Thanksgiving
2016
At Old Ranch
Thanksgiving Means Old Ranch With The "Empty Nesters" (Page One)
Page Created: 11/26/2016 Page Last Updated: 11/02/2024 14:44
Our first stop was Old Ranch Country Club where we have sixteen family and friends joining us to celebrate Thanksgiving.
We were bless with Robin and Bob Duda, Contrad, Nita, Pete and Lisa Chartier, Marianne and Craig, Hans (The Turkey Tamer) and Kerstin, David and Gregor, Bernie and Irene, and of course Brian and Jan Finch (just back from rainy ol' England).
We witnessed the "Battle Of The Century" between Mr. "T" and Hans The Turkey Tamer... An epic battle of skill and wit. You must proceed to find our who won!
We then dropped by Joe and Amy's home (our son) to visit them and of course, Amy's wonderful parents, and then off to La Habra to see our grandson Zachary and his bride of one year Becca.
Quotation To Remember:
Heap high the board with plenteous cheer and gather to the feast,
And toast the sturdy Pilgrim band whose courage never ceased. ~Alice W. Brotherton
Vintage Postcard
Who was here (Click for full sized image)
Arturo knows how to greet our group!
Fresh flowers all around the room
Yes indeed... Bloody Mary's do qualify as food!
(Part of the six basic food groups)
...and champagne to wash it down!
We had another good idea!
Butternut Squash Soup, Rolls and Salad
So fresh you have to slap it!
The turkeys were perfect..... But we have our own!
Hans will come and give the guys lessons on how to carve!
Prime rib was perfect...
...and some amazing salmon!
The whole station was busy as can be...
The oysters were huge and they kept coming.... Sorry Vicky, we missed you!
There were two huge containers of shrimp... Simply wonderful!
Butternut Ravioli, Roasted Green Beans, and Roasted Acorn Squash!
Did You Know? - Acorn squash is most commonly baked, but can also be microwaved, sauteed or steamed. For savory recipes, it may be stuffed with rice, meat or vegetable mixtures.
If a sweeter dish is desired, maple syrup is often used to fill the halves prior to baking, or used in a sauce or glaze to enhance the squash's flavor. The seeds of the squash can also be eaten, usually after being toasted first. Acorn squash can be used to prepare squash soup.
This squash is not as rich in beta-carotene as other winter squashes, but is a good source of dietary fiber and potassium, as well as smaller amounts of vitamins C and B, magnesium, and manganese.
Mac and Cheese... A Thanksgiving favorite!
Did You Know? - Pasta and cheese casseroles have been recorded as early as the 14th century in the Italian cookbook by Brian Liber de Coquina, one of the oldest medieval cookbooks, which featured a dish of parmesan and pasta.
A cheese and pasta casserole known as makerouns was recorded in the famous medieval English cookbook, the Forme of Cury, which was also written in the 14th century.
It was made with fresh, hand-cut pasta which was sandwiched between a mixture of melted butter and cheese.
The recipe given (in Middle English) was "Take and make a thynne foyle of dowh. and kerve it on peces, and cast hem on boillyng water & seeþ it wele. take chese and grate it and butter cast bynethen and above as losyns. and serue forth." ("Make a thin foil of dough and cut it in pieces. Put them in boiling in water and seethe them well. Grate cheese and add it with butter beneath and above as with losyns [a dish similar to lasagne], and serve.")
...and oodles of fix ins' for the Mac and Cheese
The stuffing was delightful!
Mashed potatoes... A must!
Did You Know? - Yukon Gold is a large variety of potato most distinctly characterized by its thin, smooth eye free skin and yellow tinged flesh. This variety of potato was developed in the 1960s by G. R. Johnston , R.G. Rowberry , and Dr. Norman Thompson in Guelph, Ontario, Canada at the University of Guelph . The official cross was made in 1966 and the Yukon Gold was finally released into the market in 1980.
Unlike some other potato varietals the Yukon Gold can stand up to both dry heat and wet heat cooking methods. Its waxy moist flesh and sweet flavour make it ideal for boiling, baking and frying but these potatoes will also withstand grilling, pan frying, and roasting.
Many kinds of desserts... We tried to avoid this table at all costs!
The tables were decorated with flowers of the season
Was there any doubt???
The gang begins to arrive!
Back from the UK and they noticed.... No rain, no clouds, no cold!
What is this man up to?
We just toured the food stations!
"A-OK"
We had eighteen for Thanksgiving and it was no work at all!
Thank you Old Ranch!
"Here's to you all! Happy Thanksgiving!"
