thanksgiving 2008...

was one of many firsts.

--first thanksgiving i didn't spend with my family
--first thanksgiving that was non-traditional
--first thanksgiving i went to the DOORBUSTER/EARLY BIRD BLACK FRIDAY craziness
--first thanksgiving where ALL ingredients i used to cook with were ORGANIC. i took pictures below with my horrid camera phone--but at least you get to see my mad culinary genius skills at work!

it was pretty nice. i, of course, missed seeing all my family--especially all my nieces and nephews--but thanksgiving didn't turn out so lonely even without my large family! i had a couple of other nyc'ers come over for my first ever "non-traditional/continental european thanksgiving meal. and i rather think it was a huge success! while the original recipe for the oxtail was readily available--like usual, i deviated hugely--and i'm pretty proud to say--you wouldn't have recognized it from the original AT ALL. and the salad was my own creation down to the vinaigrette!

the night's menu (all made from scratch by me except for the dessert):

--apple/pear walnut salad with romaine lettuce and a black truffle oil vinaigrette (included some very nice cippolini red onions, campari tomatoes and meyer lemons).

--whole wheat peasant bread to dip

--queue de beouf bourgninone (included a vintage 2006 vicien cabernet sauvignon reserve from catamarca, argentina, 4 kinds of onions, herbs and spices, pancetta, proscuitto di parma, and black truffle oil with oxtail)

--tiramisu


--2006 Brooklyn Oenology "Motley Cru" red wine, Cricket pomegranate rasberry green tea soda, GUS dry cranberry-lime soda.

i'm pretty proud--the pictures definitely do NOT do the taste justice. i am pretty damn proud to say--it tasted--INCREDIBLE. the oxtail just melted in your mouth...the salad was crisp in many levels and the flavors all complimented one another. not to mention--i fit in all the major food groups here!

that said--my other first was waking up at 3am and driving out to long island to best buy for a new laptop. just yesterday evening--my old computer decided that it didn't want to type anymore. as i was planning on getting myself a new one in january anyhow--i decided to go for it a couple of months earlier than planned because well--i need my comp for work! anyhow, i came back from a horribly long day with the LAST $399.99 cheapo laptop. i'm pretty proud of myself! i went to 3 different best buys before i settled on the last one because the line was shorter--but not by much!

on a crazy note. the best buy i was at--was across the street from the wal-mart in long island--where the clerk was trampled to death. i saw the police and ambulance screaming in/by firsthand. what is wrong with people--i mean...really? you are going to break down the freakin doors and trample people to death to get into wal-mart? god. here's the article link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27955316