It's almost Thanksgiving ... so, what y'all doing?

[NancysSummerSip]

I always enjoy reading everyone's holiday plans and gatherings.

So, what's going on?

What are you making for lunch/dinner? Do you make enough for those beloved leftovers, or are you done after one day of excess?

Do you go out to a restaurant, or someone else's house (and bring a dish or two, or more?)

How about company/family attending? Have current events (or even long-held problems and peeves) mean some folks don't get the welcome mat at your house?

Do you still go out to shop Black Friday or Small Business Saturday, or leave your PJs on, grab a beverage and work the online sales?

[azucena]

Going to the beach Sat to Sat, having Thanksgiving catered for my immed family on Tues at our condo. Tues so we have time to eat the leftovers

[daisylu]

Doing a smallish dinner @2pm with the kids. There will be leftovers, I will send most of them home with the kids - except for the turkey!

ILs are doing buffet for GMIL, DH hates that so we are out. 

[busymom]

DD & her husband will be coming over for the big meal.  DH is stuck working, so I get the lion's share of prep work, so I am NOT dealing with a turkey (we'll have a spiral-sliced ham).  We'll have plenty of leftover ham, stuffing, potatoes and pies to last us for days.  


On Black Friday I do the majority of my shopping online.  

[minnesotapaintlady]

I haven't decided yet. I have my choice of three dinners ranging from a half mile to 120 miles away.  Usually I go to my aunt's next door which is a packed house of 40 people or so, but if DS makes it home (knock on wood the weather cooperates), then I may go with him to Ex's dinner at his grandmother's on that side.  It gives me an extra day with him and I'd like to see the house after 14 weeks of Ex working there almost non-stop to clean up the hoarder mess. I was there back in early October and it was already so much different. Regardless of what I decide, I'll just be making my cheesy potatoes and taking them with, so no big cooking commitment. Also, regardless of what I decide for Turkey Day, we're still hitting up all the places between Thursday and Sunday because DS will not be home for Christmas and everyone wants to see him.

[Tennesseer]

Having T'Day dinner with the local southern family who adopted me twenty plus years ago.

Also enjoying watching this kid named Nathan clearn out the raw turkey for dinner.

[flamingo]

We're going to Europe over Thanksgiving, so we'll just have whatever dinner we feel like on Tday  . Dh made a big thanksgiving dinner 2 weekends ago, so we did get our turkey, dressing, potato fix. 

Our anniversary is always right around thanksgiving, and our families live far away, so we like to vacation over thanksgiving. This year just happens to be a big vacation!

[finnime]

This is timely; we just met the other day and assigned dishes to make the menu. The Day itself will be at DSis's. ODB will do the turkey, stuffing and gravy. DSis will do broccoli, twice baked potatoes and cold vegetable platter. DNeph will do fruit salad. His sister will do cranberry sauce. YDB will bring turnip and shrimp. Other DNeph will bring hors d'oeuvres. I will bring yeast rolls, Chex mix, apple and pumpkin pies and birthday cake (DSis' birthday is Monday). ODB will bring cranberry nut bread. There will be 12-14 of us.

[swamp]

Going to my brothers.    Brining my dad and my dog.   Only because he always brings his dog to my house.  

I'm bringing stuffing and squash.  Dad is bringing tortiere (meat pie) and ham.    

My niece (sister's daughter) will also be joining us.   We will be missing one of my brother's kids because she is in the military. 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Nov 18, 2024 13:36:01 GMT -5 swamp said:

Brining my dad and my dog.

[swamp]

Nov 18, 2024 13:59:46 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Nov 18, 2024 13:36:01 GMT -5 swamp said:

Brining my dad and my dog.

Best typo ever! 

[Sharon]

Mom is going to fly over on the little commuter airline and spend Tuesday night - Saturday afternoon at my place.  DD and family may or may not be around for Thanksgiving, we won't know until closer to Thanksgiving.  They hope to go hunting but it may be too cold and snowy to take and kids.

