I finished up some non-Thanksgiving cooking this morning and then turned to the food for the day. The bird was a bit late coming out of the oven, so we ate other things first and had turkey last. :) The dishes are away, and the food is up. I cleared out the upper cupboards in my Hoosier Kitchen/Kitchen Queen because it has a pie safe (that had been filled with paper plates and such). I needed to use that to cool pies and keep several food items out of canine reach. My counter surfer is a sneaky lab and I didn't want him demolishing anything.

My eggplant are almost all cooked and frozen, only one small batch remains and I may do something real simple with them like just slice, saute, and freeze (to use in lasagna - those don'e need breading). Two batches of cranberry sauce are finished, and will be a great gift during the holiday season.

Another thanksgiving dinner tomorrow at a friend's house (one of the pies is for there).

Michelle, food is a fabulous mnemonic device to remember people. My late mother-in-law taught me a few of her Puerto Rican recipes, and I knew I'd gotten them right when the kids would walk into the house and tell me it "smells like Abuela's kitchen." I've taught them these recipes so they have that part of her to carry into their lives. My mother made great pancakes, and I made them for my children frequently. Her Scandianvian background meant that we didn't eat the thick, stiff IHOP type, they were closer to what are called "Swedish pancakes." And a favorite treat if there were leftover pancakes (batter doesn't keep so you cook them all) - smear one with jelly and roll it up for a great snack.

I'm glad I finished all of the yard work - the weather has moved in big time and there has been a steady rain for hours, not our usual few minutes of rain and the storm passes. This is more like a Seattle rain than a Texas rain.