Blimey, turkey!

I've never been to any Thanksgiving whatsit EVER; I think there are some, uh, americanized Filipinos here in Manila who actually celebrate T-day, or maybe they just want to go with the American flow of throwing some lavish turkey and potatoes party just so they can say they celebrate Thanksgiving even though the celebration involved English (and maybe Dutch?) religious separatists and Native Americans these white settlers would end up slaughtering and displacing (oooohhh).  So yeah, go Pocahontas.

Anyway, I am not in this position to care for Thanksgiving but I am thankful, and as I am a regular contributor to this American food blog/website, my head has been spinning with articles on Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving recipes.

See, I love food.  And I have yet to have a Thanksgiving meal.  But anyway, I think writing about it in the past several days have somehow turned me into a semi-expert, and I cannot help but --- for today's episode --- put together a Thanksgiving meal plan for Jason Segel!

Hmm.  It is kinda creepy.  Haha.

But I LOVE COOKING, and I watch Top Chef and cooking shows every chance I get.  So hey, I ALWAYS fantasize about putting together a meal plan and go on about the Nigella Lawson and Ina Garten route (honestly, I would rather stay my size, but I worship these domestic goddesses).

As it is several hours into the fourth Thursday of November on this side of the planet, I shall indulge myself and share a Thanksgiving food fantasy should I have Jason Segel on my table (as a diner, not in an operating table scenario).

Side Dishes / Appetizers
People don't call Thanksgiving Turkey Day if there's no turkey, so I think that the side dishes should be at least healthy yet tasty!  So... I am kinda going via the vegetarian route.  Uh-huh.  So feast on the following:

- Red pepper and soaked cashew hummus with a drizzle of white truffle oil
- A bread, chips and vegetables platter (toasted whole wheat pita bread, baked chili potato slivers, toasted cornbread chips, carrots, zucchini)
- Quinoa-stuffed portobello mushrooms
- Classic pumpkin soup with sour cream
- Salted popcorn (can't help it!  Hey--- it's Thanksgiving food)

Fowl
- A roasted wild turkey.  Yes --- not the generic type, will have someone hunt a wild turkey instead.  Apparently it's more humane this way.  If the hunting fails, it's gonna be a heritage turkey.  Third in line is goose.
- Spicy and sweet cranberry glaze

Stuffing
- Any great recipe using sourdough bread for the turkey soaked in spices, herbs and turkey drippings.  Except for the goose --- should be Scandinavian-style with apple and prune stuffing.

Dessert
- Cheese and fruit platter (rocquefort, reggiano parmigiano, sharp cheddar, camembert drizzled with honey, grapes, apples, pears)
- Pumpkin pie with sticky toffee nut and pecan topping
- Cranberry danish with home-made vanilla ice cream

Drink
RED WINE!
Pumpkin pie martini (seriously)
Warm spiced wine

So that's a Thanksgiving suggestion.  I wonder how Jason Segel is gonna celebrate today.  Is he going to be with family? With friends?  With family and friends?  With friends and lovers?  His Brofriends?  His puppet collection in his secret room of his secret room of puppets?









So far I am just working, trying not to get pissed (yeah, been a pretty BAD week), and looking forward to cap off the night with --- wait for it --- Jeffrey Jeturian's Tuhog.  Apparently a friend implies it's the best Filipino movie in the last 20 years, and seriously, in that field, I am looking for something --- anything --- to be thankful for.  I hope this movie will do it.

But Temptation Island still takes the cookie for its utter uniqueness --- because this is where beauty queens turn into sex queens!  Woot.  Thank you, Gosiengfiao.