WISE AS A SAGE

This was the weekend we were finally going to get away to our Florida condo, something we hadn't done in at least 7 months.  There were enough tip-offs to say we shouldn't have gone.  First, there was an illegal wildcat strike by security people at Pearson Airport.  If we didn't have a Nexus pass we would have waited 4 hours instead of the 2 we did wait.  Then we ran into Leslie Roberts, News Anchor for Global TV who advised us the weather called for rain for the next 5 days.  After a delayed take-off we finally arrived at our destination.  It was cloudy but that's all.  By the time we returned from our usual trek to Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza it was a torrential downpour.  As the night progressed, the winds hit close to 50 mph.  There was thunder, lightning and flooding in the streets.  There were warnings to not walk into any water as we would not know the depth.  I remember a time like that before when cars were floating on the road outside our apartment and the water was up to the knees.

We were also missing Yom Kippur and Thanksgiving, the fast and the feast.  My kids were all in Toronto and messages came back that my New York granddaughter, Allegra,  was looking for me and calling my name.   My daughter-in-law, Erica was missing Thanksgiving with us.  We were also missing our traditional breaking of the fast at my daughter-in-law Dara's parents. 

It just wasn't the right weekend to be away.  The odds were against us.  I am a focused planner who knows what I am doing for the day when I get up.  I didn't yesterday.  We hadn't been away 24 hours and I really didn't know what I was going to do.  It was already Yom Kippur so we weren't dining.
It was 8:35 in the morning and I looked at Paul and he at me and we decided to blow this pop stand and get home.  It was a wise choice.  We could see our New York family who were staying at our home and to break the fast at the Rakowski's house.  Like in Fiddler on the Roof we are steeped in tradition and it is very comforting.

Jay, Dara and Allegra returned to New York today after we all went out to brunch.  Rob, Melinn and the girls and Noah, Erica and his family are all coming now for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow afternoon.  I now feel where I should be.  I have worked on the following Thanksgiving menu but am not ready to share the recipes until after the fact.

THANKSGIVING DINNER

Mini Baguette Crisps with Cheese and Fig Jam

Lemony Caesar Salad with Garlic-Parmesan Toasts

(no anchovies for Melinn)

Roast Organic Turkey with Gravy

Apple and Dried Cranberry Sage Stuffing

Cranberry and Orange Sauce

Roasted Butternut Squash

Sauteed Mushrooms with Herbs

Roasted Asparagus and Roasted Green Beans with

Caramelized Shallot Butter

Cilantro Lime Sweet Potato Fries

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Neapolitan Ice Cream

Erica's Pumpkin Cupcakes

Chocolate-Caramel Apples

It was wise to return to Toronto but there is definitely a double entendre with the word sage, one being the soothsayer and the other the herb that is used in the stuffing as well as other Thanksgiving dishes.

I will let you know how it all turns out.  One thing I learned other than following my instincts, was  Ace Bakery makes a sage bread just in time for Thanksgiving and it is their stuffing recipe that I am going to use.