Thanksgiving is but a week away...

[jtyangel]

What's on the menu? What traditions do you all have going on? What things must you do that day or it just isn't a full Tday for you?

I'm asking this because I had to make a list of these things for a project Ryan is doing at school and since his attention wanes for the writing of 10 sentences, I got the duty.

After I had it written, I really started getting in the mood for this holiday coming up and thought of all I need to get done for the day. There's almost even an enjoyment to doing the regular 'spring' cleaning stuff knowing that there is an enjoyable day coming at the end of it.

I want to get the carpets cleaned since I haven't done them since the summer for one and I want to start getting the Christmas decorations close to the basement stairs so they are ready to come up in a couple of weekends. As for Thanksgiving, I already have the turkey, but need to make a list of the the things I need for the side dishes and also for the baking I'll be doing in the weeks that follow. I have special dinnerwear to get ready, tablecloth, etc. I need to go get a traditional bottle of wine too. I really am not a wine fan, but it's something of a tradition from my childhood to have it. I plan to make a potato cucumber soup my dad made almost every year too.

So, our menu this year is:

Turkey(duh)
fresh made cranberry sauce
stuffing with sage sausage, cranberries, and chesnuts
homemade yeast rolls
cucumber potato soup
corn
glazed carrots
the beloved yam puff
mashed taters and gravy
brocolli with cheese sauce

for sweets and such there is
pumpkin pie
pecan pie
pumpkin bread
cranberry walnut bread
zucchini bread

The one special item that comes out is a tablecloth I've used since my daughter was born. It's starting to fade a bit, but its swarming with fall colors and is really pretty. It's cloth so it gets used once and then needs its washing.

[Flame]

I love Thanksgiving, and cook up a huge meal, even if its jsut the 5 of us.  This year my sister and her whole family (even the husband, though they are separated???????) are coming for the day ( a couple kids are coming the night before).

Of course, the menu....I make the same stuff I've had since I was a little kid, the same way.  It's just not T-day with out it. and my husband actually likes "my" sides better than "his" stuff from childhood. (At least he says he does!  )

On the menu:

Turkey (Mr Flame's job...he's the master at it!)
stuffing, but not in the bird
mashed potatos
green bean casserole
yams/sweet potatos
cranberry sauce (I'm the only one who eats it, and I like the stuff in the can, believe it or not!)
rolls

If we eat late, I set out "munchies" like veggies and dip or make a soup, but we usually eat around 2.

And Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving unless we watch the Cowboys play.

[jtyangel]

thx for the reply, flame. I love Thanksgiving too and we also defer to my sides. I make the same ones since I was a kid. Dad was a great cook and my mother isn't too bad either. He was the one who made the cuke/potato soup and he discovered the yam puff recipe when I was about 10. They also made a squash recipe, but I don't care for squash. I also cook even if it is just us 6...it was tradition in our house to do so and I've stuck with it. This time of year is one of the times I enjoy actually having my mother live with us(going on 7 years now). It's almost like having a little piece of childhood in my home stillb ecause she's here cooking with me on those days. We've had some power struggles, but this year I've decided to let her be more involved in the planning, cooking, and decorating. I realized I bitch sometimes that she' snot involved, but I have a huge hand in pushing her out at other times. Who knows how long we get our parents you know?

Oh, I forgot to add, I keep a fire going all day long on Thanksgiving. I mean from wake up time until bed. It's one of the things I love about living up north. 

[Flame]

I forgot about desserts...we usually have a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie, just because that's what we've always done.

[franksolich]

I dunno; I'm kind of sporadic about Thanksgiving habits.

The only thing that's regular is that the cats get half a can, each, of white-chicken-breast-and-water.  The cats don't know any more about Thanksgiving than pigs do about Christmas, but it's something I do.

This Thanksgiving, I'm headed out to a roadside diner in a small town about 80 miles away.  I'm taking along this guy originally from Omaha, a black guy who works as a masonry restoration specialist (plenty of that sort of work out here); because he is who he is, he gets lonely at times.

And besides, he always tells great army stories.  He's easy to "read."

I have no idea what he'll have, probably the usual standard customary run-of-the-mill two-pound sirloin steak and all the fixings there, but I'm going to stick with turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and gravy, lots and lots of it.

Then Thanksgiving evening, provided the anticipated heir isn't coming into the world quite then, I'll go over to the neighbor's house and dine on turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, and gravy, lots and lots of it.  This is the neighbor with the red-headed wife, two twin infant daughters; the one who played midwife to that distressed cow several months ago, and the one who along with me got banged up by the stoned Buckeye on the highway.

If the anticipated heir is complicating things Thanksgiving Day, I'll just go over the river to the old guy's house, and we'll dine on Valentino's carry-out pizza while he reminescences about his late wife and tells me what he wants done with his place when he heads for his daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons out in California in December.

All in all, it's reasonable to expect it'll be a good day, a mellow day.

