The Non-Couch Potato

Mom has been handling the holidays for decades, which means I've relaxed, over the years, into lazy single mode. Easy to do, when your Mom's so obliging. The hardest thing she ever asks me to do is mash potatoes.

This year is different.

It started when our usual four families for Thanksgiving made different plans this year, leaving us with one guest. I had been waiting years to cook Thanksgiving dinner and leapt at the chance to volunteer. My mom looked stunned.

"What would I do?" she asked, her mouth drying up, along with her perceived usefulness.

Recalling my family's distrust of my cooking, I assured her it wouldn't be a big risk, with only one guest coming.

"Oh, it's not that. I know you can do a good job," she said, hesitatingly.

My week was spent on Food Network's website, hunting down the best recipes. I'm a sucker for themes, so I chose "Country Thanksgiving", with:

Brined Herb-Crusted Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy

from Anne Burrell

Caramelized Onion and Cornbread Stuffing

from Tyler Florence

Corn Casserole

from Paula Deen

Baked Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese and Bread Crumbs

from Giada De Laurentiis

Roasted Root Vegetables

and Harvest Bisque

It was a scene set for splendor.

A few days before Thanksgiving my pastor heard we had one guest.

"Why not come over our house?" he asked, in his usual gracious way. It took me a microsecond to nod wholeheartedly. They have over 30 guests every year. Everyone brings her best dishes. Dishes, dishes, more dishes. Enough desserts to fill a sleigh.

My appetite for food would be satisfied, but not the angst to cook.

"You could still cook," pastor said. "Have a brunch."

Ooo. A brunch. The word just sang of comfort food and yummies. The menu changed.

Yogurt Parfait with Blackberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries

Goat Cheese, Chopped Spinach, and Sun-Dried Tomato Omelet

Christmas Breakfast Sausage Casserole

Parmesan Potato Wedges

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

I invited four of my good friends and we brunched our hearts out, and miraculously, everyone loved the food. Was there room for supper? No. But somehow we found hidden pockets we didn't know about.

Turkey day had passed when one day I looked at my calendar and realized my parents' anniversary was December 6. Mom always wanted to go to the Russian Tea Room. New menu.

Borscht

Potato Pancakes with Fried Apples

Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Olivier Salad

(Olivier is a salad with potatoes, meat and veggies)

Beef Stroganoff

Honey Cake

(Where I would be without my Joy of Cooking, I'll never know.)

"I'm going to invite a few people over for Christmas dinner," Mom said recently, beating me to the punch.

"Wha?" I shrieked.

"You can cook for New Year's."

Yeah! New Year's! Hastily I printed invitations crowned with a new theme: Dickens Turn-of-the-Year Supper.

Beef and Onion Pie

Pork and Cider Stew with Dumplings

Bubble and Squeak

(a potato veggie pancake)

Roasted Root Vegetables

Baked Apples

Toffee Pudding

Gingerbread Cake with Butter Caramel Sauce

Tea and Hot Cider Punch



This time there'll be thirteen.

I've put away my lazy hat--packed it with the useless Christmas ornamentation--and donned the chef's cap to give back to my friends and family part of what they've given me.

There's going be a diet in the resolutions this year.