Thanksgiving Tidbits
Is it unpopular to like turkey these days? We’re having Thanksgiving dinner with three other families in the area and apparently there will be ham AND turkey. One of the wives even asked if people even like turkey. Let me be the first to say that I LOVE turkey. And I’m very neutral on ham. Thanksgiving dinner without turkey would be like Easter dinner.
Also, I don’t remember my mom ever making stuffing; it wasn’t until a few years ago that I had it for the first time and discovered that I like it (in fact, I had a plate of stuffing for dinner (I shouldn’t have admitted that)).
Anyway, I’m getting excited about doing some Thanksgiving cooking. I volunteered to do the mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, spinach salad, grasshopper pie (Bart’s request – don’t tell him that it is not a traditional Thanksgiving food; he’ll be crushed) and rhubarb pie. Mmmmmm. Delicious.
By the way, I remember reading a while ago on Nothing but Bonfires that she distrusted other people’s mashed potatoes because she always felt like hers would be the creamiest and smoothest. I thought this was odd for I dislike perfectly creamy and smooth mashed potatoes. I like them with some chunks left in. And? If I’m making them with red potatoes, I leave the peels on. (People I am having Thanksgiving with, I hope you don’t mind – let me know if you object. And I shall let you know that you are wrong).
I really love Thanksgiving. We’ll watch the 1995 Miracle on 34th Street and take a long walk and then enjoy a lovely meal with some of my favorite people. The next day, we’ll put up the tree (after I get home from work – boo! hiss!) I can’t wait.
And I listened to my first Christmas song today. Don’t you dare tell me it’s too early. Josh Groban’s “O Holy Night” need not wait until after Thanksgiving.
It’s not that I totally hate turkey. In fact I am quite fond of it at Pok-e-jos smothered in bbq sauce; but plain old dry turkey? Gag. Ham is soooo much better. We do agree on the mashed potatoes though, red are the best and little chunks are great. I am excited for Turkey day, and I will try whole heartedly to not totally ruin the turkey :).
I broke my own “No Christmas music before Thanksgiving” rule for Josh. 🙂
Josh Groban need not wait for ANYTHING! I’m going to marry him someday.
I LOVE turkey. I actually kind of dislike ham. I mean, I’ll eat it, but I won’t enjoy it much. But my brother is a weirdo and dislikes turkey but likes ham. So we’re one of those families that has both because my mom has two weirdly picky children (he also doesn’t like potatoes. I’m thinking about disowning him as a brother).
As for the potatoes, as long as they’re mashed and have butter on them, I don’t care if they’re chunky, smooth, purple, or what. I just love me some smashed potatoes!
That post needs garland and tinsel hung from it. Oh, the holidays make me feel very warm and fuzzy.
I’m so glad that I’m a people you are eating Thanksgiving dinner with. Turkey, delish. Chucky mashed red potatoes, even more so. Don’t be surprised if I start to reminisce about the good ol’ days back in Wyoming when we’d dig them up out of the ground and start pealing with in the hour. My mom will appreciate them too.
Until then!
Wow, sounds like you guys are going all out for Thanksgiving! Rhubarb pie . . .that’s great. It’s funny that even though there’s a traditional American meal, each family still has their own variations on the dishes. The American Studies student in me is now thinking of doing a study on Thanksgiving dinner!
I bought my Christmas Trimmings candle today! I bought the last one at the store. . .I’m trying to hold off until after Thanksgiving to light it for the first time. Just the scent in the store had me feeling all happy inside.
I’m with you. Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be thanksgiving without the turkey (and the stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, vegies, pies…) We have so much to be thankful for!
Oh I love this time of year. Mashed potatoes are my favorite food ON EARTH and I usually eat more than my share on Thanksgiving (making it squeak by Christmas as my favorite holiday). But my husband makes the best mashed potatoes on earth. I’m willing to put a friendly wager on that 😉
Happy Holidays my dear!
I completely support your chunky red mashed potatoes with the skins. So good.
Go you! Quite the Thanksgiving chef. I thankfully have never had to contribute anything to a Thanksgiving dinner (maybe this is a hint…)
And I agree with the previous comment…Josh Groban need not wait for any holiday. I LOVE his Christmas stuff also.
Thanksgiving instantly calls to mind the big fat golden-brown turkey sitting neat on the Thanksgiving dinner table and stirring up the olfactory senses in its irresistible flavor. Yes, that’s just it. No Thanksgiving menu was ever complete without this stuffed bird featuring on it.Read more about the Thanksgiving story, recipes, turkey, decorations, crafts, party and gift ideas, parades, games, vacation, trivia hereThanksgiving Ideas
Hey, I also make grasshopper pie for Matt on Thanksgiving. (Or, you know, the night before.) Clearly it is becoming a popular Thanksgiving tradition.
Also, your mashed potatos sound perfect – just the way I like ’em!
I love turkey and all other traditional turkey day foods! I am making my mom’s DEVINE stuffing. Last year I ate my first Thanksgiving dinner away from my family and had to do without. This year, we are eating with friend. Before food assignments were given, I declared I was brining the stuffing and my yummy homemade rolls.
I’d be a fan of your mashed potatoes. Perfectly manicured mashed potatoes are nothing in comparrison to a lovely mashed bowl of red potatoes.
Bring on the Christmas music, especially Josh’s new album! You shouldn’t have to wait till after Thanksgiving to play it. We’ve been playing it since November 1. The season goes by too quickly anyway…enjoy every minute!
Apparently there’s a Josh Groban album I need to get my sticky fingers on. Sticky from the pomegranate I disassembled (what is the right verb for how to obtain the edible part of that fruit?) Rick’s family always has pomegranate salad on Turkey Day, lots of jello and cool whip. I think Belle’s going to make it for us this year.
Mmmm. It all sounds so good. And you clearly know what is important in mashing potatoes.
Ham has always been part of my family’s Thanksgiving. But it’s not as important as the turkey, clearly.
Also, can you send me your email address? (ambrosia.ananas [at] gmail)
Seriously, how dare ham show it’s face on any Thanksgiving table? That’s like going to watch a Christmas play and having the Easter Bunny walk out onto the stage. Just ain’t right. And normally I’d be all over you about listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. That also is akin to the annoyance I feel when I see stores putting up their Christmas decorations the day before Halloween. However, since I just realized last night that I only have til Dec. 16th to buy gifts, pack, make dog babysitting arrangements, decorate, think of sentimental ‘non-gifts’ for my parents, etc., etc., and I don’t have any Christmas spirit as of yet, I think that may indeed be a good idea. So you now have my permission, and you may proceed without guilt. (Aren’t I nice?)
The chunkier the better.