Either way we will have the basics Turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, rolls, some kind of veggie, and pie.  At some point during the weekend we will also celebrate DGD2's birthday so will have some type of meal and cake. 

[soupandstew]

Nov 18, 2024 13:05:28 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Having T'Day dinner with the local southern family who adopted me twenty plus years ago.

Also enjoying watching this kid named Nathan clearn out the raw turkey for dinner.

I saw that yesterday and howled!

[soupandstew]

Nov 18, 2024 13:36:01 GMT -5 swamp said:

Going to my brothers.    Brining my dad and my dog.   Only because he always brings his dog to my house.  

I'm bringing stuffing and squash.  Dad is bringing tortiere (meat pie) and ham.    

My niece (sister's daughter) will also be joining us.   We will be missing one of my brother's kids because she is in the military. 

Inquiring minds want to know - where do you get the 100-gallon Ziploc bags for this?  

[soupandstew]

It's going to be snacking all day for us - minimal cooking involved.  I would have done braised turkey thighs but NOBODY has turkey parts this year, only whole birds or breasts.

[jerseygirl]

We had thanksgiving already due to schedules. DGS spatchcocked the turkey and made a basting sauce. Mayonnaise with fresh herbs rubbed under and over the skin. It was very tender and delicious! I’ve made turkeys for TG and Christmas for last 15 years and this was sooo good!
I made fresh cranberry sauce with orange juice. Family brought over 2 soups, carrot and squash, cream and cheese potatoes, sweet potato pie, chocolate cream pie , pecan pie and salads
We had 12 here and very much enjoyed working together to put meal on table and eat. After cleaning up they (not me) played board games with wine and beer and snacks
I used to cook the whole meal for TG Christmas and Easter when our moms and my sister were still with us. Prayer to remember them and others no longer here. But now I just buy the turkey or ham and family takes care of rest.
After eating we call those who weren’t able to come, passing around phone
Very happy we are blessed with a happy family that enjoy each other

[andi9899]

Nov 18, 2024 14:23:36 GMT -5 swamp said:

Nov 18, 2024 13:59:46 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Best typo ever! 

I mean, as long as you don't cook them too, it won't hurt anything.

[andi9899]

The girls can't come day of, so I'm going to my aunt's. We're doing our Thanksgiving the following Saturday on 11/30. It will probably be easier. We'll see.

[wvugurl26]

I would prefer to go to my aunt's but she's got a full house. So I'm going to DH's brother's for the second year in a row. Last year they didn't even have rolls. I'm not sure I can drink enough to handle the inevitable politics.

In terms of food, I have ordered the usual fresh turkey. It will be picked up and dropped off to the cooks on Tuesday. I would like to make rolls and mini pumpkin cheesecakes but last year I got to make nothing so we'll see. DH sees it as great no work and I see it as me getting to keep none of my traditions/food. Maybe I'll make pumpkin cinnamon rolls in the morning.

Usually any shopping takes place online. I took Black Friday off and plan to put up the tree and decorate.

And now you have the story about my family holiday celebrations being gone and the replacements are subpar.

[chiver78]

I have no idea. we haven't been invited anywhere, and I'm not hosting anyone. my parents came down for Canadian Thanksgiving last month. maybe I take the pups down to an Outer Cape beach and release them to run wherever haha. I can pick up Chinese takeout on the way home....and bathe them on Friday.

[Anne_in_VA]

We’re going to DD’s for turkey day.  I will be buying the ham and DD will do a turkey.  it will be a full house with friends and family.  We are very blessed to get along with everyone .

[finnime]

I'll be working Black Friday and Saturday, too, at an arts show. Hope it goes well. I'm thinking of adding gift cards to the inventory and see if that takes off for the season.

[TheOtherMe]

Happily spending the day with Maddow and Amelia        while enjoying pumpkin pie

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

We've been invited to join SIL at her in laws thanksgiving this year on Sunday since it's just the siblings now.