Bernie and Irene! This is Bernie's 95th Thanksgiving... Wow!
OK... Will do!
Paul hit the seafood station... several times!
It was a hard fought fight! Click for the full sized (2600x2400 px) image!
Did You Know? - Hans has NEVER carved a turkey before! We voted him the official carver for the year 2016. Next year, Brian The Turkey Slayer will take the position of honor and fight the beast.
Wusstest du schon? - Hans hat noch nie einen Truthahn geschnitzt! Wir stimmten ihm den offiziellen Carver für das Jahr 2016. Im nächsten Jahr wird Brian The Turkey Slayer die Position der Ehre einnehmen und das Biest bekämpfen.
Mr. "T" weighs in at 14 pounds!
(Herr "T" wiegt bei 14 Pfund!)
Our champion weighs in at 175 pounds (176 with apron)
(Unser Champion wiegt 175 Pfund -176 mit Schürze)
Hans gives "Mr. T" the evil eye before round one!
(Hans gibt "Mr. T" den bösen Blick vor der ersten Runde!)
"No problem... I have an attack plan now!"
("Kein Problem ... Ich habe jetzt einen Angriffsplan!")
The audience cheers! Conrad can't bear to look!
(Das Publikum jubelt! Conrad kann es nicht ertragen zu schauen!)
Hans brings his secret weapons!
And... They are sharp!
(Hans bringt seine Geheimwaffen! Und ... sie sind scharf!)
Kerstin will act as an "unbiased" referee!
(Kerstin wird als "unvoreingenommener" Schiedsrichter agieren!)
The crowd seems worried!
(Die Menge scheint besorgt!)
Arturo volunteers to go to the kitchen and get a first aid kit and smelling salts
(Arturo freiwillig in die Küche gehen und bekommen eine Erste-Hilfe-Kit und riechende Salze)
Did You Know? - Smelling salts, also known as ammonia inhalants, spirit of hartshorn or sal volatile, are chemical compounds used for arousing consciousness.
Hans approaches carefully....
(Hans nähert sich ...)
First contact... Hans... With a sharp thrust into the leg!
(Erster Kontakt ... Hans ... Mit einem scharfen Schub ins Bein!)
Hans continues, rooted on by his loyal audience!
(Hans geht weiter, verwurzelt von seinem treuen Publikum!)
"I know there is a joint in there somewhere!"
("Ich weiß, da ist irgendwo ein Joint!")
Ouch!!! Ouch!!
Mr. "T" cries fowl!
(Autsch!!! Autsch!! Herr "T" schreit Geflügel!)
Amazing! As Hans fought with "T" while the audience was yelling "ouch", "oh", "stop it", etc. We all had a good laugh!
Tolle! Als Hans mit "T" kämpfte, während das Publikum schrie "autsch", "oh", "stop it", etc. Wir alle hatten ein gutes Lachen!
"Hans... Give the knife a twist to the left... No, right... Ah, both!"
("Hans ... Geben Sie dem Messer eine Drehung nach links ... Nein, richtig ... Ah, beides!")
Brian provides British aid
(Brian bietet britische Hilfe an)
The International Brain Trust examines the bird!
English, German, and French!
(Der Internationale Brain Trust untersucht den Vogel!
Englisch, Deutsch und Französisch!)
"Hans... It has a hole in it! What is inside the hole?"
("Hans ... Es hat ein Loch darin, was ist in dem Loch?")
"This is very entertaining!"
We learned that it is "No Shave November"
"This is just like
watching Monty Python!"
("Dieses ist gerade wie das Ansehen von Monty Python!")
What is Hans thinking right now? We
know!
(Was denkt Hans jetzt? Wir wissen!)
Not true, Turkey... He is a better man than that....
(Du magst mich nur für meine Brüste)
We are getting down to the last few strokes!
Mr. T is wearing out and slowing down!
(Wir kommen auf die letzten Striche!
Mr. T trägt sich und verlangsamt sich!)
The natives are getting restless!
"Victory for Hans The Turkey Tamer"
("Sieg für Hans The Turkey Tamer")
Sue checks Mr. "T" and makes sure Hans gets some time to rest!
Finishing off Mr. T must be done carefully...
It's time to gobble it down
(Sue überprüft Mr. "T" und sorgt dafür, dass Hans etwas Zeit zum Ausruhen bekommt!)
"A wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends"
("Ein wunderbares Thanksgiving mit Familie und Freunden und Hans Familie und Freunden in Deutschland")
Vintage Thanksgiving Postcards
