TOTALLY GEEKED!

Those first holiday celebrations together are always exciting. Sounds like a fun time for you all.

I'm going to cook a traditional thanksgiving dinner for my family on thanksgiving day and sat celebrate with billing and his family. That day we will have grilled steaks and the fixings.

Thanksgiving is a special time for me and I hope their first one is special too.

We have Thanksgiving around 1ish.

Turkey
Roast
Dressing
Mashed potatoes
Yams
Green beans
Sautéed Brussel sprouts
Zucchini and summer squash
Glazed carrots
Corn
Rolls
Deviled eggs
Cranberry sauce
Butternut squash pie
Banana pudding
Pumpkin cheesecake
Butter pound cake
Cookies

We will have the usual suspects.

At least 20 of us. Probably closer to 30.

We eat and talk and visit all day.

The kids go over to the park.

It's always a good day.

Lol, thank you njn. LOL!

chef wrote:

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NJN: I'm excited just reading about your plans! It's so much fun to celebrate a first and I bet DN and Sparkly will remember this Thanksgiving fondly.

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 Thanks chef!!  You guys rock!  She's not ready to fully take over but I passed a bit of the baton this year.  All the dirty dishes will be at her house!  YEAH ME!  We are doing Christmas here.  DH and Sparkly said You two figure it out and we'll go along with it.  LOL Guys.

Renegade Time Lord wrote:

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No definite plans here.  Not sure if I will attend the free T-Day dinner (actually lunch) held by the Salvation Army for anyone who wants to attend.  I attended last year and sat next to a woman who loved to chat.  Others seated across me and to my right were not chatters. 

A veteran friend of mine may be spending the day alone.  He is married, and his wife will be spending the day with her family.  Her family does not like him, so he is never invited to any of their get-togethers.  He does not do well in crowds, and the Salvation Army dinner would be too much for him.  He also suffers from PTSD and has a debilitating condition caused by Agent Orange exposure.  I know what it is like to be excluded from festivities, and I feel much compassion for him. 

I offered that we should go to a family restaurant he likes and have dinner there.  He said he will get back to me sometime this week. 

 

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 That's really nice of you RTL.  I hope he does go out to dinner with you.

Lindley wrote:

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Those first holiday celebrations together are always exciting. Sounds like a fun time for you all.

I'm going to cook a traditional thanksgiving dinner for my family on thanksgiving day and sat celebrate with bil and his family. That day we will have grilled steaks and the fixings.

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 edited to correct my nooks correction. 

That's exciting, NJN! I hope her expectations aren't so high that she can't take a breath and enjoy the day, however. And if something doesn't go right, like the stuffing, she doesn't think the whole meal is ruined.

RTL-I hope your friend joins you. I don't understand why his wife doesn't tell her family to stick it for excluding him.

I will be cooking as usual, for 6 of us. Dinner at 3 PM:

Roasted brine Turkey
Mom's stuffing, lightened up (from skinnytaste.com) (made morning of and heated through while gravy is being made)
Skinny buttermilk mashed potatoes with chives (mashed while turkey is resting and kept warm on stove)
DH's superb gravy
Sweet potato casserole - skinnytaste.com version (made ahead and thrown in the oven while gravy is being made)
Sauteed brussels sprouts with panchetta (made ahead, heated through and placed on warming tray)
Green Salad (courtesy of Mom)
Dinner rolls (courtesy of Mom)
Cranberry sauce (TJ's)
Pepperoni stuffed chicken bites (made ahead and baked with sweet potatoes and stuffing)
Pies (pumpkin & cherry) (made day before)

Warm mulled apple cider and spicy black bean dip and chips will be out all day.

Friday I am going to see if I can get #2's allergy shots done then come home and decorate for Christmas.

Renegade Time Lord wrote:

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No definite plans here.  Not sure if I will attend the free T-Day dinner (actually lunch) held by the Salvation Army for anyone who wants to attend.  I attended last year and sat next to a woman who loved to chat.  Others seated across me and to my right were not chatters. 

A veteran friend of mine may be spending the day alone.  He is married, and his wife will be spending the day with her family.  Her family does not like him, so he is never invited to any of their get-togethers.  He does not do well in crowds, and the Salvation Army dinner would be too much for him.  He also suffers from PTSD and has a debilitating condition caused by Agent Orange exposure.  I know what it is like to be excluded from festivities, and I feel much compassion for him. 

I offered that we should go to a family restaurant he likes and have dinner there.  He said he will get back to me sometime this week. 

 

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That is nice of you. 

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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I forgot to add that I am going to attempt, for the first time ever!, to make home made cranberry sauce and also home made pumpkin pie. And by home made pumpkin pie I mean I am going to gut a pumpkin for them!

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 I'm going to make homemade cranberry sauce, too! 

LOL I've heard making fresh pumpkin puree is easy too. We will see! I'm so excited. I'd much rather have home made. We will see if my family likes it!

Menu? Meatballs--beef ones.