[jtyangel]

Traditions sometimes aren't all that traditional, frank. I'm sure it will be a fine day.  You'd have a place at our table if you were close by!

[franksolich]

You'd have a place at our table if you were close by!

I'd take it too, madam, even before you had the chance to invite me.

Holidays are never sad for me, because I have a good memory.

Even though they're all gone now, some of them for a couple of decades, I can still yank from the memory vivid impressions of Holidays past with People past.

Holidays are great.

[jtyangel]

I'd take it too, madam, even before you had the chance to invite me.

Holidays are never sad for me, because I have a good memory.

Even though they're all gone now, some of them for a couple of decades, I can still yank from the memory vivid impressions of Holidays past with People past.

Holidays are great.

That would work. I always keep enough food made and plates and such handy for guests who may pass by and the door is always open. 

And yes, holidays are great. One of my more memorable, I can recall details of a childhood Christmas back in the 70's. It was the first time we had Christmas snow in Maryland(well, for me anyway) and I remember the lights glistening on the snow, how the air felt, the candles my mother had lit in the house...those are all cherished details that I think I'll take to my grave with me as vivid as if they occured the day before. *sigh*

[formerlurker]

My husband and I come from very large families, so our holidays are usually spent house hopping between various relatives -- which was fine the 13 years before we had kids, since we have them it is just a pain in the behind.   We had everyone over our house a few years, but the work involved in that is not enticing this year so my husband and I decided to stay home with our tots and have a luxurious dinner of lobster and prime rib. 

Yeah well, that isn't going to happen -- our "just us" turned into everyone dropping by throughout the day and night, so we will have to have appetizers and desert prepared, the house immaculate, and watch the revolving door go all day into the evening. 

 

[Uhhuh35]

I've had so many different Thanksgiving meals that it doesn't really matter anymore what's served, just so long as there is plenty of it. 

But his year I'm really interested in seeing the 11-0 Titans playing the 0-11 Lions!

[Miss Mia]

I'm actually spending Thanksgiving with my mom this year.  I'm not really in the mood for big family holidays this year.  I can't go to my grandpa's since they're still recovering from Ike.  (He did get a FEMA trailer last week and asked me when am I going to come and visit.) 

So, I chatted with my mom, I was resigned to just spending the holiday at home with the kitties.  I wanted to get her to make dressing, because while I know the mechanics of it, I don't trust myself to make it quite yet.  And now I'll be going to her house.  Supposedly my brother, the one I never see and don't really know, is going to come but I won't hold my breath.

Our dinner will be a simple meal:

Cornish Game Hens (a turkey is just too much food and it'll go to waste)
Cornbread Dressing
Cranberry Sauce from a can
Green Bean Casserole
Yams with marshmallows - for my mom
Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream


So, we've cut a lot out of the usual traditional meal to just our favorites. 

[Chris_]

My family's keeping it the same as always.  I'm traveling to Shreveport next week, and will likely end up in Marshall, Texas with my stepmother's parents for one day, I hope.

They usually have everything:

turkey
ham
green bean casserole
sweet potato casserole (the way they do it, its a dessert )
cranberry sauce
pea salad
dressing
mashed potatoes and gravy
Sister Schubert's rolls

Desserts:

Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Apple Pie

[debk]

Going to friends' for a "potluck" Thanksgiving.

The number of people coming keeps rising.....I'm not sure where Margot is going to put everyone...put the table will certainly be full!!!

Margot's cooking: (she has to clean and decorate so she's cooking less)

Turkey
Cranberry orange salad
Jack Daniels eggnog

Her 96 yo mother in law: (Margot tried to get her to do less but she insisted)

Twice baked potato casserole
Pecan pie
Homemade rolls
Sweet potato casserole
Fresh green beans
Dressing and gravy - I'm excited to try this....she makes the dressing into patties and fries them.

Me:

New Orleand corn pudding
Baked oyster casserole
Broccoli cheese casserole
Caprese salad - something different but everyone likes it
Either pumpkin pies or pumpkin cheesecake with cinnamon whipped cream
Baked brie in puff pastry with cranberries, apricot jam, and almonds.

Another friend:

Toasted almond mousse
Some sort of hot dip


Margot's step daughter is due to deliver on the 2nd unless baby comes early. She is 41 and baby was unexpected...so she and her family(husband and 2 other boys)...get a pass this year.

Margot's daughter and SIL are coming back from Colorado the night before so they are bringing pop and ice.

The rest of the kids, are either bringing ice or on kitchen duty.


Her husband and my sweet of heart always say we cook enough for 2 armies when we are together.  

[Chris]

The usual... turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and mashed turnips, brussell sprouts, and Mom's sausage stuffing.  Dessert is whatever gets brought by someone else. 

I'm bringing my chocolate Tres Leches to the office party on the 25th.

[asdf2231]

The big tradition in our house is that the kids ALWAYS watch the Macy's Parade. Without fail.  The follow up tradition is that the day after Thanksgiving is supposed to be the day the decorations go up for Christmas.

