After driving from Missouri for Thanksgiving, that branch of the Hershberger family promises no more traveling – until the expected child makes her debut in February. The pre-holiday rains Wednesday evening enticed them to hunker down in a hotel for the night. Son and daughter-in-love arrived in the bright sunshine of Thanksgiving Day in time join the pre-dinner rush of food preparation.
Fortunately, the lady-in-waiting has passed the discomfort of the first three months and enjoys food preparation as much as ever.
We welcomed her to the kitchen for the last minute details and additions to the meal. With three adult women and three grade school aged girls, it felt like all those years of cooking with my sisters. Lots of discussions about techniques, seasonings and variations of recipes. We had a small cooking school for the children and just enough aprons for everyone.
Tripping over each other, we each garnered a corner of counter space or set up ingredients on the table.
With an apron fitted snugly over her growing stomach, my daughter-in-love mashed the potatoes and repaired my attempts at gravy. Then she turned to help the 13-year-old who really wanted to have pumpkin pie. I had handed her a can of pumpkin with a recipe on the back and a prepared pie crust. With aunty’s help, she substituted eggnog for the condensed milk I forgot to buy and they made a very edible pie.
“I want to make a pie, too,” the 11-year-old insisted and opened the recipe book to the picture of a chocolate pie. I weighed the time and ingredients involved against her skill level and reached for a package of instant pudding and a prepared pie crust to prick and bake. We coached and helped her through the process. When the finished product looked a bit skimpy, we offered a variety of add-ins. She chose chocolate chips and almond slices then stood grinning proudly over the finished product.
Meanwhile, the 9-year-old helped her Arkansas aunt chop vegetables with the wavy cutter – we had to serve something healthy to offset all the pies. Besides the grandchildren’s pies, I had made an apple pie for my father’s birthday gift/cake and my daughter brought cheese cake at her husband’s request and made the easy pecan pie she likes it.
Of course, we had way too much food to eat for one meal. But, that’s what a feast is about, right? – to enjoy the community of cooking and have enough left-overs to make it through several days without cooking. Plus, the excess food helped us celebrate two birthdays on top of Thanksgiving and to have something for the little girl’s tea party for the expectant mother.
And yes, we did have another tea party. The granddaughters love any excuse to dress-up and to set the table for a tea party. They sorted through table cloths and napkins for the table and arranged the pink Noritake china and the greenish gray Oriental tea sets around the table.
Snow White found a Ronald McDonald costume in the dress-up cupboard for her 1-year-old cousin. He submitted to wear it long enough for a pre-party picture, then wriggled a protest for walking clothes.
And walk he did – all weekend. He walked everywhere discovering toys, interesting corners and people. He only sat still long enough for a hearty meal at the table with the big folks including the feast with his great-grandfather.
“I think he walked about 10 miles today,” his aunt observed when he finally sat down, then eased over and laid down on the floor indicating his readiness for bed.
Lots of food, fun and fellowship topped off with 40 winks – the perfect end to a day filled with family.