Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Time for the Holidays!

Now that Halloween is over, it's inescapable: the holiday season is upon us!  It's time to start thinking about Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas shopping, and trimming the tree.  Eesh!  This year is flying by...

This year--for the first time ever in my 34 years--I've committed to cooking Thanksgiving dinner.  This is a big deal for me because 1) Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday and 2) like I said, I've never done this before.  Sure, I've roasted chickens, made big holiday dinners for Christmas, etc., but Greta always handles turkey day.

Last year our parents were back in Maryland, leaving just me, the Mister, my sister, and my nephew.  We decided to depart drastically from tradition and celebrated with what our family calls tachos (tacos/nachos).  This year, I'll roast up a turkey and do it the old fashioned way.

I've been looking at a ton of recipes and menu ideas to get myself prepared.  I know that our Thanksgiving dinner MUST include a turkey, canned cranberry sauce, and sauerkraut.  These three things are a tradition, and I'm not about to mess with tradition. 

But I do have a question for all of you: What has to appear on your Thanksgiving Day menu?  Are there any recipes or dishes that you absolutely, positively have to have for it to be Thanksgiving?  If so, leave me a comment...I want to hear about it and who knows!  Maybe I'll include one of your family traditions in my own this year.

4 comments:

phairhead said...

Dressing made w/ apples, sausage & chestnuts. Sweet potatoes w/ bourbon & pecans.

Lynn said...

Hi Lydia and Greta,
Sauerkraut? It is a must have with turkey dinner. I'm trying to figure out if it's a family thing or a Baltimore thing.

Greta said...

PUMPKIN PIE!!!!!!!

~she~ said...

We do the whole spread: turkey, mashed potatoes (with sour cream whipped in), stuffing, homemade noodles (my mom's specialty), sweet potato casserole, corn, dinner rolls, and at least 3 kinds of dessert. My favorites are stuffing and sweet potato casserole. Visit my blog for the recipes! http://she-she-says.blogspot.com/