Comments on: Thanksgiving Traditions & Recipes http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/ The Meeting Place for the Chinaberry Community Sat, 25 May 2013 17:45:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Ali at Chinaberry http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-44 Ali at Chinaberry Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:02:01 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-44 <strong>Wow! Thanks for all the great stories, ideas & recipes!</strong> Anna - thanks for the recipes and I love the story of you biking home from the market with a 14-lb turkey. Funny visual. realmomma - I like your ideas about getting the kids involved in the cooking. My girls & I recently made pumpkin pie. It was a lot of fun and to top it off, the pie actually tasted really yummy. Beth - Have you had your baby yet? How exciting. I guess you & your family have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! I say, relax & let your extended-family take care of Thanksgiving this year. Julie - What a great tradition! (BTW... my girls & I like to listen to our Christmas CDs once in a while throughout the year. They're so great for "sing-a-longs.") Joni - You painted a beautiful picture of Thanksgiving on the farm from you poetic words. Thanks for the recipe too. Steph - Sounds delicious! Karen - That's one definite advantage of technology -- being able to be close w/family & friends via email, phone, instant messaging, etc., etc. blizzard baby - 25 apple pies! Can I have one? Esther - Connecting with nature sounds so nice right now. Enjoy. Cindy - I can relate to your forgetfulness -- I call it Mommy Brain. Enjoy that new kitchen! MotherShip - I've participated in some Thanksgiving potlucks. I like the sharing and it's less stress for the hosts. Renee - 63 people for Thanksgiving! Wow! Do you have room for 1 more? ;-) Donna - What a fun way to celebrate "Thanksgiving Eve." The Chinese food reminds me of the movie "A Christmas Story." The family's meal gets ruined so they end up going to a Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner. Hilarious! Barbara - Thanks for commenting, fellow vegetarian. When I lived in Sonoma County (CA), I saw wild turkeys running around. They loved to get up on the roof of the house -- I thought it was an earthquake or something. Nana's Cottage - You certainly do have a lot to be thankful for. I'm glad your sons made it back safely. <strong>Thanks again to everyone who shared a story or recipe. After Thanksgiving, we'll put up some posts about Christmas & Hanukkah traditions. Be sure to check back. And, Happy Thanksgiving!</strong> Wow! Thanks for all the great stories, ideas & recipes!

Anna - thanks for the recipes and I love the story of you biking home from the market with a 14-lb turkey. Funny visual.

realmomma - I like your ideas about getting the kids involved in the cooking. My girls & I recently made pumpkin pie. It was a lot of fun and to top it off, the pie actually tasted really yummy.

Beth - Have you had your baby yet? How exciting. I guess you & your family have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! I say, relax & let your extended-family take care of Thanksgiving this year.

Julie - What a great tradition! (BTW… my girls & I like to listen to our Christmas CDs once in a while throughout the year. They’re so great for “sing-a-longs.”)

Joni - You painted a beautiful picture of Thanksgiving on the farm from you poetic words. Thanks for the recipe too.

Steph - Sounds delicious!

Karen - That’s one definite advantage of technology — being able to be close w/family & friends via email, phone, instant messaging, etc., etc.

blizzard baby - 25 apple pies! Can I have one?

Esther - Connecting with nature sounds so nice right now. Enjoy.

Cindy - I can relate to your forgetfulness — I call it Mommy Brain. Enjoy that new kitchen!

MotherShip - I’ve participated in some Thanksgiving potlucks. I like the sharing and it’s less stress for the hosts.

Renee - 63 people for Thanksgiving! Wow! Do you have room for 1 more? ;-)

Donna - What a fun way to celebrate “Thanksgiving Eve.” The Chinese food reminds me of the movie “A Christmas Story.” The family’s meal gets ruined so they end up going to a Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner. Hilarious!

Barbara - Thanks for commenting, fellow vegetarian. When I lived in Sonoma County (CA), I saw wild turkeys running around. They loved to get up on the roof of the house — I thought it was an earthquake or something.

Nana’s Cottage - You certainly do have a lot to be thankful for. I’m glad your sons made it back safely.

Thanks again to everyone who shared a story or recipe. After Thanksgiving, we’ll put up some posts about Christmas & Hanukkah traditions. Be sure to check back. And, Happy Thanksgiving!

