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Thanksgiving Saturday: the Day After

Well actually 2 days after, because if I had been obligated to post on Sunday, you all might've been treated to another photo of the Krampus. Six hours ago I waved goodbye to the last of our visiting guests, and the big question of course, is how did our Thanksgiving go? It seems like the most commonplace, mundane thing to ask each other and we do so every year, but for us, or at least for me, it is a question where I can happily say that I was able to enjoy it with a whole bunch of people under one roof. The Thanksgivings that I remember in Hawaii were always outdoor affairs; buffet tables and makeshift seating set up in the garage or in the backyard patio; an uncle making pulehu (barbecuing) on the grill; coconut trees swaying in the breeze; CHOKE food (that means lots of food). It was an event where you could savor dishes from nearly every ethnic group in Hawaii as each family has their own "melting pot" of relatives: filipino, chinese, japanese, portuguese, puerto rican, korean, caucasian, hawaiian and italian! It was also an event that I had been too gutless to try to pull off until now.

Minus a couple of glitches in the kitchen, everyone got to eat the 14½-pound turkey and some laulau that I had made earlier in the week. I know it was insane to host 15 people at ours, but when it comes to parties I tend to lose count. In the end we were 13 in total. Sorta like the Last Supper? I made the usual mashed spuds, sweet potatoes, baked stuffing casserole and cranberry sauce. A couple of friends who stayed for the weekend contributed with a wonderful vegetarian lasagne. On the hawaiian end of the menu, I made lomi lomi salmon to go with the laulau, and served maki sushi and rainbow roll sushi for apps. The plan for fufu drinks went out the door as there simply wasn't enough space or time to be going tropical, yet with the amount of wine and alcohol that came presented to us upon each guest's arrival, we had more than enough to sing Tiny Bubbles if we had wanted to. Sorry, no hula! Not this time anyway.


So that leaves me with the photos, and perhaps you've already wondered where the heck are they, but now is the time where I'll admit to having dropped the ball BIG TIME because I really have none to share. I forgot to ask someone to photograph the event, and the only picture I managed to take was the sweet potato pie right after it came out of the oven. The turkey photo comes borrowed from last week's Thanksgiving hosted by Slippah Time authors. Just as well, because their turkey was much more beautiful than mine anyway!

Comments

Ah shame about the photos, but hey you were really busy, and having fun with everyone :-)
K and S said…
no prob with the pics, it just means you were having a blast and cooking up a storm!
Midge said…
Turkey and laulau and maki and and lomi salmon?!? Me likey!
Marti said…
Yes, she definitely was cooking up a storm! Thanks for being such good hosts, we had a really good time! And sorry we didn't take any pics either...
Rowena said…
Anne - and that is my one consolation for which I'm happy to have been able to enjoy. Next time I'll make sure to invite a foodie photographer!

Kat - I believe we opened the first bottle of wine at 4pm or so, and it just never stopped! It's incredible that I was still standing on my feet to finish the last-minute cooking, but then I had good experience from my work past. ^-^

Midge - next time kalua pig!!
RONW said…
indeed, it's not absolutely necessary to run around taking photos at your thanksgiving party for the expressed purpose of posting them later on your blog. IMHO.
Rowena said…
Marti - I've just seen a recipe for cranberry rice pilaf....hmmmm...I may have to freeze some of those crans that you gave us for next year!

RONW - oh yes it IS! Especially for the first one because, “Well, isn't that special?” (cue voice of Dana Carvey aka Church Lady here). And also in the same line of thinking as for the first child (there are way more photos of me than of my siblings), the first date (I threw those away), and the first kiss...errrr...ehhh...maybe that doesn't count here unless you're some paparazzo stalking the latest Hollywood preteen star.
RONW said…
whoops....didn't realize it was an inaugural event.
Rowena said…
RONW - fortunately, no uninvited guests snuck in only to brag about it later on Facebook.
OkiHwn said…
How were the troops? How many more shins did Mr. B add to his record?
Rowena said…
Nate - how did you know??!! He attacked our two guests that stayed the weekend, but he was in full muzzle gear and did not cause any fatalities. You should have heard him when everyone arrived (he was locked in the bedroom). I'd wager that he was thoroughly PISSED at the thought of strange people in HIS house.

Foodie - Hau'oli La Ho'omakika'i!
carlo said…
Thanks a lot. I miss you very much at Xanga. No time to have a tiny little blog at Xanga for the rainy days?
Sonia said…
Oh, I am so sorry about the photos...I really ment to bring my camera but totally forgot! It is a pity, but anyway I am sure that we won't forget the lovely time we spent together and also the great food..you are an artist! (I wish I could be able to explain how the cheesecake tasted like...) Konia and Papio
Fabio said…
da kine sistah !!!!!

Papio
Anonymous said…
It sounds like you had a delightful time. I hope you had help with the dishes.
Someday I'd love to share a meal with you someday, albeit in Washingon state, Hawaii or even Italy. what say?
Rowena said…
Carlo - around this time of year I am always reminded of you because of the panettone and that you used to work in Milan! I'll try to visit xanga more often.

Konia e Papio - so when are going to dig a large hole in my yard for kalua pig??? ;-)

Carlae - thankfully, yes we did! WA, HI or Italy sounds all good to me, but if you come here to Italy, we could do some real partying with a lot of ch-ch-ch-cheese!
Rowena said…
Papio - I found your tshirt!
http://store.localkinehawaii.com/inotlaistonh.html

And I think this one is also da bestest.
http://store.localkinehawaii.com/spmut.html

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