Posted by: Laura on November 27th, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! We have been enjoying a quiet day at home. This is the first year it’s been “just us”, just us, and the little boys, and it was heavenly! No where to be, no hurries, no stress. It’s been low-key and just what we needed. We made quite a feast-roasted turkey breast, cornbread stuffing, butter gold mashed potatoes, maple pecan pie. We’re all sitting around, basking in the glory of an awesome Cowboys win, and getting the little guys ready for bed. I would not hate it if we spent every Thanksgiving this way. I love these guys! I think I like this family of four thing…it’s getting to be a ton of fun!
Here’s how my other awesome mums celebrate!
Lisa: As Thanksgiving draws closer I can’t help but reflect on not just what I have to be thankful for (my two precious angels) but how this Thanksgiving will be different from all the others. After a lot of thought, I can’t say that I grew up with a lot of family traditions on this holiday, I mean other than Black Friday shopping. Now that I have kids, though, I want them to have traditions that they can carry on. So I have come up with a few things that I would like our family to do from now on at Thanksgiving. Most are for when they are older but I figure I can do them now and get in the “habit” so to speak, and then the girls will just follow when they understand and can participate. So, without further adieu, here is my list of things I want to do:
1. Always wear something nice to lunch/dinner. Growing up that never was something that was impressed upon us to do so there are many Thanksgiving photos of me in sweats and t-shirts! I am definitely starting that one this year– I already have their dresses all laid out and ready to go!
2. Baking pies from scratch. About three years ago I started baking apple and pumpkin pies from scratch as my contribution to wherever we were celebrating that year. I have come to really enjoy it and I get excited when it is time to peel the apples and make the crusts! I hope to pass that on– along with the fun of having the girls help one day!
3. In the future I would love for the girls (and the husband and me) to spend a few minutes each night of the week leading up to Thanksgiving jotting down what we are thankful for. Then, at Thanksgiving dinner, we could share our Thanks around the table.
So that is it. Not too much but definitely more than I did as a kid on Thanksgiving! Hopefully I can make it all happen and in a few years it will all be old habit! Now, I would like to take a minute and wish all the MTW readers out there a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope that you get to spend the day with the ones you love and that you each get some help with the dishes! 
Jaymi: Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I’ve always loved it, even as a child. I just love all the smells, all the food, and seeing family. Every year since I’ve been married we travel to Ohio to my husbands side of the family. We all love it there! Big families, big houses, and tons of food!! Usually there is between 50 and 100 people gathered and it’s a complete madhouse, with children running everywhere. This year we’re doing something different, because that many people is just too much on one person (and their house!)…so we’re having separate dinners and then all coming together after for games and fun. We’ll be with Jon’s cousin and his family for dinner…with their 4 kids and our 3 kids, we’ll still have a big crowd of 11. This will also be my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian, so no turkey! lol. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Naomi: Thanksgiving has always been a holiday that I love, probably because it centers on food. That being said, I hate cooking anything with a carcass, so I usually leave the whole bird deal to Bob. I’ve done it before, but it creeps me out. Seriously, flopping a turkey around in a rub feels way too close to giving a baby a bath for me. Anyway, I am all about over-indulgent side dishes. You must wipe out any semblance of veggie-ness with cheese or cream or condensed mushroom soup. It’s important. I also love to bake but traditional Thanksgiving sweets are a little lacking in the chocolate department for my tastes. This year, Roo and I will be baking a chocolate cake in a turkey shaped pan that my mom gave me. And probably pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and chocolate pecan/pine nut pie. Who has room for turkey and stuffing when there are sweets to be had?!
My favorite Thanksgiving-y recipes:
Threadgill’s Spinach Casserole Bill Arnold
5 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach
21 ounces cream of mushroom soup (undiluted)
1 pound bacon, fried very crisp
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
2 onions, chopped, sautéed
2 small cans mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 pound Swiss cheese, grated
Cracker crumbs, if needed for consistency
Juice of 4 lemons
Preheat oven to 350°. Cook frozen spinach as directed, drain well. Fry the bacon,sauté the onions, and add remaining ingredients in order listed. Add cracker crumbs if needed to make a fairly stiff mixture. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 350°. Makes about 16 servings.
Chocolate Pecan/Pine Nut Pie
- refrigerated pie crust, prepared as package directs
- 4-8 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) chocolate, chopped
- 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1 1/2 cups pecan pieces, lightly toasted
- 3/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
Stir chocolate and butter in heavy small saucepan over low heat until melted. Cool slightly. Add vanilla.
Whisk brown sugar, eggs and salt in large bowl to blend. Whisk in corn syrup and chocolate mixture. Sprinkle pecans over unbaked crust. Pour filling over pecans and pine nuts. Bake until crust is golden and filling is puffed, about 55 minutes.
Cool pie completely on rack. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
4 c. flour
2 c. oatmeal
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. butter, softened
2 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling!)
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. raisins or nuts (optional)
Mix dry ingredients together and set aside. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Mix gradually with dry mix and pumpkin (add chocolate chips and raisins or nuts if desired). Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Makes 32 large cookies or a whole truckload of smaller cookies.
