Countdown To Thanksgiving

[flat-top]

Who's ready? What are your plans? Traditions?

http://mycountdown.org/fullpage.php...&widget_number=3012&timezone=America/New_York

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I have always liked to do two different things for the menu on "bird day", we make the turkey, but also a nice ham. Variety for those that like to "mix it up"!

 

[Edward]

Not a holiday I've ever marked, but interesting to look in on from the outside. I like the Addams Family Values take on it. lol

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Well, the "thanksgiving" tradition is one the evolved from the time period when the early American's settled into the Country and sat with the Native American Indians to give thanks for their crops and livestock being successful.

 

[rue]

Who's ready? What are your plans? Traditions?

http://www.webcountdown.net/?a=keWFhgw

That clock is scary :eeek:

This is the first time in eleven years that I'll be living in the same state as my entire family, so the holidays are something I'm really looking forward to.

As far as Thanksgiving traditions..... while we're sitting down at the table, each person tells everyone what they're thankful for that year. I'm thankful to be with my family again

 

[LoveMyHats2]

That is nice. It has been several years since I had my entire family together, the last time was a few years ago, I had everyone that could make it come up to my place up north, as I have a large enough finished basement to help hold the crowd for the Christmas Holiday. My older Brother and Sister were able to help with all the cooking and cleaning for the family guests.

 

[DNO]

Too late for we north-of-the-border types...our Thanksgiving was almost three weeks ago (Oct 10)! Turkey's been consumed, leftovers eaten, turkey stock made...all done!

 

[rue]

That is nice. It has been several years since I had my entire family together, the last time was a few years ago, I had everyone that could make it come up to my place up north, as I have a large enough finished basement to help hold the crowd for the Christmas Holiday. My older Brother and Sister were able to help with all the cooking and cleaning for the family guests.

It's always nice when people help, but when I'm cooking, people better get out of my way lol

Too late for we north-of-the-border types...our Thanksgiving was almost three weeks ago (Oct 10)! Turkey's been consumed, leftovers eaten, turkey stock made...all done!

It's not too late to share your traditions though

 

[LoveMyHats2]

It's always nice when people help, but when I'm cooking, people better get out of my way lol



It's not too late to share your traditions though

Well, when I am cooking I also like to have the room to cook and would prefer to not have anyone else in the kitchen...but when you have more than 40 some people to cook for, it helped to have some extra hands!

 

[rue]

Well, when I am cooking I also like to have the room to cook and would prefer to not have anyone else in the kitchen...but when you have more than 40 some people to cook for, it helped to have some extra hands!

40?? You're a brave man Michigan! :eeek:

 

[Edward]

Well, the "thanksgiving" tradition is one the evolved from the time period when the early American's settled into the Country and sat with the Native American Indians to give thanks for their crops and livestock being successful.

It's a nice concept (shame things went so terribly wrong after that between Natives and settlers). I like the idea of having time to sit down and think about how fortunate I am in so many respects, without quite the level of chaos that Christmas occasions. I would certainly appreciate a nice bank holiday between August and Christmas (currently none in the UK). My personal choice would to be park it on the Monday nearest Halloween, though being Irish that's one well engrained in my blood through folk tradition. It wasn't as big here in England for years, though I have seen it gain massively in popularity in the last decade and a half, with very much a US influence on popular culture bringing it to the fore.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Every day is thanksgiving, or any day for that matter. I love turkey and all the trimmings, so I'll cook one up whenever I get the urge.

 

[Wally_Hood]

I like to keep Thanksgiving as a stand-alone celebration, rather than the front porch to Christmas. This can be difficult, especially with Christmas sales ramping up before Halloween (for a gentle yet poignant grouse against the overdone commercialization of Christmas, see 1947's Miracle on 34th Street).

Our traditions have been tweaked in the past couple years, so that now we invite those who don't have local families, and, since our daughter's marriage, the inclusion of in-laws. Last year we had about twenty, and the year before that a little more. This year we could host around fifteen.

I get to prep and roast the turkey, and make the dressing, using my mother's make-from-scratch cornbread recipe. My wife makes the gravy from the drippings, and the guests bring the mashed potatoes, the yams, the green been casserole. Pies are usually pumpkin and apple, with a chocolate truffle sort of thing. This year will include the pumpkin flavored coffee from Costco.

My wife decorates early on, with autumnal wreaths, leafy garlands, and little plaques. On The Big Day, she makes a huge relish tray for snacking, I don the chef's apron (along with slacks, dress shirt, and bow tie), and we catch quick viewings of the Macy's parade off the dvr.

Just writing about this is raising my anticipation level~

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Last year my oldest daughter invited us to her house for Thanksgiving. Her large stone home is located in a rolling wooded area. Perfect setting for the Thanksgiving Family celebration. I enjoyed walking around the kitchen and bugging her as her and my wife prepared the meal. Finally she ordered me to the breakfast bar..and I wasn't 'allowed' off the highbacked stool. I thought it was hilarious that she turned the tables on 'who ordered who around'.
She had a very tender 'melt in your mouth ham'...and made one of her special homemade dishes:baked beans. I don't know what all she puts in them(onions for one)..but gawd are they good. Several side dishes(creamy noodles)..pasta salad...and dinner rolls with cinnamon butter. The table was prepared as my Son-in-Law brought in the turkey from outside. My first bird cooked in a 'turkey fryer'. Deep fried to perfection. Best moist turkey that I've ever had. I hope that I am invited back this year. I promised to behave (although I did have my fingers crossed).

 

[flat-top]

Watching the parade is a must, no matter how tired I might be from the night before. The wife usually makes a hearty breakfast. Our local station shows "March Of The Wooden Soldiers" so I will put that on.
Where we go to eat is never the same every year, so what time we leave is always different.
We're Italian, so the amount of food being served is mind boggling. For example, if we go to Aunt Jo's house, part of her antipasto is a dozen trays of manicotti.
I actually love that Thanksgiving is the first day of the Holiday Season, so I'll sneak in some Christmas stuff throughout the day. Hopefully I'm able to catch "Miracle on 34th St."

 

[kamikat]

In my house, Thanksgiving is the day to celebrate my family of choice, rather than my family of origin. We usually have one couple join us for dinner, then a ton of people come over for dessert/coffee/drinks so they can relax after dealing with family drama. It is the only holiday I actually enjoy. I do all the cooking myself. While we typically prefer ethnic foods for our everyday meals (lots of Thai and Ethiopian), Thanksgiving is the one day when I cook an All American meal, very traditional, nothing experimental. The only thing that changes is one new dessert each year.

 

[fortworthgal]

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. We always host. We cook a huge, traditional meal and spend all day in the kitchen, and have family over. Get up early on Thanksgiving morning and enjoy coffee while watching the Macy's parade. The day after Thanksgiving, we always sleep in a little bit, heat up leftovers, and put up the Christmas tree.

The menu planning and prep usually starts at the start of November, and we enjoy that almost as much as the holiday itself.

 

[flat-top]

That clock is scary :eeek:

Rue, I edited my original post with a less scary countdown clock!

 

[rue]

lol Thank you FT! I feel much better

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Thanksgiving is one holiday where the bird and human both get stuffed!