This is the 24 lb. turkey I prepared for Thanksgiving dinner, along
with a 13 lb. turkey. YUM! I usually have around 22 people
for Thanksgiving dinner. I think it is my favorite holiday to cook
for because of the family memories and traditions
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, and your holiday plans being made, I thought perhaps you would like to share a special family tradition, funny story, or touching moment from a Thanksgiving get-together from holiday's past. I don't have just "one" particular story to share ... but I think about my past family Thanksgiving and other holiday celebrations from when I was a child, quite often.
It's not possible for my side of the family to all get together any more, for many reasons. But I can still smell the turkey cooking and see my mom in the kitchen working hard, but with a smile, and with the windows all steamed up on Thanksgiving day, back in the 1960's. The Macy's Day Parade on the television in the background in one room with my little sister and I watching the large balloons floating by. One of my other sisters listening to a new Beatles album that was just released on record player in the living room.
The day before, one of my brothers, in his deep Navy dress blues had hitchhiked home across the country from California (yes, hitchhiking was considered safe back then, especially if you picked up a serviceman). I remember him bolting in the door with his duffel bag, all smiles. After a few hugs, he saw a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table with a huge fuzzy peach. He grabbed it saying "Gee, I haven't had a peach in so long!" and took a big bite, only to leave two big front teeth marks in the "fake" peach (yes, it was a whole bowl of imitation fruit)!
My two brother's would fool around and arm wrestle at the table while cracking some walnuts and pecans, while we would catch up on how they were. It was so nice to all be together. There were six kids in my family, so there was quite an age difference between some of us.
Then, finally, time for the turkey! My dad always carved ours at the table, but this time he was being filmed with the new Super 8 mm video camera (that made the movies very choppy). Because he was being "filmed" he had to act and do something silly while carving. We would all fight over the "wish bone" to see which two of us could break it for Good Luck. We'd eat our fill of dinner and pie. Then retreat to the living room and maybe put together a jigsaw puzzle.
My mom's gone now, but I still make "her" homemade bacon rolls, her stuffing, her rutabaga, and EVERYTHING else she taught me. She was the BEST cook. I miss her and our family holidays.
There's nothing better than your own Thanksgiving at home, right? Your own mom's, or grandma's dressing or apple and pumpkin pies? Just being together in that warm, steamy Thanksgiving home with people you love.
Nothing better ....
P.S.
This blog's for you, Mom. XOXO
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Here's an easy soup I served for an appetizer last year at Thanksgiving. A "new" tradition.:
Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, divided
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1 jar (12 ounces) roasted red peppers, drained, seeds removed
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 can (12 fluid ounces) Nestlé Carnation Evaporated Milk
- 1 can (14.5 fluid ounces) vegetable broth
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preparation
MELT 2 tablespoons butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes or until onion is tender. Transfer onion mixture to food processor (or blender) container. Add red peppers; cover. Process until smooth. MELT remaining butter in same saucepan. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in evaporated milk and broth. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in red pepper mixture, salt and pepper. Heat through.
Makes 6 servings
Note: For a crock pot full of soup, triple the recipe.
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"Unglued?' Only if there aren't any leftovers!
Do you have a story, memory or tradition you would like to share?
