no one is mentioning Thanksgiving here yet. what's that all about? [Archive]

Blackdog Lin

11-25-14, 9:59pm

So I'll start with a Happy Thanksgiving to y'all. May you be blessed and happy on your holiday.

I shall spend the day trying to remember to be thankful for all my blessings, of which are many. And even though I shall try not to focus on these particular aspects of the holiday.....I will be very grateful for the good food. And the football. :)

We are having a very small gathering and I've been trying hard to not get too carried away on the menu, in the interest of my sanity and my Simple Living philosophies - but it's hard to tell myself "but what if that's not enough?! you need another veggie! a salad! another pie!" (I'm a foodaphile. Can't help it, it was my upbringing. My family always wanted to feed the world, frugally and tastefully.) :)

A 14-lb. turkey, which may or may not end up roasted to perfection. (probably it won't.) Homemade dressing, gravy, Brussels sprouts-n-corn, crescent rolls (from the can - love those things!), and a homemade pumpkin pie. A veritable wealth of food for only 4-5 people.

And not forgetting.....I am truly grateful this year for this online community. Y'all rock.

What are your Thanksgiving stories this year?

Float On

11-25-14, 10:39pm

kib

11-25-14, 10:55pm

early morning

11-25-14, 11:21pm

kib, I don't know about "wow", amd I don't claim to be a great cook - but here are just a few tips from some almost-disasters over the years. I've roasted fresh birds, free range birds, and cheapo frozen birds, and they can all come out just lovely. First - make sure your roaster is big enough to hold all the drippings and keep the bird up out of them. Second, try to make sure it's thawed out before you need to put it in the oven. This may require cold-water soaking, or hot water running, lol. Do not trust the charts of how long to thaw the turkey in your fridge. I did that once and the bloody thing was still a solid rock Thanksgiving morning. Don't cook the stuffing in the bird - a recipe for ptomaine, as far as I'm concerned. Others will quite disagree. Baste with real butter. Buy GOOD, HEAVY foil to cover leg ends and wing tips. I actually cover the whole bird for the first bit of cooking, so it browns nicely but doesn't dry out while the inner parts are still getting warm! Cheap foil can stick to the skin and make your turkey look like it was covered in large flakes of glitter... If you find you need to drain some of the drippings from under the bird before it's done, GET HELP! Do not try to do it by yourself. (Guess how I know this? :|() It's really best to remove the turkey onto a platter while you drain the roaster. And use a thermometer to be sure you reach the proper temperature. Have fun with your first turkey! It's really not difficult, and I'm sure yours will be lovely!

catherine

11-25-14, 11:32pm

Get together with about 10 people, I'm doing the turkey. new experience for me, a whole turkey. (Can someone PLEASE post a fail proof wow factor turkey that doesn't involve special equipment like a fryer?!)

This is the recipe (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/traditional-roast-turkey-recipe.html) DH is trying this year.. We've done many, many turkeys, and this one seems really good because of the 500 degree sear you start with.

My 3 kids + one SO and + foster dog are coming down from VT tomorrow, if the weather holds out. We'll be joined on Thursday by kid #4, DDIL and DGS, plus a couple of friends and BIL. Really, really can't wait to see the kids!!

Tradd

11-26-14, 12:16am

The usual 2-3 families who pass me around amongst them for holidays are all out of town or not hosting this year. I'm going to stay home, do some online shopping, veg, and make myself a nice dinner.

gimmethesimplelife

11-26-14, 1:04am

I'm getting up early to do some reflecting on this year as I truly do have things to be grateful for this year. Short list - feeling physicaly better due to gallbladder having been taken out - more energy due to discovery of thyroid problem and taking appropriate meds - and me actually seeing someone, something I honestly would not have believed a year ago would happen! Among other positive things.

I will have turkey with my mother early in the afternoon and then in the evening I will go over to my boyfriend's place, he is making chicken mole with his mother's recipe and I am really excited to see how it turns out.

