posted on November 12, 2000 09:04:53 AM new
I've been loving the food threads lately (I'm not fat, I'm festively plump!), so I'm wondering if anyone has any favorite (or horrible) food traditions for the holidays. Either family traditions, or ones you've started yourself?
New: Being just the two of us makes doing the whole turkey thing at Thanksgiving a huge chore, so one year, my partner and I decided to stuff a salmon. Now it's a tradition, and we love it.
posted on November 12, 2000 09:11:39 AM newSadie999: here's an idea you might like: game hens. My best Thanksgiving memory was when I was 9 years old. My family was pretty poor & that year Mom couldn't afford a turkey or ham, but game hens were on special at 29 cents each. She got one for all three of us (mom, sister & myself) and splurged & bought wild rice to stuff them with. I can still remember how thrilled I was!
posted on November 12, 2000 10:03:02 AM new
We've been invited to one of our children's home for Thanksgiving this year! I'm so excited about not having to put on the show this year I am beside myself.
posted on November 12, 2000 10:20:19 AM new
Thanksgiving:
Best: My Mother's gravy
Worst: My Mother-in-laws Oyster dressing. Blech!!!
Christmas:
Best: Lobster for Christmas Eve!
Worst: My Grandfather double dipping all the dips. (Not really the food, just the thought that he'll take a bite of something then put it back into the community dip.)
posted on November 12, 2000 11:45:05 AM new
OOHH Oyster dressing! My father-in-law was from Maine and they always stuffed the turkey with oyster dressing. I made it one year and it turned out great. Doesn't really taste like oysters; just gives it a salty, earthy flavor.
I always liked my grandmother's cranberry-orange salad but hated the pickled beets.
For the last few years I have made a smoked salmon pasta dish on Christmas Eve. Everyone likes it so I guess it's our new tradition!
Lastly, I HATE my mother-in-law's turkey. She places thick slices of bacon over the top of the turkey, I guess to keep it moist. But, she buys really cheap bacon and the drippings get in the gravy so her gravy always tastes sort of rancid. BLECH!
posted on November 12, 2000 12:51:48 PM new
BEST:
I have a few recipes that seem to get asked for usually around this time of year...
it seems they like my Mashed Potatoes, my Apple/Walnut Stuffing and my Christmas Tree Cheese spread...
I still get a thrill when asked...
WORST:
anything my mother cooks...she was a "Depression" baby and was never really taught GOOD cooking, just "make ends meet/stretch that potato" kind of cooking...my siblings can attest to how atrocious it is even today...
posted on November 12, 2000 01:11:00 PM new
I have noticed that families that insist on having Christmas or Thanksgiving remaining at the parents or grandparents house--find their families scattered to the wind when those places are no longer available--and sometimes at a loss of how to develop traditions within their own homes.
I really think the younger generation in a family should be encouraged to develop traditions in their homes and let the old folks come to them to be pampered--and if you have lots of siblings they can take turns
posted on November 12, 2000 01:36:35 PM newZazzie, we tried to change the tradition of having Christmas Eve at my parents this year, with the passing of my Dad, we thought it would be too hard on Mom. She put her foot down and said we are doing what we always do. We get pizza from a local shop, go to Christmas Eve service at my Mom's church, back home and have pizza and open presents.
It'll be weird without Dad, but being somewhere else would just be weirder I think.
Christmas Day my in-laws come here for dinner if they're up for it. Father in law is in ill health, so you never know ahead of time. We usually end up with a new movie or two, so we hunker down and watch movies with the not so little kids. It is really a laid back sort of day here.
posted on November 12, 2000 02:06:31 PM new
Thanksgiving is a serious fest around here. Even with only the two of us (our great preference) I still roast a turkey and bake two pies. Why should we deprive outselves just because the house isn't crawling with guests?
Dinner is eaten at the coffee table (generally sitting on the floor so you can stretch out between helpings) while watching the X-Files marathon.
posted on November 12, 2000 03:03:20 PM new
We go out for Thanksgiving.
We love it!
I have cooked 1 Turkey in the last 10 years, and as far as I am concerned, never again.
posted on November 12, 2000 04:11:17 PM new
Thanksgiving has always been a huge disappointment in my life. My family is a nightmare~it has been one stressed out scene year after year~usually ending with me in despair about how much I wish for a semi-normal family.
So,our new tradition for Thanksgiving? We will be in Paris. Just another day!!~~~
posted on November 12, 2000 05:45:05 PM new
I'm pretty sure it was on AW last year that someone posted an excellent mashed potato recipe that added sour cream. If it was you, could you please post it again. I can't find it and would love to make them again. They were a big hit!
*******************
That's Flunky Gerbiltush to you!
posted on November 12, 2000 06:43:27 PM new
A new Thanksgiving activity, now that it is just us, is for the past few years to attend the community Thanksgiving meal,put on for the entire town by more than 200 volunteers. We donate home-made desserts and arrive early to deliver hot meals to those who cannot attend. I have a lot more fun than when putting on the whole show, and cook a small turkey later on, without all the bells and whistles. The dinner is for everyone, and we have met wonderful people.
posted on November 13, 2000 07:17:00 AM new
Thanks all for your ideas and thoughts!
Combining some of them:
A Thanksgiving for folks we love: cornish game hens, lobster, apple/walnut stuffing, smoked salmon pasta, and a couple of pies, all eaten in Paris with the whole community and with someone to clean up afterwards while the guests all watch Xfiles videos!
A Thanksgiving for folks we'd rather not spend time with: hot dogs and ham covered with rancid bacon gravy with peeps for dessert. And invite many double-dippers!
posted on November 15, 2000 06:50:02 AM new
Those little sausage balls, made with bisquick, sausage and grated cheese. With just a dash of bourbon.
Chocolate pecan pie.
Deep-Fried Turkey.
Shoe-Peg Corn casserole. Layers of shoe-peg corn, string green beans, pimentoes, chopped celery and chopped onion, diced green bell pepper, sour cream, cream of celery soup, crushed ritz crackers and grated cheese.
Old fashioned carrot cake with lots of black walnuts and golden and black raisins and lots and lots of grated carrots - topped with cream cheese icing.
Those little 'pin-wheels' of tortillas and cream cheese with green chilies and chopped black olives.
Ribbon candy in a mason jar of homemade wine. Drink the wine, eat the candy.
Worst tradition - my middle sis' desire to cover every surface with crepe paper streamers and crepe paper accordian decorations. And the matching aprons she made all her brothers and sisters to wear during the day while serving the other family members.
noteye
A sad Texan once commented "I Wish it would rain, not so much for myself, I have seen rain before. But, for my 10 year old son."
It is really a laid back sort of day here.