Define your feast

[Kay/NC]

Our very simple Thajksgivign meal is cooking as i take a brief break.  Just parked the vacuum cleaner and dustrag.  Things are good enough for the kids and us. 

Winn had ground up a few Goldfish crackers while we played this morning, or I may even have been able to skip the vacuum cleaner pass.  Although we aren't planning to hit the stores, we have a busy couple of days ahead.   Good to have some leftovers to nosh on for energy. 

Our supper is simple:Turkey, dressing and gravy, candied yams, snaps (aka string beans), and rolls.  I set out a couple of relish dishes of cranberry sauce and some pickle - this year, it's my red hot cinnamon cucumber pickle. 

Normally, I bake a couple of kinds of pies, and freeze one of each for Christmas.  This year, Mike told me to leave off his lemon chess, since he has no self-control in its presence, and eats a whole pie in less than 24 hours.

In years past, I've tried to make more dishes, or more complicated dishes; but this is what everyone eats and what they tell me they want, so this is what I fix.  I figure, why push the envelope? 

When I look at some of the lists of food that some people are posting on FB and elsewhere, I wonder what size plates they have, for people to serve themselves that many spoonfulls?  I guess I am having menu envy...but, really I don't see how anyone can even enjoy that many tastes at once sitting. 

I can see a potluck having a different pot for every person;but, for a family supper, we are happy with a simple meal of familiar tastes.  We eat adventurously the rest of the year, but not tonight.  This is our comfort zone. 

Everything that we are having tonight is something we have had for every Thanksgiving since our first one as a family.  I can just about cook it in my sleep by now.  Even that is a comforting thing, too, right now. 

Is it a smorgasbord at your Thanksgiving table, or do you stick to simple fare? 

[lawinkle]

Ed and I have eaten turkey bacon, turkey burgers, turkey sausage, turkey, turkey, turkey since I started this lifestyle change in March. Last night we looked at each other, knowing full well it would be just the two of us this year, and declared a moratorium on turkey for 24 hours!

We had boneless pork chops slow roasted and smothered in bread dressing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, candied carrots, and pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting piped on. Relish tray had beets and pickles. It was delicious!

Our Thanksgiving dinner is pretty traditional with maybe one new dish just to liven things up. I do all the cooking to give my daughters and daughters in law a well deserved break so I stick to what I know they like.

I was a little worried about not getting together for the holiday but it worked out just fine. We will all be together in two weeks for baby Katherine s baptism so this made sense. After my bout with the virus or whatever yesterday, I was more then happy to have a quiet day.

We capped it off with a walk at our new farm which will be the site of our retirement home, making plans for the siting, floorplan, and landscape. It was a very good day even without the kids and grands.

[ND Farmer 1]

Simple,, and like your family its been the same for yrs.  Turkey,stuffing, potatoes, gravy. cole slaw, and a jello salad.  I ate waaaay to much, the meal was very good, Our gathering was very small this yr, just my wife, my 96yr old aunt and me.

[turkey feather]

We also have the family traditional meal. I have tried changing it some but I have learned to fix the foods they really like. Turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, noodles, green beans, corn, rolls and pumkin pie with whipped cream. It is almost all grown here on our farm and homemade.

[turkey feather]

I left out the turkey gravy with the mashed potatoes. If we have persimmons, we also like persimmon pudding. We no longer have our tree. This is served on my china with the turkeys and matching scenes. I also set out my turkey collection.

[wt510151]

We had an everyday meal today. Have no relatives that live close enough to visit so really no special celebration. I am thankful I didn't have to work off-farm today. Many did, despite it being a national holiday. Caught up with the farm and bookwork, so not a relaxing day.

