Charlene Sauce Holiday Cooking 2020
It’s the Holiday season of 2020.
It’s very different in some aspects but in others for me it’s not so strange.
For those who don’t know me, I have 5 children and 2 grandchildren. It would seem I’m sure to most that I would have a full house on holidays but normally I don’t. For the past 12 years that I have lived in Georgia (we are from Maryland) I’ve only had 2 Thanksgivings where almost all of them were present.
Mainly due to distance but also sometimes due to us not getting along. I do love my family do not get me wrong but If we’re being honest … we are a functional dysfunctional family and this year with Covid and stress and financial worries and life changes has accentuated that even more.
I pray a lot and I hope God gives my family the healing and peace we need because I am not capable of it alone. So I gave it to God and his decision and how it goes is all I can wait for.
But even when we are together on Thanksgiving and other holidays I haven’t usually had the big dining room table and chairs for everyone to eat together so the Holidays since my Grandma and my mother died have mainly been cooking and me showing my daughters what I cook and how and then everyone getting a plate and going off to watch TV and just enjoying the food. I guess food is part of my love language. Cooking brings me joy and my family tasting and enjoying and learning my food is very special to me.
Last year I went over to my life partners family home for Thanksgiving and it reminded me of sitting at the table and eating as a family. Maybe sometime, someday I’ll do that with my own family again.
My 15 yr old really wants us to, so maybe we will try it lol.
I wanted to share how I make some of the Holiday favorites that most families enjoy.
The menu consisted of
Jerk Cornish Hens
Pork Wellington
Stuffed Salmon
Smothered Turkey sections
Mac and cheese
Mashed potatoes
Fresh green beans
Sweet potato casserole
Sweet potato bread
Orange, cranberry and raspberry compote
Deep dish apple cobbler
Cornbread and sausage dressing (stuffing)
A poached egg and pesto appetizer
Morning after, fruit compote, with caramelized ham served on Sweet Potato Biscuit.
It was my very first time making a Wellington.
Overall I’d rate my first try a 3.5 out of 5
The flavors are amazing
The puff pastry beautiful
The problem lies in the bottom of the Wellington it got stuck to the tin pan I cooked it in.
That was a mistake , I should have used a flat, hot heat bearing baking sheet, not a tin pan. It held and created too much moisture. Lesson learned but I am certain my next run will be a 5 out of 5. But boy it is still delicious even if the bottom stuck to pan.
Everything else was glorious 5 out of 5
I hope you watch and enjoy the video and enjoy these photos and I hope it encourages you to make something great even if just for yourself if you cannot be with family this year, just to keep some cheer and love in your soul.
Happy Holiday Season 2020 from
Charlene Sauce of Sauces Best Catering
Maryland food tour Feb 8-12 2021
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