Really, as much as I tend to focus on the negative, in the the years I've been part of the Simple Living community here, this Thanksgiving stands out as one I truly do have much to be grateful for. Rob

PS Something else I'm very thankful for - this Spring when I had my health issues I had a cancer scare and it turned out I didn't have cancer. Just had to come back and add that one to the list as I remember being so grateful and so humbled when my second CA 19 (some kind of cancer marker) test came back at 18 after the first one had a value of 28.000. Ay Carumba am I ever grateful for the results of the second test!

ApatheticNoMore

11-26-14, 1:26am

I'm thankful for two days of being left alone by the crazy go go go world (thursday and friday), I'm arriving at this Thanksgiving completely burned out.

bae

11-26-14, 2:49am

Trapped like a rat in the home of Relatives Who Smoke Constantly, Bellow Their Inane Political Views, And Criticise Everyone Who Isn't There.

Grrrrr.

lessisbest

11-26-14, 5:21am

We celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving in October (which is the same day as Columbus Day, and I'm half Canadian so that works as a good excuse), in order to put some separation between Thanksgiving and Christmas since we have a 12-hour drive between us and our daughter and her family. We'll spend the day at home, and I'm sure there are plenty of projects we can work on, as well as watching football.

On our menu for 2:

Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Fresh Cranberry-Orange Relish
Quinoa Muffins
Pumpkin Pudding

rosarugosa

11-26-14, 6:15am

Well we have simple going on, but certainly not frugal. DH is working 10AM - 3PM, so I made evening reservations for us at a really nice seafood restaurant we haven't tried before. We've never gone to a restaurant on the holiday with just the two of us and I'm looking forward to it!

herbgeek

11-26-14, 7:00am

I am food centric and thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I took the week off and have been doing a little prep at a time. Family members are bringing pies and soup. Mom is bringing the cooked turkey and stuffing. I do appetizers, drinks and veggies/sides. And I made truffles and amaretti cookies in case 2 pies for 8 people is not enough. ;)

goldensmom

11-26-14, 7:41am

The usual 2-3 families who pass me around amongst them for holidays are all out of town or not hosting this year. I'm going to stay home, do some online shopping, veg, and make myself a nice dinner.

That was me when I was single and I really enjoyed the times I was by myself. No one expected me to be home so I felt like it was my secret day. Now my husband and I go to a really nice Thanksgiving buffet and leave a very generous tip but sometimes I miss my day of solitude. Enjoy your day extra for me too, Tradd.

chrissieq

11-26-14, 8:46am

We are not hosting this year for the first time in many years and I am thrilled! So much easier to bring a side dish, a dessert and some soft drinks. And my sister who is hosting is very excited so it's a win, win!!

mtnlaurel

11-26-14, 8:56am

I have outsourced absolutely everything for the meal, which is not like me.
I even am letting MIL bring store bought pies (which I think is blasphemy).
My main focus today is to get the house up to snuff.

I have been going through a period of sadness (and some regret) related with our move, I am happy that Thanksgiving and the upcoming festivities of Christmas are here to get my mind off of it and onto sunnier things. I really do value the holidays for their deeper meanings.

I am very grateful for our health.
Although not thrilled about some specific things of our new location that relate to my kids (which just kills me), I am very very grateful to be in a situation that is more mathematically doable. I haven't gone on & on about it in a while here, but 2008 really kicked us in privates and 6 years later we are finally on somewhat firm footing again.

I am grateful for my sobriety. I am beyond grateful for my children. I absolutely adore my family of origin (a real cast of characters with lots of flaws, but we all LOVE each other and are connected). I am grateful for my husband that is an excellent father to our kids.
I am grateful that my marriage is not dissolved, it has been so hard and we have been so mean to each other.

cdttmm

11-26-14, 8:56am

We were planning to go to NYC Wednesday night through Friday morning to celebrate with my dearly beloved's family. Alas, the massive snowstorm coming our way has altered those plans. And to be perfectly honest, I couldn't be happier! This semester has been tough and I've recently developed this nagging knee pain. So I'm happy to spend the long weekend at home. And, how lucky, the administration decided to close the college today so I now have a 5-day weekend to enjoy!!! Of course, to keep things interesting, the stray cat that we caught and took to our vet after she was quilled by a porcupine last weekend starting suffering some respiratory distress last night. So a late night visit to the vet clinic to fetch her and a trip to the emergency vet clinic coupled with a large vet bill was the start of this fabulous long weekend. Now, before you go asking why I would spend money on a stray cat...let's just say that my pets are very near the top of the list when it comes to what I'm thankful for. Off to contemplate all that I have to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving, SLN!!!

