THANKSGIVING
It's getting nearer to Thanksgiving. I think this must be my favorite holiday of the year. It's a time when people get together with loved ones or close friends. It's the beginning of the Holiday season; it's the kickoff to excess! No matter how hard you try you always go overboard with eating. I think that makes it more important than ever to go to the health club. It's certainly one of the very best ways to keep your health plan on track.

As a kid, we often spent Thanksgiving with my Mom's side of the family. Tati would cook a wonderful dinner,Papa would be waiting at the door. He was always ready to help us kids get out of our winter coats and leggings. The table was always set with a beautiful pristine white linen cloth and napkins. If Uncle Don & Aunt Anne were there with our cousins, us kids would walk around the dining table scuffing our feet on the wool rug. We would stay away from one another because we didn't want to get shocked from scuffing our feet on the carpet.

The table would always have been set already so we didn't get in the way until it was time to put food on the table.

As a new twist on an old holiday standard I was surprised when I was at Central Market. They were sampling something that would be a good substitute for Thanksgiving dressing. They call this Basil & Pine Nut Bread Pudding. I hope you'll try it.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Serves 6
Lavishly butter a 2 1/2 Qt baking dish

1 1/2 to 1 3/4 C half & half
2C heavy cream
4 large eggs, beaten
1 stalk celery, diced
3/4 C diced onion
2T chopped basil
1/2 C pine nuts
1 loaf Challah, torn into pieces
Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and blend well. Mixture should be very creamy. If too dry, add more half & half. Let mixture rest at room temp at least 2 hours, adding more half & half if needed.

Pour into baking dish and bake until top is nicely browned and a knife inserted into center comes out clean.

I hope you'll try this. As mentioned, it is surprisingly good!

Bon Appetit!