I am always inspired by others and today it is Dena Stevens who compelled me to write ! Take a moment to read her blog, put on your thinking cap and lay it on....
I know Thanksgiving Traditions come in many forms! What some call a yearly favorite dish others would balk at (oyster stuffing- ughhh!). Getting families together sometimes bring drama or stress.Sometimes the food is a disaster!
I'll share my First Married Thanksgiving with you:
First off, marrying at age 22 doesnt allow you to have a tremendous cooking career. Jeff and I married June 1988. Five months later- it is Thanksgiving, my first " Holiday "married. I really wanted to make it special.
Now, Jeff is a health conscious guy that excercises daily; He is a Collegiate Coach. At the time he was in Grad school, we had very little money and this meal was a big deal. It was also my first Thanksgiving away from home- just the two of us..in the snow- another first for this Florida girl!
I wanted to make my first turkey low fat so I took all the skin off before I cooked it ! Yes, you read that right! Luckily I remembered my grandparents stuffed the cavity with Florida oranges and grapefruit ..but without the skin, this poor ole bird ended hard and dry as a horse saddle. My husband, saw the tears welling in my eyes and chisseled into the bird and served himself a heaping helping. We busted into laughter and thank God had other fixins to go with the meal to get us by. It is funny how we look back at times (like that) and wouldnt trade that memory for the world!
Now I want to hear your stories...family feuds, turkey fell off the platter, burnt sweet potato suffle'...if you cant think of a story maybe a favorite recipe like Dena's !! Gobble Gobble !
11 Comments on Thanksgiving Stories...
I don't do things small. I never really cooked at all, my husband used to tell people what good sandwiches i made, he was serious, I really did make a very good sandwich.
I decided on making Thanksgiving Dinner for my in-laws, and I grilled my mother on every last detail for the meal weeks in advance. It would be perfect, almost.
When it came to the gravy, and there would be no canned gravy on Thanksgiving; my mother gave me the recipe for one cup. That was all I made, and everyone looked at me when I put this little amount of gravy in the gravy boat. I explained I didn't know what happened, which of course I didn't because I actually believed it was supposed to grow in the pan, to the amount we needed for the turkey. My mother told that story hundreds of times, she figured I knew basic math.
I really don't have too much experience with this Holiday as I have been in the USA for the past 15yrs and I am the only one here, well just a sister which I don't see too often. The rest of my family and friends are still back in Mexico. I have been lucky to always get invitations to celebrate this day with new found friends and I have embrased this tradition fully (who wouldn't, there are always many good things to eat, not a good time for dieting) Thank you for sharing one of your personal stories. Hope you have come along way from your fist turkey for everybody's sake ; ) LOL
Michele, that's an awesome story. I laughed out loud! Your husband sounds like a great guy!
My family is all in Montana, so when I can't go home the holidays are bittersweet for me. We loved holidays because my parents were both teachers, and since they got the same breaks we did, we really got to unwind and relax as a family. We'd stay up late playing board games and talking. We still do it now when I'm home, of course, but I suspect they like it when I don't come home sometimes because then they can have a chance to win, LOL.
What a great story!! It certainly conjured up a really funny image! Your husband sounds like a really nice guy.
My family is all in Florida, so I get a little lonely for them when it's a holiday and I can't be with them. We always have so much fun together, and I really miss that when it's the holidays especially.
Thanks for all the comments...Holidays really bring back memories, smells and smiles. I to will be away from family this Thanksgiving but I cherish all the wonderful memories: kids running loose in the house without anyone yelling, football games on the tv with poker tables set up. The guys would smoke cigars, the women would be telling stories and laughing.Everone chipped in to cook, everyone chipped in to clean. The best behaved child of the day got the wishbone!
I had alot of cousins so we ended up playing barefoot outside- kick the can or hide and seek. We climbed trees and caught bull frogs. We drank out of the hose outside...we were afraid that we might be told it was time to come in if we went inside to ask for a drink!
My first experience with a turkey was being very proud until everyone starting pulling little bits of paper out of their stuffing! Guess I forgot to removed the "stuff" wrapped in paper before I put stuff in the bird!
Have a blessed day of giving thanks...
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...BAM...That Was A Turkey, NoPaper...ROAR!
TLW_ I am laughing...I cant understand the meaning of the bagged parts..what in the day lights would someone want to do with that stuff!? I also dont understand how the plastic bands on the ankles (do turkeys have ankles ?) and the pop up gadget doesnt melt in the oven..
btw- your grandbables are beautiful and the strawberry blonde hair is a girls envy!
edit- I meant babies but bables is a cute word so I left it!
I don't even want to know what they "stuff" in those little paper bags...LOL...And don't get me started on whether or not a bird has ankles? I like the "Grandbables"...I am going to run that by my oldest grandkids (9&10) and see if they like it. I'll get back to you when I throw that out there at 'em...Thanks for the laugh babe...TLW...ROAR!
Actually no. I am participating in 3 different hijackings. To me that's much more fun. I watched Madonna grow up. I am sure it will be on again...TLW...ROAR!
I'll have to catch it another time...I started two of the hijackings. I can't just abandon them now...Not my style. You are welcome to join us you know. It would give you the chance to meet some folks...TLW...ROAR!
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I don't do things small. I never really cooked at all, my husband used to tell people what good sandwiches i made, he was serious, I really did make a very good sandwich.
I decided on making Thanksgiving Dinner for my in-laws, and I grilled my mother on every last detail for the meal weeks in advance. It would be perfect, almost.
When it came to the gravy, and there would be no canned gravy on Thanksgiving; my mother gave me the recipe for one cup. That was all I made, and everyone looked at me when I put this little amount of gravy in the gravy boat. I explained I didn't know what happened, which of course I didn't because I actually believed it was supposed to grow in the pan, to the amount we needed for the turkey. My mother told that story hundreds of times, she figured I knew basic math.
Happy Thanksgiving