Tammy

11-26-14, 8:58am

One of my favorite thanksgiving memories: a day with no plans, no family in town, my husband was working, and I took a bike ride in an empty downtown ... Great fun!

Aqua Blue

11-26-14, 10:24am

Work schedules and complicated diets of extended family(siblings and spouses) led us to plan to go to a buffet. I miss the leftovers, but that is the way it goes.

One of my favorite memories is a time when my mom visited. We were to bring the pecan pie. There was a huge snow storm and we couldn't go to the friends who invited us. Spent the day playing cards and eating pecan pie. Mom loved pie, we served it at her funeral.

SiouzQ.

11-26-14, 1:16pm

I have the day off today, which is awesome as a Wholefoods employee because today at a grocery store will be HE** :devil: However, I did volunteer to work from 6am to 2pm tomorrow on Thanksgiving because they are paying us DOUBLE TIME for the first time!
After work I will go over to my ex-MIL house like I do every year and see that side of the family with my daughter. It always works out pretty good, even being around my ex-husband. I am still a member of that family despite being divorced for over twenty years from him. I can then go home and nurse my turkey hangover until noon on Black Friday when I have to go back to work. All in all, I am pretty satisfied with how my schedule turned out this year.

I also have a lot of gratitude for everything in my life - I have my health, I have a sober and drug-free daughter, and I am living my life in a manner that is pretty consistent to everything I hold dear.

Happy Thanksgiving To All!

Gardenarian

11-26-14, 1:21pm

We are having our traditional Thanksgiving; a hike up the mountain then potluck at a friend's house. I still don't know what I'm supposed to bring! It's usually pies (the only thing I can reliably cook well) but I need to get on it!

This is a special time for us, full of thankfulness but farewells too. We are in complete ownership of our new house and have spent some nights there and already met some neighbors, who have been very welcoming. It's all very exciting but sometimes I get a jolt of sadness thinking of all I'm leaving behind. We'll be settled in at the new place in Ashland by December 22 or thereabouts - wow.

I'm really treasuring every minute - both here and there.

Teacher Terry

11-26-14, 2:48pm

We usually host about 20 people but this year my adult kids will not be here. My hubby has been working out of town so only seeing him for short weekends. So we are going out of town by ourselves. Staying at a nice hotel that has a restaurant overlooking the lake so really looking forward to it. I wish everyone a great day!! P.S. Bae I laughed outloud when I read your description of the day to come.

CathyA

11-26-14, 4:08pm

Happy Thanksgiving to you!
We're hanging out with 20 other friends. All I have to bring is egg noodles and stuffing.
It's my husband's favorite holiday - "no expectations"...says he who never cooks so doesn't understand the pressure of Thanksgiving to those who do cook.

Oh Float On.........how true that is of so many men (and sometimes women/children too)! I guess they think everything just magically appears. :~)

bae.........can you suddenly get a migraine Thanksgiving morning? :sick:

I always dread our extended family get-togethers, but end up enjoying them. I'm lucky that DH's family is great and everyone always gets along. We have it at a cousin's farm and really enjoy talking with all those we haven't seen in awhile. Some very interesting people! I'm taking a marinated beet salad, hummus and pita chips, and a pecan pie. DD is taking an assortment of Vegan foods.
I'm thankful it isn't at our house. I would have had to start cleaning about a month ago. :)

Lainey

11-26-14, 7:55pm

Heading to the casino buffet with 2 of my older retired sibs. Not really simple living but I figured as long as I'm still working full-time I'll treat all of us. We end up talking about everything under the sun: Kennedy assasination theories, the U.S. economy, peak oil, etc. It's lively and earnest and you have to defend your position, although we don't browbeat anyone and agree to disagree and then move on to the next topic.
When I go to someone else's house and they just talk about the weather or where they might want to vacation next year, I'm glad I'm in my sometimes crazy but always interesting family.

