Dear Divine is taking a short break, but don’t worry! Dear Heidi is just as smart, sassy and ready to take on your questions! You can email her at: DearHeidi@haveheartmagazine.com
Dear Heidi,
Am I the only one who DOESN’T love fancy turkey day food? I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year and I’m making my traditional recipes. However, everyone is requesting things like sausage-sage stuffing, pumpkin crème-fresh tartlets, and stuff like that. I don’t mind taking the suggestions, but I feel like this is just not my pallet. Is it wrong if I just make traditional food? Help!
Signed Ticked Off Turkey Day
Dear Ticked Off:
Ahhh, the holidays! The warmth, love, food…and wanting to beat your loved ones into oblivion with a turkey leg. It’s no surprise that this time of year can be associated with more people being depressed and higher rates of petty crimes, especially when you consider the unneeded pressure that comes along with the holidays, much like your guests are putting you under. After I finished reading your question, I instantly wanted to tell your guests to shut their yappers and just be thankful for a delicious meal cooked by someone else. However, a more tactful approach could go a long way with your friends, so I say be open to considering trying to infuse new recipes in with the old. The more plates the merrier, right? If the thought of adding one more dish that you have to cook makes you want to call the whole thing off, try something crazy and make a substitution here or there with the new savvy recipes that sound interesting to you. Keyword being you. I come from a long line of traditional food for Thanksgiving, and I love the comfort and familiarity of the different food items. Surprisingly when I hosted my first official Thanksgiving extravaganza, I picked the most unusual recipe that surprised even me for the main event. It was an Orange-spice infused Turkey, and it was a labor of love involving hand squeezing over 20 oranges and costing more money in spices alone than the side dishes combined. Blisters be damned, when that glorious bird emerged from the oven glistening that golden glow and smelling absolutely divine, I knew we had success. It was delicious, but it was so different than what I have ever known. The point is, different doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but it does have to be your kind of different. Don’t cave to peer pressure because you will miss out on having a great time making and eating the wonderful fruits of your labor, especially if the love isn’t infused during the cooking process. Above all, enjoy your company and Bon Appetite!
Love,
Heidi
