Well, Gals, this is a busy week for we Americans. That Holiday that’s main focus is food is approaching: the Thanksgiving Season. We have turkeys to stuff, pies to bake, much to-doing.
Here, an old advert for aluminum foil, shows you how ‘easy’ it is to do everything the day ahead.
Very cute commercial, but I think we all know it would be better to cook the turkey in an actual roaster pan, but then you wouldn’t use as much aluminum foil!
Speaking of marketing ‘ease’ yesterday, at the big chain market, I saw end caps with premade stuffing, canned gravies, prepackaged this and that. Well, gals, if any of you want a time to foray into homemade or a chance to try the more ‘complicated’ homemade dish, this is your holiday. Save the premade, packaged and already made for any old day, heck this IS the holiday of cooking and baking!
Though the real focus is to come together and be thankful for what we have, the real reason for This seasons, does seem to be to eat. So why blow this chance to try any and all homemade items?
So, to help us prepare (and to amuse those non-American readers) I thought we could share some various preparation ideas from my various magazines and cook books.
Let’s start with the table.
This table setting is from my vintage Better Homes cookbook( you can see the holes where it fits into the binding). I thought it interesting how they did the centerpiece with fruit spilled down the table. The baked pears are a nice touch to that festive turkey, though I do see some ‘sliced’ canned cranberry sauce. I know those pink mints are homemade, as the recipe is in this cookbook. IF any one would like that recipe, let me know.
Now this book informs us of both a formal and informal place setting, stating that informal seems more the norm for the modern family. However, by today’s standards, I am sure the informal could be viewed as formal. I thought I would share it with any of you who are unfamliar or would like to try this set up. This is how our Thanksgiving will be set this year.
First we have the description and drawing of the setting.
You can click on these images and they will enlarge for you ease of reading or printing out for your own use, you could paste and hold punch them into a vintage ‘scrap book’ of ideas and recipes!
Next, this informal setting is broken down into the courses.
Here we start with an appetizer served with the cocktail fork. I will be doing this, as I have some lovely crystal sherbets that I am going to serve shrimp cocktail in for our meal. These will be set, with the fork, to start the meal, then cleared to the next course, which will be the soup. I am doing a lovely Lobster Bisque. I am quiet excited about this. I wanted Lobsters to play some role in this feast, as they are plentiful here and we love them, but they are too dear to provide an entire lobster for each of my guests, so I will be making my bisque on Wednesday. I will boil two lobsters, some of which hubby and I can have for dinner and the rest will be for my bisque. It does say you might want to omit soup course if serving appetizer, but Thanksgiving is about the food, so I feel a small shrimp cocktail followed by a small bowl of bisque will prepare the pallet for the meal. I have not decided if there will be a separate salad, I think I might skip straight to the main course, as there are so many sides to accompany the main dish of , of course, turkey. I wait all year to taste turkey and all year to eat goose at Christmas, so the mouth will be watering after the soup course to get at that delicious bird!
Next, these two bits about serving an informal dinner or a Family-style dinner are rather interesting. Again, just click on them to enlarge for reading.
It does give some good pointers on how best to serve food and beverages. I mean, why not learn the etiquette and just make it part of your normal meal time? Again, such things becoming commonplace to a child will make he or she feel comfortable in their life rather they are eating alone, as a couple, in a fine restaurant or at the white house! I like the bit under family style, which has one pass their dinner plates to the hostess in exchange for the dessert she serves them. I, however, for thanksgiving, will be following the informal rule of clearing before dessert. I think this gives time for people to chat about dinner, rest their stomach as the coffee and tea brews and then the table is reset for dessert and hot beverages are served.
Do any of you have any particular traditions or table settings you use? Will you use a more formal or informal service for your holiday meal. Are any of you going to try something new and ‘vintage’ this season that you have not done in the past? Are any of you going to use this opportunity to wear vintage or use a fun frilly ‘hostess’ apron? Do you dress for your Thanksgiving dinner?
Tomorrow, I think we can discuss centerpieces and I have some interesting things on serving Buffet style. Do any of you serve your dinner this way? I also want to cover stuffing, cranberry dishes and desserts.
