This is deep.

From Jessica Hagy's awesome blog, www.thisisindexed.com - brilliant! Guffaws all around. Wish I were as smart and incisive as dat lady.

Final Thanks-eating Menu 2009

1. Butternut squash soup with cardamom, white wine, milk or cream, and maple syrup.

- Edit: adding quinoa and chicken pieces corrects minor flocculation problem created by astringent cardamom steeping in soup with a milk component. Superb flavor with the cardamom and wine and maple syrup.

2. Broth-poached lemon-rosemary chicken medallions. Possibly served with a very light gravy made of poaching liquid.

- Edit: I'll use the herbed poaching broth for the butternut soup and/or stuffing.

3. Hazelnut sage mushroom stuffing, lots of celery and fresh parsley.

4. Potatoes au gratin with bleu cheese topping, tarragon cream.

5. Brazilian collard greens OR sauteed Brussels sprouts with crispy bacon pieces and smoked almonds.

6. Corn nibbles with red pepper flakes (mainly an extra daub of color on my food palette).

7. Bourbon whipped cream and chocolate mousse...parfaits? With fresh blackberries or fresh pears, whichever I can find in better condition.

Edit: it's all a bit cream-heavy, isn't it?! ARGH.