It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of cooking. Just take a look in my pantry. You’ll find tablecloths, napkins…just about anything one would need for entertaining. But no food. I never really tried to carry on any kind of cooking tradition. I was complaining to my mom about the lack of chocolate meringue pie at my recent Thanksgivings, and she confided in me that Marie Callender made her pie this year. She also told me that my great-grandmother used to make an oyster dressing that she (my mom) despised. The oyster dressing never made an appearance at Thanksgiving after great-grandmother’s death.

I need to thank my mom for making this executive decision to discontinue that tradition. I’m sure I would not have liked it…but now – my lack of interest in cooking has landed me in a Thanksgiving predicament.

I married a Yankee with three kids. They were raised on lots of northern dishes like chicken and waffles and shoe fly pie. Since I’m the odd woman out, I have learned how to make a few dishes since I would like for them to keep me around. It was clear one Thanksgiving that it’s going to take them a little longer to warm up to some of my Oklahoma dishes. I can’t understand anyone not liking brisket for Thanksgiving, but…whatever.

We are spending Thanksgiving with his side of the family this year and I have nothing to bring to the table…literally. I’d been asked to bring deviled eggs and rolls. Supposedly I made some really great home made rolls one year, but someone is already bringing some deviled eggs, so I guess if my eggs are terrible there will be some good ones. I decided to try the rolls again, but I don’t have much faith in them rising. That’s been the problem for the past few years, so I have ordered some specialty rolls from Hawaii (hee hee) just in case. I also whipped out one of my Tastefully Simple packets (almond pound cake) and made a trifle with chocolate pudding and strawberries. It’s not the chocolate meringue pie that my mom used to make, but it will do.

I just don’t cook, but I am amazed by people who do. I woke up in the middle of the night to record The Pioneer Woman’s throwdown with Bobby Flay. Why? There is NO WAY I could even begin to cook that meal. However, I really, really wanted to make that special whiskey sauce she tweeted about. I mean, I didn’t want her to be mad at me before we even met, but lack of cooking skills and living in a dry county prevented the whiskey sauce from being made…. at least this year. Next year I’m going to make that sauce and drizzle it on pecan pie or put it in a martini glass and just call it a day.

[Later in the day…]  As expected my rolls didn’t rise. It looks like I may be bringing drinks and ice next year.

Speaking of throwdown, I’m officially inviting Jani to bring her Stockyards City Cookbook out here to the ranch. Sorry, I can’t deliver an cool video invitation to you via a cowboy on a horse, but I’ll make the table look real pretty with some dishes and a tablecloth; you teach me to cook something out of that cookbook!

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