Yes, there is a slowing in the air isn't there? The holidays bring a quick-quick-slow rhythm much like a dance step. Thanks for the link to beaten biscuits; there must be a Southern variation as I remember my grandmother in Louisiana making them, though hers were as hard as plasterboard. But put ham and mustard on anything makes it edible.
One of our traditions was my mother's amazing dressing! She passed unexpected in September one year. My sisters and I decided to wait until Christmas to get our families together that year. So, for the first time ever, I had to make dressing for my daughters and myself for our own little celebration. But, I didn't know how. After mentioning at work that I didn't have a recipe and why I needed one that year, I got over 50 "family recipes" in the office email and some handwritten recipe cards through the system mail. Each was accompanied by a lovely note about me and my mom and my girls. I'll always remember that blessing of gifts from kind friends in a year when lots of traditions changed.
I rise early to make: cinnamon rolls, bake the pumpkin pie, and cook cranberry relish. No longer roast a turkey, just reheat the sliced, smoked turkey breast.
I don't like holidays in general. I'd rather just be with family and/or friend at any random time, and enjoy the food and the company. Most of the official holidays are lame and a-historical. Thanksgiving might have been a clever political move for Lincoln, but I'm not celebrating that or the Pilgrim / Wampanoag feast of 1621, which was but a moment of kindness and comity that soon turned into deadly fighting. If our Thanksgiving leads to that, I'm going to be VERY disappointed. But my wife Linda and our autistic son Randy are much more in the holiday spirit, and we will indeed have a feast, with a tribe of other autistic adults and their caretakers. I'll be nice. But don't serve me any dessert made mostly of vegetables (squash or pumpkin pies), PLEASE. Then a fight WOULD break out.
Cocktails and my table of hors d’oeuvres, this year featuring cold peppered mushrooms, spiced olives, minced clam dip and assorted cheeses.
My wife’s incredibly delicious cheesecake, from a vintage Betty Crocker recipe, served with a glass of 20 year-old Tawny Port.
The saying of grace and the proposal of a toast to the armed forces of the United States—I, my daughter, and her husband are all Army veterans, and many members of our united families have worn or do wear the uniform.
Childhood Thanksgivings featured more people than could fit around a large dining room table. People scattered throughout the house, plates on laps, sneaking into the kitchen to raid what didn’t make it to the table (invariably the vegetables but made with lots of butter so much for healthy). When we all married we continued trying to murder one another with food. Quieter now, everyone’s dispersed, but the grandkids make up for it.
Lovely! We used to all gather in Fredericksburg, MD, and it was a HUGE table in an old house. Four great aunts and a large assortment of Donnellys and Wrights from my father's family. I was always at the children's table, and always the youngest. These gatherings frightened me but I loved them.
A baptism of food and family! Yes! Chaos food craziness and the affection of belonging. I think these gatherings may have prepared us for life in a very critical way.
We liquid-brined fresh turkeys for years with much approbation for our talents and foresight. Now we do the Judy Rodgers dry brine she made deliciously famous with chickens at Zuni Cafe in San Francisco. A few years ago we cut the potatoes and sweet potatoes out of the celebratory eats, keeping the sacred stuffing I make with equal amounts of onions and celery, plenty of garlic plus fresh sage, and the gravy from turkey pan drippings. Our daughter is an artist -- her pies are not only delicious, also gorgeous with pie crust maple leaves and other arty bits. A new tradition: we have a salad as our first course,and it is just the ticket to get the Thanksgiving show going. We’ve had holidays with piles of people: extended family and plenty of dear, hungry friends. Now it’s just the three of us, and three more coming for dessert. Should be lovely.
I make the same Thanksgiving dinner my mother made. The stuffing is handed down from my great grandmother, who was a wonderful artist, working mostly in watercolor, though not professionally, along with her creamed onions. Happy Thanksgiving, Liza, and everyone! 🦃
Fresh mashed potatoes with cream, butter and garlic.
A heart stopper!
I adore the Turkey tips! 🦃♥️
Yes, there is a slowing in the air isn't there? The holidays bring a quick-quick-slow rhythm much like a dance step. Thanks for the link to beaten biscuits; there must be a Southern variation as I remember my grandmother in Louisiana making them, though hers were as hard as plasterboard. But put ham and mustard on anything makes it edible.
