Smoked Gouda & Sage Roasted Polenta | What's Cooking? #FoodnFlix

Thanksgiving is THE biggest food holiday in my family. It's such a huge part of what brings my family together with the menu planning and "passing out" assignments (not that it ever really changes - everybody has their specialty) and timing that never quite goes as planned, but works out anyway. It's about food and family and coming together and putting aside the things that make us different, keeping us distant and busy for much of the year...instead remembering our shared upbringing, memories both happy and painful...and celebrating the similarities and diversities that make us a family.

Beer & Brats Stuffing (Dressing) | Planes, Trains and Automobiles #FoodnFlix

Welcome to the November edition of the Food 'n Flix club! This month we're watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles, a 1987 road trip/odd-couple/roadtrip flick starring Steve Martin and John Candy. Oddly enough, I haven't found a whole lot of movies with a Thanksgiving theme, but this is one of the few that does.

Collard Greens w/ Smoked Turkey Wings | To Kill a Mockingbird #FoodnFlix

This month, the Food 'n Flix club is watching an American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, based on the book of the same name by Harper Lee. I should probably start off with an admission...one that I'm actually ashamed to admit, especially afer introducing it as an American classic, but...I'd never actually seen or even read To Kill a Mockingbird until last week.

[Insert collective gasp!]

Homemade Creamed Corn | Secondhand Lions #FoodnFlix

This month, the Food 'n Flix club is creating recipes inspired by the 2003 flick, Secondhand Lions. While it was made in '03, it was actually set in 1950's Texas (with flashbacks from years before, most taking place in Morocco). At its core, it's about 14-year old Walter who has been dropped off at the home of his two great-uncles, who have a reputation for being surly recluses, sans invitation.

Roasted Radishes | Signs and Seasons (cookbook review)

I'm pretty darn excited to be hosting a TLC Book Tours stop for the cookbook Signs & Seasons: Feed Your Sign the Food it Craves today! Between them, he wife and husband duo of artist Amy Zerner and astrologer Monte Farber have created so many amazing contributions to the spiritual and metaphysical world.

Vanilla Black Tea Rice Pilaf

I tend to go through phases...phases where I can't get enough of eating a certain dish, sipping a certain drink, or using a certain ingredient. Lately, I've had tea on the brain. But when I say tea, I mean tea as a whole (as opposed to one certain variety), so that actually opens up a whole world of possibilities.

Toaster Potatoes and Homemade Ketchup | The Martian #FoodnFlix

This month's Food 'n Flix pick is the 2015 Science Fiction/Drama flick, The Martian. If you're not familiar with the story, it's about astronaut Mark Watney's struggle and perseverance to survive after, presumed dead, he is left alone on Mars. Watney's smarts and good humor ensure that, while long, the journey is not boring.

Cabbage with Bacon and Cream

With St. Paddy's Day less than 3 weeks away, the Progressive Eats bloggers have come together this month to share a menu fit for the occassion. Whether  you want something traditional, something with an Irish twist, or something green—we've got some recipes that you're bound to enjoy!

Salt and Pepper Dip | Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (S1:E3 "Summer"):

• Hmmm, Stars Hollow has a municipal pool.
• 2:00 in - adorable hippie, college kid, 22-year old April - and she's on the "pot" trail.
• Mac and cheese, salad, and garlic bread on the family table. And popcorn with Luke and Lorelai's after-dinner movie.
• I'm still finding it super hard to believe that with all of Rory's world traveling, Logan is the only one she has to talk to on the phone, visit, and have sex with. The fiance has moved in in this episode, and reality is smacking Rory in the face. She's now the "hotel" girl. The mistress. Duh.
• Loud air conditioner during the town meeting. "It feels like an earthquake." -Rory "Strawberry shortcake?" -Lorelai 
• Such a sad 30-something gang. 😄
• What's up with all the fat shaming? Lorelai and Rory have always been snarky, but I don't remember them being unkind.
• Miss Patty has lost a ton of weight since the series!
• Rory insists that she is not home, but she's using her journalism degree from Yale University to take the unpaying "job" as the new editor of the Stars Hollow Gazette. I actually think it's cool that she's moved back home and is taking over the Gazette, but I wish she'd own that decision.
• Some things never change - Pop Tarts and coffee for breakfast. 
• Whoa, Emily is still asleep at noon. To quote Rory, "it's weird".
• Let me start by saying that I absolutey adore Sutton Foster (because I can't get enough of Younger), but that musical was just another waste of time. Lorelai's face was my face.
• Oh, highlight - Carol Kane singing "I Feel the Earth Move"! I mean, Sophie.
• Possibly crab puffs at the DAR meeting at Emily's house - Berta Puffs and Mystery Soup.
• FINALLY JESS! 💓💓 1 hour into the 3rd episode is far too late for the appearance of the best guy ever to come out of Stars Hollow. A liquid lunch - "Roundbottoms up!" Oh, a reference to Nora Ephron's neck (and one of my favorite books).
• And of course Jess gives her the best advice, because he listens and observes and knows the down-to-earth Rory - write a book about "you and your mom". 
• Still so many emotions at the cemetery. And even more when Rory reveals the story she's writing. Lorelai is not happy. I kind of get it, but at the same time, she's always been nothing but supportive of Rory, it kind of surprises me that she is against the idea. Her "story" is never anything she's been ashamed of before. Oh, and how, after so many years, is Lorelai still against Jess? Come on. He's a successful grown man, not a lost kid anymore. And he's sexy AF. 

Okay, so...I didn't make a recipe that inspired directly from this episode, rather from my elation that Jess finally made an appearance (albeit, far too short) in this episode. I looked back to season two (episode 16) and decided to make something from one of my favorite food scenes involving Jess and Rory (and Paris).

Paris: "What are you doing?"

Jess: "Salt and pepper dip. Only way to eat a fry."

Paris: "Really?"

Rory: "It's fast food gospel."

Then Jess asks Paris if she likes hot sauce, and she asks if she should. He responds that he thinks it's wise.

So, salt and pepper dip, with hot sauce, if you know what's good for you. Of course, I could have just poured salt and pepper together and called it a day (which is totally fine and delicious), but I went a tiny step further and made an actual dip for the fries. It's only a tiny step higher on the difficulty scale to make than pouring salt and pepper together in a bowl is.

Salt and Pepper Dip (for french fries)

mayonnaise, to taste
freshly ground garlic sea salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
hot sauce, to taste

Stir everything together in a small bowl until well-combined. Serve with hot french fries.