[Ruby Lou]

There were 28 mouths to feed at my mom's today.  One sister and her husband do the turkey and mashed potatoes.  I took jello, corn, BBQ little smokies.  (tried baked navy beans, but it didnt' work). There were buns, three kinds of stuffing, sweet potatoes, peas, three salads, relish tray, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, shrimp, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, three berry pie, coconut creme pie, chocolate pudding dessert, and strawberry pretzel dessert.  Yes, way too much food!  I took a small tablespoon of most of it everything.  This afternoon several of us went to the windmill site for a tour.  My brother's farm is getting two 300ft+ windmills on his farm.  Since no workers were there, they were able to take us back for an up close tour.  Tonight we went to my in-laws in town and had left overs from their big dinner plus some other stuff that was made just for supper.  There were 24 or 25 people there.  I did my good deed for the day and before I ate dinner, I made a plate for my MIL who lives alone and took it to her.  Then I went back and ate.  We used to bring her to mom's with us, but she doesn't do well in crowds.  I came home early tonight, left my DH and DS there playing cards.

[linda/IL]

Wow, Ruby, that's  a lot of food!  Where did you set all of it?  Actually reminds me of the dinners we used to have as an extended family at my DH's grandma's.  There was so much food but equally a lot of family members.

Today we went to a restaurant with my mom rather than stay home.  DH's idea and a thoughtful one, but I'm still not feeling up to par so I'd really rather stayed at home & crashed on the couch.  Something I never do. It was kinda crowded there and the food was OK but I would hate to have to do that instead of having family around.  Feel sorry for those who don't have family but I was really surprised at how many families, some 3 generations, that were there.  I'd much rather feast at home and be able to enjoy each other's company after. 

Back to the menu I'll be making for Sat. Much like the other traditional meals:  Mashed potatoes & gravy, TURKEY that was running on my deck last week, cranberries, jello salad (my gram's recipe), homemade rolls, homemade noodles (mil's recipe), mac & cheese (should be cheese & mac.-my aunt's recipe), (I know-really heavy on the carbs), green bean cass., pumpkin pie, cherry pie, and pecan pie.  Probably do celery & carrot sticks and homemade pickles for relish. Not sure what DIL is bringing.  Maybe another pie.  We do dinner & supper and everyone will probably come back on Sun. to pick at it again. I'd like to make a dessert the guys love that my MIL always made, but we'll see how I feel.  Still have to clean a bit too. 

I said a prayer for you today Kay, I know how hard the holidays can be after you lose a loved one.  A daughter would be even harder.  Hopefully Winn kept you entertained.

[Kay/NC]

Thank you, Linda. We had an early workday yesterday...the pigs loading out left at seven, so Winn arrived about sicpx thirty. he stayed until almost noon. We had an excellent nap time and I had offered to give him his bath, so daughter wouldn't be so rushed to get him and herself ready for linch with her in- laws. Turning one on Monday was like someone flipped a switch in his brain...he is talking so much more this week, and his play is ,uch more purposeful. Forgive me for that...the old early childhood teacher coming out this morning. I had sort of dreaded the day, but we got through it. As I told Mike last night, we have to continue traditions for the other two kids, and teach them to Winn, too. I arrived at a point of gratitude about Jenna's passing this week. I am grateful thst her spirit wasn't trapped here on this side in a broken body and brain. If she had to leave us, at least it was to experience the joys of Heaven. That is some consolation to me, and Mike is working on it. We decided to come here to her house last night, and although it took a while to warm things up here, I am glad we came. We seem to be more at peace with things here. He just said that he doesn't know why, but he feels that he can sit and enjoy his cup of coffee and relax here. That's what he used to say in the mornings when we got to go camping. I never really understood the lure of a getaway before...just seemed like one more place to keep up. As long as we keep the mowing hired out here in the warm months, I think this one isn't a hard keeper. I am starting to get it now....

[turkey feather]

I am glad you had a good day yesterday. It is in deed a blessing to have Winn with you so much. I do understand the peacefulness at the other place that you feel. It is good that has worked out for you. You do deserve the peace and quite there at this time in your lives. Enjoy it.