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Luann
Permanent Resident
USA
2610 Posts |
 Posted - 11/22/2010 : 09:38:51 AM
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This year we lost stalwart forum member and spam zapper extraordinaire, master knitter Fran Marrs. The originator of the 10-minute rule, she'd been there, knit that, yet answered every knitter's question as if for the first time. Despite numerous health problems, she lived every day to the fullest, and raised a trio of strong daughters who have continued her legacy of making powerful contributions to their communities.
Lest we remember her for her patience, generosity, and giving spirit alone, I offer this story that she first posted 7 years ago today.
The original topic thread is locked, but I invite you to read the comments so you can see Fran's responses.
Originally posted on 11/22/2003
This is the Thanksgiving day memory I am sharing with my children this year. I thought you might enjoy it, too.
One year I was planning a Thanksgiving dinner for my sister’s family (2adults and 10 children), my mother, and my 3 seven year olds. I had just bought the 24 lb turkey and was calculating thawing time when she called and said they could not make it for dinner. I popped the turkey back into the freezer and recalculated my time for a capon for my mother and 3 girls. On Thanksgiving, as we sat down for our dinner, the doorbell rang and in walked my sister and her family saying “surprise, we made it after all”. I looked at my little capon, heated up some hot dogs and said: “We are having our dinner at 6 pm this year. Here have some lunch.”
Now our traditional family dinner is entirely homemade, no shortcuts, with only fresh fruits and veggies, etc. Our only concession was using canned pumpkin, which was allowed only once in a while, and one can of jellied cranberry sauce for the few who would not eat fresh cranberries. I knew that was impossible this year, I had to take shortcuts and convince them I had done it without taking any. My sister and her husband are very critical of me. They love finding my mistakes. The impossible task was dealing with frozen turkey. I looked into my freezer and found a smaller 14 lb. turkey, so I pulled that out instead of the big one. I popped 2 potatoes into the microwave and when they were finished put the turkey in there to thaw and put the potatoes aside. I made pies and put them into the oven and while they were baking mixed bread and put it aside to rise. Then I began to cheat on my menu. I boiled some cranberries with sugar until they popped, dumped in a can of jellied cranberries and placed it into a mold in the refrigerator to cool. I opened cans of yams (instead of fresh), took the liquid, added brown sugar and seasoning and thickened it on the stove top, added the yams and put them into a casserole dish and set that aside. I made that famous green bean casserole made with mushroom soup and canned fried onions and set that aside. I made stuffing and put it into a pan instead of in the turkey, but topped it with a lid so it would not brown on top and look like it came from the inside of the bird. I was not about to peel potatoes for that crowd and even though my brother-in-law swore he could always tell instant potatoes from fresh, I was determined to fool him. I know a few tricks, too. I knew instant potatoes lost that instant taste if they were allowed to sit for about 20 minutes after mixing but that made them too cold, so I added a few more convincers. I made instant potatoes and set them aside, after a half an hour, I added a generous dollop of sour cream, then took those 2 baked potatoes, peeled them and smashed them lightly with a fork and mixed them in with the instant potatoes for instant lumps. I made gravy from powdered mixes and served that. Meanwhile, I had prepared the turkey and was cooking it in the microwave. I baked the bread and dinner rolls and added it to the finished food with the pies. I planned on putting the turkey in the oven for the last 30 minutes to brown while I heated up the vegetable dishes. I topped the yams with marshmallows and put that along with the green beans, potatoes, and stuffing into the oven to reheat. While that was going on I prepared platters of olives, pickles, celery sticks, etc. along with broccoli and cauliflower and dumped ranch dressing into a serving bowl on the platter. I HAD DONE IT. Now it was time for the taste test. I asked for help to carry everything into the dining room and as everyone was sitting at the table, went back into the kitchen to get the turkey. HORRORS. I had forgotten to put it into the oven for browning. There I was alone in the kitchen with this perfectly cooked bird with white wrinkled skin.......yuck. Feeling desperate but ready to face the music, I stuffed the bird with the prepared dressing and put it on its platter surrounded with parsley and small tomatoes. It looked so pathetic,I though of covering it with gravy. Then I got inspired. I grabbed a pastry brush, reached into the cupboard and PAINTED the turkey with Kitchen bouquet sauce. Then I took a deep breath and carried it into the dining room. My brother-in-law just stared at that turkey and I waited for what he was going to say next. After an embarrassingly long pause, he looked up and said: “ that is the most perfect turkey I have ever seen, it is browned so evenly with no burned spots. It is absolutely beautiful.” Then we sat down to eat and I waited for my criticism. After all this was my sister ad her family, I knew there would be one. Finally, my brother-in-law said that I had outdone myself this year, everything was perfect. Then he looked at his wife and told her that he still preferred her mashed potatoes to mine because hers were smooth. He had found a lump in mine. As my mother helped me to clear up and do dishes, she asked how I had managed that in so little time and we laughed the night away as I told her each secret of the “made from scratch” dinner.
fran
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Jane
SustaYning Member
USA
4290 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 09:52:16 AM
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I've been looking forward to this, Luann -- thank you! I'm inspired to use a few tricks myself this year!
