Another Thanksgiving!

It’s very late here and I’ve one day to cross off my list, pack, gas up my car and get ready to go.

Today I picked up a few things for family and got the dog’s nails trimmed so she wouldn’t scratch anyone while wagging her tail like mad and trying to be friendly.

This will be my tenth Thanksgiving with my husband’s family. We missed a year because Black Friday required all hands on deck, even the software guys & gals. I am against opening Wal-Mart and Target and other stores Thursday, pre-Black Friday and understand the views of employees who have no choice but to work and have started petitions. I also think of the millions of families who will have family not present because they’re working not by choice, and for family members whose family and guests push back their chair from the dining table and say “We’re going shopping. See you at midnight.”

In Colonial times, one had dinner, crocheted by candlelight and went to sleep. There was probably no turkey, and certainly not big screen football. Certain things like football are now ingrained and I don’t want holiday shopping to start Thanksgiving day. Let’s hear it from the women who have spent the past couple of weeks cleaning every inch of the house, putting up tables, preparing turkeys and hams and potatoes and sides and desserts. For their guests to excuse themselves after grabbing a slice of pie before the dishes are even done, what kind of thank you is that?

I’m used to a family of six sitting down to a closed Thanksgiving dinner. On the other hand, for many years our home has been a haven for adult “orphans” with no parents, or whose parents are many thousands of miles away. My family didn’t want to take in “strays” but we do regularly and enjoy the company.

At Jim’s family, there are a few days of prep (and we’re not even doing turkey or ham) then a few hours of last-minute prep as my mother-in-law makes these incredible potato rolls for leftover turkey ham or turkey sandwiches later on in the evening. This is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a 12-hour day, after four hours prep time. Yes, we all have sandwiches around 5-7 p.m.

Marrying into this family with about 50-60 at Thanksgiving dinner is daunting. So I realized while the football game was on, many of the women retreat to the kitchen after not getting time to eat because they’re feeding kids or grandkids. I sneaked my way into the door and provided spinach balls, spiced almonds and cashews, boursin cheese. Not getting in the way of the 25 cakes and pies on the dessert table or messing up the line for entrees and sides. People who’ve been around longer than me have their specialties and don’t want to be usurped.

My stuff just sat on the kitchen table all day and folks munched on it, along with vegetable trays and interesting foods. Last year I branched out and made mincemeat tarts. They disappeared. I was shocked as mincemeat is somewhat of an acquired taste.

This year I plan to add a cauliflower and brussels sprout gratin that was a huge hit the first time I made it for our old neighbors (and yes, they’re all living to this day after tasting it). A few years ago I gave over the hit spinach balls to a new wife joining the family. She says she’ll make them again this year. We now have radar and provide tacit support to any potential new member of the family subjected to grilling by 50 family members.

I taught our 9 year-old nephew (OK, nearly ten!) how to make pizza from scratch when he visited over the summer. His grandma has asked me to teach him something else this trip. I’m awaiting his newest likes and dislikes in order to plan something fun.

After all, if cooking is not fun, all we’re doing is eating fast food or frozen or pre-prepared meals. If an 18 year-old doesn’t know how to shop a grocery store and cook something other than Ramen noodles what are they learning except to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Question: will I overeat this Thanksgiving? Dinners will remain relatively constant. Snacks and desserts will increase because I don’t make those at home.

With warm wishes for a fun-filled Thanksgiving with family and friends. Dee