Gratitude (Part 2)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

A lumpia recipe may follow, once I return to the blog later today after my day-long pre-turkey cooking marathon sleep.

I will carefully refrain from making any and all references to the "lumpia proletariat" now.

For me, the only aspect that has remained traditional about this Feast of Thanks, is how non-traditional its been. Nearly every year-- since 1973-- I have found myself in a different place or surrounded with different people than the year before. Due to all my moving around, it's a rare Thanksgiving Day that's been spent with immediate family... and yes, I've been sad about that at times... but as we say in my family, "Buck up, Buttercup," life is what we make it. So, where ever we find ourselves, we are given this day to view the events of the past year in a new light, a light colored with gratitude- not anger or fear- a day to feast, a day to give thanks for the generosity of spirit that is the foundation of this country.

Besides, a ritual centered around food, perfect! ;-)

As they say, kj, home is where you hang your @ -- so wherever you find yourself on this annual feast day, thanks for being part of our extended family here in cyberspace as well.

Otter, thanks for the thanks and thanks to you (and everyone) for being here as well. :-)

I was just about to post this when I saw your comment:
"Sideboard Side" is the name of a family recipe book one of my (many) aunts put together. It holds recipes handed down from great-great aunts and great-grandmothers, special friends of the extended family, and special odd ball ideas that were favorites of my cousins while growing up. The book is a lot of fun and a way to include family members in the meal who can't be there in person.

I can see the good folks at DCP putting together a recipe book from this thread. :-)

OK, first recipe of the day:
The Bell Thanksgiving Oatmeal:

You must, MUST use the slow-cooking Irish oatmeal, with the fine grains. You must MUST bring the water to a full rolling boil before adding anything.

Then you SLOWLY add the grains, something that looks to me like one at a time. Then you do not cover, but allow it to boil until it gets creamy, then you turn the heat way down and let it slow cook until you can't stand it.

Add:

butter
craisins
walnuts
maple syrup
milk or flavored creamer

Eat while catching up on the blogs...

(sad, but true)

Happpy Thanksgiving All !!!

Linda and I are thankful we have another Thanksgiving together and also that Veritas is joining us this year - she is an amazing person! We have a turkey breast, squash soup, salad, plenty o'veggies and cheesecake for dessert.

Hope everyone has the best Thanksgiving ever !

Love from Albuquerque

Posted by: abqjohn at November 23, 2006 11:24 AM

And a kick-ass fruit salad!!

I'm very grateful for my shipmates that are standing duty today so I can take leave...thankful that I can spend the day with a fellow DCP'er (thanks abq!!)...happy that the biggest news of the day is the stooping Macy's balloons.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

ps. Fe, you don't happen to have a vegetarian lumpia recipe floating around anywhere? I remember eating it at my friend's house years ago...

We have lots to be thankful for... in particular, that our son and our friends' son were unhurt when he took the ramp from the Merritt Parkway to Hwy 25 a little too rapidly and spun out. Front and rear bumpers wiped out but not a lot of other damage visible at this point.

They were less than 5 miles from home after having driven all the way from DC in the rain.

As for food, the same friends are part of a Palestinian-American clan which has adopted us as family here in Connecticut and we'll be joining them. Our hosts today have a unique mixture - he's from Palestine and she's from Finland so the menu will reflect that. Oh, also another one of the familys in the clan owns Lela's Falafel restaurants in Fairfield and Stamford so pretty much everyone's a cook and it all shows up on the table.

Roast turkey, of course, but most likely, also chicken prepared a couple different ways, lamb dishes, hashwey - a rice & ground lamb dish flavored with toasted almond slivers and cinnamon which is addictive, falafel, tabouleh, plus a Finnish relish/salad which is gorgeous to look at and wonderful to eat. And there will be more -- I know that the tables will be overflowing with food. I'm bringing homemade cranberry sause and pumpkin pies made from scratch including the pumpkin part to be served with warm, with whipped cream on top.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

One of nieces announced she's preggers with her first! :-)
Serving a round of Safety and Health for all of the extended.

veritas:

The lumpia filling I use is this:

doz. medium carrots, grated

two onions, diced

2 doz. shiitake mushrooms (dried-much tastier and less expensive than fresh)reconstituted in water, julienned

garlic - to taste

salt and pepper to taste

mushroom broth to keep mixture moist but NOT soupy.

Saute onions in olice oil until tender, add carrots, and saute ingredients slowly until onions begin to caramelize. Add mushrooms and garlic. Cook until all ingredients are cooked through but not mushy. Cool.

