NaBloPoMo-ReThanksgiving

Thanksgiving is coming. It will be here before we know it. It’s my most favorite holiday of the year. I make a big deal out of dinner and always invite lots of people. I hate to think of anyone who doesn’t have a place to go that day. Some years it’s just us, and some we have to pull out another table, but I prefer to have guests.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you may remember the year I gave in and unwillingly went to the ex-laws and how my ex-sister-in-law went bezerk because my husband, who was carrying in a sleeping child and a lot of bags of food neglected to say “hello” to her the second he stepped inside his parent’s house. THAT was a fun dinner (she says shaking her head “no”). AND to top it off the B#(&@ took home ALL of the leftovers!  I was actually amused by the whole “hello” ordeal, because, that was typical behavior and a tall glass of wine helped me get through at least the dinner part of the day.  But I was really mad that we didn’t even get one turkey leg or anything back that we had brought to the meal. Nothing, nada!  No leftovers! What?, you say. That’s insane! (Yes, yes it is!)

I needed a serious Do-Over.

And so ReThanksgiving was born.

The next day I went shopping for supplies. So while everyone else was out getting their Black Friday on and snagging giant screen tv’s for a steal, I was at the grocery store buying cranberries, potatoes, and the last turkey they had in the freezer section.

I am pretty sure I stayed up all Friday night cooking and baking but when that meal was set down at our own table on Saturday, never have I been happier.

It may have been just my little family that year- us and three kids who barely eat, but I went all out. Turkey, two kinds of stuffing, cranberry sauce, cranapple oatmeal bake, corn pudding, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green beans, braised Brussels sprouts, honey carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy.  Plus a pecan pie, pumpkin pie and an apple pie. Oh, and a butternut squash soup, salad and homemade bread.

All washed down with Beaujolais Nouveau. It was gluttonous and I was truly Thankful.

There were enough leftovers that we had breakfast (who doesn’t love stuffing and gravy on a roll?), lunch and dinner for the next week.

After that year, I vowed to never go to anyone else’s house for Thanksgiving again-especially if they are related.   But, you are ALL more than welcome to come to my house. I promise there will be tons of food,,,,..and the best part?  I’ll send you home with leftovers.