I remembered I was also suppose to share my fish chowder recipe with you that I made for my MIL birthday dinner. This is the basic recipe I used
I did some of it differently. I cooked the onion with four strips of bacon and did heat the cream in that same pan to enrich it with the bacon fat and onion. I also added 5-6 TBS. salted butter. I used chicken stock, because I had some in the freezer, but in the future I will get the fish with the heads and bones to make a stock. I used Halibut (which had the skin on) and cod and I also cooked scallops in it as well, cut into chunks. Then I broiled a few whole scallops wrapped in bacon and served one of those each in the bowl as a garnish to the chowder.
Here is a bowl as served at my MIL dinner. I thought the it looked rather pretty. You can’t see here, but I garnished it with fresh chopped cilantro, which I just love the taste of. I also served a salad with warm cod broken over it and a fresh lemon wedge squeezed before serving. It was quite yummy and served with my home made cheese crackers.
That recipe is so easy. It is merely a stick of butter softened to room temperature, two cups of flour, one and 1/2 cups grated cheese (use what you like, I used both aged cheddar and swiss) then spice it as you wish, I used chili powder, hot sauce, garlic, salt and pepper. Then I crumble it with a pastry blender 
and then, once it is sort of cornmeal looking, I use my hands and blend it until it becomes a ball of dough. Roll it out to about 1/4 inch and cut with a pastry cutter or pizza cutter into whatever size you like. Bake about 12 minutes at 325 F or until lightly browned. These are SO good on salad, in soup, or make whatever size and shape and serve with cheese and such. I made larger crackers this week to serve with smoked blue fish and cheese for hubby and I while we were on our ‘holiday at home’. So good! People also are VERY impressed when you make your own crackers, but they couldn’t be any easier! I think a food processor makes it easier, but I don’t have one and prefer to use my hands. If anyone makes them in the processor let me know how they turn out.
Now, here is a link to a Thanksgiving episode of Father Knows Best. I wish I could just post it, but unfortunately you have to go to Hulu. Here is the Link.
Our thanksgiving dinner is still pretty informal since there are only 5 of us within a few thousand miles. I generally put the side dishes and such on the table and the main dish is either at the end (I use a long folding table for guests since our dining room and regular table are too small) or on the kitchen island which is right at the side and can function as a sort of sideboard for these occasions. I don't even bother with separate water glasses because the idea totally offends my MIL for some reason. I don't serve alcohol in any case, generally a sparkling juice (trader joes has the yummiest sparkling pomegranate) and seltzer so it's not like people are going to be downing a glass of wine if they choke ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis year I'm making individual stuffed seitan rolls, cranberry and walnut stuffed sweet potatoes, and I forget what else. Good thing it's all written down! I'm making an apple pie for dessert and MIL is bringing a trifle for the hubby's b'day present. Afterwards I'm serving some candy (kiddy fudge and peppermint latte patties) with tea and coffee. My 4 year old will be making the fudge as his contribution. It's a rather silly and very simple recipe that involves melting one bag of chocolate chips (or butterscotch or whatever you fancy) and beating that together with a can of frosting then mixing in nuts or marshmallows or whatever. I very rarely buy frosting but he loves making this recipe all by himself so I buy it for him.
rhonda-I'm confused, so there are no water glasses? Does that mean no water for dinner or you drink water and then use the glass for something else? I wonder why your MIL would be against water glasses, it seems an odd stance to take!
ReplyDeleteI love that you have your 4 year old make their own fudge, how darling. It is nice he can feel part of it. I love trifles!
Wow, you are always such a fountain of information! I have always envied the way Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, much more festive than Canadians (I am trying my hardest to change that, haha!) I find that Canadians don't get excited about Thanksgiving the way they should. By the way, there is an award for you over at my blog, please check it out and have a great day!
ReplyDeleteWe each have one glass and we either have water (usually something fizzy, maybe flavored) or whatever juice we're having. I don't know why she's so against water glasses. Maybe it's because she always buys spring water and very rarely drinks much with her meals so there's no way she'd drink a glass of water and a glass of whatever else we're having. If I put out water glasses and offer her something else as well she looks positively uncomfortable and says she'll just drink the water. I think it's very odd and it kinda bothers me because I'd rather have them; I like a little of whatever nice beverage we're having but I tend to drink a lot while I eat and I'd rather have water for that. Instead I just keep a water glass in the kitchen and have a drink before I sit then grab a gulp anytime I have to get up for anything and between courses.