Here, you can add anything from Chinese snow peas-julienned to tofu cubes or strips marinated in tamari and ginger. Make sure all ingredients are cut up fine enough so that they can be wrapped in lumpia or egg roll wrappers without breaking the wrappers.

Take about a tablespoon of filling and roll tightly into wrappers. Deep fry in peanut or canola oil until golden. Enjoy.

I will carefully refrain from making any and all references to the "lumpia proletariat" now.

Posted by: Otter at November 23, 2006 10:11 AM

But otter:

I AM a proud, Card Carrying Member of the Lumpia Proletariat.

dwahzon:

God bless HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PIE!!

Fe
Henry says hi - we're all ready to go with combo of turkey & sides, Thai food & vegetarian stuff for Gabe, who is bringing pumpkin pie and breasds from Essential Breads where he works - they had their busiest day of the year yesterday.

We were wondering if Homeland Security would have hassled you if you were to show up nowdays trying to get on the plane with a big paella pan.

I asked, "Why didn't Bush go over to the Green Zone again?"

My husband asked, "Is this a joke?"

He wonders why he is always clearing brush on his ranch - it's not even a ranch - it's too small. How much brush can he have?

This business about turkeys pardoning turkeys ..

Veritas
Sebastien says hi from Paris - he remembered you bringing him a Kosher chicken and cake. They are eating turkey there because they have an Americ an guest who has a Peruvian-born mother - the guy bought turkey at the "American store" in Paris which sells such things. Then he stuffed it with a very spicy Peruvian stuffing.

Some of us in Minneapolis, Bend OR and Seattle are emaliling back and forth comparing notes about turkey stuffing.

Still busy trying to stop e-voting before we succumb to stupid politicians and myopic election commissioners concerned with the glitz, appearance of modern, closing down and going home.

Two good government groups who have been on the fence about choice of technology, finally came out for paper ballots. Not an end of story, but beginning of our securing PBOS as our system.

Been a busy couple weeks, starting with my press conference held by a popular State Senator here in Brooklyn, that had local press, with BOE demos and a public hearing, drawing more attention.

There is still no perfect system. Laws do not support anything about counting, and what we do if inaccuracies are found. Not momentum for triggering a bigger spot check, and actually counting.

The Holt Bill is woefully inadequate.

So, my thanks for getting the apearance of control of Congress.

My thanks that whatever we will never know about the vote count, it miracuously went our way, enough to put the brakes on. Word is that it should have been better.

Up to us to make more of that power than mere appearance.

I hope after March that I can diversify my angst and my action. Certainly visiting more here with people and friends I like and admire, makes me more whole and ready for the fight.

My thanks also for my home here, however hit and run I've been. Just know that your interesting differences, your righteousness, and your actions supporting what I care about, are greatly appreciated.

Next month we get to make wishes!

We were wondering if Homeland Security would have hassled you if you were to show up nowdays trying to get on the plane with a big paella pan.

Posted by: DiAnne at November 23, 2006 03:06 PM

Di:

Perhaps they would figure I was harboring a Utensil of Mass Destruction!

Just checking in again. In the oven, apple crisp:

cut up apples

put in dish

mix butter, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon with two butter knives

spread on apples

bake at 375 until bubbly and brown

serve with vanilla ice cream

Our friend Gretchen is coming over with her daughter for dessert so we will begin our Thanksgiving meal with the crisp.

(The cardinal rule of my family growing up was "no dessert without cleaning your plate". So this is really fun!)

Meanwhile, Dick (henceforth, he announced this morning, to be referred to as RICHARD--I think the Cheney thing finally got to him) is cooking up amazingly wonderfully aroma-ed Thai shrimp, our traditional Thanksgiving meal.

He is humming as he cooks and it is quiet and good in our house.

karen:

Richard has to put up the recipe.

(I WANT IT!!!)

Love making Paella, and it's never traditional of anything. Just available seafood, sausage and chicken, veggie of the season. Even seasonings vary, as long as they're of the yellow variety.

Wish I were having it with you. Although today's cranberry sauce of whole berries, fruits, nuts and liquer is pretty neat.

Started my diet, for a week now, to get back to 2003, pre-campaign stress weight, followed by election reform weight. The oven crisp a la mode is out. I'll take the Thai shrimp, though.

Really, Richard? Is he having a Bar Mitvah?

Fe,

I will have him do it as soon as he finishes it--it is always a bit of an improvisation!

