Happy Thanksgiving–Pass the Subs, Please

For the past month, at least, I’ve been collecting recipes on Pinterest, deciding where to spend Thanksgiving, trying not to guilt Older Son into traveling to Daughter’s with us, assuring Younger Son (and myself) that I really do understand why he’s staying in Utah a little longer even though his seasonal park ranger position has ended…You know, the typical holiday rituals families undertake each year in some fashion or another.

What keeps me grounded is the memory of the Thanksgiving I wrote about in this post. We tend to get immersed in the flurry of traditional foods and who cooks what and who hosts. Those things are just the trimmings around the main event–the giving of thanks. And we can do that whether we eat scrumptious turkey, MacDonald’s hamburgers, or sub sandwiches.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your family and friends! And always remember–it’s not what you eat that makes a holiday, but with whom you share your table! 

(For the record, I have been successful in my efforts to assure both sons, and myself, that it’s their holiday, too, and they are free to spend it in whatever way they like. Our love transcends time, place, and choice of meals.)

I love to eat and I love to cook. The upcoming holiday combination of both can make me high.

I watch every Food Network show, and print stacks of recipes. I love to visit people to sample what has piqued my friends’ and family’s culinary interest. And I love to have company to show off what has caught my attention.

I also fall back on a few of my “secret” recipes—store-bought cookie dough, already made into cookie shapes so that all you have to do is plop them on a baking sheet and pop them in the oven. And there are a few box mixes I just can’t live without.

When all is said and done, though, for me, food is fuel. When I travel, the smallest part of my budget is always for food. I’d much rather spend my money on museums, ancient ruins, and subway tokens to get to those places. I love sitting at sidewalk cafes, watching people go by, even if means eating the cheapest item on the menu.

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Life Is Short–Drink Beer at 9:00 a.m. NHL Winter Classic 2011 Revisited

I just couldn’t resist re-posting this story from a year ago today. As I’ve been watching the build-up to this year’s National Hockey League’s Winter Classic in Philadelphia, I keep thinking about the great time I had with three of my five crazy sisters at last year’s Alumni Game the day before the Winter Classic in Pittsburgh. It was one of the most fun days I’ve had this past year. So, cheers to my sisters!

Did that title get your attention? I sure hope so, there’s a good story to follow. At least it was a good story for me and three of my sisters and over 10,000 other people.

New Year’s Eve morning found me, and probably at least half of the 10,000-plus fans at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, enjoying a cold one outside on a cold-ish morning. Early morning or not, it was a hockey game, and there’s no better way to enjoy a hockey game, especially if you’re there in person, than downing a cold brew.

On Friday, December 31, the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted an alumni hockey game in advance of the fourth annual Winter Classic game. Penguins’ owner Mario Lemieux, arguably one of the greatest hockey players in the history of the National Hockey League, thought it would be fun to hold a game between alumni of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals the day before the present-day teams would play in the Winter Classic.He was right. It was lots of fun.

Past Hockey Hall of Famers and Stanley Cup winners from both teams took the ice at 9:30 in the morning, to the delight of over 10,000 fans. The star, of course, was Mario. But Ron Francis, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy, and Rob Brown also played.

The atmosphere at Heinz Field was one of wonder and fun. Many years ago, hockey started as an outdoor sport, played on ponds both natural and man-made. Most of the players in the alumni game, as well as the current players playing the next day, started playing outdoors as children. It’s hockey at its purist.

The four crazy sisters–Kathleen, Barbara, Donna, Michele

Many of the fans in attendance were thrilled to see the “old guys” play; they were favorites and famous in their day. Many fans were also happy to be part of the Winter Classic experience, having been unable to get tickets to the main event the next day. My sisters and I counted ourselves in both categories.

It was my first trip to

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Fried Jumbo for Breakfast

I had fried jumbo for breakfast this morning. For those of you who were not raised in Pittsburgh, “jumbo” is Pittsburgh-ese for baloney.

Jumbo is usually eaten on white bread with Heinz ketchup, although some folks prefer mayonnaise, or Miracle Whip.

But fried jumbo for breakfast was a bit of a treat in our house growing up, so it’s a nice “comfort” food for me.

I need comfort food right now. I allowed myself to get so stressed out and overwhelmed that regular stress relievers—naps, watching hockey on TV (even when the Penguins win), or listening to favorite music—just aren’t cutting it.

I need comfort I can physically feel, comfort that takes me back to being a child when Mommy and Daddy took care of everything.

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