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Thanksgiving or Grocery Derby??
I have just returned from my weekly grocery shopping and being that this is Thanksgiving week, I know it would be crowded. The experience reminded me of a blog I posted last year before Thanksgiving. I hope you’ll forgive me this ‘re-blog’ but it’s exactly what I’d want to say today. I’d love to hear about what you’re in charge of for the feast and recipes are always appreciated.
As a teaser – I’m going to post a family recipe on Wednesday that is not remotely WritersButt approved but I bet you’ll forgive me that too!
The bird my sister got for our 2012 Thanksgiving Feast
It’s Thanksgiving time … or is it more like grocery store roller-derby?
You know what I mean, that special time before a major holiday when the masses become possessed. When there is no greater accomplishment than to out-maneuver that little old lady with the cane to fling yourself on that 24-pound butterball. In fact, you suspect the cane is fake, brought along to increase her chances of hedging you out of the way of the canned cranberries.
I don’t know about you but I find shopping during this pre-holiday mania kind of fun.
What’s curious about this is that at any other time, if someone so much as pauses in front of the diced tomatoes I’m muttering, “Don’t you know what you want? Have a plan woman … let’s keep movin’!” And Holy-Heavens-to-Betsy on the person with bags and bags of frozen peas-n-carrots and they’re rummaging for more, their cart blocking my way to the brussel sprouts. I just want to tell him, “Dude, I’m sure they’ll restock by spring and you have enough to last you at least that long.”
So you’d think that the aisles jammed with people and their holiday meal lists would annoy me. Nope. I get swept up in the fun of it. I check out peoples’ carts. When I see cans of sweet potatoes and bags of marshmallows, I know what they’re bringing. A cart loaded with bags of breadcrumbs and cans of chicken stock – she’s bringing the stuffing! And oh my goodness, the excitement over that prize turkey!
My grocery store (HEB) rocks! They hand out samples all over the place … even gourmet cheese and wine. (I KNOW! Awesome right?)
Funny thing is, I’ve never made a turkey. Thanksgiving has never been at my house. It’s always been at my mom’s, or my mother-in-law’s, my grandma’s and now my sister’s. I don’t host Thanksgiving, so I’ve never baked the turkey. But like most families, we all bring stuff. I’m always in charge of the mashed potatoes. I tried to get out of it this year but my husband said my brother-in-law, Bill, would have a heart attack if I didn’t do the mashed taters. So, fine, 10lbs of potatoes and a pound of butter went into my cart. (Yeah, they’re that good!) I’m also in charge of the veggie tray because I always want fresh vegetables to nosh on. Update: In addition to mashed potatoes, this year I’m bringing a huge pan of roasted veggies (sweet potatoes, beets and parsnips) and my husband is making the family Snicker Salad. There will NOT be anything left in that bowl.
My sister-in-law is bringing the canned cranberry because that’s what she likes, still in the shape of the can so she can see the ridges. My husband’s uncle bakes pies so there are always at least two of those. My mom always brings the ‘party potatoes’ and the booze. (Yay Mom!!) My mother-in-law makes the most amazing chicken tamale stuffing. I’ve heard that she’s not bringing it this year but is instead bringing potato salad (because Lord knows we don’t have enough potatoes coming!) and chopped liver. (Um, not sure what short of madness this is but I’m trying to have a Thankful heart and I will not pout over the missing tamale dressing, not too much.)
So dish! Are you in charge of a specific recipe every year? Do you host the meal at your home? Share what YOU’RE bringing to the Thanksgiving Feast!
Also I’d like to wish for all of you the most Blessed Thanksgiving! I have met so many new people lately on the net that I want you all to know that I have such a full and grateful heart! I wish for abundant joy and laughter for all of you!
{Group Hug}
~ginger~
A Harry Potter Thanksgiving
Because my family is beyond awesome, we didn’t just have your average traditional Thanksgiving gathering. No, we kicked it up about notch and a half and held the first ever, in the history of our minds…
Harry Potter Thanksgiving
Ok, so this post will be all about the pictures but let me give some background on how this came about. My family is crazy about Harry Potter, as will be glaringly evident below. We’ve read all the books (multiple times), watched all the movies and we even own all the audio versions so we can listen in the car. We ~HEART~ the Boy who Lived! This past summer when The Deathly Hallows part 2 came out, my sister-in-law, AKA — Professor Trelawny, and I were texting each other about how in love we were with the movie. Between the two of us, we thought it would be fun to have a Harry Potter party. It quickly morphed into a costume extravaganza!
