Happy Thanksgiven! (That's past-tense for Thanksgiving in case you're wondering)

Angel Salad

found on the internets

The Holidays are coming and I'M NOT READY. As evidenced by the fact that I'm just now posting about Thanksgiving. Unforgivable. 

You might actually look at the above photo and think that I'm still on Hallowe'en.  I dare say the color is deceptive, the cornucopia mold is actually adorable.  And the taste? Stay tuned!

Dr. Husband and I have been working about 13 hours a day for the past three months, which is why the festive season has caught us so unawares.  We'll be back on track in time for Kitschmas, never fear. In the meantime, you can come see us in person, if you're so inclined, and happen to be in Western Maryland or the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

The recipe is Angel Salad, a run-of-the-mill mid-century gelatinized side dish.  Found on the internets by Googling for appropriate recipes for a cornucopia mold:

1 (6 ounce) package lime flavored Jell-O® mix
2 cups hot water
2 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (2 ounce) jar diced pimento peppers, drained
1 cup diced celery
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup heavy cream

In a small bowl, dissolve the lime flavored gelatin in hot water. Allow it to cool for 10 minutes.
In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, pineapple, pimento peppers, celery and pecans. Fold in the gelatin. Chill in the refrigerator 1 hour, or until thickened but not firm. Whip the heavy cream in a small bowl until thickened. Fold into the gelatin mixture. Refrigerate 3 hours, or until firmly gelled.

Full disclosure, I completely forgot about the whipped cream. The final product didn't seem to suffer too awfully:

Our Rating:  Two Screaming Husbands!
(all dishes are rated from one to five Screaming Husbands. One Screaming Husband equals a happy home where all problems are solved during cocktail hour. Five Screaming Husbands signals the beginning of divorce proceedings.)

Thanksgiving De-Brief

Forgive the delay in getting this up, but I've been so distraught over the events of Thanksgiving - namely, making a recipe of my own creation, which I've made before, and when made before was universally beloved and admired. But this time...well, something went wrong, I don't know exactly what.

First, though, a taste (no pun intended) of something that never goes wrong, Mother's Microwave Liver Pate (no accent on the e, as in my family, pate is pronounced to rhyme with eight.) Here's Dr. Husband and Mother with the instructions:

In case you missed anything, here's the recipe:
2 lbs. chicken livers
a lot of green onions
a lot of garlic
2 tblsp. half and half
2 tblsp. dry sherry
 Combine chicken livers, green onions, and garlic. Cook on defrost setting in microwave until livers are done. In blender, add liver mixture, half and half, and sherry. Blend until smooth.

 A Jewish Thanksgiving guest declared that it was nothing like traditional chopped liver, but who cares? Once tasted, no one can stop eating it. Plus Mother says it's delicious and DON'T QUESTION HER.

Now then, for my Pumpkin Mold fail. As I said, I've made this before, and it was the highlight of the dessert table.  Here are the ingredients and instructions:

1 3-ounce package lemon gelatin
1 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 
1 cup canned pumpkin 
1 small tub Cool Whip
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Dissolve Jello in boiling water; add sugar and spice. Add pumpkin, mixing well. Chill until slightly thickened. Fold in Cool Whip and nuts. Pour into mold or clean bowl and refrigerate until firm.

And here's a triumphant picture of the last time I made it:

 

And here's the reaction of an unsuspecting Thanksgiving dinner guest, tasting what I made using the exact same recipe. He gives it a 3 rating, but I think he was trying to be nice. I mean, if the first bite is awful, it's pretty much a failure, right?

That's all for this time, remember that the 12 days of Kitschmas start on December 13!

Oh but hey! If you're in the Carolina Research Triangle area, come out and hear me sing next weekend with Voices of Chapel Hill!

Video-Only Edition: Pilgrim Hat Cookies!

Pilgrim Hat Cookies