ReplyDeleteRhonda, dear, I must say, I believe if YOU are hosting dinner you most assuredly SHOULD put out water glasses if you think fit. I usually have a pitcher of ice water on the sideboard. Then, if she chooses to drink her 'bubbly water' she may do so out of the non-water or juice or wine glass you have provided. I hardly think you should need to 'gulp' down liquids in the kitchen, you are not the serving maid! Of course, happiness and contentment is always good, but I am sure were you to quietly introduce it without any special attention to it, it would be well recieve. I doubt she would want to make a 'scene' in front of everyone. You could simply have both glasses and then, as you serve, say, "Who would like water with dinner?" as you hold the pitcher of iced tap water. To which she will not reply and then you could offer up the other options, "And juice or tonice water for anyone?" and fill that glass. It would be a subtle way to make the statement, "This is how I Like to serve me meal". I don't want to seem pushy, but don't you think it could work? I think we should make any strides towards setting a better, prettier table for all guests, not just an odd tradition of one? Do you agree, any of you gals, or am I overstepping my bounds in suggesting this?
ReplyDeleteLily- I sometimes worry I am not providing Enought information! I am glad you find it informative. Do not mind me if I don't 'pick up' my award. I am an horrid blogger who is remiss in accepting awards. I have been awarded before, but am hopeless as to what I should do, am I to put the award on this blog? Does that seem to boastful? I don't know, what IS the protocol?
Thanksgiving this year is around my grandmother's huge, walnut table with most of my mom's 6 siblings, spouses, kids, grandkids....quite a zoo. We make it a potluck and the e-mail invitation always says, "Bring what you don't want anyone else to mess up." For me, that means I'll be making the stuffing.
ReplyDeleteMy dad's a Virginian and they always made stuffing balls: just your usual stuffing recipe (no sausage or chestnuts or any of that nonsense) formed into serving-sized balls and baked in a buttered pan. That way, everyone gets some of the lovely crusty bits!
-Rebecca
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ReplyDeleteYou not only entertain us out here in bloggerland but you provide such valuable information for us so, no I don't think it would be boastful at all for you to put your award up on your blog but you are asking the wrong person about the protocol, that was actually the first award I have ever received so I just followed the instructions that came with it! I will be honest that I wasn't sure if I should send it your way only because 'the rules' state that you must then choose 7 blogs you like to pass the award on to and I wasn't sure if you use your computer only for your blog or if you visit other sites as well. I wasn't sure to what extent you use your computer since the use of a personal computer wouldn't have existed for you in 1955. No worries if you don't pick it up, I just thought that if anyone deserved an award for 'vintage style', it would be you! Enjoy it anyway you like!
ReplyDeleteWe are very informal as it's just husband and me, the family still resides in Louisiana. I am making all goodness from scratch though, but then again, I always do. =) We're having a ham with a honey or brown sugar glaze and mashed potatoes and I haven't even thought of everything yet. Since it's just us, we do things smaller. ;)
ReplyDeleteI may dress though. Last Christmas, I wore a vintage red dress a friend gave me and a vintage Christmas apron of my mom's. She sent me two of hers for a 'present' last year. =) I even took pics with my roasting pan of seven spiced cornish hens and in front of our silver tree. Fun!
=) LPM
fun pictures! i love the table settings.
ReplyDeletewe have thanksgiving at my sister's, in which we all help with the cooking. on tuesday and wednesday, my mom and sister and i will get together to start the stuffing and pies. it's a great "girl time" as we roll out crust and mix up the fillings. :) then on the actual day, we each have "the dishes" that we always bring. i am always in charge of the potatoes and corn pudding. we eat in a semi formal style, table all set, with nice but not way dressy clothes. i think i may try rhonda's idea of letting the kids make something this year. maybe an hors d'oeuvre???
My family and I always go to my parents home for Thanksgiving. My mother still uses the same place settings she got when she was married. That is nice to use such vintage plates and silverware.
ReplyDeleteThe only tradition I have is making my famous sweet potatoes to bring to their home.