]]> By: Ali at Chinaberry http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-39 Ali at Chinaberry Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:03:25 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-39 A Thanksgiving Must from <em>Eat, Drink & Be Chinaberry</em> BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PECANS 8 servings To me, this is almost better than chocolate! A definite Thanksgiving must! —Janet Kelly; El Cajon, California 2 quarts brussels sprouts, trimmed Boiling salted water 1/4 cup each packed brown sugar and butter 1/2 cup pecan halves Cut a cross in stem end of each sprout for more even cooking. Cook in boiling water to cover 5 to 10 minues or until crisp-tender. Drain well. In deep skillet over low heat, stir sugar and butter until sugar dissolves. Add brussels sprouts and pecans; toss until well glazed. Serve hot. A Thanksgiving Must from Eat, Drink & Be Chinaberry

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PECANS
8 servings

To me, this is almost better than chocolate! A definite Thanksgiving must! —Janet Kelly; El Cajon, California

2 quarts brussels sprouts, trimmed
Boiling salted water
1/4 cup each packed brown sugar and butter
1/2 cup pecan halves

Cut a cross in stem end of each sprout for more even cooking.

Cook in boiling water to cover 5 to 10 minues or until crisp-tender. Drain well. In deep skillet over low heat, stir sugar and butter until sugar dissolves. Add brussels sprouts and pecans; toss until well glazed. Serve hot.

]]> By: Nana's Cottage http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-38 Nana's Cottage Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:15:28 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-38 Joni, from Nov.12th: thanks for the recipe. I'm going to try it. My mother-in-law has a take on that herself that is so yummy. It uses the leftovers from the Thanksgiving meal, but a couple of years we were at the cabin which had no oven, and we had the casserole FOR our Thanksgiving meal! Donna, from Nov. 17th: Do y'all have a Thanksgiving meal the next day too?! Sounds fun. Barbara, from Nov. 18th: I wouldn't be able to eat turkey either if they were walking around in my back yard. Here's what I'm thankful for this year: I have twin boys who were both deployed at this time last year, and have made it home again safely! Please remember our troops. I am thankful to be an American. I have a 4th grandbaby due any time! My daughter-in-law is graduating from college. My husband's and my parents are with us and doing well in spite of some medical difficulties. God has richly blessed our family. Joni, from Nov.12th: thanks for the recipe. I’m going to try it. My mother-in-law has a take on that herself that is so yummy. It uses the leftovers from the Thanksgiving meal, but a couple of years we were at the cabin which had no oven, and we had the casserole FOR our Thanksgiving meal!

Donna, from Nov. 17th: Do y’all have a Thanksgiving meal the next day too?! Sounds fun.

Barbara, from Nov. 18th: I wouldn’t be able to eat turkey either if they were walking around in my back yard.

Here’s what I’m thankful for this year: I have twin boys who were both deployed at this time last year, and have made it home again safely! Please remember our troops. I am thankful to be an American.

I have a 4th grandbaby due any time!

My daughter-in-law is graduating from college.

My husband’s and my parents are with us and doing well in spite of some medical difficulties.

God has richly blessed our family.

]]> By: Barbara http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-37 Barbara Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:20:56 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-37 As a long time (40 year) vegetarian, my Thanksgiving meals are always a bit different than most. My favorite thanksgivings were those spent in the backwoods of Applegate, Oregon. I had the privilege of many wildlife species roaming through my property. One of the species were Wild Turkeys. It was always a thrill to be able to observe the turkeys making their daily trek back and forth to the trees where they slept. Thanksgiving would always reinforce my reasons for becoming an ethical vegetarian and warm my heart. Sitting at the table in front of a large picture window with family and friends there was nothing as satisfying as observing these creatures on Thanksgiving instead of eating them. A typical Thanksgiving meal would start with Ginger Pumpkin Tomato Soup, Stuffed Acorn Squash, Veggie Loaf, Yams and stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Fresh Cranberries, biscuits, roasted veggies, Mashed Potatoes with Portabello Mushroom Gravy, salads, and of course a few desserts such as Pumpkin Pie and Cranberry Tarts. Sounds good doesn't it? As a long time (40 year) vegetarian, my Thanksgiving meals are always a bit different than most. My favorite thanksgivings were those spent in the backwoods of Applegate, Oregon. I had the privilege of many wildlife species roaming through my property. One of the species were Wild Turkeys. It was always a thrill to be able to observe the turkeys making their daily trek back and forth to the trees where they slept.

Thanksgiving would always reinforce my reasons for becoming an ethical vegetarian and warm my heart. Sitting at the table in front of a large picture window with family and friends there was nothing as satisfying as observing these creatures on Thanksgiving instead of eating them.

