Ok, guys, here’s the deal.
Thanksgiving is Thursday. Maybe you’ve heard?
Orrrrrr maybe you’re wondering where my Thanksgiving recipes are?
Don’t hold your breath. I am not that organized.
Control freak. Type A. Bossy hog. OCD. Anal. Detail-oriented.
Those words all describe me perfectly.
But when it comes to seasonal recipes, I’m a bit behind. I did make some out-of-this-world-Lloyd-said-his-dad-has-some-competition-now stuffing ahead of time, but I sometimes I just don’t have the energy to style and photograph my food. Sometimes I just have to live my life as a normal person, not a normal person with a food blog. For awhile, I was cooking and baking stuff that I felt my readers wanted to see. I stopped doing that. Now I cook and bake what I want, or what Lloyd wants, or what my family and friends want, and if it turns out great, I share it.
And sometimes, even if turns out great, I don’t share it. Lloyd is impatient. He likes his food hot. Sometimes I just don’t have the time to dedicate to capturing the perfect picture that will entice you to make the meal. Sometimes I’m just plain hungry. So sadly, I do not have any delicious Thanksgiving recipes to share. There’s plenty of deliciousness and inspiration on other blogs.
If I was a nice food blogger, I’d post some links to recipes I’d recommend.
But I’m not that nice. And I don’t have time for that.
We’re getting off topic. So now that you’re not mad at me anymore for not posting a Thanksgiving recipe, let me show you why this is way better than a Thanksgiving recipe.
Thursday you’re going to eat turkey. Lots of it.
Carbo-load, too-much-wine, oops-the-rolls-are-burnt, how-am-I-out-of-butter, Grandma-is-sleeping-in-her-mashed-potatoes, Mom’s-squash-is-the-best, pie-to-the-face, Aunt-Rosie-is-drunk-again.
I hope you have one of those holidays.
And next you’ll swear off turkey (at least until Christmas), slip into a booze-induced, tryptophan-coma and sleep with the Tums on your bed-side table. You’ll wake up feeling refreshed! Excited, even. Maybe you have the day off. Maybe you’re one of those whack-job Black Friday people who will wake up and go to the mall and fight with another mom because “No, my son needs this Tonka truck for Christmas!”
Whatever you do, it’s inevitable. You’re going to forget alllllll about how just yesterday you said you ate enough turkey to make a vegan cry, ate so many biscuits that you’re going to turn into one, and how you couldn’t possibly eat another cookie for a month.
Ya you are!
And then, you’re going to eat leftovers.
You glutton, you!
Cold, standing with the fridge open.
On a sandwich.
Straight from the casserole dish.
“I’ll just eat the congealed gravy with a spoon.”
Maybe heat up the rest of the stuffing, but why bother?
It will be a vicious cycle, that will repeat itself all.weekend.long.
Eventually, you’re going to get pissed.
You’re going to be all, “Where’s the rest of the turkey?!” “Who ate the stuffing I hid in that Tupperware container in the back where I thought no one would find it?” “I don’t even like cranberry sauce, but I’m pissed someone else ate it!”
The worst is going to be when the desserts go missing. Johnny went to his high school reunion last night, had a feeeeew too many brewskis, came home and demolished the pecan pie.
Just wait until you see it tomorrow morning, when it comes back up. You’ll be crying because not only did he eat the pie, but he totally wasted it if he’s going to regurgitate it!
Sound familiar? Thought so.
And so by the time Monday morning rolls around, and you have to go back to your 9-5, Christmas music blaring on the radio, and still cursing your family for finishing insert-favorite-Thanksgiving-dish here, you will be so over Thanksgiving.
You don’t want no turkey. Mashed potatoes are for the birds. I don’t even like green bean casserole. Cousin Susie’s apple pie isn’t even good! Why did I eat three slices?
Yea, I thought so.
And when your significant other says, “Honey, what do you want for dinner?” You’re going to say, “Sesame Beef Stir Fry. I saw it on Liz’s blog and I can’t stand the thought of any food that resembles a dish that was on our table last Thursday.”
And your spouse will nod in agreement, thinking, “That Liz. She’s always right.”
Yea, I thought so.
Sesame Beef Stir-Fry
Serves 2
Adapted from Cooking Light
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp bottled minced ginger
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1.5 tsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- ½ lb. flank steak, sliced against the grain
- 1 bunch broccoli crowns, chopped
- 1 bunch green onions, chopped
- 4 C baby spinach
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Directions
1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Heat a wok over high heat. Add oil to pan and coat. Add beef to pan, and cook until browned. Remove from pan.
