NOVEMBER 2012 $2.99

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Kids Volunteer 26 Martie Duncan: Food Network Star 32 Holiday Party Tips 43 Style: Fall Accessories 60 Go Gluten Free 76 Farm to Table: An Alabama Thanksgiving 84 Veterans Day: The Ba!le at Home 92

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Pancakes

(see page 106)

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BELOW AND RIGHT: Steven and Ashley Jackson with their children Nolen, 3 and Mae, 18 months and Steven’s mother Judy.

similar scenario plays out from coast to coast on Thanksgiving Day: a foot-ball is tossed in the yard until the big game kicks off on TV, families con-gregate in the kitchen while putting finishing touches on heirloom recipes, beverages are poured, children play games and time is suspended for a while. For Steven Jackson, owner of one of Birmingham’s favorite break-fast spots, Over Easy, the difference is that on Thanksgiving his mom, Judy, runs the show for a change and he’s able to take a break. “Fortunately, I have never had to do much

of the holiday prep. I’m generally just along for the ride. Of course, we all pitch in to help Mom with whatever needs to be done,” Jackson says. With son Nolen, almost 3, and Mae just 18 months, Jackson and his wife, Ashley, have plenty to keep them busy.

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Since childhood, Thanksgiving has always been at Jackson’s parents’ house, which means 20 or so extended family members. “As a rule, my mother takes responsibility for the lion’s share of the cooking and consistently makes the best Thanksgiving comfort food imaginable. Her broccoli casserole is by far and away the best I’ve had.” Judy Jackson rounds out her turkey smorgasbord with several standards: a honey-baked ham, home-made giblet gravy and dressing, and prized sweet-and-sour green beans with smoky bacon crumbles. From-scratch pumpkin pie is a much-anticipated grand finale.

Jackson admits that there is one dish on the Thanksgiving table that he’s shunned for as long as he can remember. “Cranberry sauce looks unnatural sit-ting there, still shaped like the can. I love cranberries, but to this day I will not, un-der any circumstance, eat the cranberry sauce!”

The day after Thanksgiving, fold left-overs into new dishes that are standouts in their own right. For breakfast, fold yes-terday’s pumpkin pie into pancake batter to create a stack of flapjacks (see pumpkin pie oatmeal pancakes, page 106) like none you’ve tasted. For lunch, breathe new life into that reviled cranberry sauce, using it

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In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Whisk together until mixture is uniform.

Dredge sliced bread in the egg wash,(both sides), allowing excess to drip off. Using a little butter or cook-ing spray, place bread on a griddle or non-stick skillet. While the French toast is cooking, heat the sliced turkey and sliced ham in a skillet until it is heated through.

When the French toast begins to brown, flip it over, adding turkey, ham and Swiss cheese to one piece of bread, and liberally spreading cranberry sauce on the other piece. Close the sandwich and continue cooking on that side until desired color is reached. Flip the sandwich and finish cooking the remaining side to desired color. Serve hot.

4 large eggs1/3 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Sliced sourdough or brioche bread

Sliced ham

Sliced turkey

Cranberry sauce

Monte Cristo Sandwich on French Toast

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as an accent for a ham-and-turkey Monte Cristo sand-wich (see recipe at left). And, proving that some things are better left unchanged, Jackson’s mom’s sweet-and-sour green beans (see above) have only gotten better after a day of letting the flavors mingle and are equally delicious served warm or cold.

After the buzz of activity on Thanksgiving Day, Jackson spends the rest of the long weekend at home with Ashley and their kids. His thrown-together meals are all about improvisation with what’s at hand. He

riffs on autumn flavors and tinkers with concepts in his home kitchen, which is decidedly more relaxed than the frenetic pace of cooking at the restaurant. And, if the reaction of his family is any indication, some of his creative recipes just might end up on the Over Easy menu.

This year when Thanksgiving is over, take a cue from Steven Jackson and weave leftovers into easy meals for days to come. It’s a holiday meal that keeps on giving.

Layer beans, onions and bacon in a flat casserole dish. Pour vinegar, sugar, and bacon drippings over casserole. Cook uncovered at 350° for 30 minutes. Then cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes.

Yields approximately 8 servings.

1 qt. cooked green beans

1 medium onion chopped

8 slices bacon, cooked

crisp and crumbled

1/2 cup vinegar1/2 cup sugar1/2 bacon drippings

Sweet and Sour Green Beans

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Using a hand mixer or whisk, blend all ingredients until the batter is smooth.

With a little butter or cooking spray, pour onto a non-stick griddle or skillet and cook at medium heat until done, flipping once.

Yields 8-10 pancakes.

2 cups all purpose flour

2 ! cups instant oatmeal

1 ! Tbsp. baking powder 1/3 cup sugar

2 ! Tbsp. baking soda

2 Tbsp. salt1/2 tsp. allspice

3 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

2 big slices of pumpkin pie

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Pancakes In a large mixing bowl, combine:

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I a* thank,- for famil+. I get great joy from the struggles and victories that we have as a family, and look forward whatever blessings God has for us in our future.

I a* thank,- for m+ famil+’% healt(, that we are able to get up in the morning and take care of our-selves physically. There are so many who must rely on others and I know that must be difficult.

I a* thank,- tha" Over Eas+ ha% continue. t& pr/per. Restaurant tales often do not end well, so I must remind myself how fortunate we are to have a restaurant that can sustain us.

I a* thank,- for m+ sta0 a" OE. Many have been with me since day one and others came on board soon after. They are loyal, worked long hours through our growing pains, often in roles they did not antici-pate. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful group.

M/" of al-, I a* thank,- t& worship 1 Go. who loves us and forgives us when we do not do the things we should. He carries us through our ups and downs and promises that no matter what comes he will not let go of us. That is an amazing promise, and one that I too often take for granted.

5 thing% Steve2 Jackso2 i% thank,- for

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ABOVE: Little Nolen helps out with the dishes after the big meal, as Mom and Dad assist.