My very favorite Holiday is coming up next week. I adore Thanksgiving. I know that must be a shock to you since the entire day is wrapped around everything food. Glutinous portions covered in gravy. DELICIOUS!!
My family gets together every year at my house. Well, I should say who ever can make it. I also love to invite friends as well. I would invite 50 people if I thought I could find a turkey big enough.
Every family has their own versions of these classics and some weird stuff that shows up on the table every year. Do you have an aunt that brings a jello mold covered in cat food like in “Christmas Vacation”? Do you have to serve that can of cranberry sauce because, well, you just have to? I was just at Trader Joe’s today and the check out lady asked me what is the one thing that I can’t live without on Thanksgiving. I told her my mom’s stuffing recipe, which was my grandmother’s as well. Simple and heavenly.
OK. So since my family is a family of cooks and doesn’t really use recipes for the dishes we make (we have been doing it so long we could do it blindfolded but if asked couldn’t write it down to save our lives), I am going to give you recipes as close to ours as possible. You won’t be disappointed.
The Turkey. Oven roasted, and we stuff every orifice with well the stuffing. Ina Garten’s Perfect Roast Turkey
The Stuffing. Yes I said Stuffing, It was named that because it is STUFFED in the turkey. Simple Stuffing
The Mashed Potatoes. Rather I should say “riced” potatoes since I use a potato ricer. It gives such a creamy texture. Mounted with lots of butter, cream, salt and pepper. They are pure evil for your waistline that is why we only make them like this once a year. They are the color of spun gold. Perfect Mashed Potatoes recipe
The Other Potato. One potato just isn’t enough. We like to have a precursor to dessert on our plates to get our pancreas producing enough insulin to get us through ’til the 5 different kinds of desserts. This coconut pecan topped sweet potato casserole will make you want to cry. No marshmallows here, save those for the s’mores.
Gotta have something Green. Everything can’t be a starch but just because it’s green doesn’t mean you can make it bad for you. Shredded Brussel Sprouts with Lemon.
Cranberry sauce. Don’t ever use the stuff in the can. This cranberry relish is so fresh you will want to eat it on everything.
Dessert. My mom is the dessert queen. She makes no less than 5 different kinds each Thanksgiving. We also have an awesome tradition of having friends
come over after dinner for dessert. It turns into a great party.
This apple pie is similar to one my mom makes. All hail the Pioneer Woman!
Need to have pumpkin on the dessert table. This would be a show stopper.
Let’s not forget the homemade rolls. So much better than the ones in the can. It would not be Thanksgiving without these. My mom makes them ahead and puts them in the freezer. They are well worth the effort. Homemade Crescent Rolls
No matter what is on your Thanksgiving table, it doesn’t matter. What matters is who you have around it and why. Be thankful for your friends and family and your health.
Smarties, what are your Thanksgiving traditions? Please share them in the comments below!
When you become a mom, you quickly realize that after your first holiday season, it’s never going to be about you ever again. And that’s ok, because we adore our kids and the true meaning of the holidays. But what Smarty girl doesn’t like gifts wrapped up in a pink & green bow just for her?! That’s where CSP comes in. Smarties, we have scoured our amazing city and we bring you the BIGGEST and MOST FABULOUS Smarty Swag Bag to date! Feast your eyes, Smarty Charlotte and enjoy the pampering!
We present over $2,700 worth of fabulous Smarty Swag…Click here to join the holiday party, we’ll pick our winners on December 9th, all 22 of them!!
1 comment
My mouth is watering just thinking about your fabulous meal!! Wow!