3. Add broccoli and cook until slightly softened. Add onions and cook for 1 minute. Add soy sauce mixture and cook 1 minute. Return beef to pan; cook 1 minute. Add spinach, and cook until wilted. Top with sesame seeds.
Takeout gets a healthy makeover in this quick and fresh dish, perfect for health-conscious, time-impaired individuals. Whatever you add to your wok cooks in a flash. Meats emerges tender and succulent, and vegetables maintain their vibrant hues and crisp. Here, tender flank steak gets a splash of greens served along side scallions, spinach and broccoli.
This flavorful stir-fry is just what the doctor ordered after a holiday weekend full of indulgences.
So good, it’ll make you forget all about your Thanksgiving dinner.
Guess I should start planning – oh no!! This is a great meal in between all that turkey we’ll be eating.
Yummy! I definitely just queued an Asian style post for Friday… because, you’re right, people are NOT gonna want to think about turkey or mashed potatoes after Thursday. This stirfry is the perfect way to take the edge off!
My first thought was that I wanted this now…kind of because I don’t want to wait until after Thursday, but also because I don’t want to think stuffing and turkey until at least Wednesday when it’s prep time
Looks fantastic! I love adding sesame seeds to stir frys 
@Baking Serendipity, Haha, it’s an easy, quick dish that tastes indulgent but really isn’t so bad!
@Emily @ A Cambridge Story, Haha, people will be in food comas!
Perfect flavors for stepping away from the traditional Thanksgiving meal…nicely done!
This looks so healthy and delicious. Love the combination of the broccoli and the spinach. The flank steak looks so tender too.
The commentary on this post craaaacks me up. That’s totally my Thanksgiving.
I could eat stir fry every night. I don’t even like turkey to begin with.
Isn’t that the truth about the hot food??? I always make enough to save some for photos later, or before hand or something, because once that food is in front of you, all you want to do is EAT it!
My partner, 2.0, says he always knows when dinner is ready because he can hear the click-click-clicking of my camera. Poor man. I bet Lloyd can relate. This stir fry looks amazing – maybe I’ll make it. And I won’t even take any photos. Because you already did that for me…
Ooh, look at that wilted spinach! This looks delicious, and like a great meal before the holidays
Ginger, garlic, soy sauce. I’m a happy camper. This looks amazing. I love beef, way over any kind of poultry, so you’re talking my language. Thanks for posting something not-turkey.
I deal with the issue of taking food pictures with family members clamoring for dinner on a regular basis. Most of my plates of food are the leftovers, taken the next day. I refuse to lessen the dinner experience for my loved ones just for the perfect picture. Of course, the fact that I don’t take very good photos helps.
Your stir fry looks amazing! I love beef and broccoli together like this. Your broccoli looks perfectly cooked too!
I hear you on sometimes not having the energy to style and photograph food! Honestly this is my LEAST favorite part of blogging. I love coming up with new recipes and sharing them with people but when it’s a workday and I’m tired and hungry styling and photography is the last thing on my mind.
Now this is something that I could easily dive right in to! I love stir fry!!!
Yum! I want to make this NOW! (But I will have to wait until after Thanksgiving) :-p
Thanks for sharing.
What a FUN post! Thanks for a delicious recipe and a great read!
Your stir fry looks really good! I love a good stir fry! I know what you mean about life getting in the way of blogging sometimes. I don’t have great light except for a few hours in the day so sometimes that means I’m making dinner at 11 in order to take pictures by 12. Either way, I hope you have a happy and delicious Thanksgiving!
@Alyssa, Thank you!
@Ann, Hehe, thanks!
@Thomas Andrew, Anytime!
@Steph@stephsbitebybite, Ditto!
@Kelly, If I had more time, I’d LOVE it! It’s hard.
@RavieNomNoms, Thanks, lady!
@The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time, That’s what I do sometimes- save enough to take some pics.
@Kiri W., Thanks!
So nice to see a Chinese stir fry dish here. I’m glad you like to eat healthy. And yes, contrary to what some think based on cheap Americanized Chinese take outs, Chinese food is actually very healthy – at least the ones that the Chinese make themselves at home! =) Happy eating!
I have had such a craving for a beef stir fry lately and I have no idea why. This really looks like it would hit the spot. (and don’t worry, I hadn’t thought of a single ‘Thanksgiving’ themed post until like the Saturday before.
Normally, Im weeks ahead.