Back from the store. I got my fresh cranberries right out of the fruit section! I'm so ready to start cooking!

msrock wrote:

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Lawyerlady wrote:

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Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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I forgot to add that I am going to attempt, for the first time ever!, to make home made cranberry sauce and also home made pumpkin pie. And by home made pumpkin pie I mean I am going to gut a pumpkin for them!

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 I'm going to make homemade cranberry sauce, too! 

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It is really so easy.  I just dissolve about 1/2 cup sugar in a cup of orange juice and simmer the cranberry's in that until they start to pop. Remove from heat and let them cool.  Delicious.   

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 Must.  Try.  Sounds delicious!

Sis wants me to make a roasted butternut squash with pencetta???? MOMMA WHERE ARE YOU?

Momala wrote:

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Pancetta

Its a type of bacon, but not cured, and more expensive than your regular, cured bacon.

Peel and dice the butternut squash. (Peel it while it is still whole - easier to handle.) Dice the slices of pancetta, and pan fry until nicely browned on all sides. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon to paper towel lined plate. Pan fry the diced squash in the pancetta drippings until tender and browned on all sides. Remove from pan with slotted spoon, & add to pancetta. Add a pat of butter & toss gently.

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 Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there is nothing better than pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkins. I used to peel and boil in chunks, now I cut it in half and de-gut and roast in oven and then scoop out. MUCH better taste IMO and I prefer the smaller pumpkins over the huge jack-o-lantern kind. We have three left from our garden that I and going to roast and get ready to become pie next week!

I may have a bunch of people now. I bought a small turkey....if they all come they are bringing a deep fried turkey....and I wont have to make the green bean salad. If so I may make pumpkin AND peach pie.
And homemade cranberry sauce....Mom's dressing....mashed potatoes.
Maybe cheese and crackers for a starter.
Can't wait for my first TG in my new home!

Thanksgiving is over and done! I'll be sitting around with my feet up watching tv!

Tangerine wrote:

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We are still trying to shake out our holiday schedule. Since we lost Grandma Mimi last year and Aunt Mary this year, there's no reason for my parents/my family to travel for the holidays anymore.
My mom has offered to host Thanksgiving at her house for us and all of my in laws. It should be really nice.
FIL is deep frying a turkey, my folks are making the ham and mashed potatoes. SIL and I are bringing the rest of the side dishes.
Only one wild card, my brother will be attending with his current lady friend.
At least I know the food will be good and my dad and brother are on speaking terms again.

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 OH boy.  Promise you will take notes throughout the day and write up a great story for us to read? 

ladyloonatic wrote:

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I'm surprised so many here have never made their own cranberry sauce. We have so many great cooks and cranberry sauce is soooo easy!

I'll be roasting a turkey, bread stuffing, gravey, roasted root vegetables (sweet potato, carrot, parsnip, onion), maybe green beans or brussel sprouts, and wild rice. I made a cranberry-orange bread pudding that turned out pretty good, so I may make that. I also make a salad-like thing with cottage cheese, lime jello, crushed pineapple and whipping cream (it was a staple my grandma used to make).

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 We make that but with mandarin oranges and orange jello.

And cranberry sauce IS super easy. And so much better.

Can you believe my mom doesn't like home made cranberry sauce? She likes the can shaped one better.

lilyofcourse wrote:

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ladyloonatic wrote:

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I'm surprised so many here have never made their own cranberry sauce. We have so many great cooks and cranberry sauce is soooo easy!

I'll be roasting a turkey, bread stuffing, gravey, roasted root vegetables (sweet potato, carrot, parsnip, onion), maybe green beans or brussel sprouts, and wild rice. I made a cranberry-orange bread pudding that turned out pretty good, so I may make that. I also make a salad-like thing with cottage cheese, lime jello, crushed pineapple and whipping cream (it was a staple my grandma used to make).

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 We make that but with mandarin oranges and orange jello.

And cranberry sauce IS super easy. And so much better.

Can you believe my mom doesn't like home made cranberry sauce? She likes the can shaped one better.

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 Sounds like my in laws.

Ohfour wrote:

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I made cranberry sauce one year. They hated it. The also like the jellied, can stuff. No berries...just the jelly...:(

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 I will make it for you, if you ask.  But I prefer the can, no berries, just jelly.  Topped with whipped cream.

just Czech wrote:

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jlbear71 wrote:

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Ohfour wrote:

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I made cranberry sauce one year. They hated it. The also like the jellied, can stuff. No berries...just the jelly...:(

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 I will make it for you, if you ask.  But I prefer the can, no berries, just jelly.  Topped with whipped cream.

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I have never tried whipped cream on cranberry sauce, but I will this year. Sounds yummy.  

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 I have this gag reflex that just  comes out even reading about anything jelly(o)ish with any kind of whipped cream.  Like when people mix jello and cool whip I have to fight not to barf.  I don't know why.  Honestly.  I just can't stand it.  I'm not saying it's bad, I know a lot of people that love it, it's just I don't.