2024 Thanksgiving with the Friedmans

We were invited to celebrate Thanksgiving this year with Lillian's in-laws again. This time we met at Louis Friedman and Leslie Vogelman's beautiful home in Sandy Springs. It is the home our son-in-law Jordan grew up in with his brothers Adam and Daniel. (Last year with also celebrated with the Friedmans -- at Dan and Rosie's.

This ranks among the greatest Turkey Day feasts of my lifetime! We started with a salad made by Rosie (wife to Dan, Jordan's brother). Rosie had "massaged" the kale -- I didn't know that was a thing! -- with lemon and oil. She sprinkled it with nuts she had fried in olive oil and infused with honey. Delicious. 

Sheila brought a cranberry relish the she makes from orange zest and fresh cranberries and that we keep around the house throughout fresh cranberry season. She also cooked a delicious cranberry sauce. Everyone (except me) seemed to enjoy Sheila's deviled eggs that were garnished with fried shallot crumbs that Lillian had prepared. 

Lillian brought a big pan of Mac & cheese that was to kill for. She also had plain mashed potatoes as well as a dish of mashed potatoes toped with very nice sour cream topping. Lillian also brought a pot of those wonderful green beans in a tomato sauce.

Jordan's brother Dan was in charge of the turkey. It was cooked to perfection. So moist and good.  And the huge quantity of homemade stuffing/dressing was delicious. 

In looking at the pictures I realized that I somehow missed Leslie's sweet potato casserole, but Sheila said it was very good. Don't worry about me though. I still managed to eat myself into a near coma.

The desserts included two different pecan pies by Lillian. She claimed one didn't turn out quite right, but the one I tasted was about as good as anything that I've ever eaten. There was also Leslie's traditional and tasty apple cake. Leslie also made some wonderful toffee bar/cookies.  Sheila brought along some of her delectable ginger snaps and Lillian had a bowl of "Expresso Cream" that made a topping for the cookies (or anything else) that was to kill for.

I am aggravated that I failed to get some organized pictures of everybody. 

After the meal we gathered in the Friedmans' music room and enjoyed some singing and playing by Jordan and Dan and Lillian. Lillian sang a gorgeous rendition of "Feed the Birds" from Mary Poppins. I remember us singing "I'll Fly Away", "Vincent" and several other songs, including a little song requested by two-year-old Graham "Bim Bam." Here's an online version I found of that:

Lillian with baby Neil.

Lillian & Jordan get in some practice with Neil -- they are expecting their own baby in May!

Lillian helped Sheila prepare her deviled eggs. The two cranberry dishes are also in the picture.

Finally they garnished each egg with a few pieces of fried shallot.

I thought the Dan's turkey was mighty tasty looking and was wonderfully moist.

It is grossly unfair to Graham that I have so many pictures of Neil. Somehow my Graham pictures are all a blur.

Clockwise from the green casserole dish: Mac & Cheese Kale and Nut Salad, Turkey, bowl of stuffing/dressing, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, mashed potato with sour cream and chives topping, green beans in tomato sauce.

Jordan and Lillian singing.