Happy day-before-Thanksgiving to you!
[NOTE: This is a slightly-edited reprint of a previous post.]
I happen to like Thanksgiving. Always have. It’s a holiday for anyone and everyone in this country—except, of course, people who hate turkey. There are quite a few of those curmudgeonly folks, but I’m happy to report I’m not one of them. Even if the turkey ends up dry and overcooked, it’s nothing that a little gravy and cranberry sauce can’t fix. And although the turkey is the centerpiece, it’s the accompaniments that make the meal.
My theory on turkeys is that they’re like children: you coax them along and just do the best you can, but as long as you don’t utterly ruin or abuse them, they have their own innate characteristics that will manifest in the end. A dry and tough bird will be a dry and tough bird despite all that draping in fat-soaked cheesecloth, a tender and tasty one can withstand a certain amount of cooking incompetence.
One year long ago my brother and I were cooking at my parents’ house and somehow we set the oven on “broil,” an error that was only discovered an hour before the turkey was due to be finished cooking. But it was one of the best turkeys ever. Another time the turkey had turned deep bluish-purple on defrosting and was so hideous and dangerous-looking that it had to be abandoned. Another terrible time, one that has lived in infamy ever since, my mother decided turkey was passe and that we’d have steak on Thanksgiving.
Since I like to eat, I am drawn to the fact that Thanksgiving is a food-oriented holiday with a basic obligatory theme (turkey plus seasonal autumnal food) and almost infinite variations on that theme. Sweet potatoes? Absolutely—but oh, the myriad ways to make them, some revolting, some sublime. Pie? Of course, but what kind? And what to put on it, ice cream, whipped cream, or both?
For me, there are three traditional requirements—besides the turkey, of course. There has to be at least one pecan pie, although eating it in all its sickening sweetness can put an already-sated person right over the top. The cranberry sauce has to be made from fresh cranberries (it’s easy: cranberries, water, and sugar to taste, simmered on top of the stove till mushy and a bright deep red), and lots of it (it’s good on turkey sandwiches the next day, too). The traditional stuffing in my family is non-traditional: a large quantity of cut-up Granny Smith apples cooked in fair amount of sherry as well as a ton of butter till a bit soft; and then mixed with prunes, almonds, and one Sara Lee poundcake reduced to small pieces by crushing with the hands.
Thanksgiving is one of the few holidays that has a theme that is vaguely religious—giving thanks—but has no specific religious affiliation. So it’s a holiday that unites. It’s one of the least commercial holidays as well, because it involves no presents. It’s a home-based holiday, which is good, too, except for those who don’t have relatives or friends to be with. One drawback is the terribly compressed travel time; I solve that by not usually traveling very far if I can possibly help it – although this year I happen to be far from home.
The main advantage to hosting the day is having leftovers left over. The main disadvantage to hosting the day is having leftovers left over.
I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, filled with friends and/or family of your choice, and just the right amount of leftovers!
We never have turkey because it isn’t that tasty. We go with leg of lamb or a rack of ribs, or sometimes a couple of roasted chickens. Oldest son and his brood should arrive in a couple of hours. The teenagers will not be allowed to use their cell phones before 10PM.
If any of you are traveling I wish you a safe trip. Happy Thanksgiving and remember you have at least one thing to be thankful for in your life. Top of my list is family.
I love Thanksgiving! All Americans can celebrate, being thankful for family and friends, and for (as my immigrant father-in-law said) being here instead of somewhere else. I don’t care if people eat turkey, lamb, tofu, or pad Thai. Happy Thanksgiving!
With all my best wishes for safe travel and a wonderful, meaningful holiday to Neo and all of the commenters here.
Have a great holiday everyone.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
And a very happy Thanksgiving to one and all. 😀
Neo: Thanks muchly to you for the year’s postings and discussions.
