Thanksgiving at the Ancestral Estate
Thanksgiving was at the Olhava's in Napa this year. The location should impress you, or not, if you know me and have heard stories of what I call the "ancestral estate".
Ed and I cooked dinner, a process that began the day before. Much of dinner was similar to the previous year, with the brined turkey, buttery stuffing and rich gravy. I made two types of cranberry sauce, a sweet sauce slightly modified from the directions on the back of the package and savory cranberry chutney. Other dishes: brussel sprouts, steamed, then roasted with garlic and olive oil; mashed sweet potatoes; and buttermilk mashed potatoes. I made ginger spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for dessert (notice the spider webs) and Jan brought two different types of pumpkin pie.
I think my favorite part of the meal was stuffing soaked with the buttery and rich gravy. Soooo utterly delicious.
It’s worth noting a few other food items from my few days in Napa. I ducked out of a funeral reception to eat at the taqueria around the corner – Las Platas – which was absolutely fantastic. Just so that you all don't think that I'm heartless, I knew very few people at the funeral, I really wanted Mexican and the clock was ticking down, and while the cold cuts would have been delicious, a fabulous Napa taqueria was around the corner. I inhaled a pork enchilada with red sauce and shrimp enchilada with green sauce, practially crying. I so miss good Mexican food. Mom also bought homemade tamales from somewhere, which were great snacks. Again, more delicious Mexican food.
The night before Thanksgiving, we ate raviolis and malfattis from Lawler’s, a Napa market famous for its homemade Italian food, liquor selection and for rent adult video collection.
Again, be impressed. I was in Napa.