My granddaughter raised two turkeys and they got them back from the Amish butcher yesterday. They are huge and they are going to smoke them. I’m not really a big turkey fan, but do love smoked meat!
Thanksgiving is the favorite holiday of one DIL and she’s a fabulous cook. Her “rejects” are better than my best efforts 
I do feel for those of you in difficult family situations. That’s no fun–may the day go quickly for you.
More good Thumper family news. The restaurant was calling to confirm all of their Thanksgiving reservations today. I politely asked if they had anything a little later than 11:15 in the morning…and they had a 4:00 opening. Last year we went at 3:45 so I grabbed that 4:00 reservation!
We will have a leisurely breakfast, then get ready and go!
It all worked out!
I bet a lot of people make “just in case” reservations and then change their mind.
4pm sounds better than 11:15!
Talk to me about mashed potatoes in the crockpot. I usually make Pioneer Woman’s recipe the day before and then reheat, but I make a lot and it can take over an hour to heat thru the big casserole dish (even if I split into 2 thinner ones).
How would you reheat in a crockpot? And is that safe?
Ok, we have our final guest list for Thanksgiving: 4 Indians, 1 Russian, 1 Argentinian.
Guests are bringing vegetable curries, rice and roti; Russian pumpkin and buckwheat stew; and wine.
D1 and I will make desserts, cranberry sauce, roasted brussel sprouts, a green salad and a fruit salad. D1, I think, is planning on a lentil cottage pie as a main. I’ll make a delicata squash and goat cheese galette. SIL, I think, is planning is ordering a couple of pizzas.
So a very non-traditional dinner.
I’m going to make my braised turkey thigh with gravy & stuffing on some other day than Thanksgiving. Maybe this Sunday; maybe next Friday.
I reheated mashed potatoes for the first time yesterday in a crockpot. We had a Friendsgiving at work and since our kitchen does not have a stove in the office I decided to try the crockpot. I did 5 pounds of potatoes. When I reheated them I added more butter and milk and set the crockpot to low. It took about 2 hours for them to be nice and hot, but they tasted like I had just made them.
Preparation for Thanksgiving is underway. Spouse’s aunt & uncle are coming via RV from another state. Haven’t seen them in awhile, so we’re looking forward to spending time with them.
fully expect aunt & uncle to arrive in the middle of the night like they always do on road trips. Like, they’ll say that they’ll get there at 9 pm and show up at 2:00 am. 
We now just add 4-5, sometimes 6-7, hours to their estimated arrival time and go about our business as usual.
I also kind of expect that spouse’s uncle will ask/demand to dump their RV black water waste into the sewer cap in the front yard of our house. Yeah, just like Uncle Eddie on Christmas Vacation. I wish I was joking. Of course, we will be saying no to that and will direct him to take care of that at the truck stop on the outskirts of town.
It’ll be an adventure!
Ugh. We might have slightly burned a bridge with one of our relatives who wanted to do just that and was not allowed to, but our sewer line is still operational. 
I hear ya! We live in a neighborhood with an HOA. No way on this big green earth am I going to allow a guest of ours to dump their black water tank into my sewer connection. Not happening.
I was supposed to host Thanksgiving this year but family in Tennessee decided they didn’t want to make the 5 hour drive so we’ll meet in Chattanooga (2 hour drive for each family) for a very nice restaurant TG meal. Kind of glad to not have to clean and cook after our recent long trip. Need some time off for a while. Hope everyone has a super meal with family and friends!
Here’s hoping the grocery store trip I took today for T-giving supplies and other food items is the last I will have to make for the next week! 
I picked up my turkeys today. One whole bird and 2 breasts. I was sick the day I ordered and ordered boneless instead of with the bone. I’ll have to look if it’s similar cooking instructions. I’m really letting go and whatever people bring it will be fine. Luckily the weather forecast looks good and we can set up outside on the veranda.
For most of my married life we went to my inlaws. My father-in-law would push for her to hire help with the clean up. The several times she did that it was great. Everyone sat and relaxed around the table versus people jumping up to clean up. I go to another friend for a Jewish holiday and they sometimes hire help and it’s really nice for the guests and the host.
Back in the days of hosting our “big Thanksgiving “ it was sort of a tradition that there was always something forgotten and a T day run to an open grocery store was a given.
Is there anything more butter can’t fix?
This is quite fun to read - gotta agree with many of them! Be sure to “vote” and see if you’re in the majority or minority
(NO marshmallows on the sweet potatoes!)
Gift link
Well, my brother (and his partner) decided that driving 12 hours with 3 dogs when his health is so poor wasn’t a great idea, so they backed out. I am relieved but also a little bummed, as my kids say they haven’t talked to my brother in a really long time and were hoping to see him. Now it will just be the four of us and my mother.
Does anyone else make the famous NPR “pink stuff” for Thanksgiving? According to the recipe, you have to freeze it and then thaw Thanksgiving morning. I don’t know if that is really necessary, but it always makes it easy since I just make it the weekend before and then don’t have to worry about it. I have to say, it’s my favorite thing ever becuase it’s good on EVERYTHING. Turkey, stuffing, roasted sweet potatoes, bread… and it takes the next day’s turkey sandwich to another level.
I haven’t made it since I had to go dairy-free, but I’m going to try it with vegan sour cream this year. Not sure how it will turn out due to freezing it, but I’m going to give it a whirl.
I jist bought a big tub of cranberry orange relish at Trader Joe’s. I had it a few years ago–yummy!
My nieces are now coming along with another relative. We are now at 21 adults and the grandkids.
God love ya, @mom60. That’s where I slip out the back door…
We are hosting T’day and will have 11 adults and one child (GD who will turn 5 in December). The parents of both of my son-in-laws will be joining us, including the couple that’s divorced. They are civil toward one another, but we always put them at opposite ends of the table.