And please eat an extra piece of pecan pie for me. :>)))
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
I’ve slowed down on cooking big meals and go for trying a few new things. So, I’m trying a allergy-free Thanksgiving dressing – basically a bunch of roasted veggies but with the traditional spices and herbs. I’ll match that with a meat of my choice – I have options pork tenderloin, beef or chicken. Then, for the Saturday football games, I’m going with the InstaPundit Guinness lamb stew. And, I’ll make the Pioneer Woman’s Burgundy mushrooms which take a bit of time to cook but are so wonderful with steak, or on a baked potato, or alone….
But, I saw a great breakfast option – cook bacon strips and then make oblong pancakes,put a strip of bacon in the batter, cover with more batter and flip and finish.
Long walks will be in the schedule! Have a happy day everyone!
I love Thanksgiving and it was always one of my favorite meals to prepare. Alas 10 years ago when our daughter married a man whose mother is a renowned chef (and his cooking is sublime) we ceased hosting the holiday and manage to spend it in one way or another with our married children and their in-laws which brings us to San Francisco, Carmel and Huntington Beach so no complaints. I’m thankful for all the years we did host but now fully enjoy the various venues/company/banquets. We were married in the Catholic church on Thanksgiving Day 1982 and as recommended by the priest celebrate our anniversary on the holiday in remembrance of the sacrament and being thankful for each other. Wishing everyone in this community a blessed Thanksgiving 2019.
I grouse a lot, but really there’s no better time or place to be alive. My kids are doing well, my grandkids are doing great, and I’m lucky to be married to a woman who tolerates me well enough. What else is there?
Thanksgiving was important when I was a kid, county seat town of 5,000 and we alway had an ecumenical Wednesday night service with lot of the churches participating, taking turns with the larger churches being the hosts, we had lots of churches. In the mid 1950’s the black churches and their preacher would be included and it was a bit of a shock to hear all of the ‘amens’ called out loud and with feeling as various preacher took their turns with the sermon, including the black ministers. The South was shedding the segregation past and we were all celebrating Thanksgiving and worshiping together.
That was a special time as our schools brought all of the kids together and required respect from students and teachers working with each other. I learned much later that my dad who was the superintendent before WWII had to also take care of the black school and he worked hard to get the first girls basketball team equipped and set up with transportation to play against other black teams, all the while it took about five more years well after he had been called up in the war for the white girls to have their own basketball teams.
That’s the thing I remember about Thanksgiving when a town would come together and worship and give thanks, Later even the Catholics would become a part of the services.
Thankful to be an American. Thankful to have a wonderful wife and daughter. Thankful to be able to read and enjoy Neo and all her commenters. Thankful that we still have shared American traditions like Thanksgiving. Yes, I’m thankful and love Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
God bless you one and all on this Thanksgiving Day.
We’ll eat well & be very thankful…got a leg of lamb going strong and some various veggies alongside…homemade bread and a lovely red wine. Magnificent wife & 2 of the 3 girls…so…I’m more blessed than I know how to handle.
Y’all get a good sleep & enjoy yourselves tomorrow.
I miss the old Texas A & M vs Texas games…era long gone.
All of you are why I’m proud to be an American. When I’d arrive after spending years abroad because somebody sent me away not because I was in danger.
I served my country.
I realize this may not make sense immediately.
But at least I a have always been proud, unlike Michelle Obama, to be an American, It’s why my ancestors to fight heave and Earth to get it.
Finally, as a LCDR, I, the Italian immigrant, have something worth fighting for.
Sincerely, thank you. America.
Abraham Lincoln, January 27, 1838: The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions:
Address Before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois
I urge you read the whole.
This from a 28 year old Abe Lincoln, who would 25 years later as President take action to help institute nationally the holiday we celebrate today.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
A happy Thanksgiving to one and all…and—while we’re at it—thanks very, very much for this blog.
P.S.
And for a little change of pace (since gratitude comes in a multitude of flavors), start at minute 4:04 and give it about 20-30 seconds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvBCfsFBEMY
Holy cow, I’ve never seen a stuffing recipe like that. I’m sure it’s good, though. Stuffing always is. Dressing, can be dry.