Ever since, we've done Whole Foods for Thanksgiving. Sometimes, I make sides, or the family brings some, but we always get the turkey and stuffing from the store. In previous years, I've even used plastic plates (OK, the fancy kind but still, plastic). This year, I did haul out our wedding china. It had dust on it.
Once again, not cooking (and this year, I literally did not make a single thing except folded napkins) enabled me to just enjoy the day with my family. It's sort of become my attitude toward life: I will try to get away with the minimum to be able to enjoy the kids, Dave, my family and life in general to the max (yeah, like this blog used to be called).
How about you guys—did you go all out for Thanksgiving? I'm off to pick at some leftovers. Stuffing, anyone?
We got out tree from Whole Foods this year, yes it's a tiny tree. This year I went to an aunt's house and I could eat everything except the turkey this year (I'm a non-meat eater). Then I spent the next 2 days with the same people. I aunt even said, "I don't care what you all do Sunday but I don't want to see you," which she said on Thursday. We love each other so much that we can be that honest and no one gets upset, heck we even agree!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a healthy view of Thanksgiving to me. So often the whole holiday is ruined by stressed out hosts! Some people love to cook and entertain with food, and for those people, cooking on Thanksgiving may be a joyous occasion, but so often it is not. I love that you give yourself a break and enjoy the holiday!
ReplyDeleteI agree that sometimes it is ok to step back and do the no worry, no stress holiday! Now that two of my children are grown, I am hoping they will carry on the traditions. This year my son and his girl hosted Thanksgiving, I only had to make a couple of favorites and left the worry and stress up to them. It definitely was a nice break!
ReplyDeleteMy family has been going out to a local Italian restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner for years now. It's nice to be able to go to a nice, calm setting and just enjoy our food - and no dishes to clean up, either! Plus, we get spoiled by a four-course Italian-style Thanksgiving - antipasto, pumpkin soup, ziti, and then the traditional turkey with stuffing, veggies, and potatoes. I can't see us ever doing Thanksgiving any other way!
ReplyDeleteSuperwoman is overrated. You gotta work with what you got. At least that's what I tell myself with my special guy. It's hard to manage all the social pressures like holidays when you're coordinating doctor visits, juggling meds and treatments. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteI did this year (go all out) but only for a table of six and I had not done the whole shebang the last 2 years so I was due. Worked out fine and I'm still enjoying the leftovers. Well, not just me!
ReplyDeleteBarbara
I don't cook (almost) 364 days out of the year, but I do cook a turkey on Thanksgiving. In our family, I host Thanksgiving, another sister hosts Christmas Eve and another sister hosts Christmas. Everyone shows up with something, so the hostess doesn't end up doing all the cooking. But, it's surprisingly easy to cook a turkey! Glad you had a relaxing Thanksgiving Day and I'm glad I found your blog :)
ReplyDeleteI don't cook! Yay! We pieced the meal together from Kroger this year. The kids don't like turkey, so we had rotisserie chicken instead. I dream, some day, of parade and dog show in pj's, then out to a nice meal, and home to hop back in pj's for the evening.
ReplyDeleteWe went to our cousin's house. Somehow I got roped in to doing the stuffing (which was quite labor intensive), salad and string beans. Ah well. Everything was really great except for the friend of our cousin who was invited last minute and just wouldn't stop talking -- LOUDLY. I really think Thanksgiving is the one holiday for intimate family to spend quality time together -- not a stressing about being polite and listening to every f@#$*ing story, that you couldn't care less about, by someone you don't even know or care about! Call me a traditionalist.
ReplyDeleteWe cooked. Well, my mom did a lot of it--she just loves doing it. Everyone brings side dishes, I get a load of pies (they're from a really good bakery) from the restaurant, and we all pitch in to clean up after....
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, we use paper plates--fancy Chinette ones, but still! Hell, when you have over 20 people over, ya gotta be practical! We had a full house this year--four generations! Not too many leftovers this time around!!!
The boys were with their dad this year for Turkey Day so my hubby and I went to my bestie's house. All I had to make were rolls and corn pudding.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely one of the most low-key holidays ever.
I understand that Turkeys are intimitading, but the truth is they couldn't be easier to cook. Maybe when Sabrina gets older she would enjoy preparing one with you. The "trick" is whole FRESH turkey so you don't have to worry about deforting. Slice an onion in half and throw in the turkey cavity with some rosemary. Pour some olive oil into a bowl and add crushed up galic (bought that way from grocery). Take handfull of garlic and put under the skin (my kids love doing this...you don't have to be "careful" as some cooking books suggest). Then add Paprika to the oil and rub all over the Turkey. Cook at 325 covered according to the Butterball chart. Use a meat themoter and take out when thickest part reachs around 175.
ReplyDeleteI just added your web page to my favorites. I like reading your posts. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy dad cooks a 20 pound turkey (yes, turkeys can get that big). I like cranberry sauce.
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