Hurricane Sandy

Hello readers. I hope everyone is safe after the terrible destruction of Hurricane Sandy....or as I like to refer to her, the b*tch who stole our apartment.  Let me explain.....

My husband and I live in Zone A of Manhattan, about a block off the East River, and our street looked like this at the beginning of the storm:

Note I said at the beginning of the storm.  At the peak of the hurricane, our street was 5 feet under water.  

 Check out the high water mark at the lobby of our building.

SO with this being said, we have been permanently displaced from our apartment for an indefinite time period and have therefore made the executive decision to find another apartment (far from the water). Since October 28th, we have been bouncing around from hotel, to family's houses, back to hotels and hopefully next week will be able to inhabit our NEW apartment.

Now what does this story of the b*tch Sandy have to do with FoodSAZm? Well, it's been the longest period of time that I have not had access to a kitchen or the ability to cook, and I feel like I am going insane. I never realized how much I took for granted my ability to come home after work and cook up a nice homemade dinner!  Not to mention, Sandy came at JUST the right time to possibly foil my Thanksgiving plans of hosting my favorite holiday.  But I will not let her mess up my holiday cooking plans or let her derail the progress of my cookbook.  

Now given, if all goes to plan, we can move into the new place merely a week before Thanksgiving, I will have a LOT to put together before one of my favorite holidays.  But nonetheless, I am so ready to get back in the kitchen and put together the classic Thanksgiving that my mom taught me and that I grew up with. Below are some photos from last Thanksgiving (my first ever hosting job of a major holiday):

 I attribute my ability to re-create my mom's famous Thanksgiving meal to her.

The Menu:

For starter's my husband, Justin, will make his 2nd annual amuse-bouche (a small one or two bite preview for the meal coming).  Last year his dish was melon wrapped in prosciutto with a honey chipotle drizzle = AMAZING.

Soup Course - I haven't finalized the exact soup yet but I am thinking of doing a Potato Leek Soup with Bacon

Main Course -

Thanksgiving Turkey with Homemade Gravy

Stuffing - Mom's recipe made with sausage and mozzarella cheese (and usually we cook some both in the turkey and some out of the turkey)

Corn Fritters - Fried up and delicious!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Homemade Cranberry Sauce - my mother-in-law brings this

Mac n' Cheese

Dessert -

Homemade Apple Pie

Pumpkin Bread - made by my mother-in-law

I cannot wait to be able to break in our new apartment and new kitchen with the ultimate dinner party of Thanksgiving. Also, all of these recipes will be featured in the upcoming cookbook.  Speaking of the cookbook here's the newest update.  Prior to the hurricane I was moving full steam ahead perfecting recipes and photographing everything for the book.  I have about 50 recipes ready to go - a lot of new recipes and quite the variety!  Once I am back up and running in my new kitchen, the cooking will resume!

Until then - keep cooking and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! Send me recipe, dinner ideas or photos of dishes you've cooked up for the holiday season!