Meanwhile, we are definitely stealing the Lumpia Proletariat Shanghai recipe. And yes, kj, the cookbook idea is a great one!

Marjorie,

I support you in the diet and I will eat whatever is left over from the paella and the cranerry mix--send it along!

Stuffed already.

Listening to Jurassic Park - we need to dance off the Tryptophan of the turkey.

Gee, never here, and now I can't leave. On a diet, and at heart a foodie, I've tried erasing food from memory.

Since I lost my parent in the early seventies, after Alan and I married in 1969, I have to say that the first time they met eachother on T-Giving of '68 was of comedy material.

What could have been awkward, was lifted by my mother's inability to get really ruffled, not to take things personally, or seriously, which always annoyed me. Not take me seriously. She expressed it all with a lusty laugh. All 4'11" of her.

Instead of turkey, mother served ham, a favorite. Having grown up kosher with burnt meat and not ham, he said no. With that laugh she served him leftover chicken.

She also served coffee soda, because grandma we there and her favorite. I think he had water until tea.

Next came her crowning achievement, a recent favorite coconut dish she baked. Another of his least favorite foods, and didn't eat it.

Mother remained unflustered.

Now, my honey is gracious, good company, who mom always said was the best thing to come down the pike. An old expression, maybe dating back centuries, but he lived at the time in Worcester and came east on Rte. 9.

But he's a picky eater and also not a foodie. Ate a western omelette for years not knowing it contained ham.

We had lots of laughs as a family for a few more years before it was over. I always smile when I think of that day's dynamic.

Karen, wish it were paella, but too busy to cook. Went to Lassen and Hennings on Montague Street-that shopping street to the promenade, and bought all the fixings.

Needed more time to clean off our one dump-off place we call a table.

Happy T-Day.

But he's a picky eater and also not a foodie. Ate a western omelette for years not knowing it contained ham.

Posted by: Marjorie G at November 23, 2006 05:39 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I once passed off eggplant parmesan as meat to a friend who would not eat vegetables. It CAN be done.

Hey check this out, see this is what I was saying about John Howard and the bastard just got NAILED...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/15781

PS... Thank you white people, I am grateful you did not kill ALL of us. Enjoy your turkey!

Poisoned ex-Russian spy Litvinenko dies
Reuters link: http://tinyurl.com/y2ar6q

Rest in peace, Litvinenko.

(You can't judge someone's character by one look in his/her eyes)

On my second glass of champagne, the mashed potatoes are on their way, the dressing is crisping up in the oven, the turkey is resting, and the gravy is simmering.

The crab-shrimp lumpias and ginger chicken lumpias never made it past the kitchen. The crowd hovered over the tray as we were pulling them out of the pan, and folks were grabbing and eating them hot.

My niece and I are sitting on a fabulous secret weapon of a dessert--pear-frangipane tart made with toasted almonds. Serving tonight with black walnut ice cream.

Glad to live in a country where lumpia and French pastry actually make sense at a meal. Oh America.

The nature of the Democracy Cell Project being what it is we do not officially favor any candidate or governmental official here. We do unofficially gritch about practically all of them, though. So that counts as bipartisanship as far as I'm concerned.

So with that in mind, I'd like to share some Thanksgiving greetings that went out to the likes of us today without identifying the author by name. (But if you like, you can of course visit his site and share your own thanks with him and his family by going to http://tinyurl.com/y497a9 ...)

"Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday -- a time to eat too much, watch some football, and most of all relax and reunite with friends and family in the best place I can think of -- our homes.

"These past few weeks have reminded all of us of some things we have to be thankful for: friendship, the loyalty of friends and colleagues, the notion that hard work pays off, and that our democracy can work to force a change of direction. I couldn't be more proud of each and every one of you for the passion and commitment you bring to progressive causes every day.

"So be safe, get some rest, enjoy this special time of Thanksgiving, and know that Teresa and I look forward to working side by side with you again after the holidays to help make our country stronger, and to make life better so that next year more and more Americans have more to be thankful for."

may peace be with you (and also with you),
Otter

That's pretty cool, even though I'd already seen it!

Fe
You are making me hungry even though I'm stuffed.

What it means to be hungry

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1562605,00.html

New one for me - some people aren't really hungry - they're just experiencing "food insecurity"

Orwellian, euphemisms

I had a bag of doritos and a cheap sandwitch from a gas station/bait shop today.

What is a 'lumpia'..?

And I thought these coonasses ate some wierd stuff!

