When you move your family across the country, you realize you have to start new traditions this time of year. You can't jaunt off to Grammy's house for turkey on Thanksgiving. You can't trek out the tree farm for a freshly cut Christmas tree. Ok, we never did that actually.
We have an artificial tree and I light lots of Evergreen candles. Yum.
But some traditions we were able to carry with us...
Thursday, we had dinner at the house of some of our new Colorado friends. Adam works with two of the guys and I've had the good fortune to get to know three of the girls who were there. I can't tell you how welcome we felt. Like we belonged there...and for a family without family in town, it was the best blessing of all.
Friday, we wanted to try our hand at cooking (mainly so we'd have leftovers...) and the only thing the kids really cared about was one dish.
Gnocchi ala Adam.
(Photo from Wikipedia. I couldn't get mine to turn out.)
Adam started making this for our family years ago, but as the kids have gotten older, he now employs their help.
Given Sophia's fascination with The Food Network, it's a great little project for all of them.
Even little hobbits love to help.
Making gnocchi IS time consuming, but it's more like a fun family project and the results are delicious, so once in awhile, it's totally worth it.
So, let's break it down.
Step one: Peel potatoes (we did 5 lbs. of red potatoes but that's because that's what was in the pantry.)
Step two: Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes. Boil till they're "fork tender." (New phrases I'm adding to my vocabulary.)
Step three: Drain, cool and then mash those suckers. Add some butter. Live a little.
Ok, now is where it gets fun. You may have to eyeball this next part:
Step four: Add flour (gluten free for Hobbits) and an egg and mash (knead?) together until a dough forms.
(Don't you love the handprints in Sam's flour?)
Step 5: Tape a sheet of wax paper onto the table and flour it. (Gluten free for Hobbits.)
Step 6: (This is the fun one) roll the dough into snakes on the floured surface.
This is where the kids LOVE to help out. (Our potatoes were chilling in the fridge while we went to see a movie, by the way. You don't want them too hot.)
Step Seven: Cut into one inch pieces.
Ethan was cutting them too small so we called his "Gnocchi Nubs."
But for the most part, they turned out okay. Sam didn't cut his own. And he didn't sit down the entire time.
I think it thought it was Play-dough.
Anyway. Now, you've got plates full of these guys:
So you can move on...
Step Eight: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Drop the gnocchi in and let cook 3-5 minutes (or until they rise to the top).
Step Nine: Drain and Serve!
(Gnocchi is often served with marinara saunce, but we love it buttered with parmesan cheese. I bet you could just slather on some gravy and call it a day if you wanted to. That'd be the healthiest thing.)
Anyway, there is one tradition (thanks to my husband) that we brought with us in our move.
And I don't see it changing anytime soon!
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
