I had to laugh at Marda's comments about left-overs. I think she cooked more per capita than I did, but I still wonder what was I thinking? I had planned for six, as I didn't expect my grandchildren to be here.....but my now-sixteen yo Grandson is an official driver now, so even though they spent the early meal with their other Grandparents, they surprised me and spent the supper meal with us. So, I had eight. I roasted TWO turkeys. LOL. The first one is gone as I packed what little was left with the kids, and the second one is wrapped in foil, still pristine and in all its glory. The fridge is jammed packed with left-overs, and I ran out of room. I had a sea of gravy, and I looked at the temps and figured that the kettle of it would be just fine on the front seat of my jeep with the windows rolled up to keep the racoons out. The only glitch in the situation is that my husband doesn't really like turkey. I have quite a few plastic freezer containers, and I think I'll slice the turkey down and pack up a gazillion containers with turkey and gravy for open-faced sandwiches for the next year. LOL. I thought about Janis because I almost had a disaster. I had one pie shell filled with the pumpkin and remembered I hadn't added sugar to it. I had to pour it out and add sugar and pour it back in. Whew. It isn't the first time I've done that, and I know from experience, it's nasty that way.

I loved your blog. It was very thoughtful and insightful. The reality is, most of us on this forum ARE blessed with plenty. We may not be rich, but we think nothing of asking what frivolous items we just have to have from Penzeys or Trader Joe's. (I am not knocking anybody, I do the same thing, and my pantry is frightfully full of "gourmet" items that I do not need). However, we don't have to look as far as the Eritrean's to find many, many people who are in pretty a dire condition. Our economy is bad. Many, (especially here in Michigan) have lost their jobs, and lost their homes, and are fighting for survival. Many don't know where the next meager meal will come from. Your blog made me realize how important it is for everybody to remember the people who are hungry. Not just now in this holiday time, but every day. We often get all warm and fuzzy ahd helpful at holiday time. Nothing wrong with that, but we need to be generous all the time. Your blog made me realize that I need to stop whining when I think times are tough, and start opening my mind, my heart, and my pocketbook to help those less fortunate. Many are newly poor and do not know how to handle it. I used to work for a GM supplier. The company managed to pretty much "break" the union, and many, many people were out of a job afterward. The last I heard, 23 of them lost their homes. I imagine by now it is many more. The lucky ones who were able to find a job, took serious, serious paycuts. They are learning how to live for a lot less. Some were unable to find any jobs at all, and they are really hurting. I guess I need to stop compaining about aspects of my job and be greatful I have a job. I need to quit whining when I just don't know what to eat, or don't feel like fixing supper so I go out. You need a hug for opening my eyes. (eye, LOL) Sherry

I guess what really roiled the mud was new Annie's statement that she thought scratch cooking only was snobbish....to her credit she said "in my opinion". We all "entertain" our families the way we think best expresses our love....unless we admit we just don't care....and I think we all care. I have a friend who is an awful cook....she really doesn't...but she does a wonderful loving family dinner....her DH puts a boneless rib roast in the oven, she washes some potatoes and wraps them in foil, he makes a lovely Ceasar salad, she buys rolls and a bad Costco cheese cake....and sets a wonderful table, with favors and all sorts of lovely things....shaped ice cubes in the glasses, molded butter, sprigs of herbs on the napkin rings and a silver punch bowl full of ice and bottles of champagne on the coffee table. Not much cooked by her but for sure her hand is in the party Not much "scratch cooking"...but lots of stuff done with love. Perhaps what so many of us are trying to say...is love is expressed by giving of yourself....and the more of yourself you give, the more love is expressed. We all know stories about parents who relegate the raising of their children to hired help. They say they are expressing their love because a nanny isn't cheap etc etc. we know that all things can now be bought....everything from home made cakes to pies to ready decorated Christmas trees. Do you thing you are "expressing love" for your family if you call the caterer and order a dinner....and call the servers and window dressers to set the table and decorate the house....and you simply stand at the door? Or does an "expression of love" involve a giving of soem of yourself...your time and energy and creativity? I think that's what us scratch cooks are saying, we give of ourselves, and that is our way of showing love. But on another plane, cooking and providing food is the very most primitive sort of nurture. So when we prepare food and place in front of those we love, we are nurturing them in the most primitive way. Whew! Got heavy for a while there! Linda C

Pulickman, he doesn't like garlic? He sounds a million times harder to cook for than a vegetarian! I put garlic in almost everything. Chi, with over 7 million vegetarians in America, I don't think it's too much to ask to cook one completely vegetarian dish. I think that if you go to the trouble of cooking a vegetarian dish then you should explain to the vegetarian that there is absolutely no meat products, including broth in it. Vegetarians do become skeptical, as there are so many definitions of "vegetarian" (although the original meant simply no dead animal products.) Theresa, that sounds delicious! Publick, someone who doesn't eat garlic sounds a million times more difficult to cook for than a vegetarian! Barnmom, go for it! You don't have to be vegetarian to eat dishes with no meat in them. Skip the fake meat- most vegetarians won't even touch that stuff, let alone meat eaters. Aptosca, I love apple stuffing! This thread has my mouth watering, I'm off to make some right now!