Jeanine's favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. She's 'called' it and gets to host it each year. This year we spent it together with our family including my in-laws and my grandparents. It was one of our smaller Thanksgivings with 8 people. In the past, when family and kids were close, we would have up to 20!
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| Jeanine, the chef, with the table set, waiting for food to cook! |
We have a lot of traditions revolving around Thanksgiving. My mother did her first Thanksgiving when she was 16. I followed her tradition, doing my first Thanksgiving when I was 17. Jeanine has been serving the same items at Thanksgiving every year since she was 16... except the 1 year when I did my Thanksgiving. Just like everything we do, she follows every recipe every year and I mix everything up to try something new. It's what makes us work well together.
The Menu
Turkey with Stuffing and Giblet Gravy
Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Pearled Onions in Cream
Creamed Corn
Acorn Squash (instead of the customary Yams)
Orange Jello Salad with Pineapple and Mandarin Oranges
Cranberry Sauce
Black and Green Olives
Pumpkin Pie (made from actual whole pumpkins!)
Dutch Apple Pie (made by Grammy)
Pecan Pie (Jenn's favorite!)
Cherry Pie
Traditions
From the time I've been little,Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, all us kids would sit in front of the tv, watch classic Thanksgiving shows like "Mouse on the Mayflower" and "It's Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown!" and cut loaves of white bread into little squares for the stuffing. Mom makes the best stuffing from scratch! This year was the first year Jeanine didn't have any kids at home to cut the bread so we introduced my in-laws to this great tradition. The bread stays out over night to harden up like croutons before they get turned into yummy stuffing and in the turkey.
Jeanine cooks the turkey in a
Reynolds Oven Bag. Its the best way! No basting needed, all the juices get collected for the gravy and clean up is a super snap.
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| Turkey out of the oven ready to be put on the platter. |
I learned a trick, used so much that I think its a tradition, to best host a meal. My mom does it every year. You set the table or buffet area and write the names of dishes on scrap paper on the serving dish. This helps you make sure you have a place for everything, the right serving utensils, trivets, etc. The first time my husband saw me do it on my own he laughed. But to be honest, this is definitely one thing where I don't mind 'turning into my mother' ;)
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| Jeanine's favorite side dish, Creamed Corn. |
As always, we finish Thanksgiving dinner with my mom's famous pies. Its too hard to choose a favorite so we usually all have a piece of each!
Thanksgiving is really her favorite holiday. She shows her family love through cooking and on Thanksgiving she really gets to shower us with food and love. She had the large bird in its bag, in its pan and in the oven before most of us arrived. The table was also dressed and ready with scraps of paper telling everyone what food went into what serving dish.
As the time got closer to the meal everyone stepped up and helped in the kitchen stirring gravy, mashing potatoes, carving the turkey or really what ever mom asked of us. It made the kitchen a little tight to maneuver at times, especially with heavy, hot dishes but the feeling of family was palpable. My sister and I acted like the children we are in our hearts and stole little bits of food while mom chased after us with a wooden spoon. Despite the drama, hot plates, and MANY cooks in the kitchen the table got set, food was served and the family began the meal.
