Grateful for Giving Thanks Day

I’m alone on this giving thanks day by choice. No family, friends, or colleagues on this day in Greenville, MS. It’s quiet in the house; no TV, radio or music playing. I need the silence.

Although alone, I am very grateful for family and friends that called or texted throughout the day starting at 5:24am! Gotta love ‘em. And most special of all, received a FaceTime call from friends in Virginia who were sharing dinner with my son and grandson. Loved seeing them, especially my grandson, who's super snaggle toothed.

Still in my pajamas decided to start cooking around 10:30am after making French-pressed coffee. Barely drank a half cup before I started cleaning my collard greens. Two large bunches cut from the stem the way Mama used to do, cleaned, rolled and cut into small strips like Daddy used to do, and seasoned today in a large pot with water, vinegar, onion, green pepper, celery, salt, pepper, garlic powder, olive oil, and a whole Jalepeno (frozen) from my summer garden. Cooked until tender with lots of pot liquor for soup or beans later on.

Next, I cut into slices two acorn squash (left skin on), three sweet potatoes (left skin on), two apples, two oranges, fresh grated ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, salt, pepper, drizzled honey, butter, and Martell fine cognac. Baked, covered with foil in oven at 375 degrees until…

And later, being real, I doctored up some Jiffy cornbread mix with onion, green pepper, and celery leftover from collards prep plus a can of corn. And that was my simple meal for the day. Oh, along with a glass of Prosecco.