. I told her she couldn't work a Blackberry.
Apparently my sister told her how much and she said it was too expensive. She then asked me "Are there other cell phones that can send text messages?" ... ...?!?! "Umm, I'm going to go with all of them..."
Then she said that their cell phone was broken, so she was going to have to call their phone company to cancel their service. I had to explain to her that you can go get a new phone and don't have to cancel.
And THEN my sister went and got my mom a new phone...but somehow they decided that they would switch so my sister would get the new phone...so they switched phones...and phone numbers...



8. In semi-related news, my mom called me last week twice in ten minutes. And she left almost the exact same message both times. Turns out that my number was listed in her address book under both cell phone and home phone. So she called both. Never mind the fact that she physically dialed both numbers twice and didn't notice. Or that I do not have a home phone number. Or that even if I did she still would not have had to call both of them...



9. Did you remember that I was a member of Netflix? I kind of kept forgetting and spent an awful lot of money to rent two movies for quite a few months that I never watched. I finally returned them this week and cancelled my membership.



10. I wish I could make videos like this. Or be these people. Or both.




11. I am making Thanksgiving dinner. All on my own. Thanksgiving is hard because whether you are cooking for 3 people or 30 people you still have to make all of the same stuff. You need your turkey and your mashed potatoes and your yams and your green bean casserole...I was excited because I have helped with Thanksgiving for years, but I underestimated the amount of help I have actually given until I started thinking about it! We'll see how this goes...



12. Our cable was out all weekend so I had myself a marathon of My So Called Life on DVD. I watched the entire series. Every couple of years I end up watching it again. It always makes me cry too much. And every time I watch it I seem to watch it with an entirely different viewpoint. But even if I realized this time how much of an ass Jordan Catalano was, I still can't bring myself to root for Brian.



13. Last Tuesday I brought Mat to see Faust at Lyric Opera. We went to get some wine and food at Townhouse first and then headed over. The opera was good and entertaining, although I was so tired. I think the best part though was how at about 7:29 Mat was laughing at the program book for saying "All performances start promptly at 7:30" because he's "been to a lot of theater" and "never seen anything start less than ten minutes late." And then immediately at 7:30 the lights went out, the conductor walked out, and the show began. Lyric performances start promptly at 7:30. Just sayin.



14. Note to self: When you go to the store, buy chocolate. Always, buy chocolate.



15. Did you know it is possible for someone to break up with you even if you weren't going out? Did you know it can still hurt? Even if you didn't want to date them?

Halloween.
Last weekend. Well, two weekends now.
Friday Rocky Horror. Midnight.
So many virgins. They threw their toilet paper at the wrong time.
Watching costumes out the window and making up what they were.
Bobby Flay met Emeril. A headless cow.
Saturday parade.
I was a jackalope.
Heather was a superhero.
Ron was from Where the Wild Things are.
Don was pinhead.
I also got an oil change. Like a big girl.

Daisy, Daisy,
Give me your answer do!
I'm half crazy,
All for the love of you!
It won't be a stylish marriage,
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle made for two.