For 15 years we have hosted every holiday dinner for both sides of our families. The first one was 1 week after we moved into our house and I was also pragnant with first baby.
We have done every holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays and summer cookouts. Everybody has always brought a dish, but it is still a lot of work.
This year we decided we aren't doing Thanksgiving. Our daughter is a cheerleader and has to cheer for our Thanksgiving Day Game against a neighboring town. It is one of the oldest rivalries in the United States and this is the 100 year Anniversary game this year.
There is a big rally the night before and the next day (game day) will start around 6am. So we decided after the game we are ordering chinese and that will be our new tradition until the kids graduate. If family wants to join they are welcome, if not, oh well.
Posted by MamaBear11 (Member # 25116) on :
I LOVE it! Good for you! That sounds like an awesome tradition. I can't wish your team luck though, because I'm pretty sure it's our team they are playing against. Lol. Good luck to them all, I guess!
Posted by jimmy1 (Member # 33504) on :
Mom2K, that's awesome! Enjoy the game and your fun new tradition!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
Can I come to your house?
Posted by mom2kids (Member # 31972) on :
MamaBear11, that's okay, I understand. May the best team win (ahem, us...just kidding)! I just hope the weather cooperates.
Jimmy1, I will definitely enjoy them both!
Do you think they will be serving turkey fried rice?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- For all who want to follow suit, be sure to call now for reservations. Friends called yesterday and several places said their were full up.
Some for Christmas and New Years. Get those reservations in today ! I hear Chinese restaurants are often open for Christmas. Some can "do up" a proper feast, for sure. With advance notice, roasted duck might be available. How festive is that?
[And vegetarians would also receive equal gourmet attention.] -
Posted by mom2kids (Member # 31972) on :
Anytime Randi, door is always open...
Keebler, we're doing take out...
Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
Good for you! I'd rather forget the whole thing and eat Chinese anyday! Whoever called them the holidays must have been kidding.
More work than any other time of the year - at least for us moms.
Have a great time.
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
what a wonderful tradition for your family - your kids will have cherished memories...
Enjoy.!
Posted by Beth22 (Member # 30232) on :
My sister called me last week and said she just had too much going on to take her turn this year. Then silence. Waiting for me to offer. She has no clue. I finally said I'd do it. Too much going on....hmmm...shaking head and sighing....
Posted by JeniferM (Member # 31996) on :
I always have that problem where I'm not expecting anybody, but people show up anyways. So now I cook just in case people show up. That sucks.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Fortunately, I like to cook and so do my girls. We all cook all of Thanksgiving dinner together. Hubby and I get the turkey in the oven, then the girls and I work on the side dishes.
My husband's family comes and NO ONE brings ANYTHING. I've given up asking because they just forget. My MIL does bring a pumpkin pie and that's nice. Fortunately, cooking for 13 isn't much different from cooking for 8. And fortunately, the girls and I think the most fun part is preparing the meals. And, we're better cooks than the rest anyway. Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
six, hon, if you ever want any really good southern recipes (from my great grandmother in tennessee) just let me know. i do not share them lightly.
but since you have so many to cook for these special side dishes are great. but they are not lyme friendly. southern means southern...full of nuts, fruit, sugar, adn the pies...oh my...apple with walnut glaze, then there's cranberry sherry sauce, cranberry fluff salad, sweet potatoes with apricots, yummmmmm....
Posted by momindeep (Member # 7618) on :
Just so nummy sounding randi...it sounds just so so good!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
my mother was an excellent cook. these are all what we call down home paula deen type recipes.
lots of memories...
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
Randi..I will take a pecan pie recipe...my aunt was from the south and made the best ever....memories....yum.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
We go out to eat .. our tradition for the past 15 yrs since family is 650 miles away.
Beats cooking any day.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- My pecan pie "light"
Lighted oven roasted or pan toasted pecans with spices of choice;
A very light drizzle of excellent honey; splash of vanilla.
Yummm. I put in a small fancy dish and that makes it seem more festive. A surprising small amount takes me pretty close to heaven on special occasions.
Cubes of roasted spiced yam make this yet another delight all together.
I'm thinking that a warm spiced apple butter (or pumpkin butter) might also make a nice variation of this (but those can loaded with regular sugar or corn syrup). -
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i'm wondering if perhaps just cheating for one day out of the year won't hurt. we suffer all year long and it's a shame sometimes to deprive ourselves of every single thing.
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
I always host for my husband's family and my mom. I prefer my cooking. I don't even have them bring anything other than beer.
Once, we got this frozen vegetable concoction with cheez whiz. So, I suggested dessert the next year. my SIL walked in here with mrs. Smith pies to throw in my oven.
I think we'll cheat a little, but not a lot.
M2M: have a great time. new traditions are always fun.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Randibear, I hear ya!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
wow. my mil does not like me...reason...
my mom always made everything homemade, bread, pies, casseroles, everything...
so one thanksgiving we ate at his parents. she is a terrible cook. she puts pot roasts on the grill!!! and yep store bought pies,etc. she puts eggs in this soupy stuff and calls it dressing. ugh...
well the pies were burned around the edges, i mean black. so she asked why he wasn't eating.
leave it up to a man to say "no thanks, mom, we're eating at her parents later and i know how good her mom's meals are."
ARRRGGGHHHHH....
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
at least he spoke what you had to hold in your head.... Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
My sisters, who both have nice houses that are very good for entertaining, especially one of them. But they want me to do TG this year because I have never been close enough before to do it. But I have a table that three people can sit at, not 16, and a small kitchen and no help, plus being sick. Nothing like fighting over holidays.
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
randibear - Here's my MIL story:
For my first Thanksgiving with my husband's family, I offered to make the cranberry sauce. I made awesome cranberry sauce, from scratch.
My MIL made a "back up" cranberry sauce.
Then, at Christmas, I brought my homemade jam for Christmas breakfast. Nobody touched it. They ate the jam from the store.
I gave up. This year, I'm bringing a baked brie - from Costco! Heat and serve!
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
I love the Chinese takeout plan.
My husband and I are going out for sushi for Christmas.
Posted by mom2kids (Member # 31972) on :
Don't get me wrong, I love to cook and entertain, but every holiday and then some is just killing me. I think we are also going to add in "The Muppet" movie that opens on Thanksgiving.
We have NEVER spent any holiday, birthday or anything just as a family (me, hubby and kids). Even in the delivery room when I gave birth to both kids I had hubby, my parents, his parents, his grandmother, his brother (waited outside during actual delivery) and my best friend in the room with us.
I think it's time for us to at least have one "thing' as our own.
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
You don't have to explain. We understand! And we all love your new tradition!!!
I'm also looking forward to the new Muppet movie. I'll probably be first in line!
Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
I had a Honeybaked Ham gift card worth $50, and now I can't find it! UGH!
Posted by OptiMisTick (Member # 399) on :
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[woohoo]](graemlins/woohoo.gif)