Let me show you some pictures!
You can’t have a Harry Potter party without the famous trio — Ron (w/ Scabbers), Hermione and Harry
Even the Death Eaters were invited. Yours truly as Bellatrix.
A very pretty Moaning Myrtle
Teddy Lupin
Cutest Crookshanks ever.
We even let Voldermort come.
Professor Minerva McGonagall and Cornilius Fudge
Lucious Malfoy and Dobby
And then there was food! The wonderful Trelawny made chocolate frogs and peppermint toads with character cards included. In addition, we also had pumpkin juice, chocolate cauldrons and chocolate brooms. Of course there was turkey, more potatoes than you can imagine, stuffing-muffins, veggies, pies … you name it, it was there.
We also had props. Trelawny (yes, she’s been neglecting her crystal ball gazing to get all this done) made a Herbology book for Neville, Tom Riddle’s diary complete with conversation between Harry and Tom written out and more. It was AMAZING!
Here’s our cast list!
MY FAMILY!!!
Thanksgiving or Grocery Derby??
It’s Thanksgiving time … or is it more like grocery store roller-derby?
You know what I mean, that special time before a major holiday when the masses become possessed. When there is no greater accomplishment than to out-maneuver that little old lady with the cane to fling yourself on that 24-pound butterball. In fact, you suspect the cane is fake, brought along to increase her chances of hedging you out of the way of the canned cranberries.
I don’t know about you but I find shopping during this pre-holiday mania kind of fun.
What’s curious about this is that at any other time, if someone so much as pauses in front of the diced tomatoes I’m muttering, “Don’t you know what you want? Have a plan woman … let’s keep movin’!” And Holy-Heavens-to-Betsy on the person with bags and bags of frozen peas-n-carrots and they’re rummaging for more, their cart blocking my way to the brussel sprouts. I just want to tell him, “Dude, I’m sure they’ll restock by spring and you have enough to last you at least that long.”
So you’d think that the aisles jammed with people and their holiday meal lists would annoy me. Nope. I get swept up in the fun of it. I check out peoples’ carts. When I see cans of sweet potatoes and bags of marshmallows, I know what they’re bringing. A cart loaded with bags of breadcrumbs and cans of chicken stock – she’s bringing the stuffing! And oh my goodness, the excitement over that prize turkey!
My grocery store (HEB) rocks! They hand out samples all over the place … even gourmet cheese and wine. (I KNOW! Awesome right?)
Funny thing is, I’ve never made a turkey. Thanksgiving has never been at my house. It’s always been at my mom’s, or my mother-in-law’s, my grandma’s and now my sister’s. I don’t host Thanksgiving, so I’ve never baked the turkey. But like most families, we all bring stuff. I’m always in charge of the mashed potatoes. I tried to get out of it this year but my husband said my brother-in-law, Bill, would have a heart attack if I didn’t do the mashed taters. So, fine, 10lbs of potatoes and a pound of butter went into my cart. (Yeah, they’re that good!) I’m also in charge of the veggie tray because I always want fresh vegetables to nosh on.
My sister-in-law is bringing the canned cranberry because that’s what she likes, still in the shape of the can so she can see the ridges. My husband’s uncle bakes pies so there are always at least two of those. My mom always brings the ‘party potatoes’ and the booze. (Yay Mom!!) My mother-in-law makes the most amazing chicken tamale stuffing. I’ve heard that she’s not bringing it this year but is instead bringing potato salad (because Lord knows we don’t have enough potatoes coming!) and chopped liver. (Um, not sure what short of madness this is but I’m trying to have a Thankful heart and I will not pout over the missing tamale dressing, not too much.)
We are doing something really fun this year. But I’m not going to tell you … yet! I will save it for my post-Thanksgiving blog post and will promise lots of pictures!
So dish! Are you in charge of a specific recipe every year? Do you host the meal at your home? Share what YOU’RE bringing to the Thanksgiving Feast!
Also I’d like to wish for all of you the most Blessed Thanksgiving! I have met so many new people lately on the net that I want you all to know that I have such a full and grateful heart! I wish for abundant joy and laughter for all of you!
{Group Hug}
~ginger~