Can you tell we're not foodies? Conversation is No. 1, food is definitely second.

iris lilies

11-26-14, 9:59pm

It's just two of us. I would invite a stray friend, or maybe two of them, but that means I'd have to clean the house and nope, am not doing that.
I will enjoy my mini-vacation of watching cable tv at my friend's house down the block while I take care of her dogs.

I decided tonight that DH could make the turkey since he's the one who wants it. He said "but I don't know how to make it and stuffing" and I told him "buddy, I learned to make a turkey from you. That excuse will not fly."

I am making the green salad and mashed 'taters. He is doing all the rest.

JaneV2.0

11-26-14, 10:56pm

Always the odd woman out, I hereby go on the record to say that Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday by far. Not that I am ungrateful--I'm as thankful as the next person--but my memories are of getting up hungry and struggling with plummeting blood sugar for what seemed like an eternity, getting more and more cranky before finally sitting down to a giant repast full of bland food I only enjoyed because I was so dang hungry. Then we got to stagger away from the table with a choice of cleaning up or watching football. What a treat, and always a hard decision. Bleahh. Now I mostly ignore the whole thing.

Tradd

11-27-14, 12:12am

That was me when I was single and I really enjoyed the times I was by myself. No one expected me to be home so I felt like it was my secret day. Now my husband and I go to a really nice Thanksgiving buffet and leave a very generous tip but sometimes I miss my day of solitude. Enjoy your day extra for me too, Tradd.

I sure will! Work has been crazy this week, so I'm really looking forward to some quiet time. I do have to work Friday (although it won't be a full day).

rodeosweetheart

11-27-14, 8:25am

Trapped like a rat in the home of Relatives Who Smoke Constantly, Bellow Their Inane Political Views, And Criticise Everyone Who Isn't There.

Grrrrr.

Bae, why didn't you tell me you were going to MY family's for Thanksgiving, I would have tried to be there. . .

Tradd

11-27-14, 10:38am

Found out the range is open this morning, so I'm going shooting.

CathyA

11-27-14, 11:45am

Even though DH's family is great, having a social anxiety disorder makes walking into any large group quite an ordeal for me.

Plus.......instead of the prayer that BIL always leads (Our father who art in heaven.....).....which says nothing about being thankful for anything........I read a Native American prayer of thanks.
With the social anxiety, it's become almost comical when I try to read it, with hardly any breath to get it out. I've joked with my kids that maybe I should wear an oxygen mask. hahaha
Yes, I could just not read it.....but I feel it's important to express my gratefulness to the earth....in hopes it might help others be aware.

iris lilies

11-27-14, 11:52am

kib

11-27-14, 12:50pm

NO kidding! I did find last night's dishes in the dishwasher, courtesy of Gabby Granny.

Teacher Terry

11-27-14, 4:20pm

IL: I might have to come to your house & steal your hubby:~).

domestic goddess

11-29-14, 1:39am

I woke up this morning at 8:30 am and found:

1) The turkey stuffed and cooking in the oven
2) home made rolls rising on the counter
3) makings of the cherry dessert laid out and ready to prepare (frozen cherries from our tree)

DH is a domestic goddess.

Oh, I envy you, IL. I did the cooking, which I don't really mind, but now am also doing the clean-up (still!), and I can hear someone in the kitchen making a mess. This is the part I hate, because it seems to take days to get caught up. Two of the pies are gone, and so is half the cheesecake, and there are just 5 of us eating all that food! Does anyone else do dishes or cook dishes for the dinner? My 10 and 13 year old granddaughters helped with the cooking. Dishes are all mine, apparently. And I really hate doing them. And now I'm done complaining. Until it all happens again at Christmas.

iris lilies

11-29-14, 2:30am

Oh, I envy you, IL. I did the cooking, which I don't really mind, but now am also doing the clean-up (still!), and I can hear someone in the kitchen making a mess. This is the part I hate, because it seems to take days to get caught up. Two of the pies are gone, and so is half the cheesecake, and there are just 5 of us eating all that food! Does anyone else do dishes or cook dishes for the dinner? My 10 and 13 year old granddaughters helped with the cooking. Dishes are all mine, apparently. And I really hate doing them. And now I'm done complaining. Until it all happens again at Christmas.

