Doing our first dry burn in a 50 degree garage. Later today, we’ll roast some Guatemala Antigua in both roasters and taste test them. 

Tonight, I found myself wandering Westwood in search of food. I found Spireworks, a doner kebab place on Broxton. Mind you, I hve fond memories of a tiny kebab place in London that I wouldn’t have even found without the help of a more adventuresome classmate. So now I will order doner anywhere I can find it. There was this place in Eagle Rock we visited in 2006 but I can’t remember what it was and it wasn’t that great anyway. 

Today, I ordered the Istanbul. Next time I will get the Baja California or the New York or the Istanbul again with pickled cauliflower and green onion. It was so tasty. The bread is good – hearty – although it’s not the soft, pillowy pita from the London kebab place. 

A quick Google search revealed that the London kebab place, Bosphorus kebabs, is still in business in the same place. Good for them. 

…means the grass grows in the parkway without any help from me. 

Trying to use up Thanksgiving’s heavy whipping cream. I forget how decadent and delicious cream is. 

i regret cursing the rain earlier this week. i love winter. there is a glow to the sky during winter. the angle of the sun blinds me in both the morning and at night. the sky turns deep ultramarine just as the lights of the city begin to illuminate. today, winter brought a brisk chilly wind and the sun struck the clouds and the palm trees with a direct yellow sidelong glance. it felt like rain but it didn’t give it up. i promised myself i’d start taking photos again.

This year, we fried a 19-pound turkey and the house is still standing.

macaroni & cheese with Tillamook and Hook’s 10-year cheddar; classic dressing; butternut squash salad; cranberry sauce; jacques pepin vegetable gratin (and carrot caramel that accompanied the carrot soup – the caramel was *money*)

We attempted a dry run on a turkey breast on the 17th and i thought it was amazing:

There is always a Thanksgiving disaster but this one happened days after: despite my previous success draining the fryer, I made a complete mess of it this year in the house and drenched quite a few of our cookbooks with used peanut oil containing bits of turkey. The victims: all 5 Cook’s Illustrated books, Chinese encyclopedia, Paula Wolfert, and Jacques Pepin (dust jacket facing the oil so no damage). I even premeditated on how it would drain from the spout – I think that’s why Jacques was safe. If I had just left the books dust jacket side out, I would’ve been fine. And note to self: baking soda will sop up the oil and keep the place from smelling like turkey oil into the next century.

Here is the most well-traveled piece of cake (courtesy of mp and ss):

almond cake in Thailand

here are the photos of the first attempt at Valerie’s Upside Down Almond Cake. I originally made it with Pink Lady apples, but ended up using Pippin apples. Simply divine. I ate cake for a week before Thanksgiving and for a few days after…

and washi tape!!!