Thanksgiving Traditions


Spode Woodland, via Belk

Thanksgiving is a holiday centered around family, gratitude, and tradition. As we carry on the tradition of the earliest settlers of our land, we celebrate with the customary feast foods.

Now, this sounds momentous, proud, and lovely. But, the truth is, the food gets a little monotonous. If you don't like ham or turkey, then most of the time, you're just out of luck.

In a lot of families, the preparation of a huge meal falls on one or two people, who are charged with meeting the dietary and taste demands of a crowd. Earlier this week, I was talking about the meal with my aunt, the traditional hostess of our family Thanksgiving dinner. She noted that several family members want the dishes we serve to be exactly the same as in previous years. Now, occasionally we mix it up a bit -- one year a second, fried turkey (whom my brother and cousin named "Brian" after a long debate as to whether the bird should be brined, but that's another story for another day...) was on the menu. Sometimes, I'll try to branch out into sweet potato pie or another dish that seems to fit. But, by and large, the menu is fixed. My mom will make pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and broccoli casserole. My uncle and grandmother will conduct a raging two-hour debate about whether traditional dressing or oyster dressing is better. I'll make a hot brown on leftover turkey Thursday night. I guess that's how traditions work.

via Louisville Stoneware
Every family has their own set of Thanksgiving customs as well. Some folks, like Lydia, are all about the football-and-sweatpants aspect of the day. Others are hurrying up the holiday for a tryptophan-induced nap and Black Friday preparations. The lucky ones, like Cristina, can pour a bourbon and enjoy the day. When my maternal grandmother was alive, we stood in the kitchen and took a turn saying what we were thankful for. It was a beautiful moment of affirmation for the adults, and the bane of the grandkids' existence. But, it's forever etched in our memories as What You Do On Thanksgiving.

via Hadley Pottery
A fun way to mix up tradition is to add some pretty new dishes and serving pieces to your holiday table. I'm forever in love with Spode's Woodland china pattern. Someday, the Hunting Dog series will be mine. More locally,  pieces from Louisville Stoneware and Hadley Pottery add a little Kentucky tradition while prettying up your table.While my suggestions for turkey tikka masala often go ignored, at least I can spice up the holiday with these fun bird patterned china patterns!

Here's to old traditions and a few new ones to mix things up!

What are your Thanksgiving traditions?

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Turkey Day - One Week Away

Thanksgiving Wreath

One week from now, most of us will be cooking, searching for our holiday sweatpants or eagerly anticipating Thanksgiving Day football. For me, I'll be staying as far away from the kitchen as possible - in my sweatpants, watching the Macy's Day Parade and ready to eat copious amounts of food.

No one wants me in the kitchen unless it's time to do dishes. Every year, I somehow magically disappear when it comes to dishes time! If my family is reading - I swear it's not intentional. Of course it isn't!

I listened to a fascinating NPR interview of chef Alton Brown yesterday and realized that people really get into Thanksgiving. Traditions are important to people, that much I know, but I guess I never realized that some people feel pasionately that there is a right and wrong way to cook a turkey. Who knew that stuffing preparation (inside the bird or out?) could be such a divisive holiday issue?

I pretty much just show up to eat and nap. I do remember the year someone forgot to make the mashed potatoes. That was terrible.

That's why I decided to consult my sister to bring you some tips for Thanksgiving that are actually useful. I'm pretty sure my tips on the best strategy to maintain your comfy couch seat in the face of would-be seat stealers aren't very helpful! I can attest that she knows her way around a kitchen.

Turkey Day is a week away. Here are my sister, Kate's, best tips to make it a day that your family AND you can enjoy. It sounds like she feels there is a right and wrong way to go about Thanksgiving, too.

  • Plan ahead of time and be organized.  This allows you to spend as much time with friends and family and out of the kitchen! 
  • Fresh turkey is the best, but frozen will do.  Just make sure to plan enough time to defrost! 
  • What is that saying, “Butter is better”?  Well, it’s the truth.  Fat equals flavor and there’s no better tasting fat than butter.  I usually have a pound (or two) of softened butter sitting on my counter top ready to go.  I use it on my turkey (flavors turkey and drippings used for gravy), in my mashed potatoes, in corn, on bread, in desserts, and anywhere else I can think of.  Last year, I even used it on my son’s arm when he got it stuck in between the chair rungs. 
  • Nothing makes better gravy than the turkey drippings.  Pour drippings into a large measuring cup.  The fat will rise to the top while the dripping settle to the bottom.  Skim off fat and use to make a roux.  Add strained drippings and chicken stock (if necessary) to make gravy.  Season to taste.  Nothing is better. 
  • Pumpkin pie screams Thanksgiving, but it’s nothing without whipped cream. 
     
  • Thanksgiving Pantry Must-HavesButter
    Sage
    Kosher Salt
    Fresh Ground Black Pepper
    Chicken Stock
    Poultry Seasoning

Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving tip or a tradition you can't imagine not honoring next week?
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Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

Wishing you a warm hearth,
Via Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

a bountiful table,

via Beaumont Inn.

and Hot Browns on Friday!
via Southern Living


Cheers,
The HerKentucky Team

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