A typical Thanksgiving meal would start with Ginger Pumpkin Tomato Soup, Stuffed Acorn Squash, Veggie Loaf, Yams and stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Fresh Cranberries, biscuits, roasted veggies, Mashed Potatoes with Portabello Mushroom Gravy, salads, and of course a few desserts such as Pumpkin Pie and Cranberry Tarts. Sounds good doesn’t it?

]]> By: Donna http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-32 Donna Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:57:15 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-32 We start the long holiday season the night before Thanksgiving with a big party that requires almost no work. We invite a core group of the same friends, but add anyone we think might be alone or in need of a friend. On the way home from work on Wednesday, we call the local Chinese carry out restaurant and order a ton of food. Then we settle 12-20 people around our huge harvest table, light some candles and dig in. We pass around the food in the containers, and when everyone is fully sated, we open the fotune cookies. The laughter and conversation is at a high pitch with the mix of old friends and new ones, young and old, single and married and newly unmarried. Everyone reads her or his fortune out loud, and everyone else adds at the end of each one the words "in bed," which gets even more great laughs.<br><br> Then we head to the kitchen and make our first holiday flaming drinks of the season, rum flambes, 4 t0 6 at a time. This is the only work of the evening, but when everyone has a hot party drink, we turn on "That's Amore" sung by Dean Martin, toast, and continue into the evening. Then we can play Christmas music . The only work was making the flaming drinks and loading plates and glasses into the dishwasher at the end of the evening. Piece of cake. Everyone who's been invited always comes back unless they've moved. It's our best party of the year and gets the season started with what is best about our lives- our friends and families, their stories, laughter, and a great holiday tradition. We start the long holiday season the night before Thanksgiving with a big party that requires almost no work. We invite a core group of the same friends, but add anyone we think might be alone or in need of a friend. On the way home from work on Wednesday, we call the local Chinese carry out restaurant and order a ton of food. Then we settle 12-20 people around our huge harvest table, light some candles and dig in. We pass around the food in the containers, and when everyone is fully sated, we open the fotune cookies. The laughter and conversation is at a high pitch with the mix of old friends and new ones, young and old, single and married and newly unmarried. Everyone reads her or his fortune out loud, and everyone else adds at the end of each one the words “in bed,” which gets even more great laughs.

Then we head to the kitchen and make our first holiday flaming drinks of the season, rum flambes, 4 t0 6 at a time. This is the only work of the evening, but when everyone has a hot party drink, we turn on “That’s Amore” sung by Dean Martin, toast, and continue into the evening. Then we can play Christmas music . The only work was making the flaming drinks and loading plates and glasses into the dishwasher at the end of the evening. Piece of cake. Everyone who’s been invited always comes back unless they’ve moved. It’s our best party of the year and gets the season started with what is best about our lives- our friends and families, their stories, laughter, and a great holiday tradition.

]]> By: Ali at Chinaberry http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-30 Ali at Chinaberry Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:43:27 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-30 Another yummy recipe from <em>Eat, Drink & Be Chinaberry</em>: WARMED CRANBERRY BRIE Our favorite appetizer for winter holiday parties — Barbara White; New Haven, Connecticut 1/3 cup crushed cranberry sauce 2 T packed brown sugar 1/4 tsp rum extract or orange extract 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg 1 round (8 oz) brie cheese 2 T chopped pecans Combine first four ingredients. Peel off top rind of 1 round brie cheese, leaving 1/4 inch rim. Top brie with cranberry mixture and sprinkle with 2 T chopped pecans. Bake in 500° oven 4-5 minutes. Serve with assorted crackers. Another yummy recipe from Eat, Drink & Be Chinaberry:

WARMED CRANBERRY BRIE
Our favorite appetizer for winter holiday parties
— Barbara White; New Haven, Connecticut

1/3 cup crushed cranberry sauce
2 T packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp rum extract or orange extract
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 round (8 oz) brie cheese
2 T chopped pecans

Combine first four ingredients. Peel off top rind of 1 round brie cheese, leaving 1/4 inch rim. Top brie with cranberry mixture and sprinkle with 2 T chopped pecans. Bake in 500° oven 4-5 minutes. Serve with assorted crackers.

