The feast

Carey bought a Nautilus elliptical trainer last week.  There's a reason for that and it has something to do with our Thanksgiving menu. The links are courtesy of Carey and the parenthetical notations are from yours truly. 

• Holiday Brie en Croute (made two bowls for some reason, only ate one)
  
• Appetizer a la Wegmans: Bacon-Wrapped Sea Scallops, Spanakopita, Ratatouille & Artichoke Fillo Cups, Feta & Sundried Tomato Fillo Rolls, Mini Mushroom Fillo Triangles (everyone ate too much of these since they were the first edible items available at 3 p.m.)
  
• Mom's Hot Rolls (I don't remember these, but am told they will reheat well)
  
• Cornbread Pudding Muffins (with real kernels of corn! Guess what that meant this morning?)
• Pumpkin-Pecan Bread (pretty good, actually)
  
• Homemade Cranberry Sauce (somebody ate a couple tablespoons, I'm not sure who)
  
• Canned Cranberry Gel (an homage to Thanksgivings past, insisted upon by me)
  
• Sauteed Apples and Pears with Cinnamon and Honey (tasty, but superfluous)
  
• Sweet Potato Coins with Pecans and Goat Cheese (quite good)
  
• Masha's Candied Yams (unnecessary, given the sweet potato coins above)
  
• Buttered Carrots (never made it to the adults' table. I found them behind a pile of dishes when cleaning up)
  
• Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter (good, but barely touched)
  
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts (also good, but becoming common at our table, so not very special)
  
• Mushroom and Caramelized Shallot Strudel (for our vegetarian aunt who got sick and couldn't make it. I tasted it and liked it, but only two other people did and it has no place on a Thanksgiving table unless you have a vegan who needs it as a main dish)
  
• Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes (Very, very good)
  
• Anneli's Chestnut Stuffing (Didn't try it, but heard positive things from the assemblage)
  
• Marsha's Once-A-Year Mac-n-Cheese (A hit with the kids, of course)
• Anneli's Brined Turkey (only had a couple slices, honestly.  Seemed OK.  True test will be on white bread with mayonnaise at lunchtime)
  
• Marsha's Apple Maple Ham (I think she sliced this off an old ham she had in the fridge, after she heard complaints from some quarters that she wasn't making a whole spiral ham.  The effort was much appreciated)
• Mom's Coconut Cream Pie (a little runny since it was made that morning, but excellent)
  
• Mom's Chocolate Pudding Pie (the kids and Damond roared their approval)
  
• Sarah's Apple Crumble Pie (didn't try it, looking forward to sampling tonight)
  
• Sarah's Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie (probably the best pie I've ever had; really just indescribable) 

This is the mushroom meatless loaf thing. See how Angelika is looking so dubiously at Carey?

Not sure what dish this is, but Carey flashed that megawatt smile a lot yesterday.

Overly excited about brussels sprouts

Da bird. 20 lbs. We ate about 6.

The ladies, left to right: Angelika (Anneli and Damond's Swedish nanny), my betrothed, Grandma Vickie, Anneli, Sarah, Marsha