What’s for Dinner?

Tomorrow is Thankfulness Day. Because, by the time I can sit down to the computer, I will be Thankful that the concert is over and that the Christmas season is underway. Oh, I will rock the Gratitude. Like the Pilgrims rocked Plymouth.

I digress, sort of.

This time last year, I was clattering away on an “anonymous” blog. I thought at the time that I didn’t care for what anonymity did for my attitude. Recently, I looked back at some of the Thanksgiving posts and they made me laugh. I am re-posting. Or whatever.

Overall, my idea was to share what I did for Thanksgiving for the person who didn’t have a current tradition. The recipes are probably practically useless because I don’t really have them written down any place. I just freestyle and we eat. One year, I left the broccoli out of the broccoli casserole.

So without further ado:

ACCIDENTALLY BY DESIGN HONORS A DEAD BLOG WHOSE NAME WAS LESS SEO THAN IF I HAD NAMED IT LADY GAGA

THANKSGIVING WITH A SIDE OF JET LAGGED, PTSD, GRIEF

NOT BAD FOR ALL YOU GOT GOING THIS YEAR

THANKSGIVING

…that special holiday when the pilgrims ate brie en croute.

Really?

One of my mini(many)-addictions is magazines. Yet, November is just a ‘no-go’ on magazines, because every magazine publishes ‘new‘ recipes for Thanksgiving.

Really?

Oh, and don’t let’s forget… The-Last-Turkey-Recipe-You-Will-Ever-Need.

Really?

Can I just say?…

You don’t need a recipe for turkey(the directions are printed on the wrapper)!

Why, oh why, do we need new recipes for sides? I know some people don’t have a Thanksgiving tradition or at least not one they want to repeat. But why would we blame the food? There is a menu for this holiday. We don’t need new. Thanksgiving isn’t about new. It is specifically about what has gone before. We know that the pilgrims didn’t have feta OR turkey gravy from a jar.

My connection to my far away family’s tradition is that I duplicate the menu every year. The aunts didn’t do it on their own. They haven’t yet. We also have new traditions. We get together with friends who are like family. I am no longer doing it alone. My daughters have taken over the preparation of their favorite dishes.

I love Thanksgiving: the Holiday. I invite you to share my family’s traditions. Remember back when the Pilgrim’s hung out with their unlikely new friends, the Indians and everyone had a clean plate?

As for Thanksgiving: the Practice– I am not as accomplished at that. But I know this…

You don’t need a recipe for Thanksgiving.

You just get on down on them knees.

Fold them hands, like so.

Drop your chin to your chest.

Close your eyes.

Open your mouth and whisper,

“Thanks.”

Tomorrow: What exactly is the menu, and if you are so ordinary, why are you a food snob? And…Homemade Noodles for regular folk.