This, out of all the days of the year, is the holiday best defined by who you choose to spend time with.

Rancho Gordo Mayacoba and Rio Zape beans, posole, and wild rice, plus brown rice and onions caramelized in bacon fat

Sautéed squid (marinated with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes)

Baked delicata squash rings with butter, Rancho Gordo New Mexico chile powder, and maple sugar

Green chard sautéed in duck fat

Spicy mac ‘n’ cheese (1/2 pound of habanero cheddar, 1/4 pound of extra sharp, plus many other cheeses all added to the white sauce base, which began with almost a whole large onion sweated in the butter and seasoned with nutmeg, Old Bay, and dry mustard, and topped with cheese/cheese cracker crumbs)
Sliced avocado and homemade pickled onion
Homemade salsa verde
Salsa roja/pico de gallo of canned and soft-dried tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, fish sauce, rice vinegar
Mixed lettuce, cucumber, grape tomato, red bell pepper salad with olive oil and homemade tarragon vinegar
Sachertorte from Andre’s Hungarian
Chocolate cinnamon ice cream
Almond butter cookies

Thanks to Suzanne and Paul for having us over. Friends are what family should be.