Kathy said around mid-morning on November 22, 2008
I’ve suddenly become unexpectedly required to cook and entertain Thanksgiving dinner this year. As much as I was looking forward to a quiet, no-pressure, cook if we feel like it Turkey Day, I am a little bit looking forward to the festiveness of the day. When I was a kid I loved Thanksgiving because it brought some expected change to our house. My mother always cooked and that itself brought a new dynamic to the house. She’d be up early in her bathroom rubbing oil on a turkey.. (I swear I just said that with a straight face) and we’d drag the picnic table in the house to accommodate our large family for dinner. She’d bring out the while laced table cloth and we’d have candles and the house would be kind of hot from the oven. I’d watch the parade in my pajamas while my mom slaved on a stuffing recipe.
In truth, from her perspective it probably was a big pain in the ass. For me it meant the picnic table set up remained the whole weekend and we got to eat turkey sandwiches there. I was always bummed when the picnic table left. So I’m cooking and although I won’t be dragging a picnic table in the house I still have that whole vibe going on in my head. Turkey is already thawing (a 19 lb-er) and I have my list prepared for the insanity at the grocery stores. I’m not sure what inspired I write this but I had to get that picnic table memory out of my head.
I guess this time of year is when I get my nostalgia geared up since the day after Thanksgiving we will be inundated with Holiday commercials and fa la la until we want to stab people. I may cling to this Thanksgiving feeling as long as I can to thwart the Holiday madness. It’s hard to do when your neighbors put their xmas lights up the day after Halloween but I can try. I will eat turkey stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwiches until I puke if I have to.
Are YOU cooking this year?
from your moms.
Mom’s cooking. Thank goodness.
But I’ll help with the dishes and the decorating and the prep.
I hear you regarding the fa la la. Most stores around here have already decorated for Christmas and are playing Christmas music. I think I’d enjoy it a lot more if we could hold off until the beginning of December for that. I used to think Christmas was my favorite holiday, but I’m pretty sure it’s Thanksgiving these days. Let the feasting begin!
And about those card tables. I have similar memories from Grandma’s house. I was called the kids table.
from Cleveland, OH
Cocktail: White Russian
My Mom decided she isn’t having Thanksgiving or Christmas at her house this year, which will be the first year ever. So, Honeybaked Ham is taking care of the turkey breast for me, but I’m making the mashed potatoes, oyster stuffing and pumpkin pie (for my boyfriend, I hate the stuff.) It should be an adventure if nothing else!
from Wimauma Florida
Ah, but isn’t that what it’s all about? The memories and the traditions, be them good or bad. Just wondering tho… why did she rub the turkey in the bathroom?
I always remember my parents fighting over whether it was time to baste again, if it was “done” and my Mom panicking over how to get all of it on the table, all at the same time.
Then we got cable. And I would lay in my parent’s bed and watch “Gone With The Wind” run over and over all day long while I stuffed my face with green olives.
Now the olives serve a more useful purpose, if you know what I mean. And my kids watch National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation”. But still, it’s all good.
from washington, dc
yes, as I do ever year, for 20 people, all of which don’t want to be here. Bitter, I am not, at all! Wine, please.
from your moms.
I’m cooking! We decided that after getting food poisoning for the past two years at our friends’ house, we’d go back to our old tradition of having it at our house. We’ll invite the poisoners, of course.
We’ll have a 12 pound turkey for the 7 of us.
from your moms.
I’m cooking this year for both of our families. 12 people total - 22 pound turkey. Eep! I just hope we have enough food and that I don’t kill anyone. And I refuse to even acknowledge the existence of that December holiday until after Thanksgiving.
from Aliso Viejo, CA
Plan well so you’re not frustrated, then have FUN with the preparations! I’m not cooking this year, but we’re in escrow on our first home, so maybe next year!