NOLA Notes

Today was Turkey Day at the office. The firm provides the turkey, ham and stuffing, and the employees each bring a dish. I brought the same dish I’ve brought every year–my mother’s artichoke casserole. Her recipe is here; we always double the recipe when we make it–I recommend you do the same if you choose to make it. I cooked my dish last night. It consists of seven ingredients: olive oil, garlic, onion, green beans, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and artichoke hearts. As the last ingredient was added and the aromas melded together, it was official: the holidays had arrived.

This dish has been made by my mother twice a year for as long as I can remember, once for Thanksgiving and once for Christmas. And when I smell it (and, oh my God, does it smell like Heaven), it means only one thing: it is holiday season.

And any doubt I had about the holidays arriving was quelled when we drove to eat sushi last night and saw the Christmas tree vendors unloading their stock and stringing their lights. Yes, it is undeniable. And I can’t recall being so excited about the holidays as I am this year. It’s Sun’s first holiday season, and they will only get better as she gets older.