Thanksgiving is far and away my favorite holiday. It includes some of my favorite things; food, time with family and friends, food, watching the parade in my jammies, food.
Did I mention food? I like food.
While I love to cook, Thanksgiving is the one day of the year that I go full out. Calories be damned. While I think it’s important to be conscious of what you eat, and to try and make healthy modifications, there’s no health in my Thankgiving dojo. None.
*flings sticks of butter around the kitchen*
My guest list this year stands at twelve. Every year, I worry that everyone else will have made other plans and it will just be the four of us. Which, while it’s lovely to spend time with my husband and kids, I prefer Thanksgiving to be a full house. This year was no exception, but four quickly turned into six, which turned into nine, which turned into twelve. My little house will be packed full of family and I couldn’t be happier. (I also couldn’t be more worried that we won’t have enough pie.)
So what to feed all these people? This is my menu.
Want to come over? We can totally make room.
The meal is always a blend of scratch-made (almost everything) and no so scratch-made (the crescent rolls). I like a LOT of sides. This is not the most over-the-top year, I promise. I’m considering adding more (something squash-y). But the star?
My bird. Twenty-five pounds of turkey that I will love up on in ways that are almost obscene. I make a fresh herb and citrus compound butter and I give that baby a full body massage, including getting up under the skin. And that’s it. I don’t brine. I don’t baste. I don’t fuss. I don’t need to.
I’ve perfected the art of making sure everything is ready at the same time. The key? Don’t drink until your dinner is served. I kid you not, there was an incident with me, a glass of spiked eggnog, my hand and a burner coil. I care to not repeated this experience.
Once we’ve fully glutted ourselves on dinner, the women folk clean up and the men folk watch football. It’s all very 1952. But honestly, I don’t mind at all. As much as the kitchen is my domain on most days, on Thanksgiving, don’t even step in there without an invite. I’ve got this thing wired, baby.
And then dessert. And coffee. With booze in it. I have a semi-illicit affair with a slice of Butterscotch Pecan Pie and then start scooting people’s doots right out the door.
I kid. If you want to hang around, it’s cool by me, but I’m changing into my sweaterpants and snuggling up on the couch. You’re welcome to snuggle next to me.
All in all, I expect it to be a great day. It always is. Food and family and fabulous food. What more could I ask for? I have a lot to be thankful for, Thanksgiving day and every day.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you host, or go visiting? What’s your ‘it’s not Thanksgiving without it’ dish? Tell us all about how you give thanks!
Last year, I was nearly there for Thanksgiving (okay, not really but it felt that way).
Great post! “Flings sticks of butter” Snort! I’m having the fam over, too, but everyone brings a couple of “their” dishes, which is all good by me! Enjoy!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love all the side dishes, the turkey is is okay, but can’t compete with the stuffing, sweet potatoes w/marshmallows, string bean casserole and cranberry sauce. Some pie for dessert then left overs. Also, no gifts necessary just bring your appetite. Even better yet we are going to someone else’s house so I don’t have to do all the cooking, only a side. This year we are also bringing potato latkes with apple sauce for Hanukkah. Yummy! I can’t wait. And, I do have so much to be thankful for.
roasted root veggie and southern cornbread dressing sound amaaazing…. I love that you made a menu. yes, yes I would like to come over. Be there at 5.
I’m going to need the recipes for: corn pudding, turnip puree, and the pearl onions. Thank you.
Lol! This post made me laugh! I love a full house on holidays too. But I hate to cook so my requirement is that everyone bring a dish lol! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
I love it!!! And it’s refreshing to see an I’m going all out post instead of the typical how not to go overboard and be healthy ones. No offense to those that need to watch the calories but I say bring on the bird and the sides!