Not Quite 'Suck It, Martha!' Status, But Give Me Time!

The first year the ex and I separated, I was NOT looking forward to Thanksgiving.

In the 14 years we were together, I never really had to cook 'The Turkey.'

Either we had gone to Mom & Dads, or to the Mother In Laws, or the ex cooked it himself.

Don't get me wrong, I always helped with the preparation of the meal, but I was simply the sidekick to the chef. Whoever that may be.


My mother? Awesome cook! Really wish I had inherited that trait from her.

Didn't happen.

And bake? There was ALWAYS fresh baked treats in my house growing up.

When I think back to when I was a kid, the place in the house I remember my mom the MOST, was in the kitchen, hands covered in flour, baking something(s).

Me? I can do a Betty Crocker box or package, and a half decent Kitty Litter cake. That's it. I know my limits.


So that first Thanksgiving, the boys were only 4 & 8 and not really caught up into the whole 'festive meal' thing.

For me, the idea of being responsible for the WHOLE Thanksgiving event seemed very daunting.

Since it would only be the three of us, I played it safe and instead of a full fledged turkey, I bought a ...

Cornish hen.


I explained to the boys that since it would be only us for dinner, I simply got a smaller turkey.

Oh yeah. I went there.

They really didn't care. They were having turkey, and mashed potatoes!

The mashed potatoes being a special treat, as it's not something I make on a regular basis, because growing up, we had it almost on a NIGHTLY basis.

My dad was very much a meat and potatoes man lol.


That first year wasn't perfect, but it was our first as a newer version of 'the family', and we still had lots to be thankful for.


This year, having had surgery less than a week before, I didn't exactly feel like standing at the counter peeling potatoes, carrots, and dealing with the bird.

Yes, I have progressed since the year of the Cornish hen.


However, Thanksgiving and children wait for no recovery.

And just because I didn't necessarily feel like putting the work into it, didn't mean the boys didn't deserve a real Thanksgiving meal.

And we still had/have lots to be thankful for.


So, not only did I mash those potatoes, glaze the carrots, add sweet corn, and cook that turkey to a state of tender perfection, I ALSO did something else that day.

Something I had never attempted before.

I baked my FIRST EVER apple pie!

That's cinnamon on top, not burnt crust ;-p

I definitely didn't have enough dough, and even though Adam was impressed with the 'fancy top, Mom!', I sort of ran out over there on the right.

That's OK though, lesson learned for next time.

Yes, there WILL be a next time, because the filling? OH YEAH! Jackpot, Baby!

Not quite 'Suck It, Martha!' status, but give me time!

The boys didn't care it was a little crust-less, they had it gone by the next day!

Alec's comment after his 2nd bite, 'This is the first time you've made this?'

Me, 'Yup'

Alec, 'Won't be the last ... '

Well then, I guess the child has spoken.

And so, by the way, did the Psychic. About apples.

But that's another post, for another day, soon.

It IS however, one of the reasons I DID bring up the apple pie. Remember that.

Hope all my Canadian friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I hope my American ones enjoy a great day with their family and friends next month as well!

K.