"summer" izing thanksgiving

i love summer. i love the heat and the sun, the peak of sweetness for tomatoes, strawberries, peaches and blueberries. this summer, my first vegetable and herb garden. happy energy, lighter, fresher meals, the loosening of schedules, summer reading, biking to the gym and the beach, even the endlessness delights of baseball. all the fun, festivals and celebrations. my favorite season. by far.

I love thanksgiving. I love all the extensive preparation of this holiday and all the anticipation of gathering with friends and family to share in this special meal. all the planning, caring, tradition. I love that everyone sits down together and thinks of what they are thankful for. It warms my heart.

So when my husband requested a Thanksgiving Birthday Dinner the day before his birthday, I was happy to oblige. I had to get a move on! So did the Whole Foods because it was out of turkeys, but the nice man assured me they would have a fresh shipment on Friday - the day of our dinner. My love of the holiday, and my favorite summer season – what a perfect (though odd) combination! All the flavors of Thanksgiving, lightened and freshened up for summer. Abbreviated planning made it new, even more fun, and creatively challenging -- all while staying fresh, local and organic as possible.

The birthday man requested that I didn’t mess with the turkey, or the stuffing or the onions au gratin. The rest was fair game. To me, there must be yams, sweet potatoes, cranberries, a great salad, good friends and family to make it a true Thanksgiving. Here’s what ended up on the menu:

Appetizers:

Yam and avocado sushi rolls

Roasted red pepper & sundried tomato pesto with grilled parmesean baguette

Hummus (raw & bean free inspired by his recipe)drizzled with rosemary olive oil with grilled garlic toasts

Salad:

Kale, Cranberry and Cashew Salad with Lemon Honey Vinagrette

Main:

TURKEY in honor of my favorite Birthday Turkey

Sides:

Onions au gratin

Herb & Garlic Stuffing

Rosemary Potato Platter (Thinly sliced potatoes arranged in spiraling layers like a pie. with olive oil, rosemary, garlic & shredded parmesean)

Mashed Sweet Potatoes (since the there was an outcry for mashed potatoes in the aisle of the Whole Foods when we picked up the turkey)

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with basil and garlic olive oil

La Brea Bakery Garlic Loaf

Dessert:

Yummy Cupcakes

This was one of my favorite Thanksgiving Dinners ever, during one of my favorite summers so far. Taking the time in the kitchen and at the table - in the middle of July - to consider again all the things to be thankful for was a wonderful way to honor a birthday and celebrate the summer bliss.

Happy summer days to all my favorite turkeys out there!

I'll be shopping the Promenade Farmer's Market this Wednesday. If you're interested in Thursday's meals, click on the Menu button near the top left of this page to see what's being delivered. Please let me know by 9am, Wednesday, July 22.