Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Thanksgiving Traditions at Our House

With Thanksgiving just a little over a week away, I thought I'd share with you some of my family's holiday traditions.

1. Dinner starts somewhere around 2:00pm on Thanksgiving day. (If my mom had her way we'd start at noon)

2. The first course is always a bowl of soup...usually escarole (Italian wedding soup); although this year we're doing a roasted carrot and fennel soup.

3. Soup is followed by some sort of homemade stuffed pasta; either lasagna, stuffed shells, or cannelloni. This year we're going to make lasagna.

4. A 2 hour break comes after the pasta course.

5. Male guests watch football or sleep during the above break.

6. Female guests continue with dinner preparations during the break mentioned in #4.

7. Turkey is usually served around 6:00pm; and is always accompanied by the following side dishes (no variations allowed): sausage stuffing, roasted rosemary potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, spicy cranberry sauce and corn.

8. Wine is flowing continuously all day long. (even when the men are sleeping in #5)

9. Pumpkin pie is always served; along with several other varieties which change yearly.

10. Nuts, figs, dates and chocolates are on the table the entire day. At least one guest every year will fill up on this and not be able to enjoy the main meal.

What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions?

7 comments:

  1. Sounds like an absolutely wonderful day! I like how you space out the food throughout the day! Thanks for a sneak peak into your families tradition!

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  2. Ha! we Italians are all the same! it sound like our house. From the escarole soup to the nuts at the end. I love every minute of it!

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  3. Very similar to yours! But we don't have any breaks between pasta and turkey. This year we are not doing the pasta course! I'm thankful for that because I never get to enjoy the turkey.

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  4. You have quite a delicious Thanksgiving itinerary established here. No aberrations please LOL! I would not even think of deviating from this feast!
    I have some awards for you.

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  5. That's a great menu! Especially the pasta part.

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  6. We used to do the soup and pasta too. Then my mom and aunts would get upset when everyone was too full for the turkey and vegetables! So many years ago, we simplified it and removed the soup and pasta. Just reading your post is making me reconsider though. :)

    We also have mulled apple cider when everyone arrives.

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  7. sounds wonderful! what a great tradition! :) ours... get up early and eat cinnamon rolls while watching parades... cook like mad and enjoy each other. Nap, eat some more... and then a mad game of monopoly in the evening!

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