Betty L

Thanksgiving has always been a time for gathering and for eating. Growing up, I had classic Chinese American Thanksgiving meals – huge gatherings of friends and family eating not turkey, but likely hot pot, steamed fish, and assorted other Chinese food. It wasn’t until I was in college and stayed in St. Louis for the holiday that I had the whole American traditional Thanksgiving. The college, as a nod to all their international and west coast students, threw a huge Thanksgiving lunch banquet on Thanksgiving Day. Faculty and students from all disciplines trekked to the banquet and mingled like they would not have in their distinct academic departments. Thanksgiving, after all, is a rare opportunity to not only eat second or third helpings of really decadent comfort food, but also to congregate, have good conversations, and give thanks. During my first Thanksiving lunch banquet at the school, I felt giddy, as any freshman should. Turkeys! Gravy! Oh my gosh, there is actually sweet potato covered in marshmallow?

I fell in love Thanksgiving. In the later years we still stopped by the lunch banquets, but we also started hosting our own potluck-style Thanksgiving with our friends. When I moved to Boston, I did my first only-cooked-by-me Thanksgiving meal for a table of 12, and it was both fun and exhilarating and exhausting at once. We had paper napkins, paper cups, and disposable roasting pans, as we’d just moved a few months ago. I wouldn’t have it any other way. The second year, Alex’s family came over to celebrate with us, and I wanted to make a traditional meal to show them that Turkey does not have to be super dry and tasteless, as they had thought. That was even more terrifying but exciting, and it was our first Thanksgiving as a married couple. This year, I’m not doing any big meals. Instead, Alex and I are heading to maine with our dog and celebrating in a little loft in Portland with my sister and her boyfriend. I’ll be making a variation of this meal – simple, so easy, and so delicious.

Plus, I’m giving away one of my favorite pans, a Finex 12″ cast iron skillet with lid!! See bottom of post for details 🙂
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