topic Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory? in Among Friends

Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

jeanlake — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 19:11:23 GMT

Parents, from the South, deviated from substantial breakfast to pastries on Thanksgiving morrning. What a treat! One year, forever in my precious memories, is me swinging in backyard on a Thanksgiving Day (Central Midwest) that felt like summer; no outer garment, sun shining, fluffy clouds and mature trees displaying bright orange leaves. With windows in the house open, I could hear and smell the goodness going on inside the house. I had the assurance they would call me when late lunch was ready. Until then, I enjoyed a beautiful wait. Would love to hear your memories.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

Vivian — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 19:15:53 GMT

I remember the last Thanksgiving with my father. He had insisted on postponing his cancer surgery so that we could have what he knew would be his last family Thanksgiving. My daughter, who is a fantastic cook, made a feast. It was a wonderful day that I'll never forget.

2Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

Group 5 minus 1 — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 19:34:08 GMT

2 actually

One year I was in the hospital after the birth of my son.

After Mom moved to MI to be w/ us she came here for TG dinner.

I was in a wheelchair following surgery and I got TV dinners for us.Mom said it was the best dinner she ever had. We now have those dinners as a tradition every year.

Mom and Dad are both gone.

OK, I don't eat those (vegetarian) but still...

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

CamilleP — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 20:08:35 GMT

Thanks for starting ths topic, @jeanlake , it is nice to read everyone's memories. Mine is the first year I changed the traditional menu a little by making an eggnog pumpkin pie, instead of a plain one. I had already been hosting my parents and sometimes brother and SIL for holiday meals for several years, getting a smoked turkey from the meat science club at the university where I worked, doing the usual sides, but I decided to switch up dessert, and my parents loved it. My dad had never been a pumpkin pie fan, but after that he started asking for it, rather than his usual favorite cherry pie. It made me so happy to be able to do something for them that they loved!

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

happycat — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 20:18:45 GMT

The year I hosted Thanksgiving, my cousin and his wife came from San Antonio, he was retired air force and I loved listening to his stories. His wife and I went for a walk after lunch, Melissa was very intelligent, and so sweet.

This is a precious memory, because a few years after that Melissa developed a cough. She had lung cancer and passed away shortly after the diagnosis.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

jeanlake — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 20:38:47 GMT

I was thinking my 2020 Thanksgiving was going to be simple this year - nothing spectacular - but after listening to your stories, I'm going to love every minute with the six of us. And the dog!

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

JYWilliams — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 21:47:26 GMT

I just use to love being in the kitchen as a child when my mom was preparing our Thanksgiving meal. Watching her make everything. And waiting for Pippi Long Stocking to come on TV. (it came on every Thanksgiving) My mom has Dementia now so things are a little different. (but still grateful to have her here)

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

susielong1 — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 22:04:47 GMT

Camille P, would you please post your recipe for the Eggnog Pumpkin pie. TIA

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

Mombo1 — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 22:17:37 GMT

@jeanlake wrote:
Parents, from the South, deviated from substantial breakfast to pastries on Thanksgiving morrning. What a treat! One year, forever in my precious memories, is me swinging in backyard on a Thanksgiving Day (Central Midwest) that felt like summer; no outer garment, sun shining, fluffy clouds and mature trees displaying bright orange leaves. With windows in the house open, I could hear and smell the goodness going on inside the house. I had the assurance they would call me when late lunch was ready. Until then, I enjoyed a beautiful wait. Would love to hear your memories.

@jeanlake Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I especially loved going to my grandparents houses as a little kid. They actually lived across the street from each other so we got to visit with everyone in one place. Cousins, aunts and uncles all around the table and everyone was happy to be there.
I also have fond memories of family gatherings at my Mom and Dad's home. My mom made a fabulous pumpkin chiffon pie. Her turkey was always moist and the aroma filled the house.
Now...I am a grandmother and I have 3 little granddaughters. It's fun being with them. There is never a dull moment especially at Thanksgiving... These girls love to eat mashed potatoes. They are just as excited knowing that Santa will be coming soon after Thanksgiving is over...😊

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

withaK — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 22:23:54 GMT

It would have to be the year my Aunt Rose hosted and her oven broke midway thru cooking the turkey. My Uncle and Dad stood watch over the bbq grill and finished cooking the bird. It was great to see my dad and his kid brother outside in their coats and cans of beer and cigars talking and on turkey detail...we ate super late ...easily after 9 pm and we kids had filled up on snacks so we weren't overly interested in dinner...it was alot of fun...just my family and my Aunt and Uncle and their four kids...small group but we had so much fun....

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

ALRATIBA — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 22:34:07 GMT

My cousin and I were just reminiscing (via DM - she lives several hours away) about Thanksgiving growing up.

Our entire childhood - Thanksgiving was always at our grandparents. Aunts, uncles, cousins. It was a mob scene. Always great fun. We all grew up sitting at the "children's table."

