Being from Hawaii, Thanksgiving gets a little sticky, as it's too far to go home for too short a period of time.
Which is why fellow Oahu ex-pat Max instituted Big Gay Thanksgiving, where he throws his doors open to feed stray friends and orphaned family. Naturally, most of these folks are from the West coast, but the mix changes and fluxes every year, and it's always a great warm-and-fuzzy gathering, completely a-gog with food and booze.
We done ourselves proud! As the Max and I surveyed our spread, artfully arranged by Grand Mistress Alex, we can't help but marvel in thanks that every year, cranking out a kick-ass Thanksgiving gets a little easier.
Menu Rundown:
Appetizers:
- Stuffed mushroom caps
- Crisp flatbread with tapenade and tomato bruschetta topping
- Prosciutto-wrapped melon balls
- Butternut squash and onion galette
The Main Event:
- Brined turkey with gravy, canned jiggly cranberry sauce and homemade fig chutney
- Garlic & shallot mashed potatoes
- Frankenstuffing (Apple and sausage stuffing with sage, walnuts and cranberries)
- Apricot and fig stuffing
- Whipped yams in orange cups
- Cauliflower and broccoli gratin
- Green mango salad
- Brussels sprouts with pine nuts and mustard
- Pears poached in red wine with mascarpone
- Corn maque choux
Sa-weets:
- Pumpkin pie
- Apple pie
- Coconut pudding
It was a toe-up, two-plate affair, requiring an entire weekend of recovery.
Thanks very much, Max and Alex, for once again opening up your home; thanks too to Edna Lavish and My Man for your essential kitchen assistance; muchas gracias to the Brothers EF, for helping me ferret half the feast and guests across state lines. Y'all are the epitome of grace and generosity, and I heart you all dearly!
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