I love and enjoy the company and traditions that come with the holiday and look forward to adding them to my children's memories.
what a great post! I actually was thinking about this blog this weekend- hubby and I held our first "mock thanksgiving" where we got to have our own private thanksgiving meal prior to the big family to-do...I was dying to cook but not to the point of upsetting my mother in law's kitchen!
ReplyDeleteI actually came home from the grocery store and even though this is my very first Thanksgiving dinner cooked 100% (well..almost, I had to cheat on the cranberry sauce because the store was out of cranberries) from scratch, I told him how I was surprised at how the store provides literally almost every step of the Thanksgiving dinner "easy, just pour out of the can and heat!". That surprise actually grew to horror when I made gravy, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie etc. all from scratch and realized just how easy it really was.
I think people are honestly being cheated out of the joys of cooking and baking just by either intimidation of learning how, or sheer laziness. Or the mentality that we're all just too busy to pour the turkey drippings into a pan ourselves and whisk it in with flour to make our own gravy.
I'm so glad hubby and I have started this tradition of our mock Thanksgiving. I honestly enjoyed learning how to cook all of these foods and to be able to serve my hubby (and especially the future kiddos)a true, traditional Thanksgiving dinner...WITHOUT having to depend on the parents OR packaged foods to provide it for us!!
Lily-what lovely things you say! Well, I actually don't search too much online other than for research for this blog, but I could take a look see, I suppose.
ReplyDeletelpm-It would be lovely to see those photos of you!
Rebecca-What a lovely idea, stuffing balls, they sound quite yummy. They would be great served with a cheese cream sauce!
Kelly-I think that is a great idea, with the kids.
Happy Housewife-Sounds lovely and maybe you could share your recipe for your famous sweet potatoes or is it a secret?
Sarah-Isn't it wonderful when you realize what it is to make your own food?! I am glad you have done so and what a fun tradition, a mock Thanksgiving, I love it! Maybe some of our non-US readers could do that and have a faux Thanksgiving to share along with all of us in their own countries! This feeling of knowing how easy and wonderful the taste of homemade is why I feel excitement and not trepidation at the thought of cooking my way through the old French cooking book I recently bought. It is an adventure that adds to our cooking reptoire! It does seem as if we, modern people, ARE being cheated out of the joy and knowledge of making our own, not to mention the increased cost. And gravy is not hard at all and why buy that horrid gelatinous chemical filled jarred gravy! Once you have the real thing, Oh Boy, does it ever send you!
I don't care for Thanksgiving. We always go to my mothers, and, well, *cough* she is an alright cook. She pulls from a box or can everything she can. The problem is, I would invite them to our house, but my dad wouldn't come. He has this thing about not going places on thanksgiving. Part of it is the football. Heaven help the person who gets between him and his football...but part of it is I think he is Asperbergers Autistic as well (like my son) though he has never been officially diagnosed. However, he will only eat a certain group of things and LOATHES anyone elses cooking. This wouldn't be so bad, bt his "taste buds" were formed by my grandma. The cambells soup and hot dog lady I mentioned before. I prefer to make things from scratch, and put full bodied flavors to my foods. That man would live on spaghetti (with PREGO - only) or pancakes. If I cook, he usually picks at it and makes mom fix him something he "likes" when they get home.
ReplyDeleteI have thought about just not going, but my family is the only family my parents have around here. My brother lives in Duluth, MN. He cannot travel 12 + hours for dinner. :) With my parents getting into their late 60's, I try to spend as much time with them as I can stand. Besides, my kids LOVE to go to grandma's and play with her dogs. I would lose out with everyone (but hubby - who wants me to cook, bless him).
So, I am going to fix my homemade meatballs for dinner tomorrow, and my fried chicken on tuesday (my hubbys 2 favorites) so that Thanksgiving wont be such a letdown.
Sarah, you might consider calling it "Early Thanksgiving" rather than "Mock Thanksgiving" ... "mock" means not really genuine, as in "mock apple pie" made with Ritz crackers but no apples ... admirable that even if you are locked into Thanksgiving Day at your mother-in-law's, you and your husband are making your own memories around your own table ... good for you!
