Seven year old Georgia taking on the task of stuffing our JD Farms specialty turkey with bread baked by my dear friend Christopher Brown of Rise Artisan Breads, mushrooms from Specialty Mushroom Growers Coop (Aldergrove) and herbs from our garden. Georgia and 6 year old Korinne rubbed that turkey to perfection with butter derived (by me) from Avalon Dairy's fine organic whipping cream. I'm so very grateful that Georgia is taking over the responsibility of rubbing and stuffing poultry, never a cherished activity of mine.
Pumpkins that came in one of our last CSA shares from Glen Valley Organic Farm were stuffed with a Gruyere-like cheese called Rathtrevor from Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, garlic from Sapo Bravo farm, more bread from Chris -- that market loaf is so divine -- and lovely shallots, again from Glen Valley. I found this recipe in this month's Edible Vancouver; I'm thankful to them too.
Roasted root vegetables: rutabaga, carrots, fennel and parsnips, the most amazing parsnips, all from Glen Valley thanks to our dear friends and farmers, Chris and Jeremy. I'm planning to make a lovely roast root vegetable soup for my lunch tomorrow, if there's any left by then.
The tiniest Brussel Sprouts we've ever enjoyed. Mine came from a smaller-scale farmer named Albert, who I have known since Georgia was a baby. Albert's Herbs and Nursery, believe it or not, is located in the nearby suburb of Burnaby.
Potatoes from Anna and Jennie at Helmer's Organic made perfect whipped mashed potatoes, and leaving the skins on only added to the delicious flavour.
Oooooh, and the cranberries sauces, three of them, using cranberries from Cranberry Meadows in Maple Ridge. Korinne was most proud of an uncooked relish she made in the food processor mixing the berries, an organic orange and some cane sugar. Georgia preferred the traditional sauce, which I discovered tonight was horribly tart (wonder who didn't say anything about it last night?!). I guess I forgot to taste it when I put it into the bowl ... wow!
After dinner, along with the yummy pumpkin pies my mom made, we enjoyed a schiacciata that Chris bakes up in the fall, a selection of cheeses, some from Little Qualicum, and a lovely Goat's Pride Camenbert-like cheese called Chevrotina, that Korinne practically polished off. The desserts seemed even better paired with a delicious Ice Apple Wine from The Fort Wine Co.
My guests brought a yummy carrot soup, cheesecake chocolates, a scrumptious apple salad and two flavours of ice cream, a regular vanilla and some mango gelato made by my old friend Mario.
Every time somebody asked about a food, I said, I gotta guy (even though some of my foods come from farms run by exceptional women, it just sounded funnier ... it is amazing how good food tastes, and the joy I feel as I prepare it for my family and beloved guests, when I know where most of it comes from and how it was grown. I am really thankful for the people who've brought ideas like farmers' markets and community support agriculture into our cities.
But mostly, what I am thankful for Alec, Georgia, Korinne, Adam, Elaine, Anita, Jim, Carly, Graham, Bowing, Sue, Kenny, Alberto, Michelle and Oliver, my family and guests who joined in our harvest feast. It was truly a Thanksgiving for which to give thanks.
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