potatoes

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s about eating and intentionally being thankful, not in that order, but this demonstrates my values. In past years, I have cooked for upwards of 25 people with very little assistance. It’s not that I didn’t want the help, but that I adore the frenetic dance of juggling multiple timelines and dishes and those points of separating food so that part of the batch remains veggie or vegan, while the other part of the batch becomes meat or dairy enhanced. Then, it all comes together with chosen and friendly family as I beam at all the love I am surrounded by in that day. Thanksgiving is the best.

This year we will be traveling and the actual meal will be at a restaurant, as we will be celebrating an aunt’s 75th birthday and she has chosen to keep things easy. It’s all the best parts of my family who will gather so the drama level should be close to non-existent. I’m excited to see everyone, but I know I’ll be missing my gift of cooking.

However, never fear, my kiddo has been looking out for me. She’s had two Thanksgiving events this week: one for school and one her own Friendsgiving. Mind you she’s also been working extra hours and has afterschool activities so she asked me if I would please make something for each of these meals. And I did, gladly. Both groups got potatoes. Side note, potatoes should be their own food group. That is an undeniably fact that my Irish, German, Czech heritage will always support. But I digress. Back to the potatoes.

One group got garlic smashed potatoes in which I boiled small potatoes smashed them by hand and then fried them in a seasoned butter mixture. Those were delivered to her school; hot, fresh & crispy, for her athletic training class holiday lunch. Next, I made Vermont mashed potatoes. They are Vermont only in that you’re supposed to use Vermont sharp cheddar cheese, but always the rebel, I used New York sharp cheddar cheese. These mashed potatoes have the requisite amount of cheese, heavy cream, butter, and even eggs such that as a weekly staple you would live happy, but not for very long. However, these are going to be shared by a group of Arwen’s friends for a Friendsgiving so their youth and moderation of serving should keep them alive. I will not be there, but I know there will be laughter and joy, and most importantly, I will have delivered love.