ReplyDeleteLorie - that's why I host thanksgiving :-) My MIL doesn't depend on packaged food much but her cooking sucks and it's so boring. Usually it's roasted or boiled veggies with a boca burger. One time she tried to make pizza using her regular bread dough rolled out to about an inch thick and then sprinkled a handful of zucchini and mushrooms on top. No sauce, no cheese, nothing moist at all. Of course the veggies totally shrunk down so we all got a hunk of bread (burned on the bottom) topped with a couple of pieces of shriveled veggies for lunch.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I was thinking last night and I think I'm just going to go with the water glasses this year. You're absolutely right, I shouldn't have to pander to her ideals in my home. I'm going to put out the water glasses and the wine glasses for the sparkling juice and if she chooses to leave her water sitting or chooses to reject the juice that's her choice. If I'm going to spend day prepping a really good dinner I'm going to serve it properly!
I love Thanksfiving! It's my second favorite holiday! We will be feasting at my MIL's this year. I am making my broccoli casserole, maybe a pie, and, what we call Oreo crack. It's about the only non homemade thing I make and it gets devoured!
ReplyDeleteI hope all of you ladies have a lovely holiday!
Oops! Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteLori-That is too bad about your MIL cooking. Well first off, let me say I am sorry if about your father possibly having a form of autism, that is sad indeed. Is it genetic, for then you would know why your poor son has it. Now, football! Don't even get me started. It is funny, though and now perhpas I should list and mention some of it, but even my old 50's General Foods cook book under Thanksgiving discusses the "big game". Of course, their version sounds fun. It is either a local game, a college game, the 'home team' and their are blankets and hot cocoa in thermos and wonderfully perpared treats by the homemaker in the chill fall air! I have to say, I am quite lucky this year in that no one coming cares a lick about football and therefore we do not need to have the tv on. Sometimes, as Gussie will be here, she will like to watch the parades, but that I don't mind in the background. So, my sympathy for you and the sound of the game in the background! Of course, you might like it.
ReplyDeleteBut, you might want to take a leaf out of SARAH's book with her MOCK (or Early) Thanksgiving and start a new family tradition! The HOME THANKSGIVING you cook and share with your family and then you can relax and laugh a little amongst yourselves (good naturedly of course!)with your family at the 'silly foods' at your mother's thanksgiving! WHy not give it a try, it would be something, I am sure, your children would remember as they got older. Perhaps telling their spouse or friends, "Well, back when we were younger, my grandmother was a horrid cook, so my mother, bless her heart, every year the week of Thanksgiving preapared from scratch an entire Home Thanksgiving" or something along those lines!
Texas accent-I agree, mock thanksgiving does make one thick of turkeys sculpted from SPAM and canned cranberry sauce, slid out in its 'can shape' srpinkled with colored jimmies (sprinkles). I like Early or Home thanksgiving, but of course, it is your Mock Thanksgiving, so you call it anything you want and Brava! for thinking of it!
Rhonda-it sounds as if your MIL might be one of 'those' vegetarians whose dinner plans revolve around microwaving circlets of beige 'food'. Perhaps she should get a really good 'vegetarian gourmet cook book' anonymously from 'santa' wink wink!Also Hurrah! You are going with the glasses, I am so glad. I worried, after I commented, that perhaps I had over stepped my bounds, but honestly, it is very correct AND polite to set the table with the various glass, I mean there might be a relative who chooses to opt out of wine, say, but I would still have the glass, they should hardly mind an empty glass, and if someone does change their mind, there is no 'running to the kitchen'. I honestly think we, as homemakers, can impose better or prettier lives such as nice table settings upon guests and family memebers if we do it in a friendly well-mannered way. If you suddenly set a beautiful breakfast table, no boxes or packaging allowed, but offered up the cereals in cute containers or eggs an such, there might be some questions to which you could simply reply, "Oh, well, this is a much nicer start to the day, don't you think, here you go dear, some more home made jam?" and you will be surprised how disagreement will fade quickly. I think food and good food and lovely things universally make people feel good.
Jenn-I too, love thanksgiving. I am excited this year to be able to host it. Mmmmm broccoli casserole, you might have to share the recipe. You could even share the oreo crack recipe, if we really wanted we could always try to make a homemade version of it! That's when it is like mad scientist, trying to decipher the ingredients in things like oreos.
