I wanted this Thanksgiving to be extra special because it was my first one in our new home. I even got a fancy (read fabric!) tablecloth! i was si excited to make my flan! i started Wednesday night after my munchkin was sleeping… I don’t know what was happening but I suspect I was stressed or something… My first,second, third attempt to make caramel was a big Thanksgiving fail.. hard candy! 🙁 feeling awful i decided to call it a night and start fresh the next day. The next day…. Same thing!
I tried looking at different recipes online, looking at tutorials on YouTube.. NADA! Two more batches of hard candy later, a few cups of sugar wasted, and I’m not going to lie, a few tears… finally i had caramel… turns out when in doubt, follow Tia Nina’s advice. I had finally succeeded! The flan (which my hubbs called flan made with tears) was delicious.
My first Thanksgiving in my new home was almost ruined because I was so bent out of shape because of the damn flan. In case you’re wondering, i had made one… and that had been perfect on the first try! So that made this incredibly frustrated—my failing attempt for the most important meal of the year! Now that it has passed, I can’t believe I almost let that run my whole day (it ruined part if my day!!) I mean, did I really need to make a flan to prove to myself that I could do it? Was the flan tied to my self-worth? (Ok perhaps I’m being a little dramatic)… Why couldn’t I just let it go, buy some pie or something? First of all, because I feel like I wouldn’t have contributed to Thanksgiving dinner had I not made the flan. (Hubbs is the chef in my chateau, remember?) I was so excited when I got it in the first try that I couldn’t BELIEVE I couldn’t go it again. I mean really… I refused to be defeated by sugar and water (turns out that was my downfall- sugar only not water! Even though it worked the first time, go figure!)
Lesson learned— don’t be so hard on myself. It doesn’t have to be perfect…and store-bought can still be yummy (next year I am planning on perfecting my recipe waaay in advance of Turkey Day)
Second lesson learned… when in doubt, call Tia Nina… maybe she will help me out with some lessons…
Dinner was a delicious, fun family and carb-filled feast. (note to self- don’t wait until Thanksgiving day to buy the haricots verts!) I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend! Don’t forget to always be thankful for what you have!! (and remember those that aren’t as fortunate!)
ps. please feel free to share your near #Thanksgivingfail here on on Twitter! @dianalimongi
