Bumping Up Thanksgiving A Notch

Pardonnez-moi, what is happening in this photo, who are these people, and most importantly, why are much-derided toothpicks involved? Don't panic, the explanation is quite simple. Chlo-Chlo, as we call her Chez SJG, and her husband, aka my first-born Billy, plus a short interloper, are making madeleines. When I tell you the young married ones are obsessed with "The British Baking Show," I'm not kidding. So we are following the dough and making two types: Lemon-zested and mini-chocolate-chipped. The toothpicks are for the pushing down of the chips so they don't burn while baking. And Chlo-Chlo, the experienced baker, said we had to do it.

What we are not following exactly, because who needs the aggravation, is the show's exact recipe. But we are taking Paul Hollywood up on his his challenge to make sure there's a nice bump in the madeleines.

Nice bump!

Somewhere between dinner and dessert, we'll powder these with sugar, make a dark chocolate dipping sauce and wait for the repressed memories to flood our brains of le temps perdu. Don't worry, we'll have a few shrinks standing by should things get out of hand.

Oh, and speaking of lost time, the SJG must now away to the palatial kitchen, to prepare a feast that, just between us, will look nothing like the above photo.

But 18 of us, assuming everyone shows up, you never know, will dine at these tables I obsessed over, as only I can, and God willing, every single bite will be praised, repeatedly. Or, knowing my people, lovingly ridiculed.

No matter where you nosh on this fine November day, remember this: Thanksgiving Means Thanks Living.