Very elegant thanksgiving menu. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Denmark, but we do gather the family on 10 November which is Saint Martin's Day. We eat roasted duck and have a cosy time together, much like your Thanksgiving. Please post the recipe for the pink mints. I adore making homemade candy for Christmas. :)
ReplyDeleteWow you Gals are amazing with all your working, planning, preparations and traditions for Thanksgiving and all done so close to Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't mind me asking here 50'sgal but I have some questions for your dear hubby the answers to which you might be able to relay. Seeing he's on holidays I thought he might have time to answer them via you if they're not too intrusive.
Does he love the new lifestyle with his precious housewife? Does he think it'll last? Does he HOPE it will last? Does he mind the 'perceived' financial loss without you not bringing home a pay-check? Is he proud to say 'a homemaker' when asked what his wife does or does he feel himself needing to expound on how intelligent, artistic, talented you are? (My husband is proud of the fact that he provides for me, that he gets special treatment and we have a smooth-running, peaceful home.)What are some of his favourite 'changes' from this year? Is he surprised at how skilled you've become so quickly and how well you've adapted to this 50's lifestyle? Does he have any advice for us ladies? Please excuse my boldness in asking these questions... Linda
For the past 6 years I've done Thanksgiving at my house, but it's just 4 of us - hubby, me, and my parents - so it makes it much easier. I'm afraid to everyone else it would be considered horribly informal but it's formal to us, heh. I do one of the little 4 lb boneless turkey breasts and that's plenty for us. And the usual mashed potatoes, green beans, some kind of roll and pumpkin pie. I use cream cheese and heavy cream in the potatoes and cook the green beans with bacon and salt and pepper. I do get a little fancy with my little 4 lb football shaped turkey ;) and brine it the day before in an Emeril recipie that includes cranberry and orange juice and various spices, then it gets cooked with a homemade cranberry sauce baste. It turns out quite lovely. Alas, I do serve the canned cranberry jelly....we love it!
ReplyDeleteAs for blogger etiquette....no, it's not considered boastful at all to post the awards on your blog; most people put them along their right hand column with a "thank you" to whoever gave it to them. Some also thank whoever gave it to them in their blog. Just go to their blog to "receive it" (copy and paste the shortcut). Some of the awards going round "require" you to answer silly questions as part of receiving the award and to pass it along to more people....just all part of the fun and games and passing the award onto others is a way to extend the courtesy. Participate as much or as little as you wish, there's no obligations. Although it's usually considered good form to at least acknowledge to the person who gave it to you your appreciation of it, even if you don't put it up on your site. ;)
I've been discovering the last few weeks that there is a HUGE community here on Blogger of vintage minded folks! Once your official year is up and you're "free" to use the internet more (if you wish), do be sure to do some exploring of these vintage blogs.
Actually, 50sGal...as far as my dad goes, I am so used to his "quirks" that when my son was born, I didn't notice anything particularily odd about him. He was "just like his Papa"...I find ALOT of humor in them. They are both VERY (VERY in super big letters) SMART! They are just somewhat anti-social. My dad has morbid fears of crowds (meaning a group larger than 6 people in his book). It is just the way it has always been. He has about 25 things he will eat, and I just understand that, for my oldest is the same way. You just adapt. It is easier to go to their house and eat than it is to make hard feelings. My parents are more important than that....
ReplyDeleteAs far as the our house Thanksgiving...that is why I am preparing some favorites this week for dinner. We (hubby and I) neither one care much for turkey, so I am a little indifferent to the whole mess.
Linda: Love your questions...and I would love to see the answers...
Wow, gals, I just got back from an impromptu day out with the girls. We lunched, did some window shopping and stopped for an hot chocolate (it is not as good as my homemade, wink wink)
ReplyDeleteSanne-I will gladly post that mint recipe and I am going to do a post in December about holiday candy making, as there is so much info!
Linda-I will be glad to ask hubby all those questions, unfortunately he is back at work today, so I will ask tomorrow and post then. I am certain of how he may answer, but one never knows. I am sorry I did not post today, but became too busy. I will post tomorrow for sure and talk of centerpieces, stuffings and we can share recipes an such if any of you like.