My grandmother's beaten biscuits were VERY hard! And strangely, it was butter and ham. Go figure!
One of our traditions was my mother's amazing dressing! She passed unexpected in September one year. My sisters and I decided to wait until Christmas to get our families together that year. So, for the first time ever, I had to make dressing for my daughters and myself for our own little celebration. But, I didn't know how. After mentioning at work that I didn't have a recipe and why I needed one that year, I got over 50 "family recipes" in the office email and some handwritten recipe cards through the system mail. Each was accompanied by a lovely note about me and my mom and my girls. I'll always remember that blessing of gifts from kind friends in a year when lots of traditions changed.
That's such a lovely story, Royce! Sorry your mother passed, but it is such a nice story.
I rise early to make: cinnamon rolls, bake the pumpkin pie, and cook cranberry relish. No longer roast a turkey, just reheat the sliced, smoked turkey breast.
Sounds yummy!
Was this the Thanksgiving your father prepared boxed mash (🤢)?
"One Thanksgiving, we had our daughters, three dogs, four cats, a gerbal, guinea pigs and a rabbit…"
Hahahaha! No, we used to go to his apartment for Thanksgiving. No pets!
Only once a year!!!
I don't like holidays in general. I'd rather just be with family and/or friend at any random time, and enjoy the food and the company. Most of the official holidays are lame and a-historical. Thanksgiving might have been a clever political move for Lincoln, but I'm not celebrating that or the Pilgrim / Wampanoag feast of 1621, which was but a moment of kindness and comity that soon turned into deadly fighting. If our Thanksgiving leads to that, I'm going to be VERY disappointed. But my wife Linda and our autistic son Randy are much more in the holiday spirit, and we will indeed have a feast, with a tribe of other autistic adults and their caretakers. I'll be nice. But don't serve me any dessert made mostly of vegetables (squash or pumpkin pies), PLEASE. Then a fight WOULD break out.
Cocktails and my table of hors d’oeuvres, this year featuring cold peppered mushrooms, spiced olives, minced clam dip and assorted cheeses.
My wife’s incredibly delicious cheesecake, from a vintage Betty Crocker recipe, served with a glass of 20 year-old Tawny Port.
The saying of grace and the proposal of a toast to the armed forces of the United States—I, my daughter, and her husband are all Army veterans, and many members of our united families have worn or do wear the uniform.
Childhood Thanksgivings featured more people than could fit around a large dining room table. People scattered throughout the house, plates on laps, sneaking into the kitchen to raid what didn’t make it to the table (invariably the vegetables but made with lots of butter so much for healthy). When we all married we continued trying to murder one another with food. Quieter now, everyone’s dispersed, but the grandkids make up for it.
Lovely! We used to all gather in Fredericksburg, MD, and it was a HUGE table in an old house. Four great aunts and a large assortment of Donnellys and Wrights from my father's family. I was always at the children's table, and always the youngest. These gatherings frightened me but I loved them.
A baptism of food and family! Yes! Chaos food craziness and the affection of belonging. I think these gatherings may have prepared us for life in a very critical way.
So true!
We liquid-brined fresh turkeys for years with much approbation for our talents and foresight. Now we do the Judy Rodgers dry brine she made deliciously famous with chickens at Zuni Cafe in San Francisco. A few years ago we cut the potatoes and sweet potatoes out of the celebratory eats, keeping the sacred stuffing I make with equal amounts of onions and celery, plenty of garlic plus fresh sage, and the gravy from turkey pan drippings. Our daughter is an artist -- her pies are not only delicious, also gorgeous with pie crust maple leaves and other arty bits. A new tradition: we have a salad as our first course,and it is just the ticket to get the Thanksgiving show going. We’ve had holidays with piles of people: extended family and plenty of dear, hungry friends. Now it’s just the three of us, and three more coming for dessert. Should be lovely.
Lovely, Joyce! I like the idea of salad first!
I loved my Mom’s Mashed potatoes and turnips with gravy.
I make the same Thanksgiving dinner my mother made. The stuffing is handed down from my great grandmother, who was a wonderful artist, working mostly in watercolor, though not professionally, along with her creamed onions. Happy Thanksgiving, Liza, and everyone! 🦃
Thank you, LInda! We need to set that date.....