Menu:

A 22 pound free range turkey.

Mashed spuds.

Green bean casserole.

Glazed baby carrots.

Home made gravy.

Cranberry sauce.

Biscuits.

Deep dish apple and pumpkin pie (With COOL WHIP!) for afters.

[Servonaut]

I have to work Thanksgiving

But it's double time and a half 

[Lord Undies]

Like water and air, we rush to equalize. 

Since my daughter moved back from St. Louis, and since she has such a large home, and since we have such a large "immediate" family, we will once again serve dinner in Windmill Farms.

I don't mind so much, except I have always been the wind which blows against the Thanksgiving Empire.  I like to dine Denny's on Thanksgiving Day.  No fuss.  No muss.

Everyone gets want they want and I'll gladly pick up the check.  It is cheaper than my wife's "well, I spent $172.34 but it's family" defense. 

No leftovers.  No foil.  No "here, I wrapped this up for you".  No screwed up kitchen.  No flies.  No need to entertain.  Just Denny's.  God's Little Acre.

[Chris_]

That commercial where the guy's "phone" talks about how important the call he missed about how you should THAW the turkey before deep-frying it cracks me up.

I would LOVE for Mythbusters to do that -- drop a frozen turkey into  a hot oil fryer.   KABOOM!

[Hawkgirl]

Thanksgiving at my mom's....(we're italian)

Antipasto: Assorted cheeses, dried sausages, roasted red peppers, assorted olives and garlic bread
2nd Course: Some sort of pasta dish
Main Course: Turkey with Stuffing(mushrooms sausage, rice type stuffing in the bird)
Stuffed Mushrooms
Garlic Asparagus
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Salad

Dessert:
My mom's Tiramisu
and I make a Sweet Potato Pie...
and whatever the other guests brings.

I love Thanksgiving...

[franksolich]

You know, there's one ingredient in all these menus that surprises me.

Beans, usually green beans; beans bare or beans mixed into something else.

I've never in my life had beans with a Thanksgiving dinner.

I spent all afternoon contemplating upon this, trying to recall, going through all the Thanksgiving meals I had as a child, a teenager, and an adult.

The Thanksgiving dinners made by the late maternal ancestress never had beans.

The Thanksgiving dinners made by the sisters and sisters-in-law (after the parents died) never had beans.

The Thanksgiving dinners made by the nieces-in-law never have beans.

The Thanksgiving dinners made for church fund-raising dinners never have beans.

The Thanksgiving menus offered by restaurants I habituate never have beans.

The traditional Thanksgiving vegetables appear to be fresh corn, fresh peas.

No beans.

This custom of having beans, or things with beans in them, for Thanksgiving must be one of those quaint provincial customs scattered in small parts of the country.

I got nothing against beans, but to me, having beans, or things made with beans, on Thanksgiving would be about as alien as drinking beer in a mortuary as the service is going on.

[Chris_]

You know, there's one ingredient in all these menus that surprises me.

Beans, usually green beans; beans bare or beans mixed into something else.

I've never in my life had beans with a Thanksgiving dinner.

I spent all afternoon contemplating upon this, trying to recall, going through all the Thanksgiving meals I had as a child, a teenager, and an adult.

The Thanksgiving dinners made by the late maternal ancestress never had beans.

The Thanksgiving dinners made by the sisters and sisters-in-law (after the parents died) never had beans.

The Thanksgiving dinners made by the nieces-in-law never have beans.

The Thanksgiving dinners made for church fund-raising dinners never have beans.

The Thanksgiving menus offered by restaurants I habituate never have beans.

The traditional Thanksgiving vegetables appear to be fresh corn, fresh peas.

No beans.

This custom of having beans, or things with beans in them, for Thanksgiving must be one of those quaint provincial customs scattered in small parts of the country.

I got nothing against beans, but to me, having beans, or things made with beans, on Thanksgiving would be about as alien as drinking beer in a mortuary as the service is going on.

When the whole family would get together, my sister always brought french bean casserole -- pretty good.  You take French Cut Green Beans, top with Cream Of Mushroom soup, top with dried canned onion rings and bake for a while.

Pretty good.  Try it.

[Hawkgirl]

I never had beans at Thanksgiving either....

[Chris]

We never had them either.  Green bean casserole seems to be a big thing in the South.  Four people are bringing GBC to the office party.

[franksolich]

Pretty good.  Try it.

Thanks, but no thanks, sir.

I wouldn't die unhappy never having had beans on Thanksgiving.

[Odin's Hand]

Going to the folks' for:

Deep-fried turkey
Sweet corn on the cob
Sweet potato casserole
Cornbread dressing
Green bean casserole
Mashed potatoes
Gravy
Homemade cranberry sauce
Deviled eggs
Olives, pickles and pickled okra tray
Pumpkin pie and pecan pie
Pineapple upside-down cake