noraleah:

The Second Annual Thanksgiving Potluck was a complete success: friends new and old, great food, a hot and crowded cozy apartment, and fun with kittens.  There was just one mishap.  I had Bill and Mayur on turkey duty, carving and making gravy, respectively.  Mayur put a bowlful of turkey fat on top of the fridge to reserve for safe disposal later.  He told me it was there but I didn’t pay any attention (no surprise).  A little while later I grabbed the bowl and more than a cup of lukewarm fat went streaming down the front of my dress.  So I spent part of the party in a towel, milking Mayur’s guilt for all it’s worth (in all other respects he was utterly charming and helpful.  We awarded him the Best Guest medal of honor).  All’s well that ends well: after a soak, my dress is fine.

On the menu (in addition to these):

• Mayur’s custom cocktail, “Falling Leaves,” and his homemade chocolate-raspberry layer cake
• Marc’s raw oysters
• Bill’s salmon and cucumber appetizer
• Carolyn’s Italian rice and sausage stuffing
• Katie’s creamed spinach
• Peter’s marshmallow salad
• Rachel’s “cranberry crunch”
• Saha’s thumbprint cookies and fava beans
• Ronen’s champs & Cinnamon Toast Crunch
• Julie’s bourbon pecan pies
• Liz’s pumpkin bread
• Nikki’s apple pie
• Chris’ tiramusu
• Lauren’s pumpkin aperitif
• … and many, many more dishes that I am too tired and full (still!) to remember.

It was a really fantastic and memorable night. Thanks to everyone that brought food/drink and the women for hosting - all the right elements were in place and the evening was a blast.