BOOM! It's the Holidays!

Bourbon apple pie. So delicious. I may or may not have added a little more bourbon than the recipe calls for. And I may or may not have left it in the oven 15 or 20 minutes longer than I should have. I got distracted. It was more like applesauce pie. Delicious, bourbon-y applesauce pie. Hey, we can’t be perfect all the time.

How was your Thanksgiving? Thaaat’s good. Mine was just peachy. Full of food, drinks and family. That’s how it should be on Thanksgiving, right? I’ve decided I’d like to start out every winter meal with spiced spiked apple cider. Heavy on the spike.

I say winter. It was almost 60 degrees in Chicago on Thanksgiving. Hey, I’m not complaining. I know our time will come soon enough. We went to my aunt’s for Turkey Day, which was just fine with us. She’s a spectacular cook. And they did ask us to make the desserts. I know what you’re thinking, “Well of course everyone asks the pastry chef to make the desserts.” Nooo, no, no, no. My aunt and uncle owned a Viennese bakery in Chicago for over 40 years. My uncle comes from a long line of pastry chefs in Vienna. They know how to make dessert. But they’re retired now. And I’m more than happy to pick up where they left off.

I delegated pumpkin pie duty to my mom. She’s no slouch in the kitchen either. (Understatement.) That’s spiced pumpkin cranberry cake with orange maple cream cheese frosting. I’m not gonna lie. It was pretty freakin’ awesome. Then we had the bourbon apple(sauce) pie, which, despite its distinct lack of distinguishable apple slices, was also completely delicious. From the drinks,

to the meal,

(that’s mostly for my coworkers, who are convinced that I never eat anything) look, I ate it all!

To desserts

…and more desserts.

It was a gut busting day. And not just for us humans.

My bourbon pie, Biscuit. Mine! I’m bad at sharing. Curse of being the youngest.

The only problem with not having Thanksgiving at home is the no leftovers issue. Come Saturday (I seriously think all I ate on Friday was two bread rolls at Eric’s house) I was hungry again. So my mom made me this dish she used to make us all the time when we were younger. It’s really simple. She calls it “peasant food.” It’s sauteed apples and onions, browned sausage slices (turkey sausage in this case) and noodles. Toss it all with a little butter and you’ve got yourself a meal fit for a pauper.

So simple, but so delicious. It brings me back to my childhood. And reminds me that I should probably go get on the treadmill.

This weekend we’re getting out of town- St. Louis for my cousin’s wedding. I’ve actually never been to St. Louis, so I’m interested to see what kinds of things (read: food) we’ll find there.

I’d like to leave you this week with a public service announcement. Reason #9834209 not to buy convenience store doughnuts.

You’re welcome. Have a lovely week.

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