Brined at home. Cooked on a V-rack, butter beneath the skin, covered in cheese cloth that’s been drenched in melted butter

Granny smith apples, celery, white onion, sourdough bread, golden raisins, breakfast sausage from butcher. Mom forgot to add the nuts!

Sliced in half, tossed with olive oil, added to a sheet pan with chopped onion and raw sliced bacon (cut with scissors), season and roast in the oven until bacon is crispy.

Mom didn’t make my slutty strawberry cran-pinapple, shaved apple sauce (I missed it). She made one with Amaretto. It was different but very good, mostly because my mommy made it.

The best thing on my plate (tie with the corn pudding). My mom does it best, she really does. Of course, she has no recipe, but she’s promised to walk me through exactly what she did while I was off swimming!

Sauteed green beans were served alongside the more traditional green bean casserole.

Man, was this good. I used a cup of the fat from the turkey pan drippings, heated it up and added flour, cooking until brown, then added a cup of the pan drippings without the fat (the juice), whisking constantly. Added neck and finely chopped giblets that had been cooked in chicken stock.

My aunt made mashed potatoes, but I didn’t try them with all the other carbs on my plate. I never need mashed potatoes AND stuffing AND sweet potatoes AND corn pudding. It’s too much. So, I skipped these.

There was no pumpkin pie on the menu, just my mom’s homemade pumpkin cheesecake. Her husband said it’s not Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie. I happen to agree. She complied and bought one. Win, win.

Abigail tasted this for the first time in her life, and said, “This wins.” Then later, “Mama, how good is that goo?”

Not overly sweet! That’s the key to a good whipped cream.

Mom’s homemade pumpkin cheesecake with walnut crust

Homemade by my cousin Vanessa. Ice cream a la mode.

Using the floral Meyer Lemons from my aunt’s backyard, Lemon Squares were the first to go. Easy access while everyone else mucks about with serving knives.