Thursday, November 16, 2006

Insanity

It is said that the definition of insanity is to keep on doing things the same way and expecting them to turn out differently. How many insane quiltmakers do you know?!

Currently my insanity is manifesting itself on the culinary front. Due to other [quilting] commitments later in the month, David and I are celebrating Thanksgiving early with friends coming over for dinner on Saturday night. Thanksgiving is a distinctly American affair but this household embraces it wholeheartedly partly because of our shared American heritage (my grandfather was American; I was an exchange student for a year to Washington State and I travel there regularly) and partly because who needs an excuse to eat good food.

Anyway, I like to make corn bread for Thanksgiving dinner. Each year I search around for a recipe driving myself crazy as I try to recall the one I used the previous year. This year I will try a more sane approach. If you have a favourite corn bread recipe that is not too sweet, please e-mail it to me. Just remember, this is Australia not America so I am using raw ingredients not any proprietary, packaged product.

American readers will probably be aghast to learn that Libby's pumpkin is not to be found in our supermarkets. Accordingly, I've boiled and mashed some butternut and Jap/Kent pumpkins:

Now you'll think I really am insane...

Thanksgiving Update: Here is my recipe for pumpkin pie from scratch.

7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

You BOIL PUMPKINS? I always wondered how you did that from scratch. I've even gone a step further. I buy already made pumpkin pie from the hospital that I work in. Every year they get lots of pies to sell. I do as little as I can get away with.
I think you should do a pumpkin pie pictorial for your blog so we can see how it is done :)

November 16, 2006 8:48 am  
Blogger Chip Nelson said...

Greetings from the land of corn bread! Well, grits and corn bread.

For some odd reason I had a craving for turkey last week and had my wife pick up a frozen turkey breast. She demanded that I not make corn bread stuffing. Demanded mind you.

So, although I do have a very good corn bread stuffing idea I dare not share it or risk the Department of Homeland Security being notified by she who must be obeyed.

Nice to hear that you celebrate Thanksgiving down under. Both of us will be working that day. She works in a hospital ER and I at a State Prison. Neither close for the hoildays. We let the younger couples have the holidays off as they still have children in their houses and ours are grown and gone.

Sweet potatoe pie would be better than teri suggested by the way, it's a southern thing.

Happy Holidays!

November 16, 2006 9:02 am  
Blogger catsmum said...

hi brenda
even tho I'm like most aussies and very definietly DON'T celebrate Thanksgiving, I'd still like to know if you find a good recipe for corn bread. Got the taste for it in Ohio, and haven't been able to duplicate it here without all the pre packaged mixes my US friends use. I know there is a USA Foods company in Melbourne but I'm not quite that desperate yet
cheers
susan

November 16, 2006 12:47 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't imagine not having access to Libby's Pumpkin or the proper corn bread! I take for granted our wonderful supplies of foods in America. I know you must have wonderful foods we don't have.Making your pie from "scratch" is very impressive!
I bet your pie will be yummy!
Nice that you celebrate our T-Day in honor of family!!!

November 16, 2006 3:58 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I always make my pumpkin pie from scratch (and no I really don't like to cook that much). I have a couple of great recipes from my Fannie Farmer Cookbook for pumpkin and "winter squash" which is the other squash family... butternut, acorn etc. I would be happy to attach to an email if you are interested

November 17, 2006 11:51 am  
Blogger Sarah Ann Smith said...

Actually, I'd think you were insane if you liked Libby's! I hated pumpkin pie...until I tasted organic pumpkin (canned) and made my own from scratch..now THAT was good. And I've not only boiled / steamed my own pumpkin, I've canned the dang stuff (and boy was it messy!).... Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers, Sarah

November 18, 2006 11:49 am  
Blogger Amy & Paul said...

I managed to find some Libby's so after years of making PP from scratch I'm going to try pumpkin from a can.

Now to find some cornbread...

November 18, 2006 10:41 pm  

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