vacation: all i ever wanted

good morning! today is the first weekday in the past month when i didn’t get up at 4:something. instead, i rolled out of bed at the luxurious hour of 6 am (what can i say? my body clock has been set) and have had a leisurely morning of thanksgiving planning.

so, i’m excited to present . . . our THANKSGIVING MENU!!

appetizers
■ easy spiced pecans (cook’s illustrated)
■ smoked cheddar stuffed mushrooms (cooking light)

main
■ spice-brined turkey with cider pan gravy (cooking light)
■ brussels sprouts with currants and pine nuts (cooking light)
■ simple cranberry sauce (cook’s illustrated)
■ rebecca’s version of my aunt’s to-die-for sweet potato casserole
■ my friend s’s stuffing

dessert
■ pumpkin pie, also courtesy of s., with freshly whipped cream

plus plenty of red/white wine options, of course.

i am excited! i will brine the turkey tomorrow morning as well as make ahead as much as possible — the pecans, cranberry sauce, and mushroom appetizers can all be prepped in advance, so i will definitely do those. even though i am sad to be missing both ‘real’ family thanksgivings (the philadelphia AND miami versions!), i am looking forward to this fun project.

the rest of my plans for today:
■ cleaning: bathroom, vacuuming, laundry
■ interval run
■ mondo grocery trip
■ some random errands
■ mini-dinner party tonight with some peds peeps

oh my GOD, i am really quite content right now. i love vacation.

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11.24.08

workout: 40 minutes elliptical + 20 minutes weights
– pushups, 2 x 10
– plie squats with 15 lb weight, 2 x 12
– bicep curls with 12 lb weights, 2 x 10
– abs: crunches & obliques
– seated rows, 40 lbs, 2 x 10
– tricep pushdowns, 15 lbs, 2 x 10

cooking: josh is a supremely talented omelet chef. he may not know this, but that is why i married him. well, one reason anyway. we had spinach and cheddar omelets, toast, and champagne to celebrate being finished with NICU and also something else i can’t yet talk about (and duh, we were celebrating with alcohol, so no we are not having a baby).

(notice anything about his shirt? subtle, very subtle.)