It's time to start planning again.

[hippywife]

If you haven't already started, it's time to start thinking about the dinner coming up at the end of the month. I've already ordered our turkey from a local farmer.

Got my Epicurious email this morning with some lovely recipes. I'm always torn between my love of the traditional and my yearn to be creative. LOL

http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/thanksgiving/thanksgivingrecipes

Decisions, decisions.

[Tesha]

1. I think it'll be a houseful this year...

which is great! and folks bring goodies when they come -

Some are exceptional cooks :9
and some not so much - but what are you gonna do :shrug:


Our neighbor from Malaysia/Europe is making the turkey - it's her turn... I can't wait!

should we just go non-traditional all the way?

[hippywife]

2. Could be fun just for the experience.

I'm always so undecided because this meal only comes once a year, but who says we can't have it again another time of the year as long as we plan for it and arrange to have supplies and ingredients that aren't always available the rest of the year. Like cranberries. I tend to stock up on those so I have enough to last year round, though.

I'll be interested to hear what your Malaysian friend does with the turkey if it's something nontraditional.

:hi:

[grasswire]

3. oh I thought you meant Christmas cookies.

LOL.

Yes.

I won't be cooking this year unless the weather is too terrible to travel 60 miles by Amtrak.

I feel like I need a backup plan in case someone comes down with the flu or the weather deteriorates. I turned down the invitation to dine with our hosts at the farm in order to be with family. So I sure will be sad if we can't go but just yards away our hosts are dining on the turkeys we've been watching grow up over the summer.

[hippywife]

5. I hope you kept a toe in that door

in case your plans do have to change. I'd hate to see you stuck with no where to go if that happens. Plus them there farm fresh gobblers are awfully delicious.

:hi:

[grasswire]

12. I couldn't think of a way to do that.

It didn't seem fair to ask them to be backup. Yanno?

[The empressof all]

4. I was just thinking this yesterday

The SO asked if I was going to cook this year? (I'm having increasing difficulty in getting around--but no worries) I usually just have one or two friends over but I really enjoy the production. Not being able to lift and move quickly will make things more difficult but not impossible. I also thought it might be fun to go out for a huge Chinese feast. I'm torn. Turkeys are 29 a lb at one of our markets so either way...I'll be getting a few birds.

[hippywife]

6. I hope there's nothing too serious going on.

I'm sure friends and family would pitch in with the lifting and moving part if asked, would they not? And I hope you enjoy your day whatever you decide to do. :hug:

[The empressof all]

9. It's expected deterioration in my joints

I've been doing really well overall and am hoping to finally get some surgery started in the spring. I'll have help available but I know that they won't be really "into it" until the eating part. :hi: I need a bionic hip and at least one knee. But first I'm getting my mouth done...I need complete uppers and lowers. Just got the referral to the Prothedondist yesterday. Then oral surgeon will be doing the procedure. I also have a benign growth on my palette that will be removed. I certainly will be waiting till after Turkey day to get this done! :rofl: After feasting...I'll be certainly fasting for a few days.

[hippywife]

15. This getting old ain't for sissies, is it?

I'm sorry for all the aches and pains that you are dealing with throughout your day, empress. Glad you are still keeping a sense of humor, tho. And that palette work can most definitely wait until after T-day. Might be a way to get through the rest of the holidays with a minimum of weight gain, tho. ;)

I bet if you tell the rest that there will be no T-day dinner because you just don't feel up to doing it, the volunteer kitchen assistants will begin lining right up.

I hope all goes well for you and you're feeling back to yourself as soon as possible. :hug:

[Tesha]

7. One of the best reasons...

to have people over is you have lots of willing (and even eager) hands to lift and carry!

Hope things get better for you....

[The empressof all]

10. They are getting better...

Thanks. :hug: :hi:

[supernova]

8. I always wanted to be the host(ess)

But it hasn't worked out that way.

I always wanted to play host to have people come over and bring whatever they wanted and enjoy the time together.

But my life is somehow always about going to other's places. I never had a place big enough to entertain.

The past several years, it's been my niece's house... Now it will be my SO's mom's house.

Someday, perhaps.

[hippywife]

11. Our house is very small

and doesn't lend itself well for entertaining much, but I'm cooking the turkey and possibly the bread to take to Bill's mom's. Then, because there are usually so many people in his family so no real leftovers to speak of, we always have our own T-day here at home on Friday. This year, I've invited one of the residents from the retirement center where I work. Her son doesn't seem very attentive at all to his mom, and she really didn't think there would be much in the way of holiday plans. She can't see well, and can't really do much cooking anymore.

I hope you get the opportunity to host a dinner like this one day, too. Could you do your own smaller celebration on Friday and just invite a couple of people in addition to your SO?

[Arkansas Granny]

13. My daughter and her husband have been hosting the big family dinners

for the last few years. My daughter and I do most of the cooking and we've already been discussing the menu, which stays pretty much the same because that's what the family wants and expects. We're making a few changes this year on side dishes and desserts, and a couple of dishes will be brought by others. We usually have a few extra guests besides family because we invite anyone we know who doesnt' have someplace to go for Thanksgiving.

[AwakeAtLast]

14. I still don't know where I'll be yet

Things are up in the air, but if I end up at my Mom & Dad's house I will probably be helping Mom with her dressing and the rest of the family will bring the rest. We are good at potlucking it. :D

I would like to try one new recipe this year but haven't found what I want yet.

Happy cooking! :hi:

[hippywife]

16. There were lots of different

recipes in all categories at that Epicurious link.

I hope that you land somewhere you want to be with many people who love you lots. :hi:

[pengillian101]

17. Yikes, I am turkeyed out.

We had a large turkey breast just a month ago with some of the fixings and we still have frozen leftover meals. Also had a ham recently.

So --- what to celebrate Thanksgiving with? We are doing Cornish game hens.

[Fire1]

18. I'm planning the traditional turkey and sides but looking to

creativity in the desert dept. I don't want turkey again for Christmas dinner. That's always my dilemma. I'm thinking about a Christmas brisket that would last as long as the turkey.