Monday, November 24, 2008

Get ready, here comes Thanksgiving


I spent the day getting ready for Thanksgiving. On top of hosting dinner for ten adults, four teens and five little people, three of the adults are from out of town. So I'm not just gearing up for Thanksgiving festivities, but I am also prepping two guest rooms and cleaning the nooks and crannies. And my nooks and crannies? They are so full of shit you wouldn't believe it.

The good news is the grocery shopping is all done, the turkey will be delivered tomorrow and the main floor of the house - living room, dining room, kitchen and bathroom - are all clean as a whistle. And I did laundry. Did laundry as in washed everything we own. Everything.

The bad news? Everything is now in my bedroom. Like EVERYTHING. All of the junk and crap that needs to get sorted out is now in my bedroom/office. And it is scary. It is, like, PBS documentary special scary. Here's a little peek. This is the office half of my bedroom. Doesn't it just give off a great vibe of productivity?
And doesn't this look cozy and inviting for a good night's sleep? Aren't you jealous of the restful atmosphere of my sanctuary?Thank God my job for tomorrow is cancelled, so I have one more day to tackle this disaster zone before the out of towners arrive Tuesday night.

HB requested my oyster artichoke soup recipe, but I think she's now out of town with no Internet access. Sorry, HB! But here's the recipe for anyone that might be looking for a yummy soup to serve with your Thanksgiving feast!

2 stick butter
4 bunches green onions
4 garlic cloves
6 cans of artichoke hearts
6 tablespoons flour
8 cans chicken stock
2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoon anise seed
2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 quart oysters

In a large heavy pot, melt butter and saute chopped green onions and garlic until soft. Wash and drain artichokes; cut into quarters and add to onions. Sprinkle with flour and stir to coat well. DO NOT BROWN. Add stock, red pepper, anise, salt and Worcestershire. Simmer for 15 minutes. Drain oysters, reserve the liquor. Add oysters and liquor to pot and simmer for about 10 minutes. DO NOT BOIL. Make at least eight hours before serving, it gets better with age.


7 comments:

justme said...

oh my gosh that is exactly what happens here, IF i have people over - i just move piles of crap to my room - which already has tons of piles of crap. honestly i need help.

Keetha said...

That sounds delicious and I don't even like oysters.

Also, cut yourself some slack! All rooms but one look spotless. This is okay. I think. But then again, I'm a lazy housekeeper so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

Happy Thanksgiving.

And if you think you're getting away with just that as a Twilight post, you are sorely, sorely mistaken.

Cynthia said...

Oh no...good luck with the organizing:)

chiara said...

That is definitely a mess - but, honestly, doesn't look any worse than my house has been up until last week when we finally got the kitchen cabinets installed.

Good luck organizing! I have that same ikea/antonius mesh drawer :o)

Fantastic Forrest said...

I am SO heartened by your piles. I have a hundred times more, but still...it is good that others have this issue. It gets REALLY scary when the piles get so high that a crapalanche occurs.

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

This is how my house looks as I pack to go away tomorrow. Now I have to move all the piles to the car. I'd rather read blogs.

Margy said...

Ok - guess I should have started at the oldest posts & moved forward - thanks for the recipe - I will try it out for sure!

I heart your bedroom - it looks like my spare room only because hubby dumped everything form the aster bedroom to the spare room. And now I have to move all my shit to make room for Christmas decorations!