Here's To Overabundance

SUMMARY: We had so much food today--don't know what they'll do with all the leftovers.

We were 14 for the family Thanksgiving celebration. And food for about 28.

Appetizers were laid out when we arrived. Pickles, two or three types of olives, several types of crackers, several types of cheese. Really good garlicky hummus with carrot sticks, which I've never had with hummus before and they worked really nicely. Mints. A few types of nuts, prepared in various ways. Other stuff that I don't remember.

Spread across the table for the actual dinner, we had huge bowls of so many things--We had a turkey and a honey-baked ham. Stuffing (cooked separately from the bird AND in it), some with bacon and onions, some without. Mashed potatos and scalloped potatoes. Three types of cranberry sauce. Corn, peas, and a greenbean casserole. Candied yams. Rutabagas fixed like squash or applesauce--very tasty, who'd have ever thought of it? "Rutabaga" always sounded like some kind of joke to me. Two types of jello salad. Rolls. I'm thinking that there must have been more, but it has slipped my mind at the moment, since I have candied yams coming out my ears and crowding my brain cells.

For dessert, five types of pie: pumpkin, apple, berry, cherry, and Reese's chocolate peanut butter. With ice cream and/or whipped cream. Pfeffernüsse.

Have I left anything out? There was a lot simply LEFT. I couldn't really bring any home, although normally I'd have been delighted to, as I'm going to be off at agility for the next 3 days. It was all very tasty and although I had only little tiny bits of not quite everything (and of only soupçons (turned out to be our word for the day) of 2 types of pie), I feel as if I don't need to eat for the next week. Ready to hibernate. But, no, gotta go to bed & get up at 4 a.m. to head to Elk Grove. At least I won't need to have breakfast. (Maybe. Except now my stomach is stretched out past maximum and might want MORE to feel full. ArgggghhhH!)

All very delicious and beautifully prepared and served in wonderful company. Give thanks for the opportunity to eat what we want to eat and to be with the people we love, and then for getting up in the morning and doing dog agility. Happy Tday, everyone.