Free associating before turkey

So, I was going to wait until tomorrow to make note of this week’s Dicebox update (oh, by the way, there’s a Dicebox update that went up late last night. (permalink) )

But then my lovely mother called me to wish me Happy Thanksgiving, and she was, as she described it, “rosie.” This is is referring to that state she gets in when she’s had a glass or two of wine and has a a happy mellow buzz going.

This instantly reminded me of the Really Rosie TV special of the 70s featuring characters of Maurice Sendak and the singing of Carole King. Naturally this led me to think of the recent noise on the internet of early Sesame Street being rated adult only. For anyone who might not know, they’ve been deemed too depressing and scary for young children–for a variety of reasons that I find overly cynical and paranoid, and well, depressing.

This led to my recalling that they made the Snuffleupagus real on Sesame Street, a move I, and many of my peers, disapproved of. Then I tried to decide if there was ever one of those oversized character balloons of the Snuffleupagus in the Macy’s parade.

Naturally the Macy’s parade brought me back to Thankgiving, reminding me that I had better get cracking on my pie for today’s dinner or I would lose my window of kitchen time.

And this is the cranberry-apple pie I made before it went into the oven:

It’s a happy pie. It wants to be eaten ( A concept that really freaked me out as a kid.)

Ironically, I just finished reading “Antique Bakery.”

A co-worker just pointed out this exceptional photo set of pastries and chocolates from Japan. Some lovely pictures of truly decadent desserts.

Thanksgiving, 2006

(click the baked goods for more photos)

As is our wont, Kip and I went over to Barry, Sarah and Charles’ house to share Thanksgiving with them and assorted friends and housemates: Matt, Kim, Sydney, Maddox, Jake, Bean, Dan, Bill, Anne, Dylan, Indy, Kevin, Katie, Owen and briefly John, Becca, Alice and another Matt.

As usual, I baked pie: mushroom and brandied butternut squash. As usual, Kip baked bread: goyish challah and potato oat.

Not much else to report: we talked a lot, laughed a lot, ate too much and then stumbled home in a food coma. And are still cleaning the kitchen.

Spouse by candlelight

‘Cause we all here like to eat, and eat well.

The photo above is one I took of the Spiced Berry Balsamic Chocolates from a new coffee and chocolate bar that has opened near my workplace called Sweet Masterpieces.

Beyond the fact that they serve chai cider, I’m very pleased that this place has opened because it prompted me to do a web search for its actual name to share with a friend. While I failed to find that out online, I did chance across a website dedicated food in Portland, specifically “An Exploration of Portland Food and Drink” with the sub-title motto: Throwing Ourselves on the Grenade of Bad Food to Save You.

A group blog born of a misleading restaurant review, not only are there restaurant reviews (sometimes with menus), but they report on current Portland food trends, like local micro distilleries, supply press releases on upcoming food focused events and review food specialty shops, like the Meadow, a place that carries 35 kinds of salt.

I figure this to be a timely find as we are entering the rainy season, the rainy winters being part of my theory of why, according to my father-in-law, Portland was known for its fine restaurants even in the mid-60s. (I also credit the winter rains for the large amount of coffee, bath products, candles and book reading around these parts.)