daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
I am wrapping up the last batch of chili, and it looks like the rest of the family has officially hit their limit. That works out perfectly for me because I could happily eat chili every single day. I will have one final portion waiting for me tomorrow, and I am already looking forward to it. Leftover chili might be the best kind of chili. Yum!
The power went out for about an hour right at lunchtime today. Since I could not work, I decided to embrace the moment and made some ramyun on our gas stove. I ended up eating it in front of my dark, lifeless monitors, which felt kinda cozy.
The ramyun was absolutely delicious. I had to make a quick dash to the fridge to grab some cheese, opening the door just long enough to not lose too much cold air. Ramyun without cheese just would not feel right!
Today was a really fun Thanksgiving. It was a little more complicated than usual because Mariko taught an in person baking class in the middle of the day, but my turkey prep was simple and we have multiple ovens. In the end, everything worked out just fine.
Just like last year, I bought a pre brined turkey from HEB. It was 12.5 pounds. Our exchange student helped me stuff the bird with aromatics and season the outside with salt and pepper. I do not think handling a large raw turkey is something most Japanese people grow up doing, so it was a pretty unique experience for him.
The turkey roasted for about three hours until the thigh reached 155 degrees, then I let it rest for a full thirty minutes before carving. It turned out very juicy and tasty. I usually rush this part, but this year the timing was relaxed. That extra resting time made a huge difference, and I will definitely build it into future Thanksgivings.
For sides, we stuck with our usual favorites: cranberry sauce, oyster dressing, mashed potatoes, and roasted veggies. We finished with pumpkin pie for dessert. Everything was delicious. Another successful Thanksgiving meal in the books.
We went to a Friendsgiving dinner at our friend’s restaurant, and wow, there was so much food. Sushi, karaage, katsu, tofu, Korean fried chicken, yakisoba, poké, onigiri, musubi, tsukemono, and even oysters. It was incredible and a little overwhelming in the best way.
I had a great time, but after about two hours my social battery was completely empty. I ended up reading a book on my phone while passively listening to all the Japanese conversations happening around me. It was actually kind of comforting.
I also chatted with a friend who gets overwhelmed at big social events too. He told me his strategy is to leave early and then come back later to pick up his wife. Honestly, that is such a smart move. I am still figuring out how to handle my own social battery when it runs out, but just talking with my friend about it made me feel a lot better.
Tonight we had friends over for a Mexico and New Mexico inspired meal, and it was such a great night. I made a big batch of green chile stew, and Mariko made chicken en molé enchiladas, mango habañero salsa, and salsa ranchera. We also made plenty of homemade corn tortillas, plus a mushroom, onion, and pepper filling for tacos.
Our friends brought over tequila and margarita mix to go with everything, which was perfect. To end the night on a sweet note, we also had a dulce de leche cake for dessert. Amazing food, great company, and an all around awesome evening.