]]> By: Ali at Chinaberry http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-29 Ali at Chinaberry Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:51:57 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-29 My girls & I are vegetarians, but there's always enough non-turkey food to enjoy at the Thanksgiving table. When it's just the three of us, though, I usually cook a Tofurky roast. Although I know of some vegetarians who don't care for it, I really love it. I've found that you need to cut the slices fairly thin. The gravy is to die for. Give it a try sometime. You can purchase a "roast" at most <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/" rel="nofollow">Whole Foods </a>stores during the holidays. You can find the cooking instructions at: http://tofurky.com/recipes.htm. Enjoy! My girls & I are vegetarians, but there’s always enough non-turkey food to enjoy at the Thanksgiving table. When it’s just the three of us, though, I usually cook a Tofurky roast. Although I know of some vegetarians who don’t care for it, I really love it. I’ve found that you need to cut the slices fairly thin. The gravy is to die for. Give it a try sometime. You can purchase a “roast” at most Whole Foods stores during the holidays.

You can find the cooking instructions at: http://tofurky.com/recipes.htm.

Enjoy!

]]> By: Renee http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-28 Renee Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:50:13 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-28 We spend the Thanksgiving in the desert (Glamis, Ca - "the sand toy capital of the world!") with friends and sometimes up to three generations of extended family. We deep fry 4 - 6 turkeys and everyone brings the fixings for a potluck style dinner. Our children have grown up over the years and we're now at that age when the young ones are starting to marry and have their own families. Last year we had 63 people for Thanksgiving. Tradition has us circling up around a line of tables put end to end (with camp lanterns in between for light), counting off and saying grace. It's a wonderful event that my girls love. We've been doing this for almost 20 years and the group sometimes gets larger and sometimes gets smaller but the heart and love of it is always the same. We spend the Thanksgiving in the desert (Glamis, Ca - “the sand toy capital of the world!”) with friends and sometimes up to three generations of extended family. We deep fry 4 - 6 turkeys and everyone brings the fixings for a potluck style dinner. Our children have grown up over the years and we’re now at that age when the young ones are starting to marry and have their own families. Last year we had 63 people for Thanksgiving. Tradition has us circling up around a line of tables put end to end (with camp lanterns in between for light), counting off and saying grace. It’s a wonderful event that my girls love. We’ve been doing this for almost 20 years and the group sometimes gets larger and sometimes gets smaller but the heart and love of it is always the same.

]]> By: MotherShip http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-26 MotherShip Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:24:36 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-26 My family has been doing a pot luck for years now---my brother in law comes over to my mom's to tend the turkey while the rest of us go to a Thanksgiving breakfast at church (also the kickoff for the church campaign for Heifer International and other international giving) and then we come back to eat the meal to which all of us have contributed. On Friday, we all head down to my brother's cottage on the Pamlico river for more family time. Thanksgiving is definitely by far my favorite holiday, I guess because I'm lucky enough to belong to a good-sized family whose members all enjoy each other's company! Our two oldest will be missing this year (one in Mexico, one at the beach with friends), but we'll keep them in our hearts all the same. My family has been doing a pot luck for years now—my brother in law comes over to my mom’s to tend the turkey while the rest of us go to a Thanksgiving breakfast at church (also the kickoff for the church campaign for Heifer International and other international giving) and then we come back to eat the meal to which all of us have contributed. On Friday, we all head down to my brother’s cottage on the Pamlico river for more family time. Thanksgiving is definitely by far my favorite holiday, I guess because I’m lucky enough to belong to a good-sized family whose members all enjoy each other’s company! Our two oldest will be missing this year (one in Mexico, one at the beach with friends), but we’ll keep them in our hearts all the same.

]]> By: Anna http://blog.chinaberry.com/2008/11/thanksgiving-traditions-recipes/#comment-23 Anna Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:20:35 +0000 http://blog.chinaberry.com/?p=302#comment-23 Cindy- funny! Last year I made Thanksgiving dinner for my sister's family, and I decided to make it all green, so I biked to the meat market here in town, 1 1/2 miles away, and biked back with a 14-pounder. I earned that dinner, let's just say. I put prosciutto inside the skin with sage and butter. I really loved it. Event cooking is so stressful, because it's a 1-shot kind of situation, but everyone is so forgiving and happy! We had some extra guests that were surprises, which I love, because it's really all that Thanksgiving is about, sharing the bounty. Great thread, and I'm enjoying the responses. Cindy- funny! Last year I made Thanksgiving dinner for my sister’s family, and I decided to make it all green, so I biked to the meat market here in town, 1 1/2 miles away, and biked back with a 14-pounder. I earned that dinner, let’s just say. I put prosciutto inside the skin with sage and butter. I really loved it. Event cooking is so stressful, because it’s a 1-shot kind of situation, but everyone is so forgiving and happy! We had some extra guests that were surprises, which I love, because it’s really all that Thanksgiving is about, sharing the bounty. Great thread, and I’m enjoying the responses.

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