Its the Holiday season. I love this time of year. I'm wishing it would slow down some. One of our local radio stations was playing Christmas music, all the time, in the second week of November. I love love love Christmas music. But I really liked the anticipation of the day after Thanksgiving, when it normally began. Unfortunately, as hard as I am trying, I'm not feeling all that excited about Thanksgiving. What is wrong with me? Of course, I do have a unique family situation which affords me FOUR different Thanksgiving dinners to choose from. Call me silly, but I like Thanksgiving in the movies. Everything is better in the movies. But you know how movies about Thanksgiving or Christmas with big jumbled up-but-loving families always leave you with this warm feeling...that is what I wished our family celebrations were like. I have always yearned for that sense of family. I think it was my junior year of high school, I didn't live at home. But for one day, which wasn't actually Thanksgiving, I went home. I baked my very first turkey, made my first mashed potatoes, and I can't remember what else...maybe green beans. My mom had to help me some. My mom always worked really hard, and she had to drive an hour each way to work. She usually wouldn't get home until around 6:30 (or later if there was a meeting) and no sooner then she kicked her heels off she was in the kitchen making dinner. Her dinners were always so good, but she didn't teach me a darn thing about cooking! (I read other blogs of mothers or grandmothers cooking with their girlies, and I wish I could tell those girlies how very lucky they are, and to cherish that time.) I don't know where or when I decided I wanted to start cooking, but I began with that Thanksgiving. My turkey was dry, it looked terrible! I have a picture some where...
I tried again for Brooklyn's first Thanksgiving. It was a DISASTER! So many things went wrong that day. It was a small gathering of 8 plus a few kiddos. I, for some strange reason, didn't know that you had to take a 12 pound turkey out of the freezer days in advance for it to thaw out. There was no way I was getting that bird thawed out and cooked in time! I called my dad in a panic, he said I could bake a big turkey breast. (he was already smoking a ham, thank goodness!) I tried to make this homemade stuffing from Real Simple magazine, and folks, nothing about it was real simple!!!! It was a mushy mess. The mashed potatoes were good, (seriously, how can one mess those up?) but there was no gravy. (I was planning on making giblet gravy from my turkey.) I made a chocolate pecan pie, it was yummy. The worst part, oh my goodness, I didn't have enough silverware for everyone!!! It was soooooo embarrassing! I waited to eat, and when some people finished I would wash their silverware for someone else to use. I didn't have enough cups either. Somehow, I didn't even think of that. The house looked pretty, it was great company and great pie. But the rest was a disaster that we all laugh about now. Needless to say, my grandma bought me a nice set of silverware for the following Christmas! And the next year's dinner was so much better, I pretty much redeemed myself. But I will never ever forget my first Thanksgiving dinner cooking for family.
For any of you girls flew the coop way to early, or had mothers who hated to cook, or just never took the time to learn, here are a few pointers should you be interested in making a Thanksgiving dinner:
1. The turkey MUST be taken out of the freezer DAYS in advance. The number of days depends on the weight of the turkey. There should be directions on the packaging, but worst case scenario- google it.
2. Just because a recipe comes from Real Simple magazine, it doesn't mean it is going to be real simple...and the pre-packaged stuffing is pretty darn good. Anytime you are making stuffing from scratch the first time, buy a box/package of stuffing too. It is cheap, and you might need it!
3. ALWAYS consider the NUMBER OF GUESTS who will be attending. Make sure you have enough flatware/silverware for them to eat with, and enough glasses/cups for them to drink from. Its incredibly embarrassing if you don't.
4. Don't be so wrapped up in the kitchen that you don't enjoy the holiday. Ask people to bring things...side dishes, pies, rolls, etc...it alleviates a lot of stress and I think the best family meals are the ones where everyone contributes!
5. Should you have a disastrous attempt (or a few) at making a holiday dinner, it will be okay. You may be humbled for the moment, but it will be something that you look back on fondly. I promise.
I have come a long way since my junior year of high school. I am definitely a way better cook. Brooklyn says, "Mom, yorda best cooker in the whole wide world!" This Thanksgiving, we may just stay home, get out the Christmas decorations/trees, and make a big pot of vegetable beef stew. While its bubbling, we might make a gratitude banner, praising God for all the beautiful blessings we have. Or maybe we will drive all over to make appearances at as many of the Thanksgiving dinners that we can. We'll see. No matter what the day holds, I will have so much to be thankful for. And there will be Christmas music, for sure!
We wish you a very happy, joy-is-a-full-tummy, warm, family filled Thanksgiving! May your turkey be thawed in time, your silverware be bountiful, your home full of laughter, your hearts full of gratitude!
I know I am thankful for you.
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