Well, our meal wasn't all that good really. It was kind of a bust. While the turkey was fine (a little undercooked, easily solved with the microwave) the stuffing was horrible. I had picked up pre-seasoned breadcrumbs in the store and it was simply awful, so full of salt, and it was dry, and it lacked enough sage. We used fresh sage from our friend's garden but it was not enough.
The rolls were incredibly heavy.

I wasn't much in the mood for the meal anyway.

So as much as I appreciate DH doing this, I'm making the stuffing next year. :)

Rosemary

11-29-14, 7:52am

Late for the turkey recipe, but for future reference: I always cook turkeys in a covered roasting pan, breast down. Just put onion/carrot/celery in the pan (no water), and season the turkey with salt/pepper/spices as desired. Start the oven hot, around 425F, then reduce to 350-375 depending on how quickly you want it to finish. Inside that pan, the turkey will stay moist and will actually brown on top. No basting needed, and no need to check the turkey at all in fact, until it might be done (which will be earlier than when cooking in an uncovered pan... our 14-lb turkey took about 3 hours). I buy free-range turkeys that have no been injected with any solutions, and never ever would I bother with something like brining. And it's completely unnecessary if you just cover the pan!

We usually have a gathering with about 12 other people from our church, and it is fabulous. No pre-cleaning and post-cleaning of the house, because we meet there; I cook the turkey there and make stock during the afternoon while we're hanging out; and everyone brings something. I love this low-stress tradition compared to the one with which I grew up, in which my mom spent the week before cooking way more food than my small family could possibly eat.

catherine

11-29-14, 8:19am

IL, DH usually cooks most of the Thanksgiving dinner, but Thanksgiving morning he twisted a knee and could barely walk. So DD and I got it together.

Jane, I did have plenty of healthy snacks for the crowd to stave off that blood sugar drop, and we ate pretty much on time. Especially since my DDIL always gets very hangry if she has to wait too long.

Rosemary: We also were able to get a local organic bird, so my DD, who is normally vegetarian for ethical reasons was fine eating it.

CathyA, as for the prayer, DH did his typical, couple-of-drinks-in, long-winded, sobby litany and I had to find an appropriate pause to sneak in an Amen so that we could just start eating before everything was stone cold.

While I was cleaning up, DDs dog got into the stockpot in which I had stored the turkey carcass and ate a good bit of it, which we found out after he started wretching and vomiting turkey and turkey bones all over the house. DD freaked out a little, but the next day, I had a good opportunity to check for blood in his stool when he shat in the hallway, and didn't see any, so all is well.

As chaotic as it was, and always is, in my house, I was happy as a clam being with the whole family. I'm wondering what my DD's new boyfriend thought... Hmmm..

National Lampoon vacation movies are like a church service compared to some of my family holidays, but ya gotta laugh.

iris lilies

11-29-14, 11:42am

catherine

11-29-14, 12:26pm

This touched on every point in those comedy films about family holiday meals. haha!

And I am not a person prone to hyperbole at all. Someday I'll tell you about the Christmas 8 of us decided to spend the holiday in Florida, where DS20 was working at a golf course, and the dog walker canceled at midnight before the day we were to leave (at 5:30am), there was an ice storm that day, we missed our Christmas Eve flight, my MIL and BIL got an infectious flu which required us to quarantine the two of them one of the $500/night hotel rooms while the other 6 of us shared the other room, and DH sunk a sunfish in the hotel lake. And that's just the teaser.

Zoe Girl

11-29-14, 4:59pm

I took the train to Iowa and saw family. We drove down to south eastern Iowa to my brother's house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was super great to see his new house, almost 2 years ago his historic home burned to the ground between Christmas and New year's from a freak accident. So he worked as the general contractor and rebuilt, all the painting and inside trim was done some time this summer. Very nice house, plus the master bedroom is on the main level for when his knees really get to be a problem (yeah we are in our 40's and he is already talking like that, football years).

Then I also got to see both aunts and my grandmother, my sister and her family came out. I have family that may annoy me but they are basically good people without many terrible habits. I did get caught up on football, several of my family went to the Iowa - Nebraska game on Friday. It was a good one, close to the end and then our team lost. Pretty much EVERYWHERE we went the discussion was the game, I am glad I got over my issues on that because my family just really likes sports.

