… munching on slices of Polish sausage while waiting for dinner to get done.
… youngest sis offering eveyone $5 to drink the pitcher of gravy.
… massive Care packages of leftovers sent home with everyone.
… pie.
3 types of jello!
Orange with carrots and pineapples
Lemon with bananas and dream whip on top
Cherry with rasberries, a crushed pretzel crust, and cream cheese/whipped cream up top
And pie. Pecan, pumpkin, etc.
Football too!
Expensive steaks. At least that is what my family had when I was growing up. It hasn’t been the same since I grew up and moved away. My wife’s family insists on baked turkey. Ewwww. I keep trying to talk everyone into let me deep fry one. They won’t let me. Something…anything different please. Between the turkey and the roasted chestnuts, my appetite is gone. I do like the cocktail shrimp though.
Pea salad. Mix freshly cooked peas with mayo, crumbled bacon and chopped green onions. Yum. We never eat it any other time of the year, just Thanksgiving.
Family.
And leftovers.
And football.
Oh - and that broccoli and rice casserole that my sister in law makes that has cheese, some kind of soup and stuff in it.
Dressing made using my great-grandmother’s recipe. It’s the best ever.
Also, Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without a discussion of crazy Aunt Rosalie, who is my one relative who is frequently discussed ‘round the table, but who doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, I only found this out four years ago and I’m 32. It seems that crazy Aunt Rosalie is a product of my cousins’ imaginations. They’ve been talking about her since I can remember, but I’d never met her. When I asked why, I discovered that there was a very good reason.
Oh, yeah. That’s what I always bring with me. Even if I’m the only one who eats it, it’s got to be there. Marshmallow on top? Eewww… Bread crumbs is the only topping that is allowed by law.
And I make enough for a second smaller batch for Friday. A layer of creamed onions at the bottom of a casserole dish. A layer of leftover turkey. More creamed onions. A layer of frozen peas. Another layer of onions. A layer of frozen corn. More creamed onions. Bake. Just make sure that there is a defibrillator in the house before you dig in.
Stuffed celery!
Walnuts, Miracle Whip, Velveeta, minced onion, pulverized in the food processer and stuffed into fresh celery. Num num num
ChiefScott, I high-five you.
I read the thread title and instantly thought to myself, “Creamed pearl onions.” Then I moused over it and saw thatm, indeed, it’s creamed pearl onions. So yummy.
Mine would not be complete without Miiiinz meeeeen pyyyyye fleeeeeem.
Spiced apple rings on the relish tray.
Apple pie.
Jello salad.
Pre-dinner shrimp tray.
Gravy.
Gravy.
Gravy.
Did I mention gravy?
Horrible, nast candied sweet potatos-and green bean casserole 9with mushroom soup). In general, my mother was big on having LOTS of vegetables 9sometimes 5-including the dreaded sweet potatos). I’m happy with just the turkey, potatos, and one green vegetable, plus baked squash.
Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce, and warm pie with vanilla ice cream. Mmmmmmmmmmm.
…Oh, and, uh, family. Yes. That’s it. cough
Wine.
Bottles and bottles of wine.
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
A trip to the emergency room?
Sausage cornbread stuffing
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream
Fresh Apple Cider
Lots and lots of wine
March of the Wooden Soldiers
Baked sweet potatoes
Cranberry Jezebel sauce
The Macy*s parade
Not only is it not Thanksgiving without creamed onions, but it could only be Thanksgiving if there are creamed onions. I would almost say the same about green bean casserole, but it’s been known to show up on Christmas too.
Growing up, we had turkey roll (guaranteeing a nice pairing of white and dark pressed meat) and Mom’s traditional PA German potato filling. And much gravy.
That disgusting cranberry gelatin that maintains the exact shape of the can it was in. I hate the stuff, but my dad loves it and Thanksgiving is the only time I ever see it.
-
My father, eating so fast as usual, that he chokes and someone has to Heimlich him and my mom gives him the eye and hisses “32 years you’ve been choking at the dinner table…please slow down”
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My brother-in-law clutching some area near his liver and accusing my dad of sneaking chili peppers into the food
-
My sister giving him pez and telling him it’s an advanced experimental form of prilosec
-
My sister’s MIL being semi-hypomanic
-
My dad trying to sneak into the kitchen and pour a bottle of hot sauce on the turkey before it’s read to come out and my mom screeching and grabbing it out of his hand while saying that we can have one holiday without gastrointestinal distress and could he not be so fucking fobby all the time
-
Pecan pie from the store that my mom pretends she whipped up with vanilla ice cream.
-
My dad’s second choking episode of the night during seconds
-
A wild turkey walking by on our deck while we’re eating turkey inside
-
A murder of cats wearing pipe cleaner antlers and old cabbage patch doll clothes begging for roast bird
-
A final choking episode at 9 when he goes back for thirds.
Gods, it’s just not Thanksgiving without my dad cheating death at least 3 times.