elcome back everyone. Are you guys recovering from Thanksgiving, still wiping the gravy off your chin and picking stuffing crumbs from your pockets? I could have floated home from the mountains on my Hindenburg of a stomach Saturday, but regardless of the fictional transportation it still would have been a sad departure.
This year we packed our cars full of guitars, cooking utensils, grocery bags, tables, chairs and travelled west to Asheville to indulge in my older brother’s new digs. By some miracle of fate, my brother and his girlfriend have landed ass backwards into the greatest high-country home I’ve ever seen. Suited for hillbilly royalty. This post would be too long and too vulgar if I were to describe the weekend in full, but the pictures below should give you a glimpse of what the best Thanksgiving ever looks like:
Second of the two larger pastures my brother now calls home, bastard. Tell me that’s not the Shire.
These wild turkey’s had some big cajone’s strutting around on Thanksgiving morning. You’re lucky Anthony hasn’t gotten his 22 yet! Next year fowl beasts, next year…
This place even came with a 100 foot garden. A few strong soldiers were still standing like the ruby swiss chard to the left, as well as some wild mushrooms poking thru the mulch.
The main event brined, rinsed, seasoned, roasted, and carved to utter perfection. Key to a moist chicken breast: cut it into steaks across the grain. I have no idea who started the sliced turkey thing but they need to be slapped.
Not a bad looking group if I may say so. The menu was enormous with everyone whipping up something new or on the fly. Thanks to this picture I can help put the menu back together for you:
Antipasto (dad)
Curry-Coconut Soup (ma)
Turkey (Anthony)
Homemade Gravy (me)
Ham (dad)
Sweet Potatoes with Pineapple (dad)
Sausage Stuffing (Aunt Kim)
Cold Greenbeans Nan-Style (Anthony)
Biscuits (Shannan)
Fresh Cranberry Compote (dad)
Cauliflower Fritters (Megs)
Apple Pie (Shannan)
Pumpkin Budino (dad/me)
Roasted Chestnuts
That’s as much as I can remember. It may looked like I slacked off but I was playing short-stop and helping everyone finish up each dish. I also spent my wednesday night rolling 3lbs of Cavatelli which we ate Friday night for something more exciting than just leftovers.
In an attempt to ward off sleep we hiked up to the top ridge to watch the sun set. My little bro Chris and his pooch Reef turned the hay-bails into a game of tag.
Football on a Mountain! (you’ve gotta say it like Ron Burgundy). Chris also bombed a few of the grassy hills on his skateboard. Good thing I deleted the awesome video of it on accident, dumbass.
Surreal. One sunset I’ll never forget.
The next couple of days were spent rummaging thru leftovers, fumbling around in the kitchen, everlasting german board games, drinking games, endless espresso shots, and a trip downtown. Hands down: Best Thanksgiving Ever! Big thanks to Tony and Shannan for doing whatever it is you did to live in this place and spreading the wealth.
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