First things first, a big shout-out to my very talented graphic-artist friend, Scott, for doing a bang-up job on Tilly (our new graphic). For those of you unfamiliar with the origin of the term "Two-Ton Tilly," the estranged cousin of "Two-Ton Tessie," Tilly refers to a British military tank. SO...Tera and I brainstormed the image that now appears in our header. Kudos for all the details Scott! We especially love the cupcake tattoo, and the fact that Tilly is motoring over a box of pizza! May I also add that the resemblance is overwhelming, especially the large tank cannon emanating from Tilly's endowed upper half.
My Thanksgiving meal was amazing and not nearly as scary as what you described, Tera. The chicken, though the skin got a little dark, was moist and delicious. The sweet potatoes were simple, but tasty. The Brussels sprouts were so good I wanted seconds, but the standout dish was the pistachio brown-butter cake with Concord grapes I made for dessert. It was soo good I had to give the cake away as I could not be trusted to sleep under the same roof housing this decadent delight. I would say this meal was a satisfactory replacement for the traditional turkey and gravy most of America dined on this holiday. So then why did I wake up the next day mourning the traditional Thanksgiving leftovers?!?
Thanksgiving isn't just that big fat meal you have with the family, it is the hot turkey sandwich you make the next day for lunch, the potato filling you reheat for dinner, and the pumpkin pie that somehow follows you into the next week! Every day I do this diet I learn just how emotional eating really is. It's not just the obvious things I need to plan for, like brainstorming a healthy meal in exchange for the turkey swimming in heart-attack gravy, it is all the other thoughts, urges, and instincts that kick in whenever food is the main event. The cues, sometimes unbeknown to myself, are buried just below the surface. Years of eating as ritual has ensured this. I don't have a strategy worked out for the leftovers, but at least I know what pitfalls can potentially be lurking around the Thanksgiving Day corner. For right now I'm going to try and build a new tradition in leftovers with my cranberry chicken and Brussels sprouts. Perhaps tomorrow I will construct a leftover hot chicken and cranberry sandwich that will rival anything I've had in years past. I'll let you know how that goes. Till then, I hope everybody is enjoying their leftovers!
"Tradition is the illusion of permanence." -Woody Allen
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