Return to Spring Ranch

Do you remember our first real post? Five short months ago, we reported on our trip up to Spring Ranch in Mendocino, before Troy had an iPhone and we were (briefly) borrowing photos from the internet. We were very pleased to return this weekend as Peter grabbed the ranch for Thanksgiving and invited us and several others up:

pic by peter

It was a little colder in November, and Macy kept both fireplaces going almost non-stop the entire long weekend. The cold also seemed to have kept the ghosts away this trip.

We had the big dinner on Friday to allow for travel time. On Wednesday night, Wayne made his always delicious Curried Chickpeas (Tennesseans might remember Dan made this dish for Thanksgiving 2003 –Allie and/or Trey: I remember you picked off the coating of spinach from the single chickpea you politely tried). Dan treated us to his famous Cincinnati Chili on Thursday, and Jen wowed everyone with Pumpkin Tofu Curry Saturday.

Peter printed up a menu (imagine the following in Mistral font on top of a turkey watermark)

Thanksgiving 2008
Artisanal Cheeses
Humboldt Fog Fresh (California, goat)
Five-Year Gouda (Dutch, cow)
Chevre au Lait (Wisconsin, goat)
Brie de Meaux (France, cow)
Foie Gras de Canard in Filo Crisps
2007 Cline Viognier
2007 Pey-Marin Riesling

Soup
Cauliflower & White Truffle Oil Soup with Black Truffle Shavings
2008 Beaujolais Nouveau

Salad
Mixed Green Salad with Pink Lady Apples & Hand-Picked Organic Tomatoes

Main Course
Roasted Turkey with Oyster Stuffing
Lemon Pepper Broccoli
Puree of Parsnips & Butternut Squash
Potatoes Mashed with Shiitake, Chanterelle, Porcini & Candy Cap Mushrooms
Cranberry & Bartlett Pear Relish
2006 Roessler Red Label Pinot Noir
2006 Vichon Pinot Noir

Dessert
Bourbon Pecan Pie
Blackberry Cheesecake
Homemade Blackberry Cordial

the back of our heads eagerly await the main course and some pinot

Besides eating, talking around the fire and playing cards, we had some time for holiday shopping in Ft. Bragg and a coastal hike. A very nice lady at the bookstore was speechless to learn that we had not yet been to MacKerricher State Park (we never made it to her recommended coastal winery, but next time!):

Here’s a shot of the famous barns you were missing in the original July post, looking out a staircase window toward the bluffs above the ocean:

Explore posts in the same categories: Activities, Family, Food, Friends, Travel

Tags: Bourbon Pecan Pie, Cheshire Books, Mendocino, Spring Ranch, Thanksgiving

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