2021 Home For the Holidays

2021 Home for the Holidays Lincoln Daily News November 24, 2021 Page 41 kids were growing up, how life was moving along at its fast pace. Everyone, young and old, talked and shared and truly enjoyed each other’s company. No, this is not a scene out of the past, from some bygone age. On the counter is a sous vide precision cooker, an Anova Precision Oven, electronic timers, and a host of modern appliances. Cell phones and televisions and technology are present, but it seems that they are put away, forgotten and family relationship is the focus. Children watched with interest as their parents prepared the stuffing. The youngest ones laid out the white bread slices in the roaster and on cookie sheets to be placed in the oven to dry. The children learned every step of the preparation, and were encouraged to carefully try chopping the celery. Everyone laughed together in sympathy as childrens’ tears fell while chopping onions, and great grandma magically came to the rescue by placing a slice of onion on top of each of their heads to stop the tear-filled overwhelming onion effect. As bowls and spoons and pots and pans are used, they are moved to the sink where the teenagers carefully washed and dried them to return them to the preparers and the preparation. Words of praise were issued for their diligence, and grandma gave the teenagers her special warm grandma smile. Conversation flowed, instructions were shared, family interest was expressed and everyone connected like a team, like a real family. Everyone took part as the work done by many hands seemed like no work at all. Everyone young and old took time to admire the huge turkey as it was unwrapped, washed and made ready for roasting. They talked together about where the food came from, how it was grown and how it came to this kitchen. Potatoes were peeled, carrots too. Sweet potatoes were prepared with brown sugar and butter, and the dried bread was removed from the oven, the temperature turned up to prepare for the turkey and the ham to roast along with special dinner rolls. The shared work and roles in the preparation seemed to make even finicky eaters eager for the dishes that would be shared later around the immense dining room table. Little snacks of chopped carrot and celery were munched on around the kitchen. Little ones brought the teenagers snacks to stave off their advancing appetites. Continued n