Does Thanksgiving mean pumpkin pie?
Around this time of year I start to miss drinking coffee that comes in one pound cans.
Weird, but true.
You see, my grandmother used to make pumpkin bread and bake it in those metal coffee cans. The bread would come out in a corrugated cylinder, we’d slice it and then quarter it, spread it with pineapple and cream cheese, and linger over another cup of coffee at the kitchen table.
I miss those days.
Since my grandmother died, I’ve stopped making pumpkin bread. But I get obsessed with baking with pumpkin, nonetheless. I even tried to bake a pumpkin pie, which I don’t particularly like. Finally, for last year’s Thanksgiving, I made these mini pecan pumpkin pies — a smash hit, and a recipe I whole-heartedly recommend.
I think this year I’m just going to give in and make pumpkin bread. In Campbell’s’ soup cans, if I can find anyone in my Whole Foods neighborhood who still eats the stuff.
We’re in the holiday stretch now, single mothers; don’t let your expectations of a ‘perfect’ holiday ruin a perfectly good one. Is it your turn with the kids? Are you facing a holiday without them? Whichever you are facing, don’t skip being kind to yourself, and understand that memories do sneak up on you from time to time. You will find yourself standing in the kitchen, crying, at least once this holiday season. Think of it as a kind of tradition. The smell of pumpkin spices does it to me all the time.
This is going to be the first Christmas that I’m on my own with my two daughters. They’ll be with me on Christmas Eve/Christmas morning, and then they’re going with their dad for the rest of the day. I’m expecting it to be a very intense time, for sure. But also a time for new traditions and new beginnings.
Thanks for the reminder about the season. I really try to have no expectations. My son is supposed to go with his dad next weekend, and I’m actually looking forward to it because I haven’t had a real break since June. I’m also looking forward to having my son for Christmas again, and trying to enjoy every minute because last year was SO hard, and I know next year will be no different (Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I’m an only child, so it’s pretty quiet when the boy isn’t with us).
Hey, Sunshine, thanks for stopping by.
You know what? Look on the bright side. After Christmas morning, it’s just kinda maintenance. The kids play with their toys while you chase down stray bits of wrapping paper. This way, you get a chance to kick back, read a book in peace for a couple of hours, and recharge your batteries before your daughters come back to run down all the batteries in the house.
(always looking for the bright side of life, even when the bright side is, occasionally, “Well, I don’t think this could suck any worse…”)
Hi, there, Anna. Thanksgiving is a weird holiday, isn’t it? I think I’d rather celebrate with a bunch of friends than sit around with just my family. When it comes to Thanksgiving, more is more, you know? But I think, when it’s my turn to spend Christmas without the kid, I’ll go somewhere, get away from Christmas entirely, and just ignore the whole holiday.