Thanksgiving!

If you're British you won't understand a discussion on Thanksgiving that is the end of November while it is only the beginning of September. However, I am American and we don't be jokin' bouts da food!!!! (Chicago accent too strong?)

I moved to Leeds in 2006 and haven't had an opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving since I left the U.S. in 2003. I think all Americans in the LS area need to give a shout out so that we can make plans for a proper feast. I'll make the turkey - what will you bring?

It's a nice idea but I tend to do my own thing for Thanksgiving now, although the last couple of years have been very low key given that I've got the two young'uns. I hope to be able to do another full Thanksgiving when they get a bit older.

Not in the Leeds area but that sounds like a great idea for those of you up that way. We're doing a meal with just hubby, his mum, and chicklet and myself since everyone else will be working. I do plan on inviting friends over for pie and coffee later on in the day though. I've got the menu all planned already

Some American friends in London volunteered DH and I to host Thanksgiving this year. You're welcome to come but a) I live in Inverness and b) I already have more people than chairs. And, um, half the chairs we have are, ah, of dubious structural integrity. I think I'll volunteer to sit at the kitty table on the sofa.

I'm not near you, but if I was, I would bring Pumpkin Pie and Broccoli and Cheese Casserole. 

For the three Thanksgivings I was in England, hubby's family put one on for us. While it was sweet they put the effort into it, and it certainly helped with missing my family that day, they just didn't get the whole picture.

It was a case of it being a turkey Sunday roast, with lots of roasted veggies, and they would add mashed potatoes. However, instead of everyone cooking together or bringing something with them, and it being a family thing, BIL did ALL the cooking, and served everyone their plate. They did one dessert. The first year it was pecan pie, but the other two it was some sort of trifle. Everyone ate and then it was time to go. The whole thing lacked the Thanksgiving feel, yet everyone sat around talking about how it was 'just like home, I am sure' and 'you don't have to miss you family because we did it just like home'. At 'home' everyone brought in dishes, and it is an all day event, starting with watching the parade while the turkey is baking.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciated the effort, and was touched by it. It was just that my suggestions fell on deaf ears, and the green bean casserole and grandma's sage and onion dressing I took the first year went untouched by everyone but hubby and me, other than the little bits MIL tried. It was the fact it was treated as just a meal because they didn't grasp the concept of the whole day being the 'event'. They also didn't understand the point of making enough food to ensure there were leftovers for a couple days, to extend the joy longer and to enjoy the foods longer. 

This year, I have been looking forward to it for weeks already. Bring on the parade, house full of giggling kids and the older generation telling the same old family stories as always, football no matter who is playing, the chaos and the bliss. 

Some American friends in London volunteered DH and I to host Thanksgiving this year. You're welcome to come but a) I live in Inverness and b) I already have more people than chairs. And, um, half the chairs we have are, ah, of dubious structural integrity. I think I'll volunteer to sit at the kitty table on the sofa.

Ha ha!  I had a huuuuuuge do for a couple years in a row, but it just got to be too much - fun & chaotic, but just too many people for the size of our house.  The last time, a couple years ago, our coat rail fell off the wall taking some of the plaster with it & still has yet to be repaired (DH?)...and I was still finding empty plastic cups & crumbs under the furniture six months later...nevermind we are not here to talk about my housekeeping routines... 

So last year, DH and I ran away from home for Thanksgiving (which was good because the washing machine decided to stop working at that time & the bathroom was falling apart...still is) to a little lovenest cottage for two hidden away in the Yorkshire Dales & we did a turkey dinner just for us.

Hereon, since our house is in a progressive state of (dis)repair, we're on the same wavelength as Ashley - lowkey is good! 

So last year, DH and I ran away from home for Thanksgiving (which was good because the washing machine decided to stop working at that time & the bathroom was falling apart...still is) to a little lovenest cottage for two hidden away in the Yorkshire Dales & we did a turkey dinner just for us.

Hereon, since our house is in a progressive state of (dis)repair, we're on the same wavelength as Ashley - lowkey is good! 

That sounds romantic and fun. The day should be fun and meaningful in a way that matters to you, and shouldn't have to be a lot of work and stress. I've heard of some people saying their families just don't bother because they don't want to go through all the work, instead of adapting it to suit current needs/thoughts of the day.

Come to think of it, the second year I was there, in addition to the family one, we got together with quite a few friends at a carvery, and had a fantastic time. Everyone paid for their own so it wasn't expensive for anyone. We ate, had a lot of laughs and ended up staying for (and winning) the pub quiz that night.

Last year, in addition to the family one, I made a smaller one for just hubby and me, with chicken instead of turkey, but with smaller versions of all the trimmings, so we'd have enough for a couple more meals but not be overwhelmed with extra food.

How did I miss those two the first time around? Guess I was focusing on the negative. Oops. 

i'm supposed to be moving to leeds mid october. i'd love to do something for thanksgiving. i will give fair warning though. i've a vegetarian, but i make a mean apple, walnut stuffing.

DH will be away working on Thanksgiving this year but we already joked that we would just go to a carvery not too far from us.  Not a bad deal- weekdays its only 3.89 and kids eat free and get a free dessert.  Will probably still take the kids and ask anyone else who wants to meet up with us then maybe back to my place for some pie

DH will be away working on Thanksgiving this year but we already joked that we would just go to a carvery not too far from us.  Not a bad deal- weekdays its only 3.89 and kids eat free and get a free dessert.  Will probably still take the kids and ask anyone else who wants to meet up with us then maybe back to my place for some pie

Not a bad idea!  I'm too fussy with what we eat for Thanksgiving though... I'm going to invite the whole family round to our teeny tiny flat for dinner. I usually take my Freedom Friday (leave an hour before the school day ends - we get 1 per term) and start cooking. Saturday will be the meal, with far too many dishes to mention! Mmmm. My favorite holiday.

I did a huge Thanksgiving one year for all my friends.  It was on a Saturday, I took the Friday off the day before. 
Whilst they had a lovely time and enjoyed all the food- I am still not sure they 'got it'  - the being an event, rather than a big meal- even though I was happily in my element cooking away for days and eating leftovers for days. 

I was so sick of Turkey though by the time the middle of January had come- because I had something like 15 roast turkey dinners that year (not kidding) because of all the various Thanksgiving/Christmas/BoxingDay/Christmas2/Christmas 3 meals I had.  And I love me a roast turkey dinner.

This year, however, I am going home for T-day -the first time I've done so in a very, very, very, very long time and I am over the moon to spend the day eating the very best of Mommy food! 

I always have people over for mine, even though I'm british I love it up I do a turkey, stuffing, pecan and pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, different veggie dishes. Lots of starters and nibbly bits, the boy puts an UT game on, all of our british friends humour him and eat themselves into oblivion, then we drink until we fall asleep in fat, contentment.

You will all be happy to know that DH and I bought a table and chairs yesterday. It will comfortably seat six though it only comes with four chairs. Thanksgiving is saved! And I don't have to be afraid to sit down.

You will all be happy to know that DH and I bought a table and chairs yesterday. It will comfortably seat six though it only comes with four chairs. Thanksgiving is saved! And I don't have to be afraid to sit down.

Hooray!