The only thing sad is that it was the kids' dad year for Thanksgiving so none of them were with me. They all have significant others and their dad was actually out of town but they encouraged me to still go to Iowa so I could see my grandma and everyone. In the middle of all the chatter about football and Big Bang Theory it would have been nice to throw in some of our family style geek.

Teacher Terry

11-29-14, 5:16pm

Catherine-you had me laughing out loud. Can't wait to hear the rest of the story about the xmas trip! Only once did we have a chevy chase type of weekend & that was when I married my 2nd hubby. Everything went wrong-probably was an omen. It was pouring rain the day we got married. We had picked up the tuxedo's an hour away the day before & on the day of shoes did not fit, my dad's jacket was too small. My grandma fell going into the church (was not hurt), my son stepped on my Mom's long dress & put a hole in it, my maid of honor was wearing the tag on her dress (we discovered much later). The am after the wedding my FIL calls & said we had to take the best man to the hospital because he fell into a bush the nite before (drunk) & hurt his eye. So we all go in one car with BIL, SIL, me hubby & their 2 teens & patient. The conversation in the car was hilarious. Then when we get back my BIL almost hits my FIL's car & then my FIL-everyone is yelling, the kids are laughing. Then when we all get out of the cars no one was mad which was amazing to me. If I had almost ran over my Mom she would not have been that cheerful.

kib

11-29-14, 6:24pm

We went to friends for a potluck and although it was a great get-together, a little planning would have been useful. The repast for 10 consisted of ice water (the people bringing the booze changed their minds without telling anyone and brought a pie instead), turkey, ham, an upturned can of cranberry sauce and a small butternut squash, plus three pies.

(The turkey came from our household and it was really good, thank you early morning and Catherine!)

CathyA

11-29-14, 7:39pm

And I am not a person prone to hyperbole at all. Someday I'll tell you about the Christmas 8 of us decided to spend the holiday in Florida, where DS20 was working at a golf course, and the dog walker canceled at midnight before the day we were to leave (at 5:30am), there was an ice storm that day, we missed our Christmas Eve flight, my MIL and BIL got an infectious flu which required us to quarantine the two of them one of the $500/night hotel rooms while the other 6 of us shared the other room, and DH sunk a sunfish in the hotel lake. And that's just the teaser.

Oh catherine!! You should write a book! :0!

gimmethesimplelife

11-29-14, 9:32pm

I spent part of the day with my Mom and had the traditional turkey dinner and when I finished cleaning up we had a visit for awhile and then I went over to my boyfriend's apartment, where he was making chicken mole. I never knew mole was such a complex sauce to make - but it was amazing. Absolutely amazing. I haven't weighed myself yet but I'm sure I've gained at least three pounds from Thanksgiving this year. It was also nice when his parents arrived and his sister and her husband arrived everything just felt comfortable. I really appreciated their acceptance of me, and on more than just one level. There's something else to be grateful for. Rob

CathyA

11-29-14, 9:51pm

Sounds like a perfect day, Rob. So glad you had a nice meeting of his relatives.

gimmethesimplelife

11-29-14, 10:48pm

Sounds like a perfect day, Rob. So glad you had a nice meeting of his relatives.Thank You, Cathy. It was a very good day, yes indeed. Rob

Tradd

11-29-14, 11:08pm

Rob, doesn't mole include some sort of chocolate? Or am I thinking of something else?

Glad you had a nice day with the SO's family.

gimmethesimplelife

11-29-14, 11:14pm

Rob, doesn't mole include some sort of chocolate? Or am I thinking of something else?

Glad you had a nice day with the SO's family.Yes, chocolate and a number of spices and it's quite complex to make - and much better home made than the mole you buy in Hispanic grocery stores out of a jar.

Thanks for the kind words about spending time with his family, Tradd. I appreciate it. Rob

Songbird

11-30-14, 9:03am

I'm recovering from surgery and so DH and I were very touched when our neighbors brought us two large plates piled high with Thanksgiving dinner. The food was wonderful and we so appreciated our neighbors' kindness, especially since we barely know them...

gimmethesimplelife

11-30-14, 12:20pm