What is a 'lumpia'..?
Posted by: Christy at November 23, 2006 11:17 PM

I think it's the brand name for my matress... :p

Aimzzz,

Mine too.

Man that is so sad when the couch is more comfortable than your own bed.

Every time I see that 'sleep number bed' lady I just want to throw a shoe at her.

Just watched Moulin Rouge - nice escapist theater

I had to look it up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coonass

A bloody day in Baghdad raises fears of all-out civil war

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi government imposed an indefinite citywide curfew Thursday as terrified residents of Baghdad braced for the aftermath of the war's deadliest day, a series of car bombings in a Shiite Muslim enclave that killed up to 160 people and wounded more than 200.

Many Iraqis feared this could be the tipping point for an all-out sectarian war.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/16084502.htm

Molly Ivins | Thanks - No, Seriously
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112306X.shtml
Molly Ivins writes: "It's time to give thanks, and I want to start off with a great, big thank you for the top American movement conservatives and all the fun we've had since Election Day. I know I promised not to gloat after this election was over, but I'm not talking unseemly gloating - I'm talking about moments so brilliantly hilarious the only option is to put your head down on the desk and howl."

Robert Parry | Gates and the Iran Arms Sales
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112306E.shtml
Robert Parry writes: "With Congress hoping for a new Defense Secretary who has both the guts and the clout to stand up to White House pressure, the senators who will evaluate Gates’s fitness for the job may want to look back at this troubling Iran-Contra episode."

New Democratic Majority Roils Lobbying Industry
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112306D.shtml
The Democrats' takeover of Congress this month has turned official Washington upside down. Labor and environmental representatives, once also-rans in congressional influence, are meeting frequently with Capitol Hill's incoming Democratic leaders. Corporations that once boasted about their Republican ties are busily hiring Democratic lobbyists. And industries worried about reprisals from the new Democrats-in-charge, especially the pharmaceutical industry, are sending out woe-is-me memos and hoping their GOP connections will protect them in the crunch.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT QUASHES WIRETAPPING INQUIRIES
By Onnesha Roychoudhuri, In These Times
The Department of Justice's response to inquiries sent by
Maine, Connecticut, Vermont and New Jersey about possible
illegal wiretapping has been to sue.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/44606/

BBC Claims CIA Involvement in RFK Assassination
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112306A.shtml
New video and photographic evidence that puts three senior CIA operatives at the scene of Robert Kennedy's assassination has been brought to light. The evidence was shown in a report by Shane O'Sullivan, broadcast on BBC Newsnight. It reveals that the operatives and four unidentified associates were at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles in the moments before and after the shooting on 5 June, 1968.
{And Nov. 22 was 43 years since JFK was assassinated.}

WAS ROBERT F. KENNEDY KILLED BY THE CIA? [VIDEO]
By Evan Derkacz
A short BBC documentary re-opens the files...
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/44644/

In case you missed it:
Keith Olbermann: Lessons From the Vietnam War
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112106K.shtml
Keith Olbermann says, "It is a shame and it is embarrassing to us all when President Bush travels 8,000 miles only to wind up avoiding reality again."
Scheer echoes KO....
Robert Scheer | In the Shadow of Ho Chi Minh
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112306C.shtml
Robert Scheer writes: "President Bush has said many dumb things in defense of his Iraq policy. Citing the Vietnam War as a model, however, is perhaps his most ludicrous yet."

Christy:

A lumpia is a Philippine egg roll.

To paraphrase Gandhi: "We ARE the change we want to see in the world."

And quoting Meister Eckhart:

"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is 'thank you', that will be enough."

and may goddess bless us every one,
Otter

And wowzers, it seems that lumpia even has a devoted subculture of foodies swapping recipes for same over the internets. I mean, who knew?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumpia

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,lumpia,FF.html
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lumpia-Shanghai-version/Detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Filipino-Lumpia-2/Detail.aspx
http://www.gumbopages.com/food/filipino/lumpia.html
http://www.hawaii.edu/recipes/beef/lumpia.html
http://www.pinoycook.net/index.php/recipes/recipe/fresh-vegetable-lumpia/
http://www.discoversandiego.com/features/cheflarry/recipes/appetizers/lumpia.htm
http://www.astray.com/recipes/?show=Lumpia%20ideas

Boy howdy. Thank you, Fe, for reminding this transplanted Bayrean that you don't have to live on the Pacific Rim to eat like it.

yummerdoodles,
Otter

Otter, Meister Eckhart is one of my favs. Thanks for the quote!

otter:

You're so welcome, kabibayan.