Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy Birthday, Musette!

I know many of you are not in the United States and don’t celebrate this holiday, and it is a weird one this year.  But an even more important date – it is Miss Musette’s birthday, so Happy Birthday!

My kids went back to Denver to spend it with their dad and family out there, so I am just luxuriating in having five uninterrupted by work days ahead of me!  I fried a turkey – don’t ask, it’s really an American thing, along with deep fried Snicker bars, which I have never had – so I have plenty of sandwich stuff ahead of me. I ordered some yule log roll thing from William Sonoma because I just won’t bake for myself. That’s it there on the left.  Looks yummy. buche de Noel.  A chocolate genoise cake, rolled with coffee buttercream and finished with chocolate cream cheese frosting bark.  I think one bit will be plenty, and it looks monstrously large!

But it is also that time for the holiday shopping season. I do absolutely nothing. I mean, nothing.  I may or may not buy something for my mom. She is impossible to buy for.  I think I can buy her this yummy pre-cooked bacon from Sam’s Club that she loves and can’t get out there, so just stock her up on that so she doesn’t have to cook bacon anymore.  I get some toys for the little kids, IF the parents give me a clue what they need want, and that’s just the under 10 set now that I live nearby.  My kids get nothing, and they give me nothing because it is just painful for all of us to figure something out.

So what do you guys do?

I do have a coupe of samples of MFK BR540 Extrait to give out.  Winners are Anna Egeria and Alityk.  Just click on the Drop us a Note in turquoise clear at the top of the page, send me your name/address/ AND remind me what you won, and I’ll get it sent off to you.

I would offer a sample of that buche de Noel, but I doubt it will travel well!

  • Jennifer S says:

    Happy happy birthday Musette!

    Oooh….deep fried snickers! And that Yule log looks scrumptious!
    Christmas shopping was always an anxious ordeal for me…trying to balance work and shopping and everything else at home so I am happy to have it as low key as possible nowadays.

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    So how was the deep fried Snickers? I’ve never tried those type of things but have secretly wanted to 🙂 My husband doesn’t eat poultry and my youngest daughter doesn’t eat beef, so she’ll be making ham with scalloped potatoes, and veggies of her choice for dinner tomorrow. Today the kids and I are making fruitcakes, I gave up drinking some years ago so I’m not sure what we will soak them in but maybe the internet has ideas. I am so investigating that yule log, it’s beautiful. Belated birthday wishes also and I hope you have a peaceful and enjoyable Thanksgiving!

  • Queen-Cupcake says:

    Happy birthday to Musette! And happy Thanksgiving to all in the Posse. I made a buche de Noel a few years ago, to take to a friend’s house for Christmas dinner. I even made meringue mushrooms to decorate it. It isn’t that hard to make, if you have plenty of time–and patience–to put it together.

    • Musette says:

      QC, thanks!!! And I agree – the BdN isn’t difficult, as long as you make the sponge correctly and pre-roll. I made a birthday cake (I always do) with the same flavor components – coffee & chocolate and cream! Yum! xoxoxo

  • Portia says:

    Happy Birthday Musette.

    No idea what we are doing for Xmas.

    I’ve bought a selection of soap, some lasagna baking dishes and candles. VERY low key this year.
    Portia xx

    • Musette says:

      Portia, thank you! Also, thanks for the B’day memories from our Chicago hang!
      I always think of Rance soaps re you (and soap). Did you Rance this year? xoxoxo

      • Portia says:

        HA! Good memory Musette. There is one bar of Rance soap left here and I’m hoarding it. There is a LOT of more moderate stuff to go through currently. I do have Oriza Legrand soap at the Kitchen sink and an Ortigia at the Bathtub though. The Bathroom basins and Laundry all have mish mashes of other, less glam stuff.
        Portia xx

  • Zazie says:

    Happy birthday to Musette!
    And to me 😉

    So proud of being B-day twins!
    🙂
    I celebrated in full Milanese lockdown with 10h smartworking on top… no fancy restaurants, parties or shows…
    but honestly? I still feel I had a very lovely day with good food and a few lovely presents.
    Mohur extrait being the highlight…
    And the most impart thing: the kind messages received from family and friends… I can’t wait to see my people in person again soon, but I also am very appreciative of what I have, in a time where many people have list so much.
    So yay to 46! 🙂
    The alternative to growing old(er) is so much worse 😉

  • March says:

    Gonna be pretty quiet over here, us in our quarantine bubble. We always put the tree up, lol. And I have a bunch of TJ snack items to pop in the oven. XO

  • Ann says:

    ? Happy Birthday Musette! ? I hope you enjoyed your special day. You really bring us a lot of sunshine in your writing, I always look forward to your posts.

    Beautiful cake! My sister sometimes makes a BdN, maybe I will try it this year.

    This Thanksgiving it’s just me, husband & kids – first time ever just us – so weird – I hate Covid.

    The “Shop Related Products” are funny for this post – bacon, perfume, can of frosting.

  • Cinnamon says:

    Happy birthday Musette! May it be lovely and sane 🙂

    We do Thanksgiving but in a modified sort of way: hot open turkey sandwiches, mash, etc. Love Williams Sonoma. Still have mixing bowls and red and white wine glasses I got there decades ago (their prices have risen precipitously though…).

    Mostly finished with holiday gifts. Had this weird need to get it done early this year.

    And raised my donation to local food bank.

  • Jo Ann says:

    Happy Birthday Musette! Thankful for you, and everyone at the Posse for helping to lift our spirits during this dreadful year.

  • Maya says:

    Happy Birthday Musette! You don’t look a day older. 🙂

    As to Thanksgiving – I’m the Thanksgiving Grinch. lol
    Everyone just gets together to eat, and I hate turkey.

    • Musette says:

      LOL! Tday is a weird’un, innit? A local friend is stressing HORD that her family is not getting together tomorrow – except…. her family all live within 5 minutes of each other – and they see each other EVERY DAY! xoxoxo

  • Koyel says:

    Happy birthday, Musette!

  • filomena813 says:

    Happy Birthday Musette!

  • NancyC says:

    Happy birthday, Musette! I hope you celebrate to your heart’s content, and hug that big girl dog while you’re at it.

    We’re having a laid back TG day here, with a pasta casserole, green salad and chocolate cake for dessert. Will assemble the cass and make the cake tomorrow, to keep things extra easy on Thursday.

  • Gina T says:

    Happy Birthday!!!!!

  • Kathleen says:

    Happy Thanksgiving to all, and happy birthday Musette!
    It will be a different holiday season this year; however, I plan to enjoy being less busy as a result.

    • Musette says:

      Thank you – and that’s making lemonade, baby! After a bit of panic I also decided to just enjoy the slower pace of this week – and it feels GREAT! xoxoxo

  • Pam says:

    Happy Birthday, Musette!

  • Tara C says:

    Happy birthday Musette! That bûche looks scrumptious, some day I will try making one. We are just having a small outdoor lunch with my SIL & BIL for Thanksgiving. We don’t celebrate Christmas, just my husband’s birthday on Dec. 26th. Of course this year will be even more hermitty than usual. I am already bored out of my mind sitting at home with this hideous pandemic. But we shall soldier on, it will end eventually.

    • Musette says:

      Thanks!

      And look on the bright side – at least you can sit outside – we’re at 40F with a pounding rain here (typical November in IL) . xoxoxo

  • Dina C. says:

    Happiest of birthdays to you darling Ms. Musette! I appreciate your blog writing always, but this year especially since it’s such an awesome mood lifter. I wish for you a year ahead of good health, delicious scents, yummy foods and knowing that you are loved and respected by your peers!