We're bringing pumpkin pie from Village Inn. I'm not allowed to make pumpkin pie after the incident where it tasted like grandma's popurri satchel.

I will have my dad, L, Bob and Archie over the day of.

I ordered Hyvee. Also not allowed to cook turkey after yet another cooking fiadco.

It should be plenty of leftovers this time if my dad doesn't sneak it to the dogs again while carving.

He finally became Charlotte's BFF with that so I couldn't be too annoyed.

Wilbur passed in a food coma out till 8pm. 🤣

Gwen insisted on making tiny plates for Phoebe and Bingo too.

I make my grandma's sweet potato casserole it's easy. Instead of cranberry sauce I'm going to attempt Dolly Partons cranberry jello mold instead.

Need to look up sheet pan pies. I'm thinking apple and a cherry. More pie surface and easier to make.

[bookkeeper]

We had a turkey Friendsgiving with DS#1 and his family on Veteran's day this year.  I made the meal and people brought sides.  We had a great time.

DS#2 is hosting Thanksgiving dinner for his SO's family and we are also invited.  I asked what I could bring and was told my stretchy pants.  They so far have a wagyu beef brisket and a turkey and a ham.  I will dream up something to take along. 

[soupandstew]

This thread makes me laugh at the memory of a Thanksgiving maybe 15 years ago.  My friend across the street was hosting her family and invited some of us neighbors as insulation from the family drama.  She had Martha Stewart delusions, if you know what I mean.  She got off at noon on Wednesday and we all started day drinking while she tried to brine her turkey.  First, we raided all the neighbors for their ice to cool the brine.  Then we discovered her fridge was waaaaay too small for the turkey.  And then we hit on the idea of carrying the turkey across the street to another neighbor's house who was out of town with an empty fridge and we had the key.  Enter the principle of displacement which resulted in a significant amount of spice-laden brine ending up on the neighbor's kitchen floor.  Fast forward through a very memorable Thanksgiving Day meal to the out-of-town neighbor returning and asking WTF her kitchen and fridge smelled like a package of brine from Williams-Sonoma.  

[empress of self-improvement]

Going to my sister's. We have a deal about not talking about politics. They're Trumpers. I am not. I refuse to talk politics with family. It's also why I didn't want to go to the in-laws. They don't understand when to shut the fuck up. I work on Black Friday because I just don't care and get to coast along for the day.

[wvugurl26]

My sister in law does a slab apple pie for family gatherings. DH's immediate family is up to 21 as his nieces and nephews partner up.

[happyhoix]

Nov 18, 2024 19:55:22 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Going to my sister's. We have a deal about not talking about politics. They're Trumpers. I am not. I refuse to talk politics with family. It's also why I didn't want to go to the in-laws. They don't understand when to shut the fuck up. I work on Black Friday because I just don't care and get to coast along for the day.

I am blessed in that my very opinionated political SIL usually manages to talk about anything but politics during Thanksgiving. Her DH will start giving her the evil eye if she starts getting a little too close to politics. Usually we stick to other topics and have a great time.

I am hosting Thanksgiving this year (SIL will do Christmas) but two of her kids are out of town so that reduces the number of attendees from 18 to 8 😀. I decided there is no rule I personally have to cook everything I offer to eat so a local restaurant is providing the green been casserole and ham. SIL is providing sweet potatoes. I’ll cook the turkey (yes, both ham and turkey are required per family tradition). Also I’ll do mashed potatoes, carrot casserole, deviled eggs and cranberry sauce plus at least two pies, pumpkin and pecan (these I make myself, pies are my specialty). If I can find rhubarb (hard to find around here in the south) I’ll make my favorite pie, rhubarb with hard sauce (also my grandma’s favorite) it will be a small pie, just for me, because these heathen southerns won’t touch what they call ‘ham pie.’

Fine. More for me!😀

[jerseygirl]

Rhubarb pie is so delicious. Haven’t had any in maybe 20 years , never see the pie or even rhubarb in stores. When I was a child neighbor grew rnubarb. Pretty plant