Just three of us left who remember those days - the two of us and one uncle.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

Flatbush — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 23:38:55 GMT

As a child, I was so glad to be off school for a few days. I was afraid of my teacher, so for a few days, I didn't get a tummy ache from the anxiety.

The other and better memory, is watching my Father cut up the turkey and giving my brother and me a small piece of the crispy skin to gnaw on.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

J Town Girl — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 00:07:47 GMT

One of my favorite memories about Thanksgiving really doesn't involve the holiday. My husband was in the military and we were newly married and living in Germany. We had a few other young couples that we hung out with.

Since we were all away from our hometowns we decided to spend the holiday together and we went hiking around the beautiful forest that surrounded the area where we were stationed. After spending the day hiking we all went out to dinner at a really nice German restaurant.

It was such a lovely day and even after all of these years I still remember the joy we all felt. We had all come from small towns and never dreamed that we would end up living in a European city and being able to experience all that we did.

I know none of us took those years for granted. We were grateful for the opportunity that we had been given.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

ECBG — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 15:30:36 GMT

My happiest Thanksgivings were the few short years we made dinner at my house, not going to a stress dinner at my acidic step mother's.

My aunt came, she stired the gravy and we spoke of family history I had never heard. (She went out on the deck to smoke!lol!). My Daughter In Love helped somewhat and got to hear everything.

Those maybe 4 years are a blessed memory.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

CamilleP — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 02:48:32 GMT

@susielong1 I use the recipe from the old Pillsbury cookbook, it's a basic pumpkin pie recipe, with eggnog (full fat, natural sugars) instead of evaporated milk or cream. Any recipe you have you can use, just switch out the cream/milk and use regular eggnog instead. I have a favorite local dairy brand of eggnog I use, but any good eggnog you like to drink plain would work fine. I would suggest avoiding low-fat or artificial sweetener/flavoring ingredients, as I don't know how those would effect the texture of the custard when being baked. You can reduce the amount of brown sugar or white sugar you use in the recipe if you think the eggnog will make it too sweet. Since my DH is diabetic, I now use a monkfruit sweetener instead of sugar in my pie, and it works fine, but not all artificial sweeteners respond well to heat, so that's why I would avoid using an artificially sweetened eggnog, unless you are sure the sweetener tolerates heat. Sucralose does, for instance, but aspartame and some others don't. Hope this helps!

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

speedy girl — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 06:07:25 GMT

Thanksgiving was pretty much the same for me over the years. My Mom always cooked and we had the whole family and a wonderful meal. Oh how I miss those days. Now that my parents are gone, it's just not the same as being at their house with everyone.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

RealtyGal2 — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 10:12:09 GMT

I have loved all previous Thanksgivings (my favorite holiday) that included my whole family and we cooked the meal from scratch.

Now, sadly, my 98 year old mother is in assisted living and is practically a prisoner in her room, and the rest of us 3 children are having thanksgiving separately at our homes. I am 72 and "at risk", my youngest brother is working in the office one day a week so we are not getting together, and my other brother has 3 children and is celebrating with his family. Fortunately we have enough money to buy delicious take-out.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

chiclet — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 10:36:49 GMT

The only one that stands out for me is the year my husband and I took off for New Orleans for the 4 days we had off. There was a restaurant on the main street that had a buffet with a line to tradional and one to New orleans style. Of course we wanted the New Orleans style and it was the best I ever had. Also driving home there was a tornado following us on the interstate. I have never driven that fast.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

PamfromCT — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 13:39:12 GMT

@J Town Girl wrote:
One of my favorite memories about Thanksgiving really doesn't involve the holiday. My husband was in the military and we were newly married and living in Germany. We had a few other young couples that we hung out with.

Since we were all away from our hometowns we decided to spend the holiday together and we went hiking around the beautiful forest that surrounded the area where we were stationed. After spending the day hiking we all went out to dinner at a really nice German restaurant.

It was such a lovely day and even after all of these years I still remember the joy we all felt. We had all come from small towns and never dreamed that we would end up living in a European city and being able to experience all that we did.

I know none of us took those years for granted. We were grateful for the opportunity that we had been given.

@J Town Girl, How fortunate you were to have that experience early in life. Such an experience broadens your outlook forever.

Not about Thanksgiving, but...My DH and I are very up in years. His parents came to America from Germany after WWI.

He and his sisters were born here. Several years back we went to Germany, to where his parents were born and brought up. Then onto the German alps and other spots. Loved every minute and met with relatives there. Treated like celebrities.

Funny thing - our last name is Norwegian.

When this virus is over, if we are still here, we want to go to Italy. One place we have never been and want to see.

Re: Favorite Thanksgiving Memory?

LindaSal — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 14:44:33 GMT

I couldn't really come up with a favorite. We were always blessed at Thanksgiving and have wonderful memories of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins! Guess they are all favorite memories Thankfully still building on them.