Gingerella-that brine soak sounds wonderful and it isn't the size of a party but the joy you have at it, non? I hope I have not hurt anyone's feelings with my laxness in awards, to any of you that I have not done right by you, I do apoligize, I often find myself so busy with the research and doing for this blog and my project and daily life, I was too lax in follow through on awards and do apologize, I certainly did not mean any harm nor to offend. I know of a few vintage blogs, but it is true that I don't do much 'surfing' and am hoping, when next year arrives, I can coax some of the vintage bloggers to want to join and help my little web page grow with ideas and thoughts and recipes an such, we shall see.
Lori-Oh, I didn't mean you should tempt them to your place for thanksgiving, I was just thinking the other commenter had a good idea with her pre thanksgiving fun before the big family one, but it sounds as if that is what you are doing with your chicken and lovely meatballs, good for you. I have to say, I cannot understand NOT loving turkey. I suppose there are those of us that love it and those who don't care. I look forward to it every year as I do the christmas goose. I am considering taking this january a local game cooking class, as I adore pheasant and quail and such game and would love to learn to cook it properly.
So, back to work gals, I have to catch up from my day out with the girls and luckily hubby is working late tonight so I can get all my things done before he gets home and we can relax before tomorrow when we are only two days away from Turkey day!
We always go to my in laws for Thanksgiving and although it's not as good, fun, or as formal as my parents did it I appreciate that they make an effort and have us over. I always bring a brownies (this year I found fall leaf sprinkles to top them with!), salad, and either an apple cake or pie since my Mil loves it.
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting to hear how others do their holidays.
Donna, I hope you had fun with the girls! We need those spur of the moment outings, don't we? :)
s
We're all about pre-packaged thanksgiving. I'll still have my glass of wine in hand and my apron all tied tight (so the cat doesn't untie it) while chatting and adding water. We have so little time, Hubby and I, to spend together these day. Just relaxing, walking to/on the beach, enjoying each others undivided attention for once is made so much easier not getting upset about how small our kitchen is!
ReplyDeleteIt IS the holiday to give thanks and we are thankful for boxed gravy. :)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I saw the most disturbing thing at the supermarket the other day and instantly thought of you. Sorry, that sounds kinda insulting ;-) I was ranting to the boy about the thanksgiving display consisting of cans of cranberry sauce, gravy, instant mashed potato, and the like. Then I saw a package that chilled me to the bone. Jello Pumpkin Style Pie. What on earth is a pumpkin *style* pie? The mind boggles. It's not like pumpkin pie is that difficult, if you use canned pumpkin and a bought pie crust it only takes a few minutes to prep. If you're really not up to that then you can pick one up from any bakery or grocery store this time of year. I can't see any reason to buy an odd fake substitute in a box. It's very odd to think that many people consider me a total weirdo because I bake my own bread and such yet they probably think nothing of someone who makes fake pie.
ReplyDeleteRhonda-I hear you loud and clear. And, if one is not able, rather too busy or not interested in homemade, support your local bakery or cafe and buy a homemade pie from them! It will taste better than pumpkin 'style' pie, that is for sure. I think we have just become so convinced, by the media, that things are hard and when we work all day its too hard to do anything, but really, people sure find time to watch tv. I just feel bad when I think of all the creative people wasting away because when they are not at work they think their only escape or 'reward' is ease. I mean look how hard people work for other people at their jobs, arent' they worth that level of energy for themselves? But, to each his own, I guess. I just think sometimes people think things boxed are easy, for example gravy is actually not hard to make as it is simply the meat drippings and flour stirred. It is actually easier than boxed gravy and less chemicals and preservatives and money. But, we all have our own way of doing things I suppose. But, I do know what you mean. When I see the endcaps of basically boxed up thanksgiving meal, why not just go out to a restaurant, support your local community and eat something yummy instead of so much chemical and preservative?!
ReplyDeleteI, again, don't want anyone to think I am judgeing, as I always try to state, this project is about me discovering and trying new things. It does not mean everyone has to do things homemade, but sometimes there is more behind things than meets the eye. I just like people to question why they do things and if it is really for ease or because of conditioning? I just don't want anyone to feel I am trying to tell anyone HOW to live. I like to share what I am learning and see what happens. I have finally finished my menu for thanskgiving and I am going to be trying so many things I have not done before, such as homemade Parker House rolls etc and am excited about it, but it is not for everyone.
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