Delicious. Everybody thought so. What a joy it was to cook for family, play with the kids and eat to our hearts content. And like every other Thanksgiving, there are always those minor setbacks which make the day anticlimatic ......

On cleaning day, both the hubby and I ran out of steam. No problem. We will just have to finish it off early in the morning. I had planned 4 or 5 different baking items, along with some new vegetables. As the hubby dutifully got up to throw the turkey in the roaster, I rolled out of bed for my lemon water. Only one small problem -- the brand new still in the box roaster didn't work! Talk about throwing a monkey wrench into our eating time! I called my parents and advised a light lunch. The husband ran to his mother's house, hoping to 'borrow' her roaster - but couldn't find it amoung the maze of stored goods in their basement. Eating time was postponed from 1 pm. until 2:30 as we threw the turkey into our oven and hoped for the best.

Meanwhile, I had discovered that cold winter winds had blown over several of our garbage cans. I found broken pieces of glass scattered throughout our side lawn. At this point, I sat down and revised my to do list. What will be, will be.

Certain facts are simply considered tradition. For example, both my parents and my sister are always late. This year was no exception. And the turkey? It hit the 180 degree mark at exactly 5:00 o'clock. No wonder everything tasted so good!

The menu - you wonder?

Appetizers and munchies:

Pumpkin raisin muffins (buckwheat and tapioca flour)

Pumpkin raisin bread (buckwheat and white rice flour)

candied walnuts (brown sugar, cinammon, sea salt)

organic apples (small and very crisp)

vegetable tray (carrots, broccolli, sugar snap peas, small red tomatoes)

toasted pumpkin seeds with tamari sauce and raisins

bannanas, pears, etc

The meal:

Turkey stuffed with store bought stuffing (husband's choice)

Homemade turkey gravy using tapioca flour as a thickener, garlic powder, onion powder, Reese's steak salt

Cranberry sauce made from scratch (so easy!)

salad buffet -- spinach, romaine lettuce, store bought and home made dressings (lemon honey)

Mashed parsnips (salt, garlic, onion, parsley)

Mashed potatoes (traiditional)

traditional dinner rolls (husband's choice again)

pumpkin pie and chocolate french silk pie

gluten free cookies

I discovered that I love cranberry sauce. It was delicious on the pumpkin bread, spinach, and turkey! I can't believe that I hadn't prepared it before. We also discovered that my little three year old is also allergic to amaranth. I have been buying the "gluten free" boxed cereals. Looks like I will be eating them now. My father also asked me about our lack of iodine in our sea salt. He said that it is extremely important that we were able to obtain iodine from somewhere and I began to wonder.

I know that my kelp seasoning contains iodine. But is that our only source? I will have to find out! Good eats everyone!

P.S. It dawned on me afterwards that my homemade turkey gravy was contaminated with gluten. Lucky for me, he refused to touch the gravy, but loved the cranberry sauce. Live and learn.