Jane
Betty deserves everything and more: Make a Donation
Blog: Not Plain Jane
Photos: Flickr Album
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Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
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Luann
Permanent Resident
USA
2610 Posts |
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Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
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Jaknit
Seriously Hooked
638 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 11:20:31 AM
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Thank you, Luann, for reposting such a priceless Thanksgiving story for us. We are truly fortunate to have this wonderful memory of Fran with us during this season to remind us of the really important values in life.
Jan |
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KnittingKittens
Chatty Knitter
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 11:38:28 AM
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| What a great story! I laughed so hard as I was reading it. If it was me, I would have been nipping from a bottle! How ever did she keep them all out of the kitchen? My family is "helpful" and eager to assist so much so that a big simmering pot of sauce with meatballs has on many occassions been stirred inbto oblivion and become meat sauce. |
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eldergirl
Permanent Resident
USA
1673 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 1:55:55 PM
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Thank you Luann! For some reason I had not seen this, and it is *so* worth it!
Here I am in Rennes with my son and my grandkids, and we will do something with Thanksgiving, but I don't know what!
Fran was a marvel.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Anna |
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dschmidt
Permanent Resident
3920 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 2:45:24 PM
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Thank you, Luann, it is a story that totally captures Fran.
Donna in VA
The Honor Roll? It's easier here than in school. Scroll up to "Want to Make Betty Happy?" and be an Honor Roll member.
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knitnhygienist
New Pal
2 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 4:16:55 PM
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| This is a really wonderful story. I'm sorry that I did not meet Fran, my loss. I'm going to remember the Kitchen bouquet trick! |
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One Stitch at a Time
Chatty Knitter
269 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 7:04:46 PM
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Thank you Luann for sharing such a great Fran story. Her words continue to inspire us...
I'll enjoy thinking of this story on Thanksgiving when I begin to feel frazzled....
Nanci |
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Ceil
Permanent Resident
USA
1562 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 7:40:35 PM
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What a great story. Fran lives on!
Ceil
Time is never a factor when joy is involved. |
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spanishknitter
New Pal
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 10:22:46 PM
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Great story! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Ana
Ana |
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Punctuatedknitter
Seriously Hooked
819 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 11:26:52 PM
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Wow. I had better save this in my recipe folder. Fran taught me to calculate bust darts--I had no idea she could teach me to fake from-scratch dinner!
And as an aside--3 seven-year-olds to take care of, job, and all this! I never stop admiring. |
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hillstreetmama
Permanent Resident
USA
3448 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2010 : 04:45:31 AM
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Great story! (I had FIVE kids, and I NEVER would just show up unannounced. That took some nerve!) I probably would have just told them I hadn't planned for them, and let them brainstorm with me as to how to feed the group. I just don't think I'd have been that gracious.
Jan
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Mean Mama
Permanent Resident
USA
1138 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2010 : 08:13:39 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Luann
To say nothing of the audacity of a family of 12 showing up unannounced for dinner!
i must admire her ability to stay calm and gracious. That might just have been the Year of the First Traditional Spaghetti Thanksgiving Dinner at my house . . . how she got the bird defrosted and cooked boggles the mind!
-- Mean Mama
“Qui vit sans folie,
N’est pas si sage qu’il le croit.” |
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La galloise
Chatty Knitter
France
158 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2010 : 10:29:25 AM
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What a lovely story.
Fran was obviously far more gracious than I would have been........
Mary
ps. happily we don't have to cope with Thanksgiving and Christmas |
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Cecioboe
Seriously Hooked
USA
824 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2010 : 4:32:36 PM
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What a wonderful story, what a wonderful woman. Thank you for sharing.
Ceci
Aw, gee, c'mon and see: http://knittinreed.blogspot.com
Cecioboe on Ravelry |
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2totangle
Permanent Resident
1212 Posts |
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Cheerleader9
Permanent Resident
USA
1563 Posts |
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Shalee
Permanent Resident
USA
2021 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2010 : 7:47:08 PM
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I've always remembered her story of that Thanksgiving AND the one when her grandson brought her the Tater Tots. Her life was one of giving and loving. I truly miss her posts.
Sharon in NW PA
I always wanted my own library but I didn't realize it would be all knitting books!
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A Thanksgiving gift from Fran
