Comments on: My Favorite Holiday

By: Scot

Scot — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:57:05 +0000

I made your buttermilk pie recipe last summer, and guess what? My mama made it for us on Thursday. You started a new tradition for us!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:45:33 +0000

We took in orphans this year too, as usual. I would’nt’ know what to do if I wasn’t up at dawn making too much food. Our tradition is to have “pie day” on Wednesday, where the kids help me make the pies the day before. This year we made 7 (three pumpkin, two choc. chess, one buttermilk, one pecan. I don’t think that is excessive for 10 people!!!!! I am always amazed though, when people ask “what is buttermilk pie” and then are blown away by it. I making another tonight for book club. It will still be warm when we eat it. Is there ANYTHING better than a warm buttermilk pie?

Oh, and hubby smokes the turkey cause our oven is too small for our roasting pan. DId you smell it smoking over at your house? We make the neighborhood smell great!

I always make Caprial Pence’s “Pinot Noir Cranberry Sauce” which has curry, ginger, five spice. Hubby keeps catching me with a spoonful of it out of the fridge. Really great on those turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce sandwiches we ate all weekend the beach.

By: Lisa --

Lisa -- — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:17:58 +0000

We always have the same menu. The menu always features a creamed vegetable (an homage to my Irish grandma); so the only ‘swing’ in the menu is which veggie will be creamed in a given year. Our standard menu is:

Cucumber sandwiches
Deviled eggs
Turkey
Stuffing with a second pan of dressing
Mashed potatoes
Gravy (made from my own turkey stock)
Green bean casserole (I make the cream of mushroom myself and use haricot verts)
Creamed carrots
Mashed rutabaga
Cranberry sauce (and yes, it comes from a can)
Rye bread
Coconut custard pie
Apple pie
Mocha birthday cake (for my sister)

I hope you had a great one!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:07:56 +0000

Pappy Van Winkle (15 year old) straight
prosciutto-wrapped cheese stuffed figs
grilled flat iron steak
grilled shrimp
pumpkin risotto
roasted vegetables
world’s best cornbread
apple crisp
pecan pie
chocolate cake
Strong Arms Shiraz

By: NancyH

NancyH — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:10:28 +0000

A tradition that continues in one form or another to this day is the exclamation of “cranberry sauce”! In my mother’s house, this meant that she had once again forgotten to serve the can of cranberry sauce she’d put in the fridge to chill, and had realized it when putting the leftovers away. In our house, it means that something that was supposed to be put on the table was forgotten (we make our cranberry sauce from scratch, and I DON’T forget it).

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

By: andrea

andrea — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:00:59 +0000

I love that so many people listed like a half dozen desserts for one meal. My dream.

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:51:35 +0000

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as well. Back in Chicago, Alan and I hosted the orphan Thanksgiving as well. But, being orphans in our new town this year, we’re being taken in by a kindly new friend.

By: Maura

Maura — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:03:48 +0000

Varmint, like you, my Thanksgiving is now made up of orphans. This is the 5th year running I’ve had dinner at my house. And, TG is also my favorite holiday. It’s a much bigger deal than Christmas is in my family.

What I’m making this year
Turkey
Stuffing
gravy
Spicy carrot puree
Baked polenta
Pumpkin Pie

Someone is bringing a ham, and I’ve turned the mashed potatoes over to a trusted friend (I don’t like them and I hate making them). At this point, I don’t know what else my guests are bringing, but they have yet to disappoint me.

I also put out an antipasto of sorts, so that guests have something to nibble on while waiting for dinner. My mother always did that. As an old boyfriend once said, we eat before we eat.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
I’ve already started the prep. I only serve food that can be prepped ahead of time.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:42:35 +0000

Apple Cider Brined Fried Turkey (we always fry the turkey- the brine will be new this year)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Whiskey Glazed Carrots
Mac and Cheese (for my vegetarian sister)
Deviled Eggs
Cranberry Orange Sauce
Homemade rolls (maybe rosemary potato rolls this year)
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Spice Cake with Orange Glaze

By: MB

MB — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:28:35 +0000

turkey
dressing (made from giblets)
giblet gravy
smoked ham
sweet potatoes
texas taters
mashed potatoes
homemade mac and cheese with bacon
green beans
cranberry sauce
homemade bread
hushpuppies
coconut cake
pineapple cake
buttermilk pie
sweet potato pie
hummingbird cake
krispy kreme bread pudding

and last but not least: COLLARDS! My niece and I threatened to not appear at Thanksgiving or Christmas functions every again if collards were not served. My momma makes the best ones in North Carolina according to a former Supreme Court Chief Justice.

By: Hayden Tompkins

Hayden Tompkins — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:53:49 +0000

Looks like we are ordering Papa John’s for Thanksgiving,

By: Fuzzy

Fuzzy — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:37:11 +0000

add:

Cheese pudding.
Oyster Casserole.
Sweet cucumber, watermelon rind, and green tomato pickles, to be specific.
Carrots with brown sugar, Tortuga lime citrus honey, cayenne pepper, pepper and dill.
Sweet potato casserole or candied “yams”.
Mince meat pie
Chess pies: brown sugar, lemon, chocolate
Meringue pies, cheese cakes, and a lot of other desserts…

By: GinnySkal

GinnySkal — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:15:28 +0000

My Thanksgiving staples are sweet potatoes and green bean cassarole. If I don’t have those two side dishes, then my T-Day meal doesn’t feel complete. I’ve never had carrots with maple syrup though, we always do carrots and honey.

By: goodbadandugly2

goodbadandugly2 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:17:37 +0000

mmmm food that is my favorite too!