You know we don’t do anything small around here. I was just telling the MIL that the other day — she’ll be joining us for the first time for Thanksgiving this year. And she was so nice, saying, hey, please don’t go to any trouble, etc. I just laughed when I read her email — I wrote back and said, Oh, it’s no trouble. And I really don’t think I could do Thanksgiving small. I’ve tried. One year, it was just the 9yo and me for Thanksgiving. So she was probably 4 or 5. And for 2 people, I made enough food for a party of 6-8. I even did a turkey breast instead of a turkey. But still, we had leftovers for days.
This year, we’re having 18 at last count. Respectable, but nowhere as big as we used to have growing up — all my mom’s brothers and their kids would come to our house. And most years, we had a few “extras” as well — other friends or family we’d pick up along the way. [Nowhere to go on turkey day? Let me know. I just warn you, we can be rather overwhelming. And loud. And the after-dinner Scrabble is a match to the death.]
The guest list to date:
- Ashby, me, the 3yo [the 9yo will be with her dad this year]
- Ashby’s mom
- My parents
- Nashville sister and her husband
- Nashville aunt and uncle
- Nashville cousin C and her fiance
- Nashville cousin N and her son
- Murfreesboro cousin [I think.]
- Jackson aunt and uncle
- Whiteville uncle
The menu to date:
- Fried turkey [From the men's group at church.]
- Roast [Me. I haven't decided what recipe yet, though I really loved the one I did last year and apparently failed to blog about. I have no idea how I'll find that recipe again. And you thought I was blogging for you.]
- Homemade rolls [Nashville aunt]
- Broccoli casserole [Nashville aunt]
- Cornbread dressing [Nashville aunt]
- Green bean casserole [Nashville sister]
- Golden Baked Potatoes [Nashville sister]
- Chocolate chess pie [My mom]
- Mincemeat pie [My mom]
- Cheesecake [Me. I blame Twitter.]
- Some other stuff — possibly salad or hors d’oeuvres [Jackson aunt. She and I have to get together.]
Still to be figured out:
- How to sneak a healthy item or two onto the menu
- Who’s bringing the wine besides Nashville aunt [Volunteers for white? We already have lots of red.]
- What we’re having Wednesday night [Odds say it will be spaghetti, though.]
- Who’s cleaning up after dinner while I go for a walk [Don't be the one to point out how little I'm cooking on that menu.]
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You can add a pecan pie to the list, and I am planning on giblet gravy for those of us who won’t think it’s Thanksgiving without it! We can surely find some white wine to bring.
An easy way to add a healthy option: fresh fruit salad. I just used a drained can of chunk pineapple and mandarin oranges, and add fresh sliced bananas, red grapes, strawberries, chopped apple, whatever you want. Then I sprinkle with toasted coconut and chopped pecans. We’ll be having one hear to counter the homemade mac-n-cheese and evil gooey Paula Dean cake. :-)
No cranberry sauce? Whatever will you top your leftover turkey sandwiches with?
Oh, there will be cranberry sauce. That’s one of the up-in-the-air items — I need to ask Jackson aunt if she wants to take care of that.
However, I hate leftover turkey sandwiches